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.
“In The Business of Botanicals, 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. Weaving her personal experiences with careful research
about the history of medicinal herbs, Armbrecht explores the
booming herbal supplements trade with courage and vulnerability;
the journey from wild plant to industrial herb proves to be fraught
and perilous. It’s a valuable read and a good read, a
rare find in this age of information. Armbrecht is clearly a person
and writer who thinks and cares deeply, and she invites her readers
to do the same, which is truly a gift.”—Kate Williams, CEO of 1%
for the Planet
“In The Business of Botanicals, Ann Armbrecht establishes herself
as 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. From Ann’s far-flung travels, the reader
gains a rare vantage point of the inner workings of the global herb
trade, as she explores the people and places that make the products
lining our medicine cabinets possible. The result is a riveting
journey, one that tackles hard questions not explored by most: How
do we reconcile the roots of colonialism present in the modern herb
trade with the benefits we seek to impart through our products?
What must businesses do to protect the health of the people and
planet supporting our supply chains, placing their needs equal to
shareholder return? 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 Business of Botanicals is a unique and valuable resource
on the exceptional challenges to creating ethical, ecological, and
fair herbal products, written from the perspective of a thoughtful
expert.”—Ryan Zinn, Regenerative Projects Manager, Dr.
Bronner’s
“The Business of Botanicals is a chronicle of the modern-day
global herb trade, peppered with historical context,
anecdotes, and wisdom from modern pioneers of the herb industry
whose companies and products remain some of the best on the current
market. 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. Ann Armbrecht’s writing flows
almost poetically, even as she describes the business of herbs.
Like herbs themselves, The Business of Botanicals is rich
in colors, scents, and flavors and is rooted in the earth—exquisite
and messy, beautiful and dirty all at the same time. Armbrecht
takes us on a journey to many corners of the world to visit plant
growers and collectors, as well as teachers and conservationists.
In the true spirit of inquiry, her journey comes back to the heart,
the organ of true perception. If the herbalism we practice is
holistic because it considers the whole picture of a patient before
formulating a prescription, and the whole plant we use is clearly
more than the sum of its constituent parts, so too this book offers
a truly holistic perspective. As Armbrecht says, her journey became
the medicine these plants offer. . . . That is their promise.”—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
“This timely book explores the manifold issues facing the supply
chain that feeds the US and European herb markets. A profound
social reassessment is underway. 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. Based on care for the plants and the
planet, 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 brings us the fruits of a passion that drove her to
explore the widest reaches of the world’s herbal supply chains. She
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. Along with key people she meets, 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
“The Business of Botanicals is 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
“The Business of Botanicals is a must read for all herbalists
who care about the quality and ethical issues that are part and
parcel of what has become the enormous global herb industry.”—Dr.
Jill Stansbury, ND, author of Herbal Formularies for Health
Professionals
“Those of us in the botanical industry were once seen as an odd
band of naturalist dropouts, growing or picking plants with
unpronounceable names for slightly mysterious purposes. Today,
herbal medicines are a global phenomenon, but through that surge in
popularity, we are loving herbs to death. The Business of
Botanicals focuses on the urgent task at hand to be benevolent
stewards in how we source, manufacture, and sustain an ever more
stressed herb ecosystem. If you love botanicals, please read this
book.”—Loren Israelsen, president of the United Natural Products
Alliance
“Ann Armbrecht writes with deep respect for the essence of plants
and their capacity to heal, seeking to reconcile the spirit of
botanicals with the realm of brands and tradeshows. Armbrecht’s
reverence for nature and emotional honesty animates these pages and
elevates this book above a by-the-numbers industry
analysis.”—Judith D. Schwartz, author of The Reindeer Chronicles
and Water in Plain Sight
“Ann Armbrecht is a bright light in the complex business of
botanical medicines. She is a pragmatic insider, not an armchair
critic, but she also brings a strong sense of ethical wisdom to her
book and her work as an advocate who does not dodge the hard
questions.”—Gary Paul Nabhan, author
of Mesquite and Jesus for Farmers and Fishers
“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
“A vastly important and enlightening dive into the complexities of
the botanical industry that is a must read for conscious consumers
and industry professionals alike. Ann Armbrecht tackles the issues
of sustainability, quality, livelihoods, and traditional knowledge
with so much heart and honesty that you feel as if you’ve taken the
journey with her.”—Erin Smith, director of Herbal Science &
Research, Banyan Botanicals; co-chair of the Sustainability
Committee at the American Herbal Products Association
“This well-written and well-researched book provides fascinating
and important insights into how herbal remedies make it into our
homes. Ann Armbrecht’s passion for the subject shines through as
she takes readers on an illuminating journey through the highs and
lows, the joys and challenges, the magic and hard commerce present
in the herbal medicine trade. Reading almost like a
travelogue, The Business of Botanicals chronicles her
visits to farms, wild-collection sites, and factories around
several continents, introducing some of the key characters and
companies in the industry along the way.”—Susan Curtis, director of
Natural Health, Neal’s Yard Remedies
Foreword Reviews— "Thoughtful and compelling. . . The Business
of Botanicals is an insightful, impassioned study of the
herbal supplements industry and the challenges of producing its
goods in a socially responsible way. . . . Representing hundreds of
interviews with people at all levels of the supply chain. . .the
book is a commanding plea that people engage in ‘conscious
capitalism. ‘"
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