Episode 173: Questions to Ask Before Buying Herbs with Ann Armbrecht

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Episode Summary

Where do your herbs really come from? What happens before they land in your tea cup, tincture bottle, or spice jar?

The journey from seed to shelf is full of twists and turns, and the choices we make as herbalists and consumers can shape that journey in meaningful ways.

In this episode, I’m talking with Ann Armbrecht, the author of Following the Herbal Harvest. Ann has spent years exploring the global herbal supply chain, and she’s sharing four essential questions to ask before buying herbs—questions that can help you make more informed, ethical, and high-quality choices.

And because Ann is wonderful, she’s also offering listeners a free excerpt of her book! You can find it in the section below. Honestly, I think this book should be required reading for everyone who loves herbs!

By the end of our conversation, you’ll know:
🌿 Why an organic certification isn’t a golden ticket—but why it still matters
🌿 How the choices of farmers, suppliers, and consumers are all connected in a web of well-being
🌿 A simple but powerful question to ask yourself before purchasing any herb
🌿 …and plenty more thoughtful insights that might just change the way you see your herbal allies.

For those of you who don’t know her, Ann Armbrecht, PhD, an anthropologist, is the director of the Sustainable Herbs Initiative. She is the author of Following the Herbal Harvest: A Search for the Healing Promise of Plant Medicines (previously published under the title, The Business of Botanicals: Exploring the Healing Promise of Plant Medicines in a Global Industry) that documents her journey following herbs from seed to shelf. She is also the co-producer of the documentary Numen: The Healing Power of Plants and the author of the award-winning ethnographic memoir Thin Places: A Pilgrimage Home, based on her research in Nepal. Ann was a 2017 Fulbright-Nehru Scholar documenting the supply chain of medicinal plants in India and she now lives with her family in central Vermont.

Grab a cozy cup of tea, settle in, and join us for this fascinating conversation!

Would you prefer reading this episode? If so, click here to download a transcript.

Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, scroll down below.

Connect with Ann

• Website | SustainableHerbsInitiative.org
• Facebook | @ann.armbrecht
• Instagram | @ann_armbrecht
• Substack | @aarmbrecht

What You'll Learn from This Episode

• [01:10] Introduction to Ann Armbrecht
• [03:08] Why Ann’s book title and cover was changed
• [05:32] There are no easy answers to herbal sustainability
• [09:05] Where herbs come from affects their medicinal potency
• [12:46] Our behavior ripples outward and circles back to us
• [15:31] Always ask suppliers this question
• [23:00] How we can help herb companies be the best versions of themselves
• [26:43] Who’s doing the formulation?
• [29:51] A key question to ask yourself before buying herbs
• [35:06] Why Ann began work with the Sustainable Herbs Initiative
• [41:40] Giving back to herb growing communities (and why that matters)
• [52:08] What keeps Ann working for sustainable herbs
• [58:23] Herbal tidbit

Get Your Download!

-- TIMESTAMPS -- 

• 01:14 - Introduction to Ann Armbrecht
• 03:14 - Why Ann’s book title and cover was changed
• 05:40 - There are no easy answers to herbal sustainability
• 09:23 - Where herbs come from affects their medicinal potency
• 13:10 - Our behavior ripples outward and circles back to us
• 16:00 - Always ask suppliers this question
• 23:43 - How we can help herb companies be the best versions of themselves
• 27:32 - Who’s doing the formulation?
• 30:47 - A key question to ask yourself before buying herbs
• 36:12 - Why Ann began work with the Sustainable Herbs Initiative
• 43:00 - Giving back to herb growing communities (and why that matters)
• 54:00 - What keeps Ann working for sustainable herbs
• 1:00:22 - Herbal tidbit

Connect with Rosalee

• On Instagram | @rosaleedelaforet

• On Facebook | Herbs With Rosalee
• On YouTube | Herbs With Rosalee

• Website | herbswithrosalee.com


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