By Joan Cass
My name is Joan Cass. I live in Texas and have spent the last two decades researching and applying herbal remedies to individuals. I am the founder and owner of a line of medicinal herbs called Natural Healing, which I source from farmers and growers in Guatemala.
With the growing global interest in natural medicines, I’ve been increasingly concerned about getting genuine medicinal plants. I am also very conscious about where I source my products from, the process they go through to be able to be sold on the market, and whether this process involves ethical and sustainable practices.
The term “landrace herbs” refers to therapeutic plants that have not been treated with pesticides or fertilizers to stimulate growth. Landrace in plants refers to a traditional variety that has adapted over time. These plant varieties are not genetically bred but have, instead, evolved different traits naturally.
How can pesticides influence the human body? Pesticides have been linked to both short- and long-term impacts on human health, including increased cancer risk and probable disruptions to the body’s metabolic, immunological, endocrine, and neural systems. Chronic consequences include cancer, birth defects, reproductive damage, immuno-toxicity, neurological and developmental toxicity, and endocrine system disturbance.
In my perspective, attempting to treat someone with a health problem while not knowing where or what is in the herbs is wrong. You might be exacerbating their health problems without realizing it. It was important for me to find a supplier that did not utilize fillers and could tell me who farmed the herbs, how they were grown, and where. I want to be assured that the herbs have not been doused with pesticides.
When I see an offer for organic or natural medicinal herbs, I always ask the supplier numerous questions: Who grew the herbs, in what country, with what chemicals, are they of single origin, are you the grower, and are there any fillers? Most have incomplete answers. Or they don’t know.
According to some sellers, “it will take a few days to find the answers.” My line of inquiry often concludes with “I’m not sure”, or I never hear back from them.
Last year I had the pleasure of meeting a man named James Dillon. His company, Ethical Fashion Guatemala LLC, has been operating in the Guatemalan market for several years, specializing in Mayan herbal medicine and helping local Guatemalan artisans protect their weavings and textile designs from being stolen by corporations overseas. Check out this story about a woman from Guatemala who collaborated with James to create a line of natural beauty products for her daughter.
James collaborates with numerous healers. Christina, a fourth-generation Mayan healer, has spent the last four decades growing indigenous medicinal plants in the hills above Lake Atitlan and near her house. She is identical to her Mayan ancestors. Christina understands how to dry herbs, what functions each plant has, and how to apply them.
Working with James, Christina, and others in Guatemala, exposed me to new terms. Single-origin. Buying single-origin items from a certain nation, area, farm, producer, or plant type. I now have access to herbs cultivated from ancient family seeds in clean soil, without the use of pesticides, and with the same variety, often known as heritage seeds. Additionally, these herbs are not packaged in plastic.
The most important component of single-origin medicinal herbs is traceability, which means you know precisely where your herb came from and that it is a unique kind rather than a combination. That phrase properly emphasizes the significance of traceability for single-origin medicinal plants.
“The most significant aspect of single origin is traceability, which means you know exactly where your herb came from and that it is a distinct type rather than a blend,” James told me.
Here’s why traceability is so important for medicinal plants.
- Safety and Quality: Knowing the origin helps you to check the growth conditions and harvesting methods. This is especially important for medicinal plants because poor handling or contamination can compromise their efficacy and safety.
- Specific Effects: Different growing areas and temperatures might alter the chemical makeup of herbs, potentially affecting their therapeutic properties. Traceability enables you to select herbs based on their exact origin and possible benefits.
- Ethical Sourcing: Knowing the origin of the herbs allows you to confirm that they were cultivated and harvested ethically and sustainably.
The Guatemalan government regulates organic agriculture through the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA). MAGA oversees the National Quality System (OGA) which accredits certification bodies that can then certify individual producers. This system ensures that certified organic products meet Guatemalan regulations and international standards.
Therefore, traceability in single-origin medicinal herbs goes beyond just knowing the type of herb. It provides valuable information for making informed choices about the safety, effectiveness, and ethical sourcing of your herbal remedies.
There are currently around 164 organic operators in Guatemala. This number includes associations, federations, cooperatives, and individual producers. It’s important to note that this number doesn’t just represent individual farmers, but also groups of producers working together.
If you are in the market for herbal medicines and want to know where the products are sourced from, my recommendation is to ask questions about their process and be satisfied with the answers before making a purchase: where do the herbs originate? When were these herbs harvested? What is your practice for processing the herbs once they are harvested? Are there any further treatments or sprays used once you leave the farm? Who owns the company?
If you have the chance to support independent growers like I found in Christina, you will be contributing to an ethical practice rooted in sustainability. You will also be looking after your health and wellbeing in the best way possible.
You can see more of the herbs available on my store by visiting my website, and getting in touch if you have questions about finding products that support your health. Because it has been a journey for me, I am confident that the herbs I offer to my clients are pure.
Guatemalan grower Christina explains the use of herbal plants to guests. Image courtesy of Ethical Fashion Guatemala, LLC.
