Herbal Remedies FAQ -- Understanding the German Commission E

What is the German Commission E and why is it important?

Use of herbal remedies and medicines derived from plants has a long history in Europe and, especially, in Germany. In 1978, an expert committee known as Commission E was formed in the German Ministry of Health to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of herbal medicines. Many consider the work of Commission E to be an important step in moving the use of herbs for health purposes from the old herbalist tradition into biomedical science.