| Pages: | 288 pages |
| Size: | 6 x 9 inch |
| Publisher: | Chelsea Green Publishing |
| Pub. Date: | October 17, 2024 |
| ISBN: | 9781645022909 |
Following the Herbal Harvest
A Search for the Healing Promise of Plant Medicines
From tulsi to turmeric, echinacea to elderberry, medicinal herbs are big business—but do they deliver on their healing promise to those who consume them, those who provide them, and to the natural world?
“An eye-opener. . . . [Armbrecht] challenges ideas of what medicine can be and how business practices can corrupt, and expand, our notions of plant-based healing.”—The Boston Globe
“[This] is one of the most important and readable books on the subject of herbs available today. Ann’s story of her journey and the amazing message her book conveys moved me to tears. . . . Thank you, Ann, for listening to the plants as deeply as you have, for pointing the way forward, and for having the courage to lead us there.”—Rosemary Gladstar, author of Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs
Using herbal medicines to heal the body is an ancient practice, but in the twenty-first century, it is also a worldwide industry. Yet most consumers know very little about where those herbs come from and how they are processed into the hundreds of products that fill store shelves. In Following the Herbal Harvest (originally published in hardcover as The Business of Botanicals), author Ann Armbrecht embarks on a journey to follow herbal medicines from source to shelf. Her travels in North America, Europe, and India reveal the inner workings of the botanicals industry as she confronts complex questions about the ethical and ecological issues of mass production of medicines derived from these healing plants, many of which are imperiled in the wild.
This is the first book to explore the interconnected web of the global herb industry and an invaluable resource for conscious consumers who want to better understand the social and environmental impacts of the products they buy.
Inspired by her travels, Ann founded the Sustainable Herbs Initiative (SHI), which is devoted to motivating change in the herbal products industry. In a new epilogue for the paperback edition, the author describes how SHI’s Learning Lab and Learning Journeys are bringing together stakeholders from herbal product companies to explore how they might collaboratively work to address the problems of poverty, biodiversity loss, and the climate crisis.
Because, as Ann writes, “Herbal medicine is about creating wellness, resilience. It is about wholeness. From that, a huge industry has developed . . . an industry that I discovered too often ignores the social, environmental, economic and spiritual causes of disease in the world. And yet, we can’t be well until and unless the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the soil in which our food is grown is well. What does it mean to be in the business of wellness in a world that is not well?”
“Armbrecht masterfully manages the challenges and complexity of her source material . . . [She] is a spirited storyteller . . . [and] presents all this with the skill of an anthropologist and the heart of an herbalist.”—Journal of the American Herbalists Guild
“For those who loved Braiding Sweetgrass, this book is a perfect opportunity to go deeper into understanding the complex and co-evolutionary journey of plants and people.”—Angela McElwee, former president and CEO of Gaia Herbs
Reviews and Praise
“Ann Armbrecht is a brilliant writer, and her book and her work with the Sustainable Herbs Initiative is now beginning to receive the attention it deserves. Following the Herbal Harvest is one of the most important and readable books on the subject of herbs available today. Ann’s story of her journey and the amazing message her book conveys moved me to tears. Hers is the most visionary work happening in the herbal world right now, work that matters for everyone, not just those working in the ‘business of herbs.’ Thank you, Ann, for listening to the plants as deeply as you have, for pointing the way forward, and having the courage to lead us there.”—Rosemary Gladstar, internationally renowned herbalist and author; director of The Science and Art of Herbalism home study course
More Reviews and Praise
"Ann Armbrecht brings readers along on a wholly engaging exploration of her questions and hard learnings about whether the healing power of plants can truly make it into the factory-sealed supplement bottles on our grocery shelves.”—Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet
“Ann Armbrecht establishes herself as a gifted storyteller, weaving the practical aspects of the global botanical industry with the lesser explored and more nuanced threads that make up the tapestry of sourcing, producing, and selling herbal products. The result is a riveting journey, one that tackles hard questions not explored by most. For those who loved Braiding Sweetgrass, this book is a perfect opportunity to go deeper into understanding the complex and co-evolutionary journey of plants and people in creating the herbal products we love.”—Angela McElwee, president and CEO of Gaia Herbs
"The quality of the technical information is lovingly translated with practical examples into interesting and relevant guidance for small growers and herb users. And beyond the technical narrative, the author poses philosophical questions about the ethics, authenticity, and sustainability of the modern herb market."—Cindy Angerhofer, executive fellow of Botanical Research, Aveda Corporation
"I read this brilliant book from cover to cover like a story I couldn’t tear myself away from. Like herbs themselves, [it] is rich in colors, scents, and flavors and is rooted in the earth—exquisite and messy, beautiful and dirty all at the same time."—Anne McIntyre, MAPA, MCPP, fellow of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, author of Dispensing with Tradition and The Ayurveda Bible
"The high-quality organic herbs in your teacup, tincture, or supplement did not materialize out of thin air. More than fifty years ago, the seeds of an industry were planted by a few unique and talented individuals—farmers, herbalists, and entrepreneurs who have dedicated their lives to improving planetary, human, and animal well-being. This well-researched and fascinating book tells their stories and lays out a clear path for a healthier sustainable future."—David Winston, RH (AHG), dean of David Winston’s Center for Herbal Studies; founder of Herbal Therapeutics Research Library
"Ann Armbrecht acknowledges the racist, imperialist roots of the international trade in botanicals and examines the impressive progress being made to transform this legacy of economic oppression. The evolving supply chain acknowledges the ecology of issues beyond profit. Armbrecht introduces these holistic, ecological perspectives as a sign of great hope for the future and celebrates the rich diversity of people and backgrounds that make the planet’s herbal abundance accessible to the West."—David Hoffmann, RH (AHG), fellow of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, chief formulator for Traditional Medicinals
“Ann Armbrecht has looked under the bonnet and found that the engine of herbal healing is in need of repair. Even well-intentioned conflicts of interest in this industry too often get in the way of quality and sustainability. Ann concludes that the answer here, as ever, is about nurturing relationships and supporting the interests of everyone in the herbal web. Everyone who loves herbs needs to read this book!”—Simon Mills, herbal clinician and elder, author of Out of the Earth, coauthor of Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy
"A thoroughly engaging, must-read book for all herbalists, herbal medicine makers, herb growers, and anyone who turns to herbs for their health. I was immediately drawn into the story of botanical medicines and the complexities within each bottle of herbal tincture on store shelves."—Rosalee de la Forêt, herbalist and author of Alchemy of Herbs, coauthor of Wild Remedies
"Ann Armbrecht’s engaging book provides perceptive and important insights into what is too often an invisible trade despite its immense importance to the livelihoods, traditions, and interests of a great many people around the world."—Steven Broad, executive director of TRAFFIC and member of the Board of the FairWild Foundation
Reviews and Praise
“Ann Armbrecht is a brilliant writer, and her book and her work with the Sustainable Herbs Initiative is now beginning to receive the attention it deserves. Following the Herbal Harvest is one of the most important and readable books on the subject of herbs available today. Ann’s story of her journey and the amazing message her book conveys moved me to tears. Hers is the most visionary work happening in the herbal world right now, work that matters for everyone, not just those working in the ‘business of herbs.’ Thank you, Ann, for listening to the plants as deeply as you have, for pointing the way forward, and having the courage to lead us there.”—Rosemary Gladstar, internationally renowned herbalist and author; director of The Science and Art of Herbalism home study course
"Ann Armbrecht brings readers along on a wholly engaging exploration of her questions and hard learnings about whether the healing power of plants can truly make it into the factory-sealed supplement bottles on our grocery shelves.”—Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet
“Ann Armbrecht establishes herself as a gifted storyteller, weaving the practical aspects of the global botanical industry with the lesser explored and more nuanced threads that make up the tapestry of sourcing, producing, and selling herbal products. The result is a riveting journey, one that tackles hard questions not explored by most. For those who loved Braiding Sweetgrass, this book is a perfect opportunity to go deeper into understanding the complex and co-evolutionary journey of plants and people in creating the herbal products we love.”—Angela McElwee, president and CEO of Gaia Herbs
"The quality of the technical information is lovingly translated with practical examples into interesting and relevant guidance for small growers and herb users. And beyond the technical narrative, the author poses philosophical questions about the ethics, authenticity, and sustainability of the modern herb market."—Cindy Angerhofer, executive fellow of Botanical Research, Aveda Corporation
"I read this brilliant book from cover to cover like a story I couldn’t tear myself away from. Like herbs themselves, [it] is rich in colors, scents, and flavors and is rooted in the earth—exquisite and messy, beautiful and dirty all at the same time."—Anne McIntyre, MAPA, MCPP, fellow of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, author of Dispensing with Tradition and The Ayurveda Bible
"The high-quality organic herbs in your teacup, tincture, or supplement did not materialize out of thin air. More than fifty years ago, the seeds of an industry were planted by a few unique and talented individuals—farmers, herbalists, and entrepreneurs who have dedicated their lives to improving planetary, human, and animal well-being. This well-researched and fascinating book tells their stories and lays out a clear path for a healthier sustainable future."—David Winston, RH (AHG), dean of David Winston’s Center for Herbal Studies; founder of Herbal Therapeutics Research Library
"Ann Armbrecht acknowledges the racist, imperialist roots of the international trade in botanicals and examines the impressive progress being made to transform this legacy of economic oppression. The evolving supply chain acknowledges the ecology of issues beyond profit. Armbrecht introduces these holistic, ecological perspectives as a sign of great hope for the future and celebrates the rich diversity of people and backgrounds that make the planet’s herbal abundance accessible to the West."—David Hoffmann, RH (AHG), fellow of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, chief formulator for Traditional Medicinals
“Ann Armbrecht has looked under the bonnet and found that the engine of herbal healing is in need of repair. Even well-intentioned conflicts of interest in this industry too often get in the way of quality and sustainability. Ann concludes that the answer here, as ever, is about nurturing relationships and supporting the interests of everyone in the herbal web. Everyone who loves herbs needs to read this book!”—Simon Mills, herbal clinician and elder, author of Out of the Earth, coauthor of Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy
"A thoroughly engaging, must-read book for all herbalists, herbal medicine makers, herb growers, and anyone who turns to herbs for their health. I was immediately drawn into the story of botanical medicines and the complexities within each bottle of herbal tincture on store shelves."—Rosalee de la Forêt, herbalist and author of Alchemy of Herbs, coauthor of Wild Remedies
"Ann Armbrecht’s engaging book provides perceptive and important insights into what is too often an invisible trade despite its immense importance to the livelihoods, traditions, and interests of a great many people around the world."—Steven Broad, executive director of TRAFFIC and member of the Board of the FairWild Foundation
About Ann Armbrecht
Ann Armbrecht is a writer and anthropologist (PhD, Harvard 1995) whose work explores the relationships between humans and the earth, most recently through her work with plants and plant medicine. She is the director of the Sustainable Herbs Initiative, which she founded in 2016 to help bridge the gaps between the values of herbal medicine and the reality of sourcing and producing herbs on a global scale. She is also the coproducer 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. She now lives with her family in central Vermont.
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