Typically the farmers aren't trying to make everybody sick...they're just dousing the plants & fields with chemical poisons that they've been assured are safe. That'd be in the US.
99% of imported herbs are grown in 3rd World countries that allow even harsher chemicals during growth (and raw human fecal matter)...including DDT (a known neurotoxin and carcinogen). 95% of ALL herbal products on todays markets are created using imported herbs...most were not organically grown, and all are irradiated or fumigated upon crossing the border into the US.
Herbs most always have to be picked by hand - labor in 3rd World countries is pennies per day, compared to $70-$80 dollars per day for US organically grown herbs. And adding to the problem is the fact that many workers-prisoners-migrant workers (& farm enterprises) in these countries could care less if the plant is being dug/harvested at the right time of it's growth for the healing substances to be present, or they pick the wrong part at the wrong time (for example, when echinacea is in flower, there's no 'goodies' in the roots...so if they yank the whole plant when it's in flower and then folks use the roots for tincture, it's both poisoned AND worthless. Giving that to your body to bolster it's immune system???!!! ARGH. And then there's the harsh drying kilns and powdering that burn off the last of the goodies before it even gets to the US. Even the TOP NAMES (that we've all come to 'trust') rely upon imported herbs for their product lines.
As far as probiotics, me? no thank you. Here's why:
//www.curezone.org/forums/m.asp?f=157&i=999
Re: You don't recommend probiotics? at Ask Andreas # 1 [Archive]
//www.curezone.org/forums/m.asp?f=337&i=12695#i
Re: Probiotics and...colon cleansing, liver flushing, candida, etc, etc. at Ask Andreas # 4
Of course, if someone is trying to recover from pharmaceutical
Antibiotics , or they've taken a lot of
Colloidal Silver that kills their necessary good bacteria (and they're in distress), then it might be construed better (by some) to put the complete wrong balance AND millions of dead bacteria into ones body...but they're generally created from God's-only-knows-what-source, and millions of dead bacteria (whether they were originally "good 'uns" OR "bad 'uns" is a terrible strain on the bodies lymph and immune system. Generally when we start messing with supplements (especially ANYTHING that deals with introducing or killing bacteria and/or mineral balance), it's ALWAYS BETTER to get what we need from our food, and let our body decide exactly what it needs on it's own. If we're low on "probiotics" (or feel we are in error, when it's actually something else that's needed), it's best to eat live cultured food...yogurt, kefir, kimchee, raw sauerkraut, etc. Most times that people supplement with probiotics, they're actually putting a band-aid on a symptom, rather than getting to the root of what's causing the problem. (again, unless it's immediately after antibiotic,
Colloidal Silver , or some other type of bacteria-destroying substance). I know of ZERO digestive difficulty (other than EXTREME cases of those I just mentioned), that can't be cured by cleansing, correcting the diet, or using herbs that the body can easily utilize (or eliminate) for what IT knows it needs. That's not the case with probiotics.
If one has their appendix, the body will easily & naturally replenish it's own beneficial bacteria in the exact percentages and quantity that it knows it needs...IF our diets are good, are lifestyle is healthy, and our digestive system, colon, liver & kidneys are cleansed and working properly.
As far as the other NOW brand supplements, if it doesn't specifically state on the label "certified organic" (and then give the name of the organization that certified it) AND grown in the US or "wildcrafted", ANY product is not what you're looking for...and you're likely to be ingesting chemical poisons and other substances that carry the potential for harm or stress.
If you're looking for clean, effective herbal products, below are the best suppliers I know of (I would never buy from anyone else). The only thing I use 'out of a bottle' for healing or nutrition is Vitamin C (Ester), but I just got in my first
pounds of Acerola Cherry powder to add to my daily Superfood mix or for use in supplementing Vitamin C (the cherry powder IS wildcrafted/powdered in Ecuador powdered outside of the US and shipped in sealed containers) It may not be perfect, but I feel it's better than the chemical ascorbic acid. As far as a daily Superfood, I used to recommend Schulzes (but since he changed his original recipe AND I found out his actual levels of all ingredients, I know make/mix my own, based upon his original recipe...which I offer to others, when I have it, at a seriously discounted price). I now recommend this product for necessary vitamins and minerals daily:
http://www.daystarbotanicals.com/products/lfingredients.html
(Note: even though I like THIS product, I'm not pleased with this seller; they've gone on a major smear campaign against
Dr. Schulze and the use of Red Star Nutritional Yeast in his Superfood, claiming that the nutritional yeast he uses is laden with MSG. I did EXTENSIVE research on this, and found that their claims are false. Nutritional yeast is a great addition to Superfoods as a source of B vitamins...especially necessary for those on no/low meat & dairy diets.
For herbal tinctures and supplements:
http://www.herbdoc.com/home_1024x768.asp
DR.
Richard Schulze 'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE
http://healthfree.com/index.html
Southern Botanicals//Health Freedom Resources
http://www.herb-pharm.com/
Herb Pharm: Manufacturers of Organic Liquid Herbal Extracts
(You can get Herb Pharm products at MANY health food stores)
http://www.gaiaherbs.com/
Gaia Herbs: Official Site
For certified organic and wildcrafted herbs (to make/mix your OWN Superfoods or create your own healing tinctures and products)
http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/
Mountain Rose Herbs | Bulk organic herbs, spices & essential oils
http://www.pacificbotanicals.com/
Pacific Botanicals - Welcome
Lol, that's probably more information than you were wanting (or needed), but I want to make sure I cover all the bases.
Healthiest of blessings,
Unyquity