Guest guest Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Can anyone direct me to a source of kosher Chinese medicinals? And do you know whether Stork uses glycerin in the coatings on their teapills? Thanks, Karen Vaughan, MSTOM Creation's Garden 253 Garfield Place Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718) 622-6755 Co-Conspirator to Make the World A Better Place -- Visit www.HeroicStories.com and join the conspiracy " Life without thankfulness is devoid of love and passion. Hope without thankfulness is lacking in fine perception. Faith without thankfulness lacks strength and fortitude. Every virtue divorced from thankfulness is maimed and limps along the spiritual road. " --John Henry Jowett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Karen, The quintessential source for vitamins, mineral, nutriceuticals, and herbs under reliable kosher rabbinic supervision is www.koshervitamins.com. At present there are no chinese herbal formulae that are supervised as kosher. Best of luck, Yehuda On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 15:52:12 EST creationsgarden1 writes: > > > Can anyone direct me to a source of kosher Chinese medicinals? > > And do you know whether Stork uses glycerin in the coatings on their > > teapills? > > Thanks, > > Karen Vaughan, MSTOM > Creation's Garden > 253 Garfield Place > Brooklyn, NY 11215 > > (718) 622-6755 > > Co-Conspirator to Make the World A Better Place -- Visit > www.HeroicStories.com and join the conspiracy > > " Life without thankfulness is devoid of love and passion. Hope > without > thankfulness is lacking in fine perception. Faith without > thankfulness lacks > strength and fortitude. Every virtue divorced from thankfulness is > maimed and > limps along the spiritual road. " --John Henry Jowett > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Dear Karen, I know you work in Brooklyn, with a large Orthodox Jewish population, but you should know that according to Jewish law, Chinese herbs are medicine. Therefore, they do not require a blessing before ingesting, and, therefore, no kosher supervision. As an observant Jew myself, I have checked with local rabbinical authority on this matter. While items bought in health food stores may be a grey area, when prescribed by an herbalist they do not require kosher supervision. Having said that, I avoid using insects and non-kosher animal parts in the herbs I recommend, but even they are ok if required. Maimonides, the great Jewish physician, recommended all kinds of non-kosher substances as medicine. I do not know about Stork products. On Mar 24, 2005, at 12:52 PM, creationsgarden1 wrote: > > > Can anyone direct me to a source of kosher Chinese medicinals? > > And do you know whether Stork uses glycerin in the coatings on their > teapills? > > Thanks, > > Karen Vaughan, MSTOM > Creation's Garden > 253 Garfield Place > Brooklyn, NY 11215 > > (718) 622-6755 > > Co-Conspirator to Make the World A Better Place -- Visit > www.HeroicStories.com and join the conspiracy > > " Life without thankfulness is devoid of love and passion. Hope without > thankfulness is lacking in fine perception. Faith without > thankfulness lacks > strength and fortitude. Every virtue divorced from thankfulness is > maimed and > limps along the spiritual road. " --John Henry Jowett > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 This is why we are able to use herbs at Touro - a Jewish sponsored institution with no issues about being Kosher. Marnae At 05:15 PM 3/24/2005, you wrote: >Dear Karen, > I know you work in Brooklyn, with a large Orthodox Jewish >population, but you should know that according to Jewish law, Chinese >herbs are medicine. Therefore, they do not require a blessing before >ingesting, and, therefore, no kosher supervision. As an observant Jew >myself, I have checked with local rabbinical authority on this matter. >While items bought in health food stores may be a grey area, when >prescribed by an herbalist they do not require kosher supervision. >Having said that, I avoid using insects and non-kosher animal parts in >the herbs I recommend, but even they are ok if required. Maimonides, >the great Jewish physician, recommended all kinds of non-kosher >substances as medicine. > > I do not know about Stork products. > > >On Mar 24, 2005, at 12:52 PM, creationsgarden1 wrote: > > > > > > > Can anyone direct me to a source of kosher Chinese medicinals? > > > > And do you know whether Stork uses glycerin in the coatings on their > > teapills? > > > > Thanks, > > > > Karen Vaughan, MSTOM > > Creation's Garden > > 253 Garfield Place > > Brooklyn, NY 11215 > > > > (718) 622-6755 > > > > Co-Conspirator to Make the World A Better Place -- Visit > > www.HeroicStories.com and join the conspiracy > > > > " Life without thankfulness is devoid of love and passion. Hope without > > thankfulness is lacking in fine perception. Faith without > > thankfulness lacks > > strength and fortitude. Every virtue divorced from thankfulness is > > maimed and > > limps along the spiritual road. " --John Henry Jowett > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Dear Z'ev and Marnae, Though on technical Halachic (Jewish legal) ground you are correct, and that a prohibited substance which if eaten as a medicine is permitted and one even makes a blessing on it assuming that it is not bitter and repulsive, nonetheless, the law clearly also states that one should pursue kosher alternatives if they are available. Furthermore, there are degrees of severity in prohibited substances: the most severe being insects (including their shells) and reptiles, then edible parts of non-kosher animals, animals not slaughtered in a kosher manner, or non-kosher sea animals, and finally inedible parts to animals as well as inedible shells. When possible an observant Jew is required to avoid the greatest degree of prohibition even for medicine. This is the reason, for example that even for the most prohibited substances, for example quan xie or wu gong, when taken in capsule form, they should be prepared with vegicaps. Happy Purim, Yehuda On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 18:03:41 -0500 Marnae Ergil <marnae writes: > > This is why we are able to use herbs at Touro - a Jewish sponsored > institution with no issues about being Kosher. > > Marnae > > At 05:15 PM 3/24/2005, you wrote: > > >Dear Karen, > > I know you work in Brooklyn, with a large Orthodox Jewish > >population, but you should know that according to Jewish law, > Chinese > >herbs are medicine. Therefore, they do not require a blessing > before > >ingesting, and, therefore, no kosher supervision. As an observant > Jew > >myself, I have checked with local rabbinical authority on this > matter. > >While items bought in health food stores may be a grey area, when > >prescribed by an herbalist they do not require kosher supervision. > >Having said that, I avoid using insects and non-kosher animal parts > in > >the herbs I recommend, but even they are ok if required. > Maimonides, > >the great Jewish physician, recommended all kinds of non-kosher > >substances as medicine. > > > > I do not know about Stork products. > > > > > >On Mar 24, 2005, at 12:52 PM, creationsgarden1 wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > Can anyone direct me to a source of kosher Chinese medicinals? > > > > > > And do you know whether Stork uses glycerin in the coatings on > their > > > teapills? > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > > > Karen Vaughan, MSTOM > > > Creation's Garden > > > 253 Garfield Place > > > Brooklyn, NY 11215 > > > > > > (718) 622-6755 > > > > > > Co-Conspirator to Make the World A Better Place -- Visit > > > www.HeroicStories.com and join the conspiracy > > > > > > " Life without thankfulness is devoid of love and passion. Hope > without > > > thankfulness is lacking in fine perception. Faith without > > > thankfulness lacks > > > strength and fortitude. Every virtue divorced from thankfulness > is > > > maimed and > > > limps along the spiritual road. " --John Henry Jowett > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2005 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 Yehuda, My point, based on my own experience, is that many Orthodox Jews have used the excuse of no kosher supervision to not take Chinese herbs, when, in fact, I have asked authoritative rabbinical opinions on these issues several times over the years. I myself rarely use any non-kosher animal or insect products in my prescriptions, and always recommend vegi-caps. While I have petitioned Kan Herb company, which also distributes in Israel, on kosher certification on herbs, this may not be possible unless one can go to the sources in mainland China, which would be quite difficult and expensive. And, since most Chinese herb products are (or should be) by prescription, there is no potential market for same. And, since by the letter of the law, medicinal substances are permissible, with all due respects, we are splitting hairs. Each individual Jew who has a question should ask their halachic authority. This is what I recommend. I have several orthodox Jewish patients here in San Diego, and few if any of them have questioned the herbs that I prescribe to them. Take care, On Mar 24, 2005, at 11:06 PM, Yehuda L Frischman wrote: > > Dear Z'ev and Marnae, > > Though on technical Halachic (Jewish legal) ground you are correct, and > that a prohibited substance which if eaten as a medicine is permitted > and > one even makes a blessing on it assuming that it is not bitter and > repulsive, nonetheless, the law clearly also states that one should > pursue kosher alternatives if they are available. Furthermore, there > are > degrees of severity in prohibited substances: the most severe being > insects (including their shells) and reptiles, then edible parts of > non-kosher animals, animals not slaughtered in a kosher manner, or > non-kosher sea animals, and finally inedible parts to animals as well > as > inedible shells. When possible an observant Jew is required to avoid > the > greatest degree of prohibition even for medicine. This is the reason, > for example that even for the most prohibited substances, for example > quan xie or wu gong, when taken in capsule form, they should be > prepared > with vegicaps. > > Happy Purim, > > Yehuda > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2005 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 Just curious, there has been a lot of talk about domestically grown herbs, or Western herb substitutes with similar or even identical temperatures, flavors and properties as their Asian cousins. Is there any company that has gotten as far as selling a Western grown, Asian herb pharmacopia, and if yes, would it not be prudent to encourage them to become certified kosher? Yehuda On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 08:29:50 -0800 " " <zrosenbe writes: > > Yehuda, > My point, based on my own experience, is that many Orthodox Jews > > have used the excuse of no kosher supervision to not take Chinese > herbs, when, in fact, I have asked authoritative rabbinical opinions > on > these issues several times over the years. I myself rarely use any > non-kosher animal or insect products in my prescriptions, and always > > recommend vegi-caps. > While I have petitioned Kan Herb company, which also distributes > in > Israel, on kosher certification on herbs, this may not be possible > unless one can go to the sources in mainland China, which would be > quite difficult and expensive. And, since most Chinese herb > products > are (or should be) by prescription, there is no potential market for > > same. And, since by the letter of the law, medicinal substances are > > permissible, with all due respects, we are splitting hairs. > Each individual Jew who has a question should ask their halachic > > authority. This is what I recommend. I have several orthodox > Jewish > patients here in San Diego, and few if any of them have questioned > the > herbs that I prescribe to them. > > Take care, > > > On Mar 24, 2005, at 11:06 PM, Yehuda L Frischman wrote: > > > > > Dear Z'ev and Marnae, > > > > Though on technical Halachic (Jewish legal) ground you are > correct, and > > that a prohibited substance which if eaten as a medicine is > permitted > > and > > one even makes a blessing on it assuming that it is not bitter and > > repulsive, nonetheless, the law clearly also states that one > should > > pursue kosher alternatives if they are available. Furthermore, > there > > are > > degrees of severity in prohibited substances: the most severe > being > > insects (including their shells) and reptiles, then edible parts > of > > non-kosher animals, animals not slaughtered in a kosher manner, or > > non-kosher sea animals, and finally inedible parts to animals as > well > > as > > inedible shells. When possible an observant Jew is required to > avoid > > the > > greatest degree of prohibition even for medicine. This is the > reason, > > for example that even for the most prohibited substances, for > example > > quan xie or wu gong, when taken in capsule form, they should be > > prepared > > with vegicaps. > > > > Happy Purim, > > > > Yehuda > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 26, 2005 Report Share Posted March 26, 2005 Yehuda, Just FYI, I forwarded your query to Jean Giblette who is in the process of growing Chinese herbs biodynamically. She responded as below. I can post her newsletter if any are interested. Ann Hi Ann -- In my opinion, this comment concerns the level of medicine-making (i.e., compounding herbs and selling products based on the compounds) and I prefer not to get involved at that level right now. The reason is that our work represents an effort to educate the profession itself, not the public, at this time. We have to get to first base first. The complex issues of what is organic (not to mention what is kosher), also the value of trying to reverse the trend toward highly refined products, these must be tackled within the profession AFTER they have absorbed the implications of what we're offering. In other words, let a future medicine-maker decide if they need to certify kosher and then make those demands on the farmers. I would not invite this, our farmers have enough to do. Go ahead and post the newsletter if you feel it's appropriate. Happy spring, Jean Just curious, there has been a lot of talk about domestically grown herbs, or Western herb substitutes with similar or even identical temperatures, flavors and properties as their Asian cousins. Is there any company that has gotten as far as selling a Western grown, Asian herb pharmacopia, and if yes, would it not be prudent to encourage them to become certified kosher? Yehuda On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 08:29:50 -0800 " " <zrosenbe writes: > > Yehuda, > My point, based on my own experience, is that many Orthodox Jews > > have used the excuse of no kosher supervision to not take Chinese > herbs, when, in fact, I have asked authoritative rabbinical opinions > on > these issues several times over the years. I myself rarely use any > non-kosher animal or insect products in my prescriptions, and always > > recommend vegi-caps. > While I have petitioned Kan Herb company, which also distributes > in > Israel, on kosher certification on herbs, this may not be possible > unless one can go to the sources in mainland China, which would be > quite difficult and expensive. And, since most Chinese herb > products > are (or should be) by prescription, there is no potential market for > > same. And, since by the letter of the law, medicinal substances are > > permissible, with all due respects, we are splitting hairs. > Each individual Jew who has a question should ask their halachic > > authority. This is what I recommend. I have several orthodox > Jewish > patients here in San Diego, and few if any of them have questioned > the > herbs that I prescribe to them. > > Take care, > > > On Mar 24, 2005, at 11:06 PM, Yehuda L Frischman wrote: > > > > > Dear Z'ev and Marnae, > > > > Though on technical Halachic (Jewish legal) ground you are > correct, and > > that a prohibited substance which if eaten as a medicine is > permitted > > and > > one even makes a blessing on it assuming that it is not bitter and > > repulsive, nonetheless, the law clearly also states that one > should > > pursue kosher alternatives if they are available. Furthermore, > there > > are > > degrees of severity in prohibited substances: the most severe > being > > insects (including their shells) and reptiles, then edible parts > of > > non-kosher animals, animals not slaughtered in a kosher manner, or > > non-kosher sea animals, and finally inedible parts to animals as > well > > as > > inedible shells. When possible an observant Jew is required to > avoid > > the > > greatest degree of prohibition even for medicine. This is the > reason, > > for example that even for the most prohibited substances, for > example > > quan xie or wu gong, when taken in capsule form, they should be > > prepared > > with vegicaps. > > > > Happy Purim, > > > > Yehuda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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