When choosing to give your dog herbal remedies, should you use the whole herb or a standardized version? Here are some pros and cons of each.
Standardization is a process that takes one or more components of an herb and processes them into a specific level. This is often found in a percentage; an example is milk thistle, which is often found in a 80% standardized extract. This is done to help ensure consistency.
Consistency is a positive thing, however standardization is often based on the assumption that just one component is responsible for medicinal action. Some versions of standardizations do look at markers, which can help ensure all useful components are included.
Standardization can potentially lead to exclusion of important components found in the whole plant. The positive aspects of it, however, include the fact that as natural substances, plants vary. They vary in chemical makeup, genetics, environments, soil, weather, handling, age and processing. All of these issues can lead to inconsistent products.
When choosing supplements for my dog (or myself), I would use the whole herb IF I know the source. My garden, for example. However, if I walk into a store to buy supplements, I would likely choose a standardized extract just so I know what I am getting. I would do this only if I knew the research supported the use of the specific component I am purchasing. For example, research points to medicinal effectiveness of curcumin, part of the turmeric plant. Curcumin can act as an antiviral, anti-inflammatory and lots more. Look for an article about it soon!