Commitment to Quality
During the past 50 years, we have been committed to providing products of the highest quality. We have carefully chosen exceptional manufacturing partners to create our products. Starting materials are tested and species verified, then processed according to strict manufacturing specifications. Extensive laboratory testing throughout the process confirms quality standards are met, and results are routinely verified by laboratory testing conducted in the US. The quality, processing and testing standards of our products are based on requirements outlined in the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China to ensure that our products are medicine grade. Our commitment to quality in every aspect has resulted in safe, high quality products you and your patients have trusted since 1969.
Product Excipients
We are committed to using as few food additives in the preparation of our Plum Flower® products as possible. Nevertheless, we are sometimes compelled to use excipients in certain products to ensure their quality and effectiveness. Excipients do not directly impact the metabolism of herbal compounds, but help to improve bioavailability and solubility, aid in forming pills, tablets or powders, and can stabilize and protect active substances.
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Mayway works with manufacturers in the PRC licensed to make both herbal and pharmaceutical medicines. Our manufacturing partners utilize their scientific expertise, skills and experience in selecting the best methods for producing our products. As traditional Chinese medicines are considered drugs in China, all ingredients, including excipients, are highly regulated. The excipients used in our products are all pharmaceutical grade and Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA. Not all of these excipients are used in every product; some are rarely used.
Plum Flower®, Bamboo Pharmacy®, and Minshan® Teapills
- Activated carbon: Primarily sourced from wood charcoal, a small amount is used in the coating of teapills for even, consistent color, texture and smoothness.
- China wax: A white or yellowish-white crystalline wax similar to pharmaceutical wax and confectioner’s glaze. It is deposited on the branches of privet trees by a scale insect common in China, India, and Japan. After purification, it is widely used in the food industry as the shiny hard coating on candies and chocolates, and by the pharmaceutical industry to coat pills and tablets to protect them from moisture, oxidation and to maintain the product’s integrity.
- Hydrated magnesium silicate (listed as “Talcum” on some labels): A fine-grained mineral mined from the earth and having a soft soapy feel. We use a pharmaceutical grade which has been tested and certified to be free of asbestos. Used in coating pills and as a flow agent to promote the smooth flow of ingredients.
- Maltose: A generic name for glucose syrup used in Asia. More commonly referred to in the US as Dextrin. It is not obtained from the malting of barley or wheat grain and is traditionally made from rice in Asia. Used as an herbal ingredient, when called for, in traditional formulas.
Plum Flower® and Bamboo Pharmacy® Tablets
China wax: A white or yellowish-white crystalline wax similar to pharmaceutical wax and confectioner’s glaze. It is deposited on the branches of privet trees by a scale insect common in China, India, and Japan. After purification, it is widely used in the food industry as the shiny hard coating on candies and chocolates, and by the pharmaceutical industry to coat pills and tablets to protect them from moisture, oxidation and to maintain the product’s integrity.
Castor Oil: Used to emulsify certain active ingredients to improve bioavailability.
Dextrin: A hypoallergenic, pharmaceutical-grade binding agent derived from cornstarch.
Honey: A sweet food substance produced by bees containing fructose and glucose. It is used as a binder in pills or tablets or as a sweetening agent. May be in a classic formula with a mild qi tonifying effect and other TCM Functions.
Hypromellose: An inert polymer used as a controlled-release agent to delay the release of a medicinal compound in the digestive tract. Also used in coating tablets as a lubricant to increase ease of swallowing.
Magnesium stearate: The chemical formula is Mg(C18H35O2)2. It is a salt containing stearate and magnesium. Stearic acid is a fatty acid that can be manufactured from both animal and vegetable oils, although the largest source world-wide is cottonseed oil. Used for its lubricating properties, preventing ingredients from sticking to manufacturing equipment during the compression of the extracts into solid tablets.
Microcrystalline cellulose: A natural excipient derived from plant cell walls. Commonly used for its compressibility and carrying capacity. It creates tablets that are extremely hard and stable, yet able to disintegrate rapidly. It is also used as an anti-caking agent and emulsifier.
Peach gum: A complex mixture of saccharine and glycoprotein made from tree sap used as a stabilizer and binder.
Povidone K30: A binding agent; not absorbed by the body.
Silicon dioxide: Also known as silica, from mined and purified quartz. In pharmaceutical products, silica aids powder flow during tablet formation.
Sucrose (Cane sugar): A disaccharide (sugar) usually obtained from cane or beets. Used in coating tablets as a lubricant to increase ease of swallowing.
Sodium starch glycolate: A chemically modified starch made from rice, potato, wheat or corn. It is used in tablet making as a disintegrant, releasing active ingredients when in contact with water.
Hydrated magnesium silicate (listed as “Talcum” on some labels): A fine-grained mineral mined from the earth and having a soft soapy feel. We use a pharmaceutical grade which has been tested and certified to be free of asbestos. Used in coating pills and as a flow agent to promote the smooth flow of ingredients.
Plum Flower® Single Herb Extract Powders
Dextrin: Used as an anti-caking agent to curb clumping.
Plum Flower® Capsules
Dextrin: Used in coating pills as a glidant (flow agent) to promote the smooth flow of ingredients.
Magnesium stearate: The chemical formula is Mg(C18H35O2)2. It is a salt containing stearate and magnesium. Stearic acid is a fatty acid that can be manufactured from both animal and vegetable oils, although the largest source world-wide is cottonseed oil. Used for its lubricating properties, preventing ingredients from sticking to manufacturing equipment during the compression of the extracts into solid tablets.
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Raw Material Selection
Our commitment to quality starts from the very beginning. First, we begin with the correct species and the correct herb part. All herbs, whether Plum Flower® Premier Quality™ Chinese Herbs or constituents in our Plum Flower® products, are the officially validated species as listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia or other government accepted Materia Medicas. This dedication to accuracy in our raw material selection helps ensure efficacy, and more importantly, safety, as substituted herbs may cause harmful side effects. Herbs are sourced from their indigenous regions, ensuring authenticity and quality. Upon receipt, herbs are inspected to ensure correct species identification, proper maturity, and quality before they can be used in our products.
Teapill Manufacturing
The manufacturing of a teapill begins with the decoction of a formula at a low, precisely controlled temperature. Extractors are stainless steel, vacuum-sealed chambers, and this combination of low temperature extraction and vacuum–sealed container ensures that no active ingredients or essential oils are lost when released during the decoction process.
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Essential oils are lifted up by the steam within the extractor and collected for later addition. The extracted liquid is pumped into heated condensers to further concentrate into a paste. The paste is blended with one or more powdered herbs chosen from the original formula to form a herbal dough. The dough is cut into small balls, after which a small amount of talcum (Hua shi) and activated carbon may be added for smoothness and consistency on the pill exterior. The balls are spun into our superior quality teapills, and coated with a fine layer of edible wax to for easier swallowing and to help naturally preserve freshness.
Finished batches of teapills are tested for various quality assurance parameters including active ingredient constituents, moisture content, disintegration time, heavy metals (lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium) and microbial contamination. These tests are performed on every batch of finished product. Following extensive in–house testing, heavy metal testing on random batches is conducted again at third party accredited labs to confirm results and to ensure that our standards of purity and safety are met. Hide
Plum Flower® Premier Quality™ Chinese Herbs
All Plum Flower® Premier Quality™ Chinese Herbs are the officially validated species as listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia or other government accepted Materia Medicas. Herbs are sourced from their indigenous regions, ensuring geo-authenticity and quality, and usually come to us direct from the growers and harvesting co–ops. Upon receipt, each herb is inspected to ensure correct species identification, proper maturity, and quality.
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Inspection is conducted by highly trained staff using macroscopic, microscopic, and sometimes thin layer chromatography (TLC) means to confirm species. Herbs are tested also for sulfur dioxide residues and for certain pesticide residues to ensure safety and quality.
Plum Flower® Premier Quality™ Chinese Herbs are processed according to Official PRC Pharmacopoeia and Materia Medica methods to reduce toxicity, modify herb characteristics, and to enhance efficacy. Further processing may include cutting (by machine or hand), steaming, and drying. Proprietary methods have been developed to avoid the typical manner of preserving herbs with sulfur dioxide fumigation and other preservatives. The processed and prepared herbs are vacuum packaged and nitrogen injected, either in between the double bags, or into the bag if singly bagged, to naturally preserve freshness.
Finished batches of Plum Flower® Premier Quality™ Chinese Herbs are subjected to over 15 tests for quality assurance including species verification, moisture content, heavy metals (lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium), and microbial contamination. They are also tested for certain pesticide residues. These tests are performed on every batch of finished product and can be verified and traced by the batch number on every package or bottle. Hide
Tablet Manufacturing
The manufacturing of a tablet begins with the decoction of a formula at a low, precisely controlled temperature. Extractors are stainless steel, vacuum-sealed chambers, and this combination of low temperature extraction and vacuum–sealed container ensures that no active ingredients or essential oils are lost when released during the decoction process.
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Essential oils are lifted up by the steam within the extractor and collected for later addition. The extracted liquid is pumped into heated condensers to further concentrate into a paste. The paste is blended with one or more powdered herbs chosen from the original formula to form a herbal dough. This dough is then pressed into shape with carefully controlled pressure to ensure appropriate dissolution rate and absorption time when ingested. Various excipients are also used when necessary to ensure consistent quality.
Finished batches of tablets are tested for various quality assurance parameters including active ingredient constituents, moisture content, disintegration time, heavy metals (lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium) and microbial contamination. These tests are performed on every batch of finished product. Following extensive in–house testing, heavy metal testing on random batches is conducted again at third party accredited labs to confirm results and to ensure that our standards of purity and safety are met. Hide
Extract Powder Manufacturing
The manufacturing of an extract powder begins with the decoction of a single herb or formula at a low, precisely controlled temperature. Extractors are stainless steel, vacuum-sealed chambers, and this combination of low temperature extraction and vacuum–sealed container ensures that no active ingredients or essential oils are lost when released during the decoction process.
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Capsule Manufacturing
Generally, capsule products are made by compacting powders or granules into gelatin or vegetarian capsules. A fine selection of Chinese herbal supplements is available in the Plum Flower® Capsule line. All capsules used are vegetarian and the ingredients are natural yield extract powder or a combination of natural yield and standardized extracts.
Infusion Manufacturing
Infusions are herbal extracts of single herbs or formulas manufactured similarly to extract powders, but made into a granule rather than powder. Infusions contain sugar, in amounts ranging from 7–40% depending upon the formula.
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This medium makes them more palatable, easy to administer, and simple to reconstitute into a tea when mixed with hot water. Many of the infusions offered by Mayway come from the Guangzhou Qixing Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., an internationally GMP certified manufacturer and the proud producer of Star Ring® Brand. Hide
External Use Manufacturing
Mayway distributes a selection of plasters, liniments, ointments and creams. However, as we do not import these products directly, manufacturing information is limited to what is printed on or contained with the product itself.
