A voice for
herbal medicine

We share traditional, scientific and practical insights written by experienced herbalists and health experts from the world of herbal medicine and natural health

Chinese herb sustainability: Who is responsible?

Sustainability of herbal medicines and supply chains are very complex topics and issues vary...

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The relevance of traditional ecological knowledge for modern herbal medicine

Indigenous people hold valuable wisdom when it comes to managing their natural environment. We...

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Herb species sustainability guide

This Sustainability Guide uses a ‘traffic-light’ designation of Green-Amber-Red. It is intended as a helpful...

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Sustainable practices: An easy slippery elm sustainable harvest guide

There are no published studies to help guide ‘sustainable’ harvests for slippery elm. Here...

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Slippery elm sustainability: What practitioners and consumers should know

Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra) is one of the most well-known, and widely used, medicinal...

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Soil health and human health

Healthy soil is alive, teaming with bacteria, fungi, insects and all sorts of life....

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The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES): Safeguarding wildlife for a sustainable future

CITES is an international treaty that serves to protect endangered species. This article shares...

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Growing in the city: How to do it and why we should

It is a common misconception that it is almost impossible to grow food and...

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Making sense of sustainable agriculture

There are many different ways that we can grow food and herbs more sustainably,...

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How to make your own compost

Composting is good for the planet, free, easy and gives you high quality compost...

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The sustainability of echinacea within herbal medicine

Echinacea is one of the most popular herbal medicines, but its popularity has come...

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The sustainability of liquorice

Liquorice is one of the most valued herbal medicines globally, yet its population sizes...

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Herbalists and sustainability: Let’s work together

The Herbal Alliance has the aim of promoting and supporting herbal medicine and herbalists....

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Regenerative farming vs organic farming

Regenerative agriculture is the new buzz-word in sustainability circles and beyond but what’s it...

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Growing food for systems change: Can it change the world?

Can growing food really help face the waves of crises we face today? We...

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Is using herbal medicine for health political?

We explore a harmonised approach to human, economic and ecological health. Find out here...

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The WildCheck Platform: In pursuit of responsibly sourced medicinal wild plants

Wild harvested plants are the ingredients to many different products across many different industries....

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Crap food leads to crap health: Why do we put up with it?

We know that good quality, nutritious food optimises health and prevents disease but we...

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Extinction threats and CITES protection: Rhodiola as a case study

Many medicinal plants are under threat because of overharvesting, for example the popular Rhodiola....

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Nature Deficit Disorder: What is it and what can we do about it?

Humans are a part of nature. Unfortunately in modern life many of us are...

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Can GP practices become hubs for transition?

People are supposed to live in a community, connection is fundamental for so many...

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Forest Schools and how they can help support the planet

Forest schools are not only wonderful for children’s wellbeing and learning, but they could...

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Forest School and children’s wellbeing

Forest school nurtures children and allows them to live in harmony with nature. It...

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Should I self treat at home or consult a herbalist?

Herbal self-care is a life skill we believe everyone should have. However sometimes seeing...

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Essential oils and sustainability: Challenges, opportunities, solutions

Essential oils are brilliant medicines, but problems in industry mean that they are not...

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How climate change is affecting medicinal plants: A phenological, physiological and phytochemical analysis

Climate change is having a dramatic effect not only on plant harvesting times, but...

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A beginner’s guide to growing medicinal herbs

Growing herbal medicines is a very enriching practise, which supports our wellbeing in its...

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Goldenseal: Sustainability status

Susan Leopold explores what can be done to ensure Goldenseal's sustainable supply in future.

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Herbal quality & safety: What to know before you buy

We explore what to look out for when buying good and safe herbal products.

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Is there hope after Cop26?

Herbalist Sebastian Pole explores how we, as herbal organisations, suppliers and herbalists, can stand...

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Toward a sustainable future for frankincense: An ancient medicine in a modern world

Dr. Anjanette DeCarlo and Stephen Johnson explore the many changes the sustainable trade in...

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A brief history of herbal quality assessment: From ancient Rome to 21st century mitochondria

Quality control has been an issue for as long as humans have used herbs...

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Kava: Mythical origins and epic coevolution

Origin Myths from various cultures and religions are fascinating examples of oral tradition. Bill...

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Aphrodisiac plants used in Ayurveda: Complex formulas, ancient and modern

Matthew Clark takes a historical glimpse at plants and formulations used in Ayurveda as...

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Endangered plants and women’s health: Fertility herbs at risk

Susan Leopold, Executive Director at United Plant Savers, discusses why plants used for women's...

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Environmental sustainability of medicinal plants (Part 8)

Roy Upton explores how traditional healing systems have developed in developing countries compared to...

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First do no harm: A call for sustainable herbalism in clinical practice

Josef Brinckmann explores what it takes to make a herbal medicine practice part of...

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The Relevance of Complementary and Integrative Medicine in the COVID-19 Pandemic

In light of the adverse health risks faced both at the population and individual...

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The Jade Screen Project

The Jade Screen Project (JSP) offers immune-enhancing and anti-viral herbal formulae for front line...

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Do you know where your herbs come from?

Do you know how herbs for herbal medicine are harvested and by whom? Paying...

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Healing the Whole

How herbs are changing the face of the world through a holistic approach to...

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The story of life: People, plants and planet

However hard we might try not to be; we are all interconnected. Each living...

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Plants: Love ’em or loathe ’em, we can’t live without ’em!

Plant foods, herbs and spices, are all about information. Our bodies use the information...

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Fair for plants as well as people

Pat Thomas discusses how we can meet the ever-increasing demand for herbal medicines in...

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