In modern natural medicine using mixtures of herbs, plant extracts and other nutraceuticals is becoming more common. Chinese (TCM) and Indian (Ayuvedic) medicine has adopted this principle for thousands of years. However, discovering the best possible combination is far from easy and many interactions need to be considered. The synergistic effect of vitamin C with Beta glucans, carotenoids and bioflavonoids has been well demonstrated. In fact it is evident that in many cases the effect is greater than the sum of the parts. However, the opposite may also be true particularly in the case of essential oils.

As well as selecting the right raw materials and understanding the interactions other factors need to be taken into consideration to produce an effective and successful product:

• Effective daily dose of each ingredient for a given species
• Manufacturing processes including temperatures and pressures
• Space and Cost limitations within the diet
• Market opinion and industry regulations