BIO-Health Welcomes MHRA Survey Results

Main Category: Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine
Article Date: 14 Jan 2009 - 0:00 PST

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HERBAL medicine manufacturer Bio-Health has welcomed the findings of a survey that reveals more than three quarters of British adults believe plant based remedies should be regulated.

The survey was commissioned by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). It was conducted by Ipsos MORI.

Bio-Health was the first small company to have a herbal product registered under tough new regulations, which govern safety, patient information and quality standards. The product is Valdrian, which includes valerian root, traditionally used as a sedative.

"It's not surprising that 77 per cent of the people surveyed, agreed that it is important herbal medicines should be regulated," said June Crisp, marketing director at Bio-Health.

"You cannot assume that just because a product is plant based that it won't harm you. And it will only benefit you if it's the right part of the right species of plant, processed in the correct way.

"People have a right to know that the medicines they are taking are exactly what the labelling says they are, and above all that they are safe."

June said regulation was good for the health of the herbal medicine industry as well as patients.

She said regulation gave patients confidence in the products they were taking which would make them more likely to use them.

"We are working towards putting all our products through the regulatory procedure," she added. "If a small company like ours can do it, other companies can."

The MHRA survey showed that 87 per cent of people who have used herbal medicines for two years or more agree with regulation.

http://www.bio-health.co.uk