THR herbal remedies – why so important?
Recently there has been some hype around the importance of having 'THR' (traditional herbal registration) approval when shopping for herbal remedies. This was recently mentioned in the recent BBC 1 documentary 'The Truth About Boosting Your Immune System', for one.
The 'THR' logo is certainly an acclaimed mark, but it isn't to say that all other categories of herbal remedies are void. Please, let me explain.
What does ‘THR’ actually mean?
'THR' (traditional herbal registration) is a license awarded to herbal remedies by the UK government's regulatory body for medicines, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). THRs are awarded if the remedy is to be used for treating minor health conditions where medical supervision is not required, such as with cold and flu infections.
To some extent, the THR mark signifies quality, as it requires the remedy meets the following:
- Evidence of efficacy. THR remedies must provide evidence that they have been used in a certain way traditionally. For example, this particular remedy must have been used in a therapeutic way in Europe for at least 30 years.
- Quality standards. The end product must be considered of high pharmaceutical quality, meaning it must endure testing and evaluation. It must also meet certain criteria along the way and therefore has to be manufactured according to European Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Guidelines.
- Specific safety criteria. These safety measures are based on the traditional usage of the herb(s) in question and, in line with the product's intended use; that is, without medical supervision.
Once a remedy has been through the necessary checks and meets all of the above criteria, it may then be approved as a THR. All herbal remedies registered under this scheme will be issued a 9-digit registration number starting with the letters THR to display on their packaging, as well as the THR logo, for all to see.
A.Vogel THR range
Arguably the most famous of all our THR products, our Echinaforce® Echinacea was one of our very first licensed remedies. See, the Echinacea we still use today can still be matched to the first few Echinacea seeds our founder Alfred Vogel was given after he witnessed first-hand how this incredible herb was used by an indigenous North American tribe. They relied on it, like no other, to help keep them well – a perfect example of 'traditional use' which then, of course, extended to Europe with Vogel himself.
The Echinaforce® products within the THR range include our:
- Echinaforce® Chewable Cold & Flu tablets
- Echinaforce® Forte tablets
- Echinaforce® Sore Throat Spray
- Echinaforce® Hot Drink
Relieve colds & flu symptoms by strengthening the immune system
• Made from organically grown, fresh extracts of Echinacea purpurea
• Relieves the symptoms of cold & flu by strengthening the immune system
• Multi-award winning and available in drops and tablets
"Marvellous stuff - I take it all the time."
And the rest...
- Agnus castus – oral drops
- Atrogel® – Arnica Gel
- Atrosan® – Devil's Claw tablets
- AvenaCalm – Avena sativa oral drops
- Bronchoforce Chesty Cough – Ivy-Thyme complex oral drops
- Bronchosan – Pine Cough Syrup
- Digestisan – Artichoke, Dandelion, Boldo & Peppermint oral drops
- Dormeasan Sleep – Valerian-hops oral drops
- Hyperiforce® – St. John's Wort tablets
- Menoforce® – Sage tablets
- Prostasan® – Saw Palmetto capsules
- Stress Relief Daytime – Valerian-Hops oral drops
- Uva-ursi & Echinacea – Oral drops
- Venaforce® – Horse Chestnut tablets
What is a PL registered product?
You may have noticed that our two leading Echinaforce® products – our original Echinaforce® tincture and Echinaforce® tablets weren't part of the above list and don't boast the famous THR logo.
Instead, these remedies are the only ones in our UK range to have a 'PL' (product licence) registration. For herbal medicines bearing a THR number, as above, efficacy is based on the traditional use of the product only. In contrast, a PL approved product requires backing from rigorous scientific trials.
This means that the specific form and strength of Echinacea in our tincture and tablets has been subject to a vast array of scientific trials which help to back its efficacy – impressive!
Watch my video below as I summarise some of the key differences between THRs and PLs.
I explain: THR vs PL Echinacea registrations
Here I explain the difference between THR (Traditional Herbal Registration) approved Echinaforce Echinacea products and those that are PL (Product License) registered.
Other categories of products within our extensive range
Whilst you may have noticed a few extra products within our range which don't necessarily fall into either of the 'THR' or 'PL' categories, don't fret, as these have certainly still been produced with the same high-quality ingredients and strict quality control methods in place.
See, depending on how the product is formulated and then administered to the body, this may mean it falls into some other categories. Some of these are as follows:
National Rules
Whilst still a strict form of licensing, products registered under the 'National Rules' database are different in that, some of the ingredients in these products are homeopathic in nature.
Our Pollinosan Hayfever tablets (Luffa complex tablets) fall happily within this category.
Food Supplements
The majority of our range come under the category of food supplements. Food supplements are technically food derived products where the purpose of the remedy is to supplement the normal diet with a concentrated source of a vitamin, a mineral or phytochemicals in order to have some desired nutritional or physiological effect.
Some of our most popular food supplements include:
- Menopause Support – Fermented soy isoflavones complex
- Balance Mineral Drink – Magnesium, zinc potassium, calcium and vitamin D complex.
- Immune Support – Zinc, vitamins C & D plus the herb nasturtium.
- Milk Thistle complex – oral drops
- Nature-C – fruit and herb derived vitamin C supplement.
Medical devices
Medical devices are classed as such when the sole purpose of the remedy isn't always met through ingestion and/or absorption, as the principal intended action is fulfilled by physical means – i.e., having a more direct action at the intended sight on the body.
Some examples of the Medical Devices in our range include:
- Eye Drops
- Siunforce Nasal Spray
- Silicol Gel for coating the digestive system.
Cosmetics
Whilst cosmetics are for topical use only, many of ours still contain the same organic, fresh herbal ingredients as our THR or PL remedies. Some examples include our:
- BioForce Cream
- Echinacea toothpaste
- Venagel – Horse Chestnut Gel.
Confectionary
Again, whilst our Echinacea lozenges are technically considered confectionary, they contain fresh extracts of the same Echinacea that is within our esteemed licensed remedies.
How to quickly assess for quality?
Whilst deciphering legal categories isn't for everyone and may only be an issue if you've wondered what all the fuss was about, generally speaking my advice for seeking out a good quality remedy is as follows:
1. Fresh is best
Whilst the THR logo can be a nice indictor of quality, it isn't the be all and end all, as many of our popular and well-regarded food supplements demonstrate. Another point of note is how the herbs are actually produced.
Freshly harvested Echinacea from Switzerland, for one, can retain up to 3 times the amount of active ingredients as the dried equivalent.1 So, if you have the option to opt for remedies made from fresh herbs, definitely take it.
2. Consider the ethics
A little research can go a long way if you are unsure of the credibility of any herbal remedies. Perhaps opt for a company that specialises in herbal remedies. This suggests that research and long-standing use will be behind their remedies.
Of course, having the organic status is also a box to tick; plus, a company that believes in really looking after their customers with lots of holistic, all-round advice rather than just the product itself, is also a definite must.
3. Explore the rest of the range
Even if a particular herbal remedy doesn't bear the famous THR logo, there may well be good reason for this so don't disregard it. Consider if any other THR or PL remedies exist within the same range, suggesting that formal licenses have been administered elsewhere, where appropriate.
