Resources

Where to Find Herbs

I generally suggest purchasing herbal products from local sources, as it helps support bioregional herbalism and community-based herbalists. However, if you need to search farther afield, here are some of my favorite sources for high-quality herbs and herbal products.

Avena Botanicals

• avenabotanicals.com
• Deb Soul, founder of Avena, is one of the most respected herbalists in the Northeast. Her products are renowned. Most are grown in her gardens and/or are ethically wildcrafted. She has an exceptional line of herbal products.

Gaia Herbs

• gaiaherbs.com
• Founded by herbalist Ric Scalzo in 1987, Gaia Herbs supplies high-quality herbal extracts, tinctures, and capsules. Almost all of the herbs the company uses are grown on its own large organic farms.

Healing Spirits Herb Farm and Education Center

• healingspiritsherbfarm.com
• One of the best sources of ethically wildcrafted and organically grown herbs in the Northeast. Excellent source of organic Essiac at a reasonable price. Also offers herb classes and programs.

Heartsong Herb Farm

• herbsandapples.com
• A farm and organic apple orchard run by herbalists extraordinaire Michael and Nancy Phillips in northern New Hampshire. They make high-quality herbal products, including St. John’s wort liniment, tinctures for stress and trauma, and herbal preparations for everyday health needs.

Herbalist & Alchemist

• herbalist-alchemist.com
• David Winston is one of the nation’s leading herbalists. His line of products is outstanding. He specializes in medicinal formulas that are handcrafted from cultivated and ethically wild-harvested plants.

Herb Pharm

• herb-pharm.com
• Founded by herbalists Ed Smith and Sarah Katz, Herb Pharm is one of the oldest and most highly respected herb companies in the United States. Their high-quality herbal tinctures, syrups, and salves are available in most natural foods stores and online.

Jean’s Greens Herbal Tea Works & Herbal Essentials

• jeansgreens.com
• A wonderful selection of organic and wildcrafted herbs, oils, containers, beeswax, and other materials needed for making herbal products. Jean’s Greens has their own line of teas that are wonderful and delicious.

Mountain Rose Herbs

• mountainroseherbs.com
• Supplies bulk herbs, beeswax, books, oils, and containers. A leader in the organic fair trade movement, Mountain Rose is a huge supporter of United Plant Savers.

Pacific Botanicals

• pacificbotanicals.com
• Growers and suppliers of high-quality herbs and spices. Pacific Botanicals offers a wide variety of herbs. Mark Wheeler, founder and owner, was one of the first organic growers of medicinal herbs in the country.

Taproot Herbal Products

• taprootherbals.com
• A small company that specializes in high-quality mushroom formulas and adaptogenic herb tonics. Owner Marie Frohlich is a licensed dietician, herbalist, and health coach.

Woodland Essence

• woodlandessence.com
• Kate Gilday and Don Babeneaou run Woodland Essence and make lovely high-quality herbal products, flower essences, and medicinal mushroom extracts. They are a great source for high-quality pine pollen tincture. Kate and Don also offer classes on herbs and woodland lore.

Zack Woods Herb Farm

• zackwoodsherbs.com
• Jeff and Melanie have been surrounded by herbalists and lovers of the green since early childhood (Melanie is my daughter and Jeff my farmer-son-of-the-heart). Zack Woods supports the growing of endangered medicinal herbs. This great organic herb farm located in the pristine hills of northern Vermont offers very high-quality herbs at a great price.

Educational Resources

American Herbalists Guild

• 617-520-4372
• americanherbalistsguild.com
• The only national organization for professional, peer-reviewed herbal practitioners; offers a directory of members.

American Herb Association

• ahaherb.com

Backcountry Recording

• backcountryrecording.com
• Offers an excellent selection of audio recordings on herbal topics.

California School of Herbal Studies

• cshs.com
• One of the oldest herb schools in the United States, founded by Rosemary Gladstar in 1978.

Herb Research Foundation

• herbs.org/herbnews
• A clearinghouse of herb information; publishes an excellent newsletter.

Sage Mountain Retreat Center & Botanical Sanctuary

• sagemountain.com
• Apprenticeships and classes with Rosemary Gladstar and other well-known herbalists, as well as the Science & Art of Herbalism home-study course.

Tree Farm Communications

• treefarmtapes.com
• Excellent selection of educational tapes on health, herbs, and healing from most major herb and health conferences in this country.

United Plant Savers

• unitedplantsavers.org
• A nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and cultivation on endangered North American medicinal plants. Provides conferences, journals, and other educational services to members.
• See below for more information.

United Plant Savers At-Risk List

The following herbs have been designated as “UpS At Risk” due to overharvesting, loss of habitat, or by nature of their innate rareness or sensitivity. UpS is not asking for a moratorium on the use of these herbs, but rather is asking for a concerted effort by all those who use plants as medicine to seek sustainable alternatives; that is, grow your own, buy from reputable companies, or substitute other herbs whenever possible.

• American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)
• Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)
• Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
• Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
• Echinacea (Echinacea species)
• Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
• Helonias Root (Chamaelirium luteum)
• Kava Kava (Piper methysticum) (Hawaii only)
• Lady’s-Slipper (Cypripedium species)
• Lomatium (Lomatium dissectum)
• Osha (Ligusticum porteri and related species)
• Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens)
• Peyote (Lophophora williamsii)
• Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra)
• Sundew (Drosera species)
• Trillium, Beth root (Trillium species)
• True Unicorn (Aletris farinosa)
• Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)
• Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa and related species)