There are many reasons to pay attention to the sustainability of our plant-based allies and the state of biodiversity in the world today. Sustainability is important for healthy communities and natural resources, and simply for a non-toxic environment to live in. It doesn’t matter whether you live in the city or in the mountains; we must protect Earth’s biodiversity and plant sustainability. This will always be a hot topic because our healthcare and clean air are directly related to the sustainability of plant life. Here at WishGarden Herbs, we are always thinking about our direct role in plant sustainability, especially in our neck of the woods!
Osha Root, or Ligusticum filicinum, is a great example of how WishGarden has taken steps to improve our bioregional biodiversity. Our most popular product called Kick-Ass Immune Activator was reformulated in 2015 because the people of Osha here in the Rocky Mountains had been hit hard by overharvesting and environmental change. This delicate plant is harvested for its medicinal roots; However, it may take years for Osha’s roots to establish themselves high in the Rocky Mountains.
The Osha plant is essential to the bear’s environment, hence the plant’s common name; Carry medicine or bear root. It has been observed that when bears come out of hibernation they find and eat Osha Root to support their slow metabolism or when they are not feeling well. Like our giant animal neighbors, we reach for this root in times of feeling unwell! That’s why WishGarden decided to change the formula to be more sustainable, using herbs such as lovage. Osha is still included in the formula, but a smaller amount is used to maintain the population. We also recently built a relationship with a farmer here in Colorado who has made an amazing discovery of how to grow this difficult and fragile plant. We are pleased to be the first herbal company to transition to using a cultivated source of Osha.
The transition to replacing blighted herbs with sustainably grown herbs can be a long road. I spoke with our purchasing director, Don Kassner, and he explained the transition from Osha to Lovage. We discussed how, at the start of its search for Lovage, WishGarden first sourced the quantity we needed for our popular formula from Europe. However, wanting to deliver on our commitment to corporate sustainability, Don quickly found a domestically grown source of lovage! The carbon footprint of sourcing herbs across the ocean is not sustainable and Don’s sourcing story is a perfect example of how important sustainability is here at WishGarden.
Have you seen Yerba Mansa in WishGarden formulas? Yerba Mansa, or Anemopsis californica, holds a special place in the hearts of Southwesterners. Swamp root is the common name because this desert plant is unique in its growing habitat and requires boggy wet water banks to thrive. Increasing temperatures and drought are contributing to Yerba Mansa’s vulnerable population. Due to increasing demand, WishGarden has purchased this plant from a grower over the past two years. However, WishGarden still has a long-standing relationship with our Yerba Mansa wildcrafter in Northern New Mexico. Trusted for many years, this Native American wildcrafter knows how to responsibly wildcraft Yerba Mansa, as it has been done in his culture for hundreds of years. Supporting our expert herbal wildcrafters is important to keep the culture of the indigenous people alive and we can trust that their methods are treated with respect for Yerba Mansa.
Sustainability can sometimes mean making sacrifices for our most beloved plants and thinking critically about their use in our lives. White Sage has become increasingly popular and stains are common in modern American households. White Sage, or Salvia apiana, has aromatics and botanicals that are irresistible, making smudging very popular. However, this plant has been sacred to Native Americans and their culture’s ceremonies and prayers for hundreds of years, before today’s stain trends.
The United Plant Savers has discussed the issues with White Sage’s popularity, saying: “White Sage is abundant in its local habitat as a keystone species of its plant community, but that habitat is threatened by development and is vulnerable, as evidenced by the many endangered species that depend on its habitat. The important thing to note is that it can be farmed, and if it is to be in any form of commercial trade and certainly on the scale it is now, the only sustainability claims should be made. that it comes from a cultivated source, and a buyer should always visit the farm to verify the claim.” (Leopold, 24-06-2019).
We are now seeing a dramatic decline in the current population of White Sage, threatening Native American cultural practices and the biodiversity of our Southwest. You can find a smudge stick at almost any store, but has the store checked the wildcrafter’s permit to harvest the plant? Was it renovated? Of which? These are the questions we need to ask and hold White Sage resellers accountable for. It is crucial that we protect our most popular plants, as lust for them can lead to their extinction, reducing biodiversity in our region. I challenge you to make a pledge and ask these questions when purchasing white sage, or better yet, stop purchasing it to protect the vulnerable population. Garden or common sage or Salvia officinalis is a wonderful substitute for white sage. Common sage is easy to grow and contains many of the same irresistible aromatics and compounds! In addition to smelling wonderful, common sage is a multi-functional herb for supporting healthy hormones and a culinary favorite in the fall.
It is now more important than ever to protect our plants and consider how our plant rituals impact their habitat. After all, we need them for our survival.
References
Lauren Ann Nichols-Sheffler attended the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism and received her certificate in Medical Herbalism. She owns it Blue yarrow herbs also known as Herbal Vice, an herbal product company that practices bioregional herbal medicine by growing plants and sourcing locally. Lauren loves educating and advocating for plant sustainability. She is the purchasing and sourcing manager for WishGarden Herbs.
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, or to sell any product.
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