1. Is Cedar Bear Naturales® owned by an herbalist?  If so, what are the advantages to an herbal products company being owned by herbalists?

2. Is the "Genuine TincTract® Made" process really the genuine one, and if so, what about the copy-cat attempts or those claiming to be a "Plus" version of a TincTract process?

3. Are herbs really as safe as is claimed?

4. I've read, seen on TV and been told that herbal and dietary supplements are unregulated. Is this true?

5. Does Cedar Bear Naturales® comply with FDA, FTC and the 1994 Dietary Supplements Health Education Act (D.S.H.E.A.)?

6. What is the difference between "Alcohol-Free" and "'true' Alcohol-Free" products?

7. Is glycerin really as good or better than alcohol in the making of liquid herbal products and preserving them?

8. Is glycerin as safe a preservative as alcohol? And if so, what is the preserving differences between the two?

9. What do you feel is the most intrinsic problem inherent in an alcohol produced product that is not a problem for a glycerin produced product?

10. Referring to dynamic microscopy analysis of alcohol versus glycerin's cellular absorption, some are interpretating the observational results and claiming that alcohol has better cellular penetration than glycerin does. Is this true?

11. Have Cedar Bear Naturales® products been subjected to efficacy studies?

12. What are the quality standards upon which Cedar Bear Naturales® operates?

13. What is the difference between a cGMP manufacturing standard and the cGMP/HACCP compliant manufacturing standard used by Cedar Bear Naturales™?

14. With Cedar Bear Naturales™ being fully Kosher certified, what benefit does this add to your already existing cGMP/HACCP compliant standards?

15. Cedar Bear Naturales™ states that its products are based on a standardized 'whole' herb poly-constituent approach, not an isolate/fractionate mono-constituent phyto-pharmaceutical driven 'Standardized' approach. What's the difference, and is one better than the other?

16. Cedar Bear Naturales® products sometimes appear to cost more than other glycerite based products, but when the per-dose cost is taken into consideration this appears to not be the case. Could you explain this?

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1. Q. Is Cedar Bear Naturales® owned by an herbalist?  If so, what are the advantages to an herbal products company being owned by herbalists?

A (Brief). Yes, two herbalists are owners of the company - LoR. Caarl (L. Carl) Robinson (a clinical & formulary herbalist) and his wife and business partner, Jhoane Robinson (a literary & traditional herbalist). The advantages to this are that we know herbs, are expert at compounding multiplex formulas, how to effectively and safely use them, what the clinical and consumer based ramifications are, and are able to work with store and clinic staff closely who often are herbalists themselves.

A (Detailed). Yes, we are owned by two herbalists - LoR. Caarl (L. Carl) Robinson (a clinical & formulary herbalist) and his wife and business partner, Jhoane Robinson (a literary & traditional herbalist). In fact, Cedar Bear Naturales® (and its former iteration) was originally co-founded by Mr. Robinson and a former president of the American Herbalists Guild, Steven H. Horne. The advantages to an herbal products company having owners who are clinical-based herbalists is that these individuals bring years of study, and clinically based experience and observation to the products that are developed, formulated and manufactured for sale. This means products are not made just to meet the current fad or newest idea, but instead are based on solid clinical based evidence, continued practitioner use, and socially relevant considerations aimed at benefitting the consumer, society and our living planet in a sincere legacy oriented way. The world is full of confused health values and questionable vanity based products that's rife with amoral marketing expediency. As a general rule, herbal products companies founded and owned by experienced herbalists who administer a company's product offerings consistently produce products that are meaningful and relevant to the times, possess a quality that bespeaks competence, cares for all living creatures and the planet, with the core values of the company and its founder reflected in the finished products that consumers depend on year after year. This is further borne out in that the company is a member of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), the company and founder/president are a member of the Herb Society of America (HSA), and the founder/president of the company is a member of the American Herbalists Guild (AHG).

2. Q. Is the "Genuine TincTract® Made" process really the genuine one, and if so, what about the copy-cat attempts or those claiming to be a "Plus" version of a TincTract process?

A (Brief). Yes, Cedar Bear Naturales™ utilizes the only multi–generationally enhanced TincTrac® technology approved and endorsed by its originator, LoR. Caarl (L. Carl) Robinson. The federally registered trade name "TincTract®" is owned by him as well. All "Genuine TincTrace® Made" products are made using cGMP/HACCP compliant and Kosher certified 6th generation proprietary trade secret commercial enhancements and improvements to the TincTract® process, while the copy-cats and those claiming to be a "Plus" version of a TincTract process utilize only the 1st generation 'home kitchen' based process (reflected in their inferior quality, unsophisticated taste anomolies, and lack of verifiable cGMP and HACCP standards). The copy-cat attempts claim to be the same or more, even going so far as to use the term "Plus" when in fact they don't even use all the aspects and steps outlined in the core "Genuine TincTract® Made" technology, and none are fully cGMP/HACCP compliant or Kosher certified by an OU (Orthodox Union) recognized kosher certifying agency.

A (Detailed). Yes, Cedar Bear Naturales™ utilizes the only TincTract® technology approved and endorsed by its originator LoR. Caarl (L. Carl) Robinson. Further, the trade name TincTract® is federally registered with the United States Patents and Trademarks Office in Washington, DC, under Mr. Robinson's name exclusively (exclusive use rights are Cedar Bear Naturales™ to use). The TincTract® brand processing technology as carried out by Cedar Bear Naturales™ (and its divisions/units) is the only one that uses ALL of the principles and practices as detailed in the TincTract® philosophy (and its resultant technology) as originated by Mr. Robinson. In an attempt to appear 'genuine' other companies have gone so far as to give their pseudo copy-cat versions of the process a "Plus" designation. This has left many, both within Cedar Bear Naturales™ and outside Cedar Bear Naturales™, to ask the question, "How can it be a "Plus" since all aspects and primary steps of a basic TincTract® based process are not even being utilized in the first place?" Add to this the fact that over the years since the 1st generation TincTract® process was first developed, Mr. Robinson has continued to move the TincTract® process way beyond that 1st generation 'home kitchen' applications (that all others refer to, since that is all that has ever been published, taught or made public) to its cGMP/HACCP compliant & Kosher certified 6th generation of proprietary trade secreted commmercial enhancements and improvements. These proprietary trade secreted generational enhancements are evidenced by both their patentability and by the super potent, consistent quality and efficacy, and best tasting liquid herb glycerites unmatched by any others. Analysis, lab tests, clinical pilot studies, decades of practitioner provings, and consistent converting of stores, clinicians, practitioners and accounts to our products when the comparisions to others is made all bears this out. Even though our ounce-per-ounce MSRP is slightly higher than the competition (often the same or less in many instances), our pricing actually proves to be more economical when objective head-to-head dosing/efficacy/compliance factors are weighed into a cost/value assessment of Cedar Bear Naturales™ products compared to the competition. (For a more detailed explanation of this latter point refer to the last Q/A at the end of this page.) Our Kosher certification is also recognized by OU, OK, Star K, KOF-K and KSA, the 5 biggest in the kosher certifying world.

3. Q. Are herbs really as safe as is claimed?

A (Brief). As a general rule reputable companies that are cGMP compliant (even better, if alcohol-free glycerite producing companies are also HACCP compliant) and use the safe herbs as listed in the current 'Herbs of Commerce' publication will produce herbal products that are safe and beneficial. For example, if a compounded formula contains the herb Lobelia (Lobelia inflata) which is not considered G.R.A.S. and is not listed as safe formost product liability insurance purposes, then such a product and the company producing that product would be considered to NOT be conforming to cGMP standards and be considered as uninformed in their compounding formulary knowledge and expertise. Here we are talking of 'whole' poly-constituent based herbal products, not the fractionate/isolate mono-constituent based phytopharmaceutical Standardized herbal products which are too often NOT safe for dietary/nutritional based supplemental use. Also consider the following – nutritive poly-constituent based herbs and many spice herbs are considered very safe, even in large amounts. As herbs progressively possess stronger properties they should be used in progressively lesser amounts and only for shorter periods of time. Non-chemical based solvent liquid extracts (such as glycerite produced products) are typically very safe, but should still be used under parental direction where children's use are concerned. And remember, herbs are highly concentrated foodstuff, even in their natural unprocessed state, therefore they should be treated as supplements and taken in dosages and daily amounts accordingly.

A (Detailed). That depends on three things. One, is the actual herb being referred to where safety is concerned. Two, is the form (how processed) of the herb being referred to. And three, how is the herb actually being utilized. Concerning point one, as with all things in the world, the safety and danger of something is predicated on how much of and how something is used. Herbs are no different. There are categories of herbs as relates to their relative safety. Category 1 and 2 are considered very safe herbs, even in large continious consumed amounts. Category 3 herbs are safe when used ocassionally and in moderate doses, but can become problematic when used in too high a dose, for too long or for the wrong application. Category 4 herbs are considered toxics that can pose real and imminent danger, and should only be used in dose managed amounts and under the direct care of a qualified clinical herbalist or physician adequately trained in clinical herbalism. (One example of a Category 4 herb is Lobelia (Lobelia inflata). If a compounded formula contains the herb Lobelia (Lobelia inflata), which is not G.R.A.S. and is not listed as safe for most product liabiity insurance purposes, then such a product and the company producing that product would be considered to NOT be conforming to cGMP standards and should be viewed as being uninformed in their compounding formulary knowledge and expertise. Cedar Bear Naturales® products contain mostly Category 1 and 2 herbs. Concerning point two, many herbs contain compounds that in their whole ratio intact poly-constituent state to other secondary and tertiary compounds are safe, even when used in larger sustained amounts, however, when these singular compounds are phytopharmaceutically mono-constituent 'Standardized' to unnaturally high concentrations in a finished product these formerly safe compounds (previously found as part of complex poly-constituent compounds) now become problematic in a real drug-like fashion, as was the case with the "ephedra problem." Products derived from 'whole' herb ingredients that aim at maintaining poly-constituent synergy and ratio integrity are definitely the safest, and most closely meet the definition for a 'dietary' supplement as embodied in the intent of D.S.H.E.A. and as overseen by FDA. Concerning point three, when the accepted use for an herb has been established and proven over millennias, and then on hokie science it is used for something else that is totally outside of established 'traditional' use, then the possibility for an herb being misused, mis-marketed and misrepresented looms big, with very negative consequences. Again, ephedra was the most important example of this problem in our current lifetime. Based on millennias of established traditional use Ephedra is best used in its 'whole' derived form (see point two) and only should be used for respiratory indications in small amounts with other herbs (ephedra is not taken alone in traditional herbalism) and not as a thermogenic/weight loss aid in combination with added caffene (see point three). Cedar Bear Naturales® products are developed and formulated with equal consideration given to efficacy AND safety.

4. Q. I've read, seen on TV and been told that herbal and dietary supplements are unregulated. Is this true?

A (Brief). Absolutely not! Though we are not regulated to the same 'critical' level drug companies are (because we don't make highly chemicalized mono-constituent pure isolate based drugs from artifical substances) our industry is all the same regulated, including inspections and stringent rules of compliance, by (depending of the State) local, county, state and federal regulatory agencies. Fact is, there are still more areas we are regulated on than the drug companies are. Don't believe us? Click here to get the facts. In fact, the FDA now has published stringent cGMP standards (current Good Manufacturing Practices) our industry is now required by law (previously, compliance with a cGMP standard was voluntary) to comply with aimed at assuring consistent product quality and safety for the consumer. Cedar Bear Naturales™ has been in voluntary compliance with FDA recommended cGMP standards for a number of years prior to FDA publishing its final binding cGMP rules and regulations for our industry, that we were already fully compliant with upon its publication.

A (Detailed). Absolutely not! the herbal and dietary supplements is more regulated than even FDA has been forthcoming to admit. For a real eye opener, click here to get the facts and see that our industry has more areas we are regulated on than the drug industry is. To say (or believe) we're not regulated is simply untrue and misleading. Remember, as a herbal and dietary supplements industry we don't make, distribute or sell 'drugs!' Therefore, our regulatory aspects should be very different and not nearly as onerous as that for drug regulation. That's common sense! Still, we're still more regulated than is generally known or acknowledged. (Admittedly, there are small 'cottage' or 'back-room' producers of herbal products that are small enough to be under the regulatory/FDA radar, and these are the companies one should be most concerned about... not the companies that comply with cGMP and HACCP standards, are quality certified (i.e. Kosher, NSF, etc.) and carry A.H.P.A. approved industry standard product liability insurance, etc.) We produce and sell nutritional based supplements, that may have functional and structural enhancing benefits, but dietary/nutritional all the same. Even so, FDA has published its stringent cGMP rules, regulations and standards for our industry of which all companies are required to now comply with. Cedar Bear Naturales™ was already in full compliance with the final legally binding cGMP rules and regulations upon their being published. As long as the food/herb based ingredients we process and concentrate maintain the intrinsic polyconstituent profile and do not concentrate a specific single constituent to unrealistically high levels (which is in fact crossing over into becoming a drug, or at least a pseudo-drug), in a finished product we can (and should) only be considered to simply be producing food/herb products as 'general' dietary based concentrates, only making the properties of a food or herb more readily digestible and concentrated so as less can be used than in the raw state, not too different from concentrated orange juice when you get right down to it, which no one in their right mind would ever equate with being drugs and needing to be regulated in such an onerous fashion accordingly. Proper regulation we totally agree with, but only when tailored to the context of that industry and its businesses. Again, that's common sense!

5. Q. Does Cedar Bear Naturales® comply with FDA, FTC and the 1994 Dietary Supplements Health Education Act (D.S.H.E.A.)?

A (Brief). Yes. We comply with all current FDA, FTC and D.S.H.E.A. regulatory standards required of our industry in general and our business specifically. We do not leave our published information policy in the hands of 3rd party individuals or companies, but instead handle, reveiw and approve all published and disseminated information in-house thereby guaranteeing compliance with all local, State and Federal rules, regulations and laws concerning product labeling and product claim issues.

A (Detailed). Yes. We are a FDA registered facility and operation and all information that goes on product labels, printed and media material, including product claims, are crafted, reviewed and approved in-house only with the input of government & trade association publications on the issue and qualified legal counsel. The core of regulatory compliance for the herbal products industry is the D.S.H.E.A. of 1994. cGMP standards, product labeling and improper product claims are issues that come under direct jurisdiction of FDA, and so long as no medical, cure or diagnosing claims are made for a product that product is considered a dietary supplement and outside FDA jurisdiction concerning product claims. FTC's role has to do with unsubstantiated claims as relates to product claims, advertising, promotionals and marketing matters. Today, FDA and FTC work closely together where product safety and claims infractions are concerned. We are compliant with all regulatory standards both as to State and Federal law. For example, regarding the label format/information regulations for product labels, we chose at the time we implemented full label compliance not to take advantage of the exemption from this regulation that exists for smaller companies, and instead chose to put the consumer first and provide them with the necessary information this regulation is intended to provide for consumers making informed decisions concerning our products. All our literature, media, labels, etc. are D.S.H.E.A., FDA and FTC compliant as well.

6. Q. What is the difference between "Alcohol-Free" and "'true' Alcohol-Free" products?

A (Brief). 'true' Alcohol-free means that no alcohol is used at any time whatsoever in the making of our products.

A (Detailed). Many other companies products say 'Alcohol-Free' on their labels, meaning that they are free of alcohol in the finished product (actually a small percentage always remains), however, the product was made using alcohol. The problem is that many companies don't divulge this fact to their consumers conspicuously on the product labels with statements such as 'This Product Made With Alcohol,' or 'Alcohol Removed.' The term "'true' Alcohol-Free" means that no alcohol has ever been used in the making of CBN™ TincTract® products... not ever!

7. Q. Is glycerin really as good or better than alcohol in the making of liquid herbal products and preserving them?

A (Brief). We believe so, as it's not even an arguable subject given the research (foods, medical, industrial), published texts on the subject, well established history of glycerin's uses in the foods, beverage and confectionary industries, and our own years of experience that is backed by independent 3rd party lab analysis that validates our assertion that glycerin really is as good and in many instances better than alcohol.

A (Detailed). Absolutely! But only if a company thoroughly understands the nature of glycerin and works with it accordingly, since the rules for alcohol extraction standards that are typically imposed on glycerin extraction methodologies simply do not work for glycerin and so glycerin must be dealt with from a completely different perspective to that of alcohol.  There is published texts and scientific studies on the solvent/extractive and preservative qualities of glycerin compared to that of alcohol. The preservative mechanisms for each are very different, but both are highly effective in their own right.  Glycerin is much more versatile and is listed as possessing the highest and most versatile solvent qualities known, exceeded only by water itself (due only to water's ability to take on the 3 forms of matter). Glycerin is much more widely used in the food and beverage products industry for a myriad of uses than alcohol, and whereas alcohol preserves (actually steralizes) through a denaturing and inert rendering sterile action that nulifies the biological viability of many constituents, glycerin is a true preservative in that it preserves a product without denaturing or rendering inert the biological viability intrinsically found in botanicals. Both as an extractive agent and a true constituent preserving agent glycerin excells alcohol on numerous counts. In fact, we have an independent 3rd party lab analysis that verifies the extractive potential of a Cedar Bear Naturales® TincTract® glycerite process being 5 to 7 times more effecient than a 50:1 pharmaceutical grade high pressure gas extraction (HPG) of a botanical (it was for Cordyceps, one of the hardest materials to liquid extract from known).

8. Q. Is glycerin as safe a preservative as alcohol? And if so, what is the preserving differences between the two?

A (Brief). Yes, glycerin is as safe a preserving and aseptic agent as alcohol when used according to well defined standards for doing so (as Cedar Bear Naturales® does). The aseptic actions for the two work very differently – alcohol works through a decidedly 'septic' action (i.e. bacterioseptic, etc.) whereas glycerin works through a 'static' action (i.e. bacteriostatic, etc.). Both septic and static activity are very efficient purity/safety and preserving actions.

A (Detailed). Yes, glycerin is as safe an aseptic agent as alcohol when used in the proper amounts, especially when the glycerite product is made according to stringent cGMP/HACCP compliant standards - like Cedar Bear Naturales® products are. Our unique and innovative TincTract® made glycerite products contain no added preservatives or chemicals, have a listed 3 year expiration date and do not require refrigeration after opening.  Whereas alcohol attains product safety through its steralizing action (cidal), glycerin attains product safety through its preserving action (static). Alcohol outright kills contaminant organisms through its stearilizing bacteriacidal action whereas glycerin renders contaminant organisms inert by its hygroscopic bacteriastatic (water depriving/desiccant) action. Problem is, where the biological viability of enzymes, vitamins/co-factors and aromatic components are concerned, alcohol's sterile action is all-inclusive and non-discriminatory which means that it renders these components inert and denatures them, whereas glycerin's preservative qualities preserve the biological viability of these compounds while making the product safe, making glycerin the preferred medium for extraction and preserving where subtle therapeutic and important nutritional and vitality aspects are concerned for a whole herb product. Fact is, Cedar Bear Naturales® was the first liquid herbal product to post a 3 year expiration on its product labels. We have samples of TincTract™ herbal glycerites that are opened every 3 or 4 years and organoleptically analyzed for intrinsic quality and lab safety analyzed for contaminant activity. In every instance the samples have not precipiated or inverted and maintain their rich color (unchanged), consistent aroma, taste and texture, with no contaminant activity whatsoever..... after 20 years!

9. Q. What do you feel is the most intrinsic problem inherent in an alcohol produced product that is not a problem for a glycerin produced product?

A (Brief). Even though an alcohol solvent may remove many constituents, its intrinsic nature only serves to render many of those removed components inert or denature them... so why remove them in the first place, even in a super-saturate fashion, if they're no longer going to possess their former biological viability? Glycerin possesses no inert rendering or denaturing properties, but in fact preserves the biological viability of removed components and constituents.

A (Detailed). It's the denaturing and inert rendering character of alcohol itself. It's natural to alcohol and cannot be changed, even for super-saturate type cencentrating processes. This is most problematic for subtle therapeutic aspects and nutritionally supporting biologically viable components in any herbal (and non-herbal) product. On the plus side, alcohol actually possesses many qualities as an extractive agent (solvent) that are very conducive to liquid processing of herbs, especially for freshly harvested botanicals and resinous compounds, but on the negating side of the issue alcohol still possesses the intrinsic character of denaturing many important therapeutic qualities of a plant's extracted aromatic components, and renders many enzymes, co-factors and complex poly-compounds inert, often the very components an alcohol process is seeking to extract. This effectively diminishes the biological viability of the very components an alcohol extraction is attempting to remove from plant matter. Even plant resins, which alcohol is by far the better solvent for more efficient dissolving of and putting into suspension, are themselves complex aromatic compounds that alcohol's intrinsic characteristics ends up denaturing many aspects of.  Alcohol in solution with water also appears to possess a higher REDOX than does glycerin in solution with water. A higher REDOX means that a product will oxidize, particulate and invert faster than one with a lower REDOX, meaning that a Cedar Bear Naturales® herbal glycerite will sustain finished product quality longer on the shelf than will an alcohol containing liquid herbal product.

10. Q. Referring to dynamic microscopy analysis of alcohol versus glycerin's cellular absorption, some are interpretating the observational results and claiming that alcohol has better cellular penetration than glycerin does. Is this true?

A (Brief). Where internal tissues are concerned, no, it is not true, and given certain considerations the same for external tissues. First of all, what does this test have to do with the safe and efficacious 'oral' ingestion and effective "in-vivo" absorption of glycerites (glycerin based products) versus alcohol based products? None! Even so, the over simplistic intrepretation of alcohol possessing greater 'intrinsic' cellular penetration efficiency than glycerin under dynamic microscopy analysis is both flawed (from a scientific perspective) and highly assumptive and misleading. The reviewer intrepreting this test has not taken peripheral factors into consideration that heavily effect the outcome of the analysis, not the least of which the factors intrinsic to an isolated non-nerve system influenced in-vitro cell culture do not automatically comport to that for a complex nerve system connected in-vivo cellular system as naturally found in the body. Fact is, glycerin is intrinsically more compatable and readily absorbed into intact in-vivo living cells, while alcohol, due to its intrinsic nature, is less compatable with and not readily absorbed into the same cells. This is one of the most basic proven premises of medical chemistry regarding the pharma-dynamics of fluid chemistry and cellular physiology, especially concerning the oral cavity!

A (Detailed). Concerning alcohol being better than glycerin's penetration into internal tissues, no, it is not true and given certain mitigating factors, the same applies to external tissues. This is a test whose results have actually been taken out of context and erroniously transposed to somehow have relevancy to where the 'oral' ingestion and absorption into intact in-vivo living cellular systems of a glycerite (glycerin based) product versus an alcohol based one is concerned. From a scientific perspective there is no relevancy between this particular in-vitro based test results and intact in-vivo living cellular dynamics. Regarding the assumption however, there has been misinformation floating both in print and on the web where a doctor is referring to a dynamic microscopy study regarding whether alcohol has better intrinsic cellular absorption than glycerin does. On first blush the results of this in-vitro test would appear to validate the premise that alcohol does have greater intrinsic cellular absorption than glycerin does as the alcohol appears to absorb quicker into a cell culture than when the same dynamic microscopy analysis is performed with glycerin. However, those intrepreting the test in the manner done are breaking one of the prime rules of microscopic studies. For the intrepretation to be considered valid and of scientific value, the peripheral factors must also be factored into the review of the results to arrive at an accurate intrepretation. What the reviewer/interpretor of the test appears to have not considered is that the intense light and heat caused by the microscope's lighting to illuminate the specimen has a direct physically altering effect on the alcohol sample by exponentiatingits already reactive and rarified nature (by driving the low volatility/low vaporizing index actions intrinsic to alcohol (i.e highly volatile and easily vaporized characteristics), even in low heat circumstances) thereby actively influencing the alcohol being more readily 'driven' into the cell cultures faster than if done in a more natural passive 'cold' state (which should have been the case for the test to be considered valid). Glycerin possess almost the complete opposite volatility and vaporizing indexes to that of alcohol, therefore the intense light and increased temperature upon the glycerin sample would have much less to no effect on the glycerin, thereby making it appear that it has a lower cell penetration action than alcohol, in the prior improperly induced dynamically influenced state, appears to have. Another problem with the interpretation of this test is that the reviewer(s)/interpretor(s) erroniously assume that an in-vitro result will have the exact same result in an in-vivo state, which is definatley not the case, especially where bad-science interpretation (or better yet, misinterpretation) of this particular microscopy testing protocol is concerned. When these primary and ancillary facts are factored into this particular mocroscopy-based test they mitigate the assumption made for the intrepretation that alcohol has better cellular absorption rates than does glycerin. One of the most well understood premises of tissue physiology concerning alcohol versus glycerin's effects on in-vivo complex nerve connected tissue systems is that alcohol's cellular uptake is actually blocked! This is due to alcohol's intrinsic contact-based contracting/drying effect on tissue, which is a primary contact action consistent with alcohol's initial sterilizing action, whereas glycerin is readily absorbed by cells (due to its possessing a softening/moistening effect). This is most profound where oral tissues are concerned. This is so basic that it is taught in most pre-med and 1st year pharmacy courses, often demonstrated in medical physiology labs. Alcohol's immediate action causes the constriction of and drying (via a dehydration modality) of oral tissues, thereby blocking absorption (with the same dehydrating/drying action seen throughout the body when ingested), whereas glycerin is a succulent that moistens oral tissues, thereby enhancing absorption.  Isolated in-vitro cell cultures are devoid of nerve system driven sensory feedback, which if present (as it is in a normal bodily physiological systems) would have a profound effect on cellular activity where sensory driven nerve feedback contact dynamics are concerned (i.e. the oral cavity for example towards alcohol). To presume and then promote that an isolated non-nerve connected in-vitro cell culture's test results can be transposed over to that for complex nerve connected sensory driven in-vivo cellular systems is patently unscientific, highly assumptive, smacks of expediency and is misleading. Now add to this the amateurish interpretation (by a doctor no less) of a poorly executed mocroscopy study to support a totally inaccurate premise and the whole thing simply becomes ludicrous.

11. Q. Have Cedar Bear Naturales® products been subjected to efficacy studies?

A (Brief). Yes. Independent 3rd party pilot studies and clinical trials (one large study at the largest asthma & allergy clinic in the United States) and over 20 years of proven practitioner use, many who themselves have raised their own children on our products exclusively. No other true alcohol-free glycerite-based liquid herbal product line has this distinction!

A (Detailed). Yes, we make products that have been subjected to independent 3rd party pilot studies and clinical trials, all rendering excellent results both as to efficacy and compliance (due to the great taste of our products). Two studies are worthy of mention. One was for a 'joint relief' product at a pain relief clinic in the Southwest United States where all individuals subjected to the pilot study showed positive measurable results, and the other was for a unique rhizome product originating out of the South Pacific that we make that was subjected to an extensive pilot study involving a large number of participants at the largest asthma & allergy clinic in the United States, where the product showed overall improvement for general respiratory health in all participants and over 80% positive results for specific indications being tested for. It should be noted that in both of these clinical pilot studies our nutritionally dense polyconstituent based herbal glycerite products were used, not isolate/fractionate pseudo-drug-like 'Standardized' extracts, which the latter clinic's study noted a need for further study on not only constituent content, but if processing technology itself, such as that used by Cedar Bear Naturales™, might also somehow contribute to the efficacy of a botanical product. Our products have also been dispensed by clinicians and practitioners for over 20 years with excellent and consistent results. In those years many of these clinicians and practitioners have also raised their children exclusively on Cedar Bear Naturales® Children's products, noting that no other company's children's herbal products (either dried or liquid) has been as consistent in efficacy and tasted as good as ours. Ours is the only true alcohol-free liquid herbal products to hold the unique distinction of having been subjected to actual efficacy studies and efficacy-based trials over 20+ years!

12. Q. What are the quality standards upon which Cedar Bear Naturales® operates?

A (Brief). We are FDA registered. cGMP and HACCP compliant manufacturing operations and products, and have a HACCP standards environmentally contained lab-grade clean room for special projects. We are fully Kosher certified. Halal and Vegan compliant. Raw materials used are: Kosher, USP, COG (Certified Organic), organic verified, wild cultivar (organic), ethically wildcrafted and select CBN™ approved trusted vendor sources.

A (Detailed). We are a cGMP/HACCP compliant lab-grade based manufacturing operation that's FDA registered, with all operations, processes, procedures, policies and standards being detailed and fully documented. The facility, operations and all products are fully KOSHER certified, including our HACCP standard environmentally contained special projects lab-grade clean room. All of our products are also Halal and Vegan compliant. A number of ingredients are USP certified grade and meet the highest standards for foods and dietary use. We use certified organic, organic verified, wild cultivar (organic), ethically wild-crafted, and select CBN™ approved trusted vendor provided botanicals in our products. Our products are not irradiated, and no added preservatives or chemicals are added to any of our Cedar Bear Naturales® brand products. Stringent analysis of all incomming botanicals is done to assure intrinsic quality, and ongoing safety analysis of random samples of finished product is done to assure product purity and safety. Cedar Bear Naturales™ is also a member of the American Herbal Products Association, our industry's trade organization of which one of their goals is industry compliance with high manufacturaing standards and product safety.

13. Q. What is the difference between a cGMP manufacturing standard and the cGMP/HACCP compliant manufacturing standard used by Cedar Bear Naturales™?

A (Brief). cGMP deals mainly with quality control (QC) issues for facility, operations and product, including support documentation for QC purposes. HACCP includes the cGMP standard and deals with the sandwiching (underlying and overriding) aspects of quality assurance (QA) that is aimed at ensuring that quality happens and QC standards are held to, that typically includes extensively detailed documented scenarios and related matters relative to possible quality control infractions (called 'critical control points'), the mitigation, preventation and corrective measures used for assuring and maintaing quality control of a company's endeavors. Being both cGMP and HACCP compliant is part of what makes Cedar Bear Naturales, Inc. manufacturing operations closer to being a 'Lab-Grade' based operation.

A (Detailed). cGMP means 'current Good Manufacturing Practices' and is a standard that reputable companies comply with so as raw material identification, manufacturing equipment and processes, employee cleanliness, and numerous finished product quality standards are met. GMP/HACCP means 'current Good Manufacturing Practices/Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points' and is a standard that embraces and moves beyond cGMP by defining, tracking and documenting all possible points (called 'critical control points') of contamination (from procurement of raws to finished products) that could possibly take place in any given situation. While one standard (cGMP) deals with the manufacture and safety of products, i.e. the Quality Control issues, the other (HACCP) deals with Quality Assurance (QA) that in turn ensures Quality Control happens, i.e. the detailed reference/referenced documentation for expedient and accurate tracking down of a problem, or potential problem – the 'critical control points,' that includes identifying at any given point in a products manufacture/finishing/etc., potential problems and establishing protocols to prevent, mitigate and/or resolve problems promptly. An HACCP standard denotes that a product is given 'detailed,' 'expanded' and 'possibility scenarios' safety considerations not included in a cGMP standard alone. It also makes QC accountable to QA. Because Cedar Bear Naturales® is a liquid based manufacturing operation we voluntarily chose to have all Cedar Bear Naturales™ products produced in accordance with a HACCP compliant standard for manufacturing, management and tracking of our operations and its products from start to finish. Being a fully documented cGMP/HACCP compliant operation is part of what makes Cedar Bear Naturales, Inc. manufacturing operations 'Lab-Grade' based in its standards.

14. Q. With Cedar Bear Naturales™ being fully Kosher certified, what benefit does this add to your already existing cGMP/HACCP compliant standards?

A (Brief). Getting Kosher certified actually verified and validated our cGMP/HACCP compliant standard and that we were indeed genuinely Kosher compliant from the moment we implemented this standard back in 2000. It also validates beyond a doubt that we take all aspects of quality control and assurance seriously. We also manufacture OU approved Passover supervised/certified products – a first for a liquid herbal products company. Surprisingly, over 70% of the individuals who seek out and purchase Kosher certified products are not part of or have affiliation with the cultural context that Kosher originated from. They simply want a quality standard that has stood the test of time and holds up to modern scientific food safety considerations.

A (Detailed). Being Kosher certified actually verifies through an independent 3rd party review that our documentation, ingredients and operations standards for cleanliness, safety and uniformity are indeed real, and not just hype or puff. A reputable and fully recognized Kashrus standard, as we operate under, includes numerous aspects also embodied in a high grade HACCP standard, with the additional advantage that a Kosher standard is the most time honored and scientific proven health and safety standard originating from a cultural context. Our Kosher certification process was substantially aided by our already existing extensive HACCP documentation as opposed to a GMP standard alone. In our case, Kosher certification had the added advantage of also validating for us that we have already been doing it correctly since becoming cGMP/HACCP and Kosher compliant back in 2000.  Further, our Scrill K Kosher certification is recognized by the biggest of kosher certifiying agencies - OU, OK, Star K, KOF-K, KSA and many other certifying agencies. Cedar bear Naturales™ also manufactures Orthodox Union (OU) approved Passover supervised/certified products. Research of consumer buying patterns has shown that Kosher certified products are some of the most sought for class of products out there. In fact, it has been established that over 70% of all Kosher certified related sales is by individuals who are not part of the Hebrew community or its culture. These individuals see products that are Kosher certified as being of a higher quality standard than those that are not, and their satisfaction with these products, verified by their purchasing patterns, validates this premise.

15. Q. Cedar Bear Naturales™ states that its products are based on a standardized 'whole' herb poly-constituent approach, not an isolate/fractionate mono-constituent phyto-pharmaceutical driven 'Standardized' approach. What's the difference, and is one better than the other?

A (Brief). The differences is best described with the following example. standardized poly-constituent is like a whole carrot that's been juiced. It has all the carrot's nutritional and constituent properties present in their natural ratio-intact state and synergy, only the fiberous part of the carrot is missing. Mono-constituent phyto-pharmaceutical "Standardized" is like that same whole carrot having only the vitamin A super concentrated while all the other nutritional and constituent properties are dramatically reduced or altogether discarded along with the fiber, leaving only the isolate/fractionate mono-constituent based vitamin A part present in the finished product... sort of like a faucet only in a kitchen but with no sink, countertop, drains or plumbing for it to work with. From a purely health building perspective we believe the standardized 'whole' poly-constituent approach is the most health restorating and supplemental approach for improving and sustaining health and well-being. In other words, Cedar Bear Naturales™ 'standardized' is poly-constituent based, while the "Standardized" of the isolate/fractionate phyto-pharmaceutical driven approach is mono-constituent based.

A (Detailed). The difference between standardized poly-constituent and mono-constituent "Standardized" is simple but substantial in its ramifications. A poly-constituent approach seeks to obtain and sustain the naturally occurring synergy, interrelated ratios and biological viability of the broad base of constituents and compounds that are intrinsic to a 'whole' unprocessed herb, whereas the mono-constituent approach seeks to isolate, fractionate and concentrate a singular 'active' constituent from an herb without consideration for the myriad of other secondary and tertiary constituents and compounds the 'Standardized' constituent was originally a part of. In the simplest of terms, the poly-constituent approach is more supplemental, nutritive, tonifying, building, regenerating/revivifying, etc., whereas the mono-constituent approach, is more drug-like and better suited for prescribing by a qualified clinically trained and pharma-experienced individual. As for one being better than the other, Cedar Bear Naturales™ is of the opinion that 'whole' poly-constituent based herbal products are best suited for general distribution and sales to the public and most closely meet the intent of the D.S.H.E.A. standard, whereas the mono-constituent phyto-pharmaceutically driven 'Standardized' potency based products are best suited for restricted distribution and sales through qualified clinically trained practitioners. The bad media, negative press and public scares concerning certain herbs since the late 1980's, and especially since 1994, has been caused by the misuse, mislabeling, over-reaching and misplaced confidence in the phytopharmaceutical isolate/fractionate mono-constituent based 'Standardized' potency category of products, not the whole herb poly-constituent based herbal products like Cedar Bear Naturales® produces . (Ephedra is a good example of this observation. Of 1,400 or so cited cases concerning Ephedra adverse events, only one case cited a whole ephedra product (as a simple steeped tea) as being a "possible" contributor to the event recorded - and then, only as a 'possible' contributor, meaning the evidence was lacking to affirmatively substantiate that a whole herb based product of ephedra was ever a problem at any time in the adverse event reporting process. It was the phytopharmaceutical 'Standardized' drug-like ephedrine products that cuased the ban, not the 'whole' herb based products.)

16. Q. Cedar Bear Naturales® products sometimes appear to cost more than other glycerite based products, but when the per-dose cost is taken into consideration this appears to not be the case. Could you explain this?

A (Brief). Our "Genuine TincTract® Made" products are more concentrated and potent than the competitions (which equates to less product used per dose – sometimes up to 3 times less), and our efficacy standard is more consistent (meaning less product overall is used to get resolve), and the compliance and consistently positive benefits derived from using our products are unmatched by any others. Do the math and you'll see exactly what we mean.

A (Detailed). A Cedar Bear Naturales® per bottle price may appear more than that paid for another competitor's glycerite product, but the dosing instructions tell a different (and more accurate) tale of what the real costs for a product are. For example, Cedar Bear Naturales® Children's products are listed at 1/4 teaspoon (30 drops) per dose (serving). Other competitor products are typically listed at 1/2 teaspoon (60 drops) to as high as a full teaspoon (120 drops) per serving, placing the cost of their products on a parity based per-dose basis to Cedar Bear Naturales® dosing standard being at a higher cost than that for our products. Do the math on a point-for-point basis to see for yourself. You'll be surprised at just how cost effective on a parity based dose-per-dose and efficacy basis Cedar Bear Naturales® products are when compared to other companies similar type products. The consistent efficacy and results our products are known for also speak for themselves where cost and value are concerned. And that doesn't include the fact that our products keep longer, retain their purity and quality, and possess a better shelf life after they are opened, even requiring no refrigeration!