What is the difference between Dried Herbs, Traditional Herbal Remedies and Food Supplements

The laws in the UK are quite complicated and different people have different views on their purpose - to protect the public from health risks, to protect pharmaceutical companies, or simply the "nanny state" although there are many more theories. We will explain below how our products fit into the legislation and how you can access information to help you look after your own health. As a retailer the range of legislation means we are limited in what information and guidance we can offer, however authors of books, non-retailing websites, qualified practitioners and others can provide useful information so you can choose which products to use to treat yourself. Where we have general information on ailments or products they will not link directly to products on our website.

	Traditional Herbal Remedies - We stock a wide range of herbal remedies (herbal remedies in the UK are normally licensed by THR scheme and are licensed based exclusively on traditional use only. Some older herbal remedies hold a Product Licence). All our licensed remedies are made under pharmaceutical (GMP) standards.
	Dried Herbs and Plant Juices - We are able to sell a wide range of dried herbs and plant juices provided we make no medicinal claims for these. Herbs have a very wide range of uses, from tasty teas, to dyes for clothing, and many more. Fortunately in the UK this wide range of applications is recognised and the raw plant remains widely available.
	Food Supplements - in the EU 'food supplements' means "foodstuffs the purpose of which is to supplement the normal diet and which are concentrated sources of nutrients or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect, alone or in combination, marketed in a dose form, namely forms such as capsules, pastilles, tablets, pills and other similar forms, sachets of powder, ampoules of liquids, drop dispensing bottles, and other similar forms of liquids and powders designed to be taken in measured small unit quantities …" This means that there are a wide range of food supplements available that may be taken to support the diet and an individuals health, however the information that can be provided on the use of the item may be limited by law. This may mean that some indications (uses) and other indications (that may be common in other countries such as the USA) may not be allowed to be listed.
	Non Licensed Tincture - We plan to stock a small number of additional herbal tinctures which have non-medicinal traditional uses including mouthwashes, Digestive bitter herbs either for use on their own or for making digestif blends and as ingredients for skincare creams (e.g. Marigold). These tinctures are not recommended for internal use as herbal remedies.
	Cosmetic Ingredients - Some of our ingredients are not intended for internal consumption but may be used by those who like to make their own natural skincare or bodycare products.
	Homeopathic Remedies - We stock homeopathic remedies which have a different theory of how they work to more conventional herbal remedies and food supplements. Due to UK liscencing requirements these cannot have any guidance on their indications (uses).
	Flower Remedies - Another alternative type of remedy, in some ways similar to homeopathic remedies but only with indiciations for emotional conditions.
Obtaining Herbs by consulting a Medical Herbalist	Other sources of herbal remedies: Fortunately in the EU and UK says that herbs may be prescribed by an authorised healthcare professional, which now includes herbalists. This needs to be made after a one-to-one consultation, therefore it is not possible to phone Woodland Herbs for a telephone prescription of the herb you are wanting. If you cannot visit one of the herbalists in our clinic in Glasgow then a list of medical herbalists registered with the National Institute of Medical Herbalists can be found on www.nimh.co.uk