Leaves & herbs

Leaves and herbs: supplements from the above-ground part of the plant

Leaves, flowers and stems form the above-ground part of a plant. You may know many of these herbs from the kitchen, such as oregano, sage, rosemary and parsley. Others have traditionally been used primarily as herbal preparations, such as ginkgo biloba, milk thistle, echinacea and bacopa.

Our range includes herbal supplements in various forms and strengths: from dried and ground leaves to extracts with a fixed content of a characteristic plant compound, such as carvacrol in oregano oil or silymarin in milk thistle.

Which herbs are included in this collection?

The collection includes ginkgo biloba, oregano and oregano oil, milk thistle, olive leaf, artichoke, sage, echinacea, nettle, St. John's wort, passionflower, lavender, hops, rosemary, holy basil (tulsi), bacopa, gymnema, gotu kola, coriander leaf, parsley leaf, hibiscus flower, chanca piedra, avena sativa and cissus quadrangularis. Incidentally, the milk thistle extract is obtained from the seeds of the herb.

Ground herb, extract or oil

Ground herb consists of dried leaves or flowers that have been finely ground and placed in a capsule. An extract is made by extracting plant compounds from the herb with water or alcohol and concentrating them, with an extract ratio such as 4:1, 10:1 or 50:1. Oregano is also processed into essential oil by steam distillation. This oil is available in softgels, capsules and drops, diluted or undiluted with a carrier oil such as olive oil.

Standardisation: carvacrol, silymarin and oleuropein

A standardised extract states the content of a characteristic plant compound. Oregano oil is often expressed as a percentage of carvacrol, for example 80%. Milk thistle extract is standardised to silymarin, olive leaf extract to oleuropein and gotu kola to asiaticoside. For ginkgo biloba, a 50:1 leaf extract is common. Always compare products based on the amount of extract and plant compound per daily dose.

Oregano oil: drops or capsules

Oregano oil has a strong, spicy taste. Drops can be taken diluted in water or on a spoon of oil, allowing for flexible dosing. Capsules and softgels are flavourless and contain a fixed amount in each. With drops, pay attention to the carvacrol content and dilution: a pure essential oil is much more concentrated than a diluted oil or a capsule.

Capsules, tablets or liquid

Most leaf extracts are available as capsules or tablets with a fixed dose. Tablets often contain a higher dose per tablet, such as Vit4ever's Ginkgo Biloba 50:1 and Echinacea Purpurea. Liquid forms, such as oregano oil drops, are convenient for those who prefer not to swallow capsules. The Himalaya products in this collection are made from organically grown herbs.

What to look for when choosing?

Check the Latin plant name and the plant part used, as different species and plant parts have different compositions. See whether the product contains ground herb or an extract, and if so, what the extract ratio or standardisation is. An organic certification provides information about how it was grown. Compare products based on the daily dose, not per capsule.

Use and safety

Adhere to the recommended daily dose on the packaging. A food supplement is not a substitute for a varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. Herbal supplements are not intended for pregnant or breastfeeding women unless stated otherwise. Some herbs, such as St. John's wort and ginkgo biloba, may affect the action of medicines. If you take medication, seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist first.