Sustainable Herbal

Sourcing Guide

As you expand your aromatic medicine knowledge, it’s important to know how to get
high-quality, sustainable herbs to work with! This guide includes information about why
sourcing sustainably is important, as well as helpful sourcing tips and what to look out
for when finding a supplier. You’ll also get a list of our highly recommended herbal
suppliers at the end of this document.

Sourcing sustainably in herbalism is crucial for several reasons. First, many herbs are
harvested from natural ecosystems, and unsustainable harvesting practices can lead to
the depletion of wild populations and ecological damage. Over-harvesting can disrupt
fragile ecosystems, endanger plant species, and threaten biodiversity. Buying from
sources who adhere to sustainable sourcing practices, such as wildcrafting with proper
permits and regulations or organic cultivation, ensures that herbs are harvested in a way
that allows populations to regenerate and ecosystems to remain intact.

In addition, supporting sustainable herbalism practices contributes to the preservation of

traditional knowledge and cultural practices. Many Indigenous communities rely on
herbal plants for various reasons and have developed intricate systems of stewardship
over generations. Sourcing herbs sustainably and ethically cultivates respect for
Indigenous rights and practices.

Furthermore, sustainable sourcing promotes ethical and social responsibility within the
herbal industry. It ensures fair wages and working conditions for farmers and harvesters,
as well as transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain. Your purchasing
decisions hold significant weight – prioritizing products sourced ethically and sustainably
increases market demand for these items, in turn reducing the demand for those failing
to meet these standards. Overall, by prioritizing sustainability, together we can
contribute to a healthier planet and a more equitable society.

Sourcing Locally

First and foremost, we highly recommend sourcing herbs as locally as possible. Not only
does this economically support your local farmers and help them continue to grow and
provide herbs to the community, but it also cuts down on carbon emissions and ensures

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that the herbs you are receiving are fresher and more potent, allowing you to create the
most vibrant aromatic medicine preparations.

Once an herb is harvested, processed, and dried, it starts to lose potency and vitality. This
means that the longer an herb remains on a shelf or in a storage facility, the less potent
and vibrant it becomes. When herbs are sourced from various regions globally, it leads to
increased carbon emissions and diminishes potency as the plant undergoes extended
travel distances to reach its destination. This aspect becomes particularly important to
consider when working with aromatic plants that contain fragile volatile compounds that
evaporate and diminish over time.

When you are sourcing from small-scale farms or local farmers, or from larger
companies who are curators of materials from small-scale and local farms, it increases
the likelihood of receiving high quality, potent herbs that have been recently harvested,
as smaller farming operations often prioritize quality over quantity, unlike many
mass-produced items. To find local herbs near you, consider visiting farmers' markets or
seeing if there is an herbal community-supported agriculture (CSA) program in your
area. Additionally, seeking out local herb shops or herbalists in your area who specialize
in locally sourced products can be very helpful in pointing you in the right direction.

Growing Herbs

Another way to source locally is to grow your own plants! This approach allows you to
closely monitor every aspect of your plant's life cycle, from the soil composition to the
water and fertilizers used. Plus, growing plants serve as an enriching experience,
cultivating a deeper connection with them as you observe their growth and vitality
firsthand, from seed to harvest.

If you have the space and capacity, consider growing some of the aromatic plants you
want to work with in containers or garden beds. If your space is limited, you might
explore joining a local community garden as an option to kickstart your gardening
endeavors.

Sustainable Sourcing Tips

In regards to sustainability, when you’re looking for a new source of herbs or herbal
supplies, it’s important to do a little digging and research the company before purchasing
from it. Check out their product labels or website and look for information on
sustainable and ethical practices. If this is not obvious on their label or website, then feel

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free to contact them directly and ask questions, or simply move on to search for a better
source.

Latin Names

One way to guarantee you are getting the herb you want is by looking for the Latin name
of the plant species on the label or product description. While not all companies include
this information, when you find one that does, it serves as a reassuring indication that
you are indeed buying the correct plant material.

Latin names, also known as botanical names or scientific names, provide a standardized
system for identifying plants across different languages and regions. They offer a level of
specificity that common names often lack, which is particularly crucial given the
potential for multiple plants to share the same name. By referencing the Latin name, you
can confidently ensure you are purchasing the precise species you intend to incorporate
into your herbal remedies, creations, and preparations.

Fragrance Oils

Fragrance oils are a danger to your health and the environment. Incense quality varies
worldwide and there is no form of regulation in the U.S. when it comes to incense
products. A lot of incense producers use synthetic ingredients to cut costs and increase
profits and very few incense companies are transparent about their practices or
ingredients.

The same goes for essential oils. Synthetic fragrances commonly used in essential oil
diffusers are packaged and sold in the same small glass bottles that hold genuine
essential oils, leading to potential confusion between the two. However, these two
products are fundamentally very different from each other.

​Be sure to always read the label closely before purchasing any incense or essential oil.
Avoid products that only list “fragrance” or “perfume” instead of a full ingredient list, as
this is an indication that it contains synthetic ingredients. Look for the plant names
(bonus if it contains the Latin name) in the ingredients list and be sure that they match
the aromatic plant you are looking for. Be aware that sometimes companies will add
additional aromatic plant oils to an essential oil bottle that contains similar volatile oils
to save on costs.

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Essential Oils

It’s important to know that essential oils are highly concentrated substances and a huge
quantity of plant material is needed to create a tiny amount of essential oil. In essence,
they are resource-intensive products. Depending on the plant, hundreds – sometimes
thousands – of pounds of plant material are needed to produce just 1 gallon of essential
oil.

This is a huge volume when you also consider where the plant is coming from and the
amount of agricultural land needed to grow the plants – including the soil, fertilizers,
pesticides, and water – or when you see labels stating “wild crafted” or “sustainably
harvested.” Given this consideration, it is important to approach the use of essential oils
with mindfulness and respect. Ethical and sustainable sourcing is a key step in this
process.

Endangered Species

When sourcing essential oils or any aromatic plant material, the most important
question to consider is whether the plant species in question is endangered or at risk. If
the answer is yes, you don’t have to avoid buying the plant altogether. However, it’s
imperative to know if it was harvested from the wild, which could be contributing to its
endangerment, or if it was grown on agricultural land.

Unfortunately, some aromatic plants and herbs are endangered or at-risk and their plant
populations struggle to survive in the wild. When it comes to endangered species, it is
crucial to only source these fragile aromatic plants from sustainably wild-harvested or
cultivated sources (which means they were grown by farmers). This is especially true for
essential oils since they require such high amounts of plant material. Only purchasing
from sustainably wild-harvested or cultivated sources ensures that the harvesting
techniques the company uses do not further damage the species population in the wild.

Some (but not all) aromatic plants that are currently on the endangered species list
include White Sage, Indian and Hawaiian Sandalwood, Osha, Spikenard, and certain
species of Frankincense. Many more species of aromatic plants are not endangered but
are “threatened” or “at-risk” to becoming endangered. However, this information could
change at any moment and it is important to continue your own research to stay up to
date on the list of endangered and threatened species and recommended actions.

United Plant Savers is a great resource for a list of critical and at-risk species, including
recommendations on sourcing those plants. In addition, the IUCN Red List offers an
extensive list of threatened species.

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Sustainably Wild-harvested

Herbs that are “sustainably wild-harvested” are often considered high quality and touted
as “pure” because they don’t involve the use of pesticides or fertilizers as they are simply
growing in the wild without human interference. Sustainable wild-harvesting involves
using ethical harvesting techniques that respect the environment and preservation of
natural resources. This supports the current ecosystem health and future plant
generations to come.

Several independent organizations issue certifications that confirm a product is

sustainably wild-harvested. These certifications typically involve rigorous assessments of
harvesting practices to ensure they meet specific sustainability criteria. Some of the
prominent certification programs for sustainably wild-harvested products include
FairWild Certification, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and Rainforest Alliance
Certification.

In some regions, there may be local or Indigenous certification programs that focus on
traditional and sustainable harvesting practices carried out by local communities. While
not specifically focused on wild harvesting, organic certification programs such as USDA
Organic and EU Organic can also apply to wild-harvested products if they meet the
required standards for organic production.

Organic vs. Conventional

USDA-certified organic plants are grown and processed according to federal guidelines
addressing soil quality, pest and weed control, and the use of additives, among many
other factors. Organic producers can only use natural substances and fertilizers and grow
in soil that has not used synthetic fertilizers and pesticides for three years before harvest.
Plants grown by organic means are only exposed to organic or natural fertilizers, while
conventional plants not labeled “organic” are most often grown using chemical additives.

If the label does not state “organic,” you can usually assume it is conventional. However,
there are exceptions to this rule, with small producers and growers who cannot afford or
have not undergone the organic certification process, which can be expensive. This is
why researching the company is important.

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 Sustainable Sourcing Summary

● Prioritizing sustainable sourcing contributes to a healthier planet and a more

equitable society.
● Source herbs from local farmers whenever possible.
● Consider starting your own aromatic medicine garden!
● Learn the Latin names of plants and look for them on the labels and product
descriptions before purchasing to ensure you are getting the plant you want.
● Avoid products with no ingredient list or that list “fragrance” or “perfume” as
ingredients, which indicates that they likely contain synthetic ingredients or
artificial chemicals.
● Essential oils are resource-intensive products that are important to source
sustainably.
● When it comes to endangered species, it’s crucial to only source these fragile
aromatic plants from sustainably wild-harvested or cultivated sources.
● Sustainably Wild-harvested and Certified Organic herbs and products are more
environmentally friendly than conventionally grown plants or herbs harvested in
the wild without sustainable or ethical practices in mind.

Supply Recommendations
Below is a list of our highly recommended herbal suppliers who prioritize sustainable
and ethical sourcing practices. If you know of a great herbal company that is not on this
list, feel free to reach out to us to add it to this list or give them a shoutout in our AMG
Facebook Community Group.

Herbs, Aromatic Plants, Resins, and More

Higher Mind Incense: highermindincense.com

Sustainable, fair trade resins, botanical powders, and other incense products.
Use student coupon code AMGMEMBER for 15% off storewide.

Mountain Rose Herbs: mountainroseherbs.com

Wide variety Certified Organic herbs, as well as beeswax, carrier oils, hydrosols,
containers, and other herbal products.
Use student discount code 10nwsam24 for 10% off your order.
Note: this discount is intended for personal (not business) use and the code must be entered at checkout.
Mountain Rose Herbs is not able to discount after the fact or issue a refund if the request comes in after
the order is placed.

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Oshala Farm: oshalafarm.com
Certified Organic herbal farm in Oregon selling bulk herbs, hydrosols, beeswax, oils,
salves, and more.

Foster Farm Botanicals: fosterfarmbotanicals.com

Certified Organic herbal farm in Vermont selling bulk herbs, powders, and tinctures.

Pacific Botanicals: pacificbotanicals.com

Wild harvested and organically grown herbs

Apothecary’s Garden: apothecarysgarden.com

For sustainable, fair trade resins, and other aromatic botanicals. Use coupon code
nwamincense15 for 15% off.

Essential Oils & Hydrosols

Aromatics International: aromatics.com

Sustainably sourced essential oils and hydrosols.
Use discount code NWSCHOOL15 for 15% off sitewide (excluding kits, bundles, and sale
products)

Morning Myst Botanicals: morningmystbotanics.com

Certified Organic essential oils, hydrosols, and infused oils.

Herbal Seeds

Strictly Medicinals: strictlymedicinalseeds.com

Alcohol

Organic Alcohol: organicalcohol.com

Organic 190 proof corn, grape, wheat, and cane alcohol.

Containers

Specialty Bottle: specialtybottle.com

Other

Iberian Coppers: copper-alembic.com

For Copper Stills to make your own hydrosols and essential oils.
Discount code for 5% off Artisanal Portuguese Copper Alembic Stills: SOVEREIGNTY

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