On topic, the OP does realize that the herbs that this forum is so fond of that you buy in the store are typically sold by the exact same drug companies only with out research money being spent and there for with a high profit margin, one hopes.

i know you wanted to hear this. but i'm not ashemed of my handicaps. So just forgive me. OK?
I've had an IQ test since stroke and no impairment.

Brendon, I get what herbs i don't grow from Canada. They are researched and regulated there. but not in the USA.

i'm curious. What drug companys sells herbs? I don't know anything about American herb companys.

Also have been to Denver many times. I guess you'd say i'm a sceptic also and i think everything over very carefully too. I was a collage student once and been back and back and back. Just can't seem to learn enough.

Yes, they can be. But is there a chance that anyone misunderstood the original comment? I don't think so. If the original post involved a typo to a number with an extra zero or a missing decimal point, it would be important. If someone left out 'not' and that reversed what they meant, it would be important. The typo in question? Pretty minor.

>> On topic, the OP does realize that the herbs that this forum is so fond of that you buy in the store are typically sold by the exact same drug companies only with out research money being spent and there for with a high profit margin, one hopes.

Really? I don't see that at all. The most common resellers of herb capsules and tablets are independent companies that specializes in herbs - a few have been bought-out by larger companies, but to my knowledge, none are pharmacy companies. The companies that sell loose herbs in bulk (Starwest, Frontier, Rose Mountain) are not large multinational companies, nor are they subsidiaries of them. It is true that Walgreens, CVS and other pharmacies offer their own lines of herbs - but that is mostly a repackaging/branding move.

All companies hope for a nice profit margin - that is capitalism. But since herbs are generally not patented, since it is relatively easy to produce and market herbs or specialty foods: there is more competition, and there is less of a mark-up than for areas where the market is dominated by a few companies that hold patents or other monopolistic powers. The drop in prices when a drug moves to generic status is evidence that competition does lower prices.