The Business of Botanicals
with guest: Ann Armbrecht
Herbal medicine is an ancient practice, but in the 21st century, it is also a worldwide industry. Yet most consumers know very little about where those herbs come from. Author, Anthropologist and herbalist, Ann Armbrecht follows their journey from seed to shelf. Her book, "The Business of Botanicals", serves as eye-opener for anyone who pays attention to where their fruits, veggies, and chickens come from, but don't think twice about popping Advil. Learn more at http://shrnetwork.biz/businessofbotanicals .
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Show Notes:
The Business of Botanicals
[4:12] What prompted Ann to write her book?
- Took a Western herbalism class before becoming more interested.
- She started to become concerned with globalized herb chains.
[6:20] The relationship between the herbalist and the herb- What difference does it make?
[7:00] Why do people have a hard time acknowledging the intelligence of plants.
[12:52] Ann’s book aims to walk the line between not being naïve and dispelling the black and white myths around herbs.
[16:36] Sourcing and extraction methods: Where do your herbs/extracts come from? Are there health risks?
[18:28] Entourage effect: How much does the soil/environment of the herb play a role?
[25:20] How do we know that the herbs the we consume have been cared for in every step of production?
- Certifications help to give assurance.
- Ann has picked certain companies that she trusts.
[33:00] The problem with COA’s.
- Why not force 3rd party testing requirements industry wide?
- American Botanical Counsel can help with what to look for concerning adulteration.
[40:40] Why should we care about fair treatment of the workers?
- If you are paid well, you are more likely to do a better job at harvesting the herb.
- It also helps to prevent urban migration within the industry.
[48:40] The book takes you behind the scenes to see the steps involved in the production of botanical products.
- It also helps to tell the story of the people behind the product.
[50:30] Encounters that shook Ann when she was writing the book.
