Continuing the last blog post discussion of What Is Naturopathic Medicine, this post will discuss the therapeutic modalities or forms of treatment approach, on which Naturopathic Medicine relies.

Before we get in to each modality, it should be said that, just as each person is unique in how they develop illness, respond to stressors and respond to treatments in their own individual way, so too, each Naturopathic Doctor is individualized in the approach they take to treatment and the modalities they choose to use.   Some are very broad in the modalities they choose to utilize, while others focus in on specific modalities that they have the most knowledge and/or experience with.  As well, some ND’s do continuing education within specific modalities while others add to their repertoire of modalities by learning about new modalities not taught in the current Naturopathic Medical School curriculum.

The main modalities that are common amongst most Naturopathic Doctors include:  Botanical Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, Clinical Nutrition, Homeopathic Medicine, Physical Therapy including Massage Therapy and Spinal Manipulation, Health Psychology and Counseling, Hydrotherapy or water cure.  Other therapies that ND’s may choose to be educated in include Intravenous Therapy, Prolotherapy, Mesotherapy, Gemmotherapy, Biotherapeutic Drainage, and many other alternative treatment options.

Botanical Medicine is the use of plants as medicine or their healing abilities, one of the oldest forms of medicine known to humans.  In fact, some of the first pharmaceutical drugs came from the extraction of specific compounds within plants.  Even today, there are many drugs that come from plant extractions, which isolate one or two specific molecules to result in a specific action.  Unfortunately, when you only focus in on one molecule from a plant, you lose the complexity of the interactions of hundreds, if not thousands, of molecules interacting, which produce not just one specific action in the body, but a variety of actions which produce a desired outcome and stimulate the body to function more effectively.   Plants can be utilized for specific actions or have a general tonifying or nourishing effect in the body.  It is this ability to aid the body in its capacity to heal and function more optimally that makes plants so useful in clinical practice.  Naturopathic Doctors learn hundreds of plants’ medicinal properties, drug interactions, and historical purpose.  Some go on to learn a great deal more plants and the use of combining plants into sometimes-elaborate formulas, which address a person’s constitution or individual makeup.  Botanical medicine is using the healing power of nature (Vis medicatrix naturae) to its fullest potential.  Utilizing plants as medicine can be as simple as using plants for food (which is medicine in its basic form), using spices for a medicinal effect (not just seasoning), drinking herbal teas, taking capsules of powdered herbs or extracted herbs, or the more common clinical or therapeutic use of tinctures or liquid extracts (herbs which are extracted in alcohol or glycerine to preserve the medicinal qualities of the plants).

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture is one of the oldest systems of medicine in recorded history.  This system of medicine is based on the understanding that the body, mind and spirit is a complex system of physical structure and energy and thus cannot be separated from one another.  The body is viewed as having a system of meridians (pathways) and that energy flows along these meridians, through individual organs and throughout the body.  The dynamic and balanced movement of energy along these meridians and throughout the body is what provides health and healthy expression of emotions and mental clarity.  Disease manifests when energy flow is disrupted or altered or when the body is attacked by pathogenic factors (poor diet, poor lifestyle choices, wind, cold, heat, dampness, etc).  By utilizing diet, herbs, and acupuncture one is able to restore the proper flow of energy throughout the body, stimulate healing and bring balance back to the body to improve health.

Clinical Nutrition is utilizing diet, nutritional counseling and nutritional supplementation to optimize health and wellness.  Hippocrates, the father of medicine, said, “Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food.”  It couldn’t have been said any better.  Our health depends of the types of food we nourish our bodies with and nutrition should be the cornerstone of any system of medicine.  When cells receive the right information from the proper types of food and nutrition coming in to our bodies, they are able to perform or function optimally.  Without proper nutrition the body will be lacking in essential vitamins, minerals, enzymes and a variety of other essential components needed for physiological functioning.  Unfortunately, many of the public are unaware how unhealthy their diets are and what they are lacking in nutrition.  The media, marketing and convenience of certain food choices have lead our society to believe they are eating just fine when this is far from the truth. Our world is filled with fast food, premade food, chemically laden foods, preservatives, chemical flavourings, colourings and many other items, which are cheap to produce and provide no true nourishment for the body and can in fact disrupt our health.  Food should be eaten the way nature intended it, from the earth, with minimal processing of those foods.  And, in our fast paced world, many people don’t take the necessary time to prepare home cooked, nourishing meals.  This lack of investment and time over the course of a lifetime takes its toll on the body and leads to many of the chronic diseases of our time, most of which are preventable and treatable through dietary and lifestyle changes.

Homeopathic Medicine is a system of medicine that views the body as having a vital force (life energy) and that illness occurs when this vital force has been weakened by various factors and the stronger vital force of an illness or disease has taken hold in the body.  By taking a minute dose of a remedy whose characteristic features resemble the presenting symptom picture (set of symptoms) of the disease, using the principle of like cures like, the energy of that remedy will be enough to subtly strengthen the vital force of the patient, which can bring them to a stronger state in order to push out the illness or disease.  By using these minute doses that have been diluted through serial (repetitive) dilutions, we move farther away from a material substance from which the remedy came and more towards the energetic imprint of the original substance.  Homeopathic medicine can be utilized for acute symptoms where the prescribing is based on the most acute symptom presentation, such as a runny nose with sticky, yellow mucous.  Or, it can be utilized constitutionally, which is a more in-depth use of homeopathy where one utilizes a type of clinical questioning and directive to find all the symptoms that a patient experiences, be they physical, mental and emotional and find one specific remedy which most closely matches the whole experience of the patient and their current state in order to bring about health.

Physical Therapy and Spinal Manipulation is just as it sounds, using physical manipulations of the muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints of the body in order to optimize physical functioning.  This may include using massage, trigger point release, ultrasound, laser therapy, electrical stimulation, stretching, or adjusting specific joints.  By teaching patients about proper posture, effective movements and stretching techniques, it can retrain the body and take some of the physical burden or stress off the body.

Health Psychology and counseling addresses the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of health and wellness.  Often this is the main obstacle to optimal health and wellness that gets the least attention when people think about improving their wellbeing.  The impact of stress on our mental, emotional and spiritual health has wide ranging effects in the body, often manifesting themselves into physical ailments.  A perfect example is when someone says they “have butterflies in their stomach” prior to giving a public speech or some other important event.  This, in reality, is the anxiety of the event causes physiological changes in their gastrointestinal system such that its manifests as a physical feeling in the stomach or gut.  Too often in our society our emotions are repressed or not expressed properly and kept inside.  This will lead to physical changes in functioning, which can cause or contribute to the development of illness.  By working with patients through counseling and other mind-body techniques, Naturopathic Doctors can teach people how to effectively handle and or minimize the impacts that daily stressors can have on the body and how mental, emotional and behavioural changes can lead to an improved sense of wellbeing and health.

Lastly, Hydrotherapy is the use of water, in its various forms, in order to bring about healing.  Water cure has been used since antiquity to bring about physiological changes and stimulate healing.  People used to go to sanitariums, which were water cure centers, for a retreat in order to heal their ailments.  By using various treatments such as cold-water baths, saunas, ice packs, herbal waters, salt rubs, or full body treatments of alternating hot and cold packs (constitutional hydrotherapy) the bodies own healing capacities were stimulated.

As mentioned in the beginning, there are other therapies which Naturopathic Doctors can be trained in and utilize in their care of patients and each has their own interest in the modalities discussed.  It lends well to a wide range of ways to help people feel better and improve health.  These treatments can work alongside conventional medical care quite effectively but are also just as effective on their own in many cases.  This is not a system of medicine of old, but one that is robust and very effective at working with the body and its own inherent healing capacities, the way nature intended. 

Author:
Shawn Manske, BScH, N.D. Naturopathic Doctor

Naturopathic Medicine is a comprehensive system of primary health care, which focuses on prevention and treatment of disease by utilizing natural and therapeutic methods in order to stimulate the inherent healing capacities of the body.  By working with this self-healing ability, the vis medicatrix naturae, Naturopathic Doctors are able to guide their patients down a path that will lead to more optimal health.  Being a nationally regulated, primary health care profession, Naturopathic Doctors are trained through a 4-year post-university, fully accredited Naturopathic medical education program.  Post graduation requires Naturopathic Doctors to obtain continuing education in the various treatment modalities and primary health care fields throughout their careers. 

Naturopathic Doctors seek to find the causes and contributing factors, which lead to physiological and psychological dysfunction, disease and poor health.  By addressing these causes the body can functional more optimally and work to restore health through its own healing capacities.   Educating patients about dietary, nutritional and lifestyle factors which are affecting their current health, and through the use of traditional and natural treatment options, Naturopathic Doctors strive to inspire patients to make choices, which will bring about long-term health, happiness and wellness.

This is in contrast to simply waiting until a patient has a definable disease based on specific markers, signs or symptoms and then treating all who present the same way, as if they are all the same person, with treatment aimed to simply suppress those signs or symptoms.  This approach neglects to address the causes or contributing factors which lead to disease and in doing so may lead to worsening health in the long term, may necessitate lifelong dependence on those treatments, and doesn’t allow for true restoration of optimal functioning of the body. 

By seeing each person as a unique individual in how they respond and adapt to their environment and stressors, how they develop ‘dis-ease’, and that each will respond differently to various treatment approaches, Naturopathic Medicine aims to develop unique treatment plans for each person.  By taking an extended amount of time to learn about each patient and their history, developing rapport and showing a caring understanding through empathetic listening, the Naturopathic Doctor gets a broader sense of all the factors which affect each persons’ current state of health, can make a thorough assessment and formulate an effective treatment plan to guide one back to health.

Just as each patient is a unique individual, so too is each Naturopathic Doctor.  Each come from their own experiences, beliefs, background education and continued education that help shapes their understanding of health and wellness.  While they are all guided by the same principles, each will have their own approach to understanding and assessment and hence develop their own unique treatment approaches.  This is why a patient who may see different Naturopaths in their lifetime of healthcare may be surprised to hear a different approach from one to another. 

Naturopathic Doctors are trained in modern, scientific understanding of the body and disease, clinical and laboratory assessment, as well as, traditional medical systems, philosophies and approaches to health and healing.   By combining the traditional, empirical and modern, scientific understandings, it allows for a comprehensive philosophy and approach to healthcare and is guided by the following principles:

First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere):  This is the most important principle of any medical system.  By utilizing treatments and substances, which minimize the risk of harmful side effects, avoiding the suppressing of symptoms which can lead to other harmful effects, and using the least force necessary for assessment, diagnosis and treatment, Naturopathic Doctors avoid harm to patients

The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae):  Within nature and each and every individual there is an inherent, intelligent, self-organizing, self-healing ability which, when given the proper nutrition and factors that promote optimal physiological functioning, and removing obstacles which limit this optimal functioning, will bring about wellness and long-term health. 

Identify and Treat the Causes (ToIle Causam):  A primary goal of any system of medicine should be to find all the causes and contributing factors which are leading to a disruption of optimal function and health, rather than simply addressing the symptoms which are presenting as the bodies way to try and signal that something is wrong.  True health can only be achieved through addressing these causes to prevent ongoing or worsening of dysfunctions.

Doctor as Teacher (Docere):  By educating patients and the public about the value and importance of individual health, and the factors which disrupt health, Naturopathic Doctors seek to inspire patients to be responsible for their own health and make changes which will promote optimal health.  Through the therapeutic doctor-patient relationship, the Naturopathic Doctor helps guide each patient on his or her own journey.

Treat the Whole Person:  Addressing each individual and all the factors, which contribute to their health, from the physical, mental, emotional, social, environmental and other factors, allows for a broader understanding and therefore greater ability to address the whole person through treatment options.

Prevention:  As opposed to a strictly treatment based approach, Naturopathic Medicine aims for prevention of disease through education and treatment.  By working with patients to restore optimal wellness, Naturopathic Doctors can help patients prevent the onset or worsening of disease.

Resources:
Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors. http://www.cand.ca/About_Naturopathic_Medicine.aboutnd.0.html
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.  http://naturopathic.org/content.asp?contentid=59

Author:
Shawn Manske, BScH, N.D. Naturopathic Doctor

With origins in Native American medicine, this blend was brought together with modern medicine in the last century. Rene Caisse is credited as being the practitioner responsible for popularizing this wonderful blend. Today, this same blend is marketed under hundreds of brand names and is a staple in the herbalist's arsenal of blends.

C Blend was our very first product, and we still hold it dear. It is made up of all organic herbs, and we keep the price as low as we can so people can afford this tea when they can't afford any other treatments.

Your local health food store is an excellent source of information about this invaluable blend. Visit today and ask about the well known "Caisse Tea." If you find our brand, named C Blend Tea, you will be getting an all-organic product, at significant savings over what most manufacturers would charge.

We offer our C Blend Tea in bulk brew kits, and in convenient tea bags.

We wish you good health!

The following is for educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This article was written after careful study and as a summary of "The Essence of Essiac", a book by Sheila Snow. The book is currently out of print, but you can find some details to this excellent resource here --> http://www.amazon.com/The-Essence-Essiac-Sheila-Snow/dp/0969894406   it should be noted that although we have attempted to NOT make any health claims, it is nearly impossible when talking about this blend. 

The Life of Rene Caisse

Rene Caisse was the Bracebridge Ontario nurse who devoted her life to perserving truth in order to help those in need

She came into possession of an herbal forumla that had been handed down by native North Americans and with it she successfully nursed her aunt through what had been diagnosed as a terminal case of cancer. Her aunt lived another twenty-one years without recurrence.

The aunt's doctor was so impressed, he worked with Rene in further development of the formula and allowed Rene to treat his "hopeless" cancer cases.

She was very successful and word spread. In the 1930's Rene opened a clinic with the support of the people of Bracebridge. It was here that she treated the terminally ill by the thousands with miraculous results.

Throughout her life, many offers were made to her to commercialize the formula and increase her own income and stature but she steadfastly refused and never received payment for her work because she believed the medicine would be inaccessible to those in need.

Rene's Theory

Rene Caisse believed that destructive procedures were not the answer. She theorized that by setting up the resistance in the healthy cells, food supply would be cut off in the cancerous ones causing them to regress. Swift removal of the resulting wastes would further support the individual and increase the state of health.

The Benefits of Rene's Formula

Rene's Formula was used to successfully treat thousands of cancer patients from the 1920's until her death in 1978. Today its value seems apparent, and it is commonly used to treat a wide number of complaints involving the skin, gastro-intestinal tract, and blood.

We strongly recommend you put some research into this traditional formula, and try it for a time if it seems appropriate.

From nature's pharmacy to you.

Ancient physicians made full and effective use of the natural medicines around them. Most of todays herbal knowledge has its roots in the old time-tested healing systems.

Today most mainstream medicines are made from chemical derivatives and even fossil fuels. They are, as a general rule, very new creations that often mimic or are derived from the active constituents of herbs.

Herbal teas are usually taken for their flavor and/or ability to subtly alter the body's chemistry. Either way they are a strong tradition that continues today.

Bulk vs. Tea Bags

It's your choice!

Some people prefer to buy herbs in bulk rather then in tea bags because they can be used for making tea blends, salves, tinctures and so on. We offer herbs in tea bags and in bulk.

You can tell the difference because the background of all our bulk boxes have a solid color and the teabagged items have a white background.

An example of both boxes is shown below. The Wildcrafted (Pau D'Arco) box is bulk, while the Certified Organic (Sage Leaf) and Pure Quality (Cranberries) boxes are teabagged items.

You can also see the difference between herb growing conditions by comparing the above packages.

• GOLD packages (like the middle one) are Certified Organic,
• GREEN packages (like the left one) are Ethically Wildcrafted
• BLUE packages (like the right one) are Pure Quality (i.e. comercially grown)

Why can't I smell the tea through the box?

Great herbs deserve to be fresh.

Another one of the reasons our tea is a hands-down winner is the freshness bag we use. Because scents can't travel through it like conventional poly bags, you can't smell through it. When scents are held in, so is the flavor and medicinal potency. Because it isn't cellophane it won't rip or tear easily.

Our inner bag also has a zip-lock seal that ensures your tea will be fresh every time you want a cup.

Is your tea environmentally friendly?

Yes it is.

• Our boxes are made from recycled paper and can be recycled again to help conserve the environment.
• We use chlorine free tea bag material and you won't find strings or tags on our teabags.
• The herbs themselves can be composted.
• The inner freshness bag is made of very durable plastic with an extra-strong zip-lock seal... it is recyclable in most urban centers, but we recommend you re-use it. Some of our favorites are:
  • storing matches while camping (keeps them nice and dry)
  • keeping soap and cosmetics safe while traveling
  • organizing small parts for compact storage

In Conclusion

Drink Tea!

Herbal teas have been the choice of healers all over the world for centuries. Although modern medicine has entered the scene, the ancient wisdom possessed by apothecaries should not be forgotten. It is an asset to mankind.

Celebration Herbals Teas are good for you and are of the utmost quality; they are environmentally friendly, have a special stay fresh bag and a huge selection.

So with all these questions answered, the only one left to ask is: "Why wouldn't you enjoy Celebration Herbals teas?"

We wish you a great cup of tea!

Some are. We label each package carefully to make sure you can easily tell which items are organic with a simple glance. Look here for more on our packaging. We look forward to a day when all our products are completely Certified Organic, but this is not yet economically feasible, or realistically possible.

Of our products that are certified organic, we have emplyed the help of Organic Crop Producers and Processors (OCPP) to prove it. We are fully inspected anc certified as an organic processor by OCPP, a Canadian certification agency that is a leader in Organic Certification.

This means that:

1. all organic ingredients in our products must be certified organic
2. we must be able to prove it with a paper trail of industry-standard documents
3. we can trace any ingredient from the package you buy, right back to the field it was grown in

All our products that are Certified Organic have been accepted by this well respected organization as Certified Organic. That is why you will see their seal on all our organic products, as shown to the right.

Are your products Kosher certified?

Yes. We are inspected and certified by Kosher Supervision of America. Although not all our products have the KSA seal on them yet, all our products are indeed certified and we are working on putting the seal on them as we switch out and reprint our packaging. Eventually, all of our products will bear the KSA seal, as shown on the right.

NOTE: Use of this seal is restricted. If you use it without authorization, KSAs lawyers WILL contact you in short order.

What is in your tea?

If we say "Licorice Tea," we mean it. Our teas contain ONLY herbs. We don't use any processing aids, excipients, or other nasty ingredients in any of our products. They are as pure as pure could be.

Ask a question

Do you have a question that isn't answered here? Ask us on our contact form, and we'll do our best to answer it.

We sell only to health food stores, naturopaths, and other herbal practitioners. If you've checked out a couple health food stores and can't find us, please give us a shout through our contact form and we'll try to connect you with a local store.

In Canada - We sell our tea through distributors across Canada. Most stores already deal with our distribution partners. If they don't know where to find our products, ask them to look up Organic Connections, our family distribution business. We're online at www.orgcon.ca

In USA - We sell though a few distributors who deal across the nation, and we also ship directly to health food stores through our family distribution business, Organic Connections (see www.orgcon.ca). Because the United States is so huge, and we are not, we are unable to fulfill customer's questions of "where can I buy your tea" because most of that business is handled by our distributors.

On the Web - You can also get our products though web retailers. A quick google search will usually show you a few vendors quickly. Here are some vendors who have asked to be listed on our site.

Online retailers: Please contact us if you wish to be included in this list.

Try any of our teas hot or iced. Here are a few of our favorites.
There's one here for you.

• Elderberry ~ Made from 100% Elderberries, this tea tastes like a berry cocktail without the added sugar. 

• Hibiscus with Tropical Fruit ~ Hibiscus tea is bright red, slightly sour and full of vitamin C. Blended with tastes of citrus and slightly sweetened with Stevia, this is one of our favorite iced teas. Brew it for a LONG time for the full flavor to develop. 

• Red Tea Herbal Orange ~ Red tea comes from South Africa. It is, not surprisingly, red. The tea has flavors like black or heavy green teas, but without the caffeine. Blended with orange peel, lemongrass, hibiscus, and sweetened with Stevia, it's a great flavor hot or iced. For people who prefer a dry tea that you can drink all day. 

• Red Tea Lemonade ~ Like Red Tea Herbal Orange, above, this is a great tea. Red Tea is blended with lemongrass and sweetened with Stevia to create a simpler, but less rustic flavor. This is for people who prefer simple, uncomplicated flavors. 

• Rosehips with Lemongrass ~ Tart and fruity, this tea provides a tart kick and a refreshing finish. Brew this tea as long as possible for a fresh, clean flavor. 

• Licorice Peppermint ~ The flavors of real licorice with a touch of mint. A sweet tasting pick-me-up for hot summer days. 

• Peppermint ~ Field fresh peppermint tea must be experienced. Expect a mild menthol flavor with a clean finish and an energizing kick. 

• Green Tea - Chinese Classic Favorite ~ The definitive green tea delivered in true Chinese style. Excellent brewed hot or cold. Don't steep this one too long or it will develop a bitter tannins. 

• Black Tea - Special Blend Pekoe ~ Our favorite black tea. Expect a mild start with a clean non-bitter finish. This isn't your average black tea. Mild enough to enjoy without cream or sugar, but strong enough to tolerate them. 

• Citrus Soother ~ A blend of premium Chamomile and lemongrass. A good way to end the day and quench your thirst at the same time.

Brewing Iced Tea

To make great iced teas, follow these directions:

• Use twice the recommended amount of tea, and good spring water for great iced teas.
• Boil your water and pour over the tea. Cover your steeping container and steep your tea for twice as long as usual. A stronger tea is needed as your tastebuds aren't as keen when tasting cold food or drink.
• Let the tea steep until it's stronger then you would normally enjoy. Remove the teabags and allow it to cool to room temperature before placing in the fridge.
• Add ice to your not quite full cup of tea to enjoy ice-cold refreshment.

Sun Tea

Sun tea is not complicated to make. Put cold water and lots of teabags in a glass or dark colored metal steeping container, cover, and place outside in the warm summer sun. After a few hours, you'll find the fresh brewed tea is warm and full of flavor. Enjoy warm, or cool with ice.

Sweetening Naturally

Sweetening without sugar or honey is easy to do and keeps your calorie/carb count low. Brew your iced tea or sun tea with a teabag of stevia or licorice. Sweeten your morning coffee by dropping in a stevia teabag.

If stevia on it's own is too sweet, try our "Stevia in a base of Echinacea". This is a blend of Stevia and mild Echinacea that doesn't hamper the sweet flavor, but is significantly less sweet, and has some medicinal benefits.

Blend Your Own

Experiment with all the different teas available to you. Adding Lemongrass or Lemon Balm to your favorite teas, or mixing different teas together. A great way to discover new flavors. The combinations are endless.

Check out this list of our favorite online reference sites !

We recommend checking out at least one of our favorite online references. These are online resources that we've used for years, and find quite valuable to say the least. Click the image or their link to go to that website.

	Botanical.com contains a searchable, and well respected herbal that was written in years past, and seems to be kept up to date.
	The American Botanical Council is a non-profit organization at the forefront of herbal teaching, lobying, and research.
	The Ontario Herbalists Association is well-known for educating herbalists and publishes several well respected journals.

The way a herb is grown and harvested is as important as the way it's used.

What does Certified Organic mean?

Its got to do with the way it's grown, and a whole lot more.

The quality of Certified Organic crops are generally FAR superior to conventionally grown crops. Not only is the taste improved but the overall plant quality is improved because the plants are not force-fed with fertilizers or protected with pesticides. The result is a smaller harvest that requires more work to obtain, this is why organic products generally cost so much more.

The absence of pesticides and fertilizers force the plants to be hearty and strong. These qualities are represented in the organic food you eat. Ask anyone who has enjoyed an organic, field harvested tomato, and you will have your proof.

Proving it with Organic Certification

But how do you know a product which claims to be organic, actually is?

Certified Organic means that there is a third party organization watching over the grower to ensure that they really are following the guidelines. This involves annual testing of crops and soil samples. A few of the certification agencies that we work with are OCPP, OGBA, OCIA, Oregon Tilth, QIA and Demeter. All of these organizations meet or exceed the new USDA-NOP standards (National Organic Program). This is a new set of standards that reflects what government agencies are doing worldwide (i.e. SCC in Canada) to provide and international set of organic standards.

What does Wildcrafted mean?

Straight from nature.

Wildcrafted herbs are harvested from the wild, as first nations peoples would have done before the era of modern medicine. The guidelines surrounding wildcrafting mean that herbs are harvested responsibly; always leaving some of the plant population behind so that it can regenerate.

Wildcrafted herbs should always be taken from a pure environment that is not exposed to environmental impurities or contaminants. This is not always the case, so in addition to quality analysis, trusted sources and laboratory work are often required to attest to the validity of wildcrafted herbs.

When properly wildcrafted herbs are obtained, the quality is usually exceptional and often better then certified organic herbs.

What does Pure Quality mean?

These are conventionally grown or transitional (uncertified) organic herbs with a twist. We ensure that our herbs are top quality before they go into our products. Our herbs are of the best quality we can find in their respective catagories.

Our Coloring Scheme

To help you identify which is the superior herb, we have designed a special coloring scheme.

You will find this used on all our products, our teas and spices especially.

Certified Organic (Gold colored package) Herbs are certified as organically grown by an independent third party. A thorough audit trail follows each herb from the field to you.
Ethically Wildcrafted (Green colored bar) Herbs mature in wilderness conditions without cultivation which are harvested naturally to maintain natural species regeneration.
Pure Quality (Blue colored bar) Herbs cultivated by commercial growers with proper soil management that identify with our high standards of quality. (30 varieties)