...not "just" a thought :) >>>Just a thought<<<
The healing herbs on this planet are strong & vital. There are various levels of overprocessing and toxins/poisons present...and various levels of them being picked at wrong times for their optimal healing benefit, and various blends of 'adulteration'.
The more we learn, and the further our 'total' healing progresses - the better we become at choosing and discerning what IS the best and where to find what we're looking for. It sounds like you hit a decent amount of "pay dirt" right off the bat - that's great!
Many imported herbs are grown using DDT...a known neurotoxin. Many people have experienced worsening of neurological symptoms & disease by taking the very herbs that should have helped them. It's a double/triple whammy :( First, allopathic medicine makes us worse by trying to cover up symptoms with Rx drugs that cause other problems; then we turn/reach out to "natural" healing, only to find (possibly/usually) that the supplements recommended either don't do much or they make us even sicker (hence our 'faith' in natural/holistic healing can be destroyed)...and if we go BACK to allpathic MD, they confirm that - strongly. :(
There are only a handful of sources/suppliers in the US that offer truly organic, expertly processed herbal products for healing. The top picks (to my knowledge) are:
Dr. Schulze
http://www.dr-schulze.com/abp_800x600.asp
DR.
Richard Schulze 'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Southern Botanical/Health Freedom Resources
http://healthfree.com/index.html
Southern Botanicals//Health Freedom Resources
Herb Pharm
http://www.herb-pharm.com/
Herb Pharm: Manufacturers of Organic Liquid Herbal Extracts
Gaia Herbs
http://www.gaiaherbs.com/
Gaia Herbs: Official Site
(Perhaps you already were aware of this list, but it's always good to put in in print again).
The other thing worthy of note? It's VERY easy to create your own tinctures...AND THEY WILL ALWAYS BE SUPERIOR TO ANYTHING SOLD ON ANY MARKET. The tinctures & products that are made for sale, can only be tinctured for the amount of time that's reasonable in order to create some level of profitability. Tinctures (in the "old days") were in the alcohol/vinegar base from new moon to full moon (at the very minimum). Those herbalists that desired a seriously effective healing product, would strain off the tinctured alcohol/vinegar after the 2 weeks, and utilize that fluid to be the alcohol/vinegar solution in a NEW batch of herbs...creating what is known as a double tincture.
There's a sight on the 'net that sells double-tinctures (I don't recall the name). They put powdered/dried non-organic herbs in a coffee filter thingy with a press, run some alcohol through the powder, press it out, collect the 'tincture' (cough), then pour that back through again. The whole process takes around 2-3 hours, and they sell this as "true double tinctured". It makes me sick.
Time is short so I'll say 'ciao for now' (I could 'talk herbs' forever).
Thanks for great thinking (and for giving me the chance to add this post :)
Blessings,
Uny