Osha Wortel or Ligusticum porteri is like the grandparent of herbal medicine. Plants are indeed our family and osha has become an elder in need of care. Osha embodies the delicate relationship we have with plants as herbalists. Native to the Rocky Mountains, Southwestern herbalists and Native Americans have worked with osha over many lunar cycles. WishGarden is no exception. We cherish this powerful plant and have implemented processes to protect its population.
The status of Osha
Osha is a slow-growing perennial plant in the parsley family and can take 6 years to develop mature taproots that send out new shoots. Besides annoying and slow growing habits, osha prefers higher elevations ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 meters. The seeds require cold outdoor conditions and soil that resembles the natural forest habitat, which is why sowing osha seeds can become difficult.
Osha is not officially endangered or threatened, according to the USDA. Therefore, there are no current state or federal laws in the United States regarding the conservation of osha or its plant population in the wild (United Plant Savers). This means that osha is not monitored by federal wildlife agencies. Lack of regulation combined with the slow growth of osha has led to overharvesting, which has reduced the population of osha.
The American Herbal Products Association, or AHPA, reported increasing commercial demand and interest in osha root in their 2011-2017 Tonnage Survey, with commercial herbal supplement companies making major contributions.
WishGarden’s commitment
Founded in 1979, WishGarden began as a bioregional herb company in the Southwest. That’s why we hold the traditional customs and thriving people of Osha close to our hearts. Catherine Hunziker, president and founder of WishGarden, has taught the importance of growing slow-growing perennials sustainably in the wild since the 1990s. As part of our current overharvesting and conservation efforts, we have reduced our use of osha root and replaced it with other herbs with a similar function. Lovage root or Levisticum officinale is our analogue for osha root and can be found in our Kick-Ass Immune Activator formula. In 2020, our purchasing and sustainability team started sourcing organically grown osha. We are the first national herb company to use sustainably grown osha. We work closely with our farming community and are proud to do our part to reduce overharvesting and contribute to osha conservation.
As our Sourcing & Purchasing Manager, I sat down with our Osha farmer to discuss the important care process.
When did your community start growing osha root?
We purchased seeds from a southwestern Native American collector in 2005. That same year we began propagating and growing in nursery beds. The raised beds receive full sun and the soil is dark, soft and deep. It was an organic farm for many years before we started the osha.
At what altitude is the farm located? Are there wild osha plants there?
The farm is located at an altitude of approximately 1200 meters and is surrounded by large mountains, although there are no native wild osha. However, one of my farming colleagues has introduced osha root shoots into the wild – so we’ll see!
How does your farm harvest the osha root?
First and foremost we listen to the plants. It took our osha roots six years to get established and now comes the point of annual spring harvest. Spring is also the best time to propagate root shoots. We divide roots and replant shoots of mature roots.
What is your pain point when growing osha?
It is a slow growing perennial, so growth is slow and tedious.
What is your favorite aspect of growing osha?
The flowers are unusual, but the plant tells me it is happy when it blooms.
Our most beloved, well-known, and effective plant-based allies teach countless lessons by nourishing us when we feel low, when we need grounding, or when we need to breathe deeply. Cultivating our fragile traditional plants is a tribute to their future conservation.
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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