Herbals are crude drugs of vegetable origin, the parts or extracts of which are used to alleviate symptoms or to treat diseased states. Herbal drugs are finished labeled products that contain active ingredients such as aerial or underground parts of plants or other plant material, or combinations thereof, whether in the crude state or as plant preparations.

Herbs are classified as both food supplements and drugs. In herbs, the active constituents are not in effective concentration, whereas in pharmaceuticals, the active ingredients are present in effective concentration.