15/02/2026

ON SUNDAY February 15, 2026 theSunday Special XII

Rooted in botanical wisdom, guided by modern science BY CECELIA FONG

FUHGLELOLW\ 1XUKD]ZDQL DUJXHG WKDW WKLV perception overlooks how herbal care is PHDQW WR IXQFWLRQ “ :KHQ XVHG WKRXJKWIXOO\ DQG VXS ported by proper nutrition and lifestyle choices, herbal care can play a meaningful UROH LQ KROLVWLF ZHOOEHLQJ ´ VKH VDLG Importantly, herbal products are not intended to replace modern medical treat PHQW ,QVWHDG WKH\ VHUYH DV VXSSRUWLYH tools that work alongside conventional care, particularly in areas such as skin comfort, maintenance and long-term VXSSRUW What consumers should look for For consumers exploring herbal products IRU WKH ¿UVW WLPH DQ LQIRUPHG DSSURDFK LV NH\ 8QGHUVWDQGLQJ RQH¶V JHQHUDO health, including fundamental indicators of nutritional status, helps set realistic H[SHFWDWLRQV “A balanced diet provides the foun dation for herbs to work effectively,” 1XUKD]ZDQL QRWHG DGGLQJ WKDW EHQH¿WV often take weeks rather than days to EHFRPH QRWLFHDEOH From a safety perspective, she advised consumers to look for products registered with Malaysia’s national pharmaceutical regulatory authority and supported by UHFRJQLVHG VDIHW\ RU IRRG WHVWLQJ &OHDU certification and transparent informa tion are strong indicators of responsible SUDFWLFH As interest in natural wellness con tinues to expand, expert-led knowledge VKDULQJ EHFRPHV LQFUHDVLQJO\ LPSRUWDQW Bridging botanical heritage with modern science allows herbal care to be under stood not as an alternative trend, but as a disciplined, supportive component of FRQWHPSRUDU\ ZHOOEHLQJ By reframing herbal products through education rather than promotion, practi tioners like Nurhazwani aim to encourage more informed choices, grounded expec tations and safer use across the growing QDWXUDO ZHOOQHVV ODQGVFDSH

improvement, particularly when paired with appropriate nutrition and lifestyle KDELWV S NLQ KHDOWK IRU H[DPSOH LV LQÀXHQFHG not only by topical application but also E\ K\GUDWLRQ GLHW DQG RYHUDOO ZHOO EHLQJ ([SHFWLQJ KHUEV WR FRPSHQVDWH IRU WKHVH factors can lead to disappointment and PLVXVH Selecting and sourcing herbs responsibly Responsible herbal formulation begins long before a product reaches consum HUV 1XUKD]ZDQL¶V DSSURDFK FRPELQHV academic research with real-world obser YDWLRQ 'XULQJ KHU SRVWJUDGXDWH VWXGLHV VKH UHYLHZHG WKH VFLHQWL¿F OLWHUDWXUH RQ KHUEDO Ḣ FDF\ DQG VDIHW\ ZKLOH OHDUQLQJ from experienced practitioners across PXOWLSOH WUDGLWLRQDO V\VWHPV (TXDOO\ LPSRUWDQW LV VRXUFLQJ +HUEV must be obtained from suppliers who pri RULWLVH TXDOLW\ LQWHJULW\ DQG FRQVLVWHQF\ :LWKRXW UHOLDEOH UDZ PDWHULDOV HYHQ WKH most carefully designed formulation can IDOO VKRUW This emphasis on sourcing reflects a broader industry need for transpar ency, particularly as demand for natural SURGXFWV FRQWLQXHV WR JURZ ' espite rising interest, herbal products are often dismissed as outdated or lacking

&KLQHVH 0HGLFLQH DQG $\XUYHGD R̆ HU FHQWXULHV RI REVHUYDWLRQDO NQRZOHGJH Yet, Nurhazwani cautioned that relying solely on tradition without standardisa WLRQ SUHVHQWV FKDOOHQJHV “Inconsistency in raw materials and WKH ODFN RI YDOLGDWLRQ DUH UHDO LVVXHV This is where modern testing becomes LPSRUWDQW ´ VKH QRWHG From her perspective, traditional herbal knowledge and modern medicine should function as complementary sys WHPV $SSO\LQJ FRQWHPSRUDU\ VWDQGDUGV of safety, consistency and measurable outcomes helps translate traditional formulations into products that meet WRGD\¶V ZHOOQHVV H[SHFWDWLRQV Herbal solutions are not one-size- ¿WV -all 2 ne of the most common misconceptions surrounding herbal care is the expectation RI LPPHGLDWH RU XQLYHUVDO UHVXOWV ,Q UHDO LW\ LQGLYLGXDO UHVSRQVHV YDU\ VLJQL¿FDQWO\ “ (DFK SHUVRQ KDV D GL̆ HUHQW ERG\ FRQ dition and temperament,” Nurhazwani VDLG “Not every formula works the same way IRU HYHU\RQH ´ Herbal products work best when used ZLWK LQWHQWLRQ DQG RYHU WLPH 8QOLNH fast-acting pharmaceutical interventions, botanical care often supports gradual

H ERBAL care has long been part of everyday wellbeing in this region, yet modern consumers are increasingly asking tougher questions DERXW VDIHW\ Ḣ FDF\ DQG FUHGLELOLW\ :KDW goes into a product? How consistent are the ingredients? And how can traditional knowledge stand up to contemporary health expectations? According to phytobiotics practitioner and herbal formulator Nurhazwani, these questions are not only valid but also HVVHQWLDO $V IRXQGHU DQG &(2 RI 3HUL EXQJD 0DOD\D %RWDQLFDO (OL[LU D EUDQG established in 2024, she approaches herbal wellness as a discipline that must be both evidence-informed and respon VLEO\ DSSOLHG Understanding phytobiotics in everyday care 3 hytobiotics refer to bioactive compounds derived from plants that support the ERG\¶V QDWXUDO IXQFWLRQV ,Q VNLQ DQG topical care, their strength lies not in single-ingredient solutions, but in how GL̆ HUHQW KHUEV LQWHUDFW ZKHQ WKRXJKWIXOO\ FRPELQHG “The greatest strength of herbs lies LQ KRZ WKH\ ZRUN WRJHWKHU :KHQ IRU mulated correctly, they act holistically, R̆ HULQJ PXOWLSOH OD\HUV RI EHQH¿W UDWKHU than one isolated effect,” Nurhazwani H[SODLQHG This synergistic quality is what dif ferentiates botanical formulations from conventional products that often target V\PSWRPV LQ LVRODWLRQ +RZHYHU VKH stressed that synergy does not mean indis FULPLQDWH PL[LQJ 'RVDJH FRPSDWLELOLW\ and intended use all play critical roles in determining whether a formulation is VXSSRUWLYH RU LQH̆ HFWLYH Traditional herbal practices, including Malay traditional wisdom, Traditional

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