Some of the local herbal pratictioners in my area keep and administer herbal doses stored for upto a month or more.
A research I did showed multiplication of enterobacteriaceae to the order of ones of thousands within a week, with visual eveidence of moulds.
However, some believe that the moulds are significant to the power of the formulation to heal.
Doesn't this compromise the whole purpose of treatment? Most times, it is not easy to guide some herbal practitioners in the ways of hygiene and good practices.
How can we as scientits intervene?
My main lane of research is related with your question.
Use of different parts of different herbs as neutriceuticals or as some medicine was practiced in almost all parts of the world from very ancient days. Herbs were used at different forms by different groups of people. Formulated medicine with the use of dry plant parts is only one of them. Use of decoction, warm water extracts of dry parts, succulent part extracts or directly the succulent parts etc. were also used in such purposes.
In the present stage of civilization storage of materials at - 10,-20,-80 or even -196 degree Celsius is possible during transport. Freeze drying is another option.
So, it is not a problem.
You may read or download some related articles and power points from my RG site, if you like.
Thanks.
YES! Herbal medicine expires!!!
Everything has starting and ending points. Ayurveda medicine have, too!
Different formulations have different expiry times.
According to Acharya Sarangdhara, Generally, medicinal formulations lose their potency/ becomes expired after one year of their preparation. Powders after two months, ointments after one year, Medicinal Ghee and oil after 16 months. While, Metal and mineral recipes (Arista etc.) become more effective as they become old.
Here followed is also an important information about the expiration dates of herbal medicines.
The expiration date of medicine (also known as expiry date) is largely dependant upon
As a general rule, The expiry dates are explained in detail in Ancient Ayurvedic test books
1. Churna (Herbal powder mix) – two years. (This applies if the Churna jar is kept airtight closed. As a general rule, once opened, the Churna jar should be finished within 2 – 4 months)
2. Ayurvedic tablets / Vati / Gutika – 2 years
3. Tablets in which mineral ingredients are used, or Guggulu is used (guggulu tablets) – 5 years
4. Avaleha / Leham / lehyams/ herbal jams – 3 years.
5. Louha (Iron containing Ayurvedic medicines) – 10 years
6. Ghrita (Ayurvedic Herbal ghee) – 2 years
7. Taila (Ayurvedic Herbal Oils) – 3 years
8. Arka (Distilled herbal extracts) – 1 year
9. Lavana, Kshara, (Salts and Alkalis) – 5 years
10. Lepa Churna (Herbal powder for external paste application) – 3 years
11. Herbal dental powder / Herbal dental paste – 2 years
12. Herbal syrups – 3 years
13. Kashayam (Herbal teas)– 3 years (when added with preservatives)
14. Mineral preparations, Asava and Arishta– Quality increases with time.
15. Ayurvedic ear drops/ nasal drops – 2 years
16. Ayurvedic eye drops – 3 years
Source: Malini Bhat, M D (Ayu) Ayurveda, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (2017)
All the herbal formulations have a specific expire date.mostly aqueous are expire rapidly because of bacterial or fungus growths.
Thank you respected researchers for your responses. Got me to know more areas
Dear Andrew,
according to my years-long experience medicinal herbs do not expire, just as well as tea or spices do not expire. As long as they are kept properly in a dry places with moderate temperature. And as long as they are not contaminated with mould (unlikely if kept dry) or bugs. With aqeous solutions it is different, the water might get stale. Therefore floral essences are made with alcohol, which does not get bad. Brandy for instances gets even better with age. Expiry dates are mostly prescribed by government regulations and a purely legal prerequisite lacking scientic evidence.
Best regards
Andy Wirz
Thank you Dr. Andreas Wirz-Ridolfi for your reply. I am glad to have learnt from you experience. Your reply has given me new perception about expiry of herbal medicines and storage conditions.
Have a good day
Thank you also Dr. Bouabdallah for affirming that reply. It's an honor to keep learning and re-learning from esteemed researchers like you
Have a good day
Thank you also Dr. Carine Temegne Nono,
This is very interesting and insightful
Stay blessed
Herbal decoctions cannot stay fresh beyond a day. The best way to solve the problem is to educate them on the inherent danger.
In European pharmacy, decocts and infusions are intended to be used immediately after they are prepared. Herbal materials or their composed mixtures for decoctions/infusions must be kept dry until the time they are prepared with water. The generally accepted expiry date for dry herbal materials is one year. They do decompose their principles (via or without UV impact) or they just evaporate their volatile compounds. After one year of proper storing on dry and dark conditions, they must be thrown away (OK, some exceptions exist). Watery preparations of herbs must be administered immediately. These are historical and still contemporary standards in European pharmacy.
Thank you Drs Kumar and Drobnik for your submissions,
Community engagements and training (as part thereof) are really required.
Thank you once again
If good preserved so no problem. But if you doubt with it discard it.
Thank you Abdallah,
I think the best way really is to discard if in doubt as you suggest. Your reply has been so helpful. Thank you once again
Very interesting question, and as a scientist we have to try showing the real problem of contaminations.
Yes it expires, generally the aqueous preparation of herbs carries its potency only for 24 hours but any addition of preservative makes the difference
Yes it expires, generally the aqueous preparation of herbs carries its potency only for 24 hours but any addition of preservative makes the difference...
Yes it expires, generally the aqueous preparation of herbs carries its potency only for 24 hours but any addition of preservative makes the difference.
Yes it expires, generally the aqueous preparation of herbs carries its potency only for twentyfour hours but any addition of preservative makes the difference.
Yes it expires, generally the aqueous preparation of herbs carries its potency only for twenty-four hours but any addition of preservative makes the difference.
Yes it expires,generally the aqueous preparation of herbs carries its potency only for twenty-four hours but any addition of preservative makes the difference.
Yes it expires,generally the aqueous preparation of herbs carries its potency only for twenty-four hours
but any addition of preservative makes the difference.
The formulations of Galenius have the best preservation of herbal properties
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