When you’re in the health food store and you’re dizzy from reading all the labels and trying to interpret all the terms and logos, it can help to have a basic understanding of some of the essential categories of natural and herbal products. Companies have long understood the different types of products they can make (legally with the blessing of the US Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA) and from the general categories of herbs and foods, they often isolate certain chemicals or "shrink down" as much as possible so they can create as many purchasing (and revenue) options.

Because of this, we often have more available to us than just "herbs" or "foods." We have supplements and other terms, not to mention: what's the difference between herbal and homeopathic? What the heck does organic really mean? Here are some of the basic types of product you’ll find on those health food store shelves and how to understand the terms you'll see on their labels:

Herbal

A product made from plants and used solely for internal use is called an herbal supplement. (Some products made for external use may be considered cosmetics, which is governed under different rules by the FDA and the USDA; for more info, see my course Herbal Business Compliance.)  Many prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines are also made from plant products, but these products contain only purified ingredients and are regulated by the FDA. The FDA classifies herbal preparations as food supplements.

New herbal supplements and products are not governed by the strict FDA drug approval process and there is no premarket approval required, however there are strict rules about how herbalists can market their products, including the Structure Function Claim which allows product makers to share how their product will support a naturally healthy state (as opposed to curing or treating a disease).

Homeopathic

Meaning “like-cures-like,” this philosophy was already popular when German physician Samuel Hahnemann coined the term and the “law of similars” around 1800. He believed that ingesting a tiny, diluted amount of a substance that caused specific symptoms would have the opposite, healing effect against those symptoms.

Today, homeopathic remedies are popular because they are marketed as safe, gentle and without side effects. However, they are made not only from herbal/plant materials, but they can also include mineral and even animal ingredients (such as the remedy Apis Mellifica, made from crushed bees).

Homeopathic remedies differ from herbal medicines in several key ways. Homeopathic remedies are extremely dilute (with very little if any of the original substance still intact). Generally they are considered to be “energy” medicines. Herbals, however, are concentrated or extracted and are chemically strong. Herbals, for instance, use mentruaa (liquid menstruum) such as alcohol, vinegar or water to extract the needed chemicals from the plant.

Additionally, homeopathic remedies are based on a person’s symptoms with a like-cures-like approach whereas herbal are opposition-based, or reflective of going against a symptom. For instance, the chemical curcumin found in turmeric root is anti-inflammatory, especially in supporting brain and mental health; it works against the body’s inflammation reaction to a disease or injury. In homeopathy, however, a person who gets poison ivy on the skin would take a remedy (dilute form) of poison ivy to treat it.

Dietary Supplements and Vitamins

Dietary supplements and vitamins may be derived from foods or they may be synthetic; either way, both the finished product and individual ingredients are regulated by the FDA. The FDA likes language that states that a product is keeping an already healthy person healthy—rather than curing a sick person of a disease, because that’s the role of a drug, not a health supplement.

So, the FDA mandates the use of words that suggest “improving or maintaining overall health” or “help provide adequate amounts of essential nutrients that the body needs to function.” You won’t see claims of curing or preventing diseases here – that’s a no-no. Instead, you’ll find companies talking about how their product (a vitamin, mineral, protein powder, green powder, etc) contributes to overall health and wellness.

Natural Health Product

‘Natural health product’ is a term used to describe herbs and other supplements made from natural sources that are sold to prevent sickness or promote health. There are many different types, including:

vitamins and minerals;

herbal remedies;

homeopathic medicines;

traditional medicines (traditional Chinese medicine, traditional East Indian [Ayurvedic] medicine, etc);

probiotics; and

amino acids and essential fatty acids.

You can buy natural health products in pharmacies and other stores without a prescription, or you can get them from a care provider. Importantly, though they are promoted for health, they cannot legally be sold as “drugs.”

Organic

Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural product has been produced according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic standards. According to its website, the USDA’s methods integrate cultural, biological and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance and conserve biodiversity.

It’s important to note that any company can slap the word organic on their label; technically they are breaking the law, but many companies do it anyway. As a consumer, it’s helpful to dig a little deeper into the company itself. Is it a B-Corp? Does it practice fair trade? Does it promote itself as an animal-welfare company? If you don’t see evidence of any of these certifications or commitments, but you see the word organic, you have every right to be suspicious. (Complete details are available in my Natural Brand Certifications.)

Certified organic products (and their individual ingredients) must adhere to strict growing standards set by the USDA that account for pesticide use, heavy metals in the soil, crop rotation, length of time between conventional growing and organic growing, and other factors. It can be costly to become certified organic and it takes time and commitment, so some (shameful) companies will simply use the word to attract customers without actually doing the right work.

If you are an herbalist who makes products and you purchase ingredients from a vendor, be sure to get the vendor’s Certificate of Authenticity that affirms their USDA certified organic status (and other information such as pesticide use, country of origin, heavy metal levels, etc). Also know that you cannot claim your final product to be Certified Organic simply because one of the ingredients is. For more information, check out my course Herbal Business Compliance.

Functional Foods

Functional foods are those that provide more than simple nutrition; they supply additional physiological benefit to the consumer. For example, the FDA notes that tomatoes are rich in lycopenes – a nutritional chemical—and so they are considered functional foods. Likewise, spreads containing plant sterols, eggs enriched in omega-3 fatty acids, oat bran fiber, fish oil fatty acids, and soy protein are all considered functional foods.

If you’re including soy protein in your products, or if you come across a questionable claim on a package you’re about to buy, know this: The health claim that the consumption of soy protein is associated with a reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease is allowed on packaging for soy protein products under the DSHEA. This is because the FDA concluded that soy protein that is included in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol levels.

Nutraceutical

A nutraceutical is a product that is isolated or purified from foods. It’s not a whole food itself and you’ll find it sold in a packaged form such as a pill or capsule. A nutraceutical is demonstrated to have a physiological benefit or provide protection against chronic disease, so it is more of a health supplement than a food, even though they often come from foods to begin with. For example, capsules containing bioflavonoids or gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) are nutraceuticals. 

Natural

You would be forgiven for thinking the word “natural” has lost any effective meaning in today’s commercial economy. It is bandied about without corporations being held accountable for its use and has lost most of its relevance. The USDA defines a “natural” product as one containing no artificial ingredient or added color and is only minimally processed. Minimal processing means that the product was processed in a manner that does not fundamentally alter the product.

Whole

A “whole” ingredient or product comprises the unadulterated, complete part of the plant. For grains, the U.S.FDA defines whole grains as consisting of the intact, ground, cracked, or flaked fruit of the grains whose principal components, the starchy endosperm, germ, and bran, are present in the same relative proportions as they exist in the intact grain. This means that grains that have been stripped of their outer layer, often “quick-cook” grains, are not considered whole. This is important for labeling but also for those of us who wish to increase our fiber intake.

Having been an herbalist for more than 30 years, I've watched these terms ebb and flow over the decades. What hasn't changed: it's important to understand what is legal so that you can protect yourself and know what is expected.

Learn About Herbal Medicine

The Bellebuono School of Herbal Medicine has been an official school member of the American Herbalist Guild since 2011. We provide beginner and intermediate courses and curricula covering a wide range of health topics: 

Herbs for Healthy Digestion

Herbs for the Brain Beginner

(we offer a beginner course and a certificate course)

Herbs for the Brain Certificate

Herbal Actions

Herbal Medicine Foundations

(our 96-hour certificate program)

Sources:

NIH National Library of Medicine

Johns Hopkins Medicine

USDA.gov