Herbal Explorations: The Business of Herbs and Botanicals

Holly Johnson of the American Herbal Products Association discusses the AHPA’s Tonnage Surveys. These reports present the findings of surveys APHA conducts to quantify annual harvests of certain North American herbs in commerce. In this episode, Holly discusses:

• How the AHPA conducts their surveys, and shares their research methodology, how their studies are conducted, how they take the data from their surveys, and share it ...

In this episode, Wilson and Asa Waldstein, the principal of the Regulatory Compliance and Supplement Advisory Group and the creator of  the #WarningLetterWednesday. Asa and Wilson discuss how herbalists, TCM practitioners, naturopaths, and functional medicine doctors should make claims.

Making Claims

Claims you make as a practitioner are different from claims you make products, as product claims move out the...

Conservation, Preservation, ESG, and the Work of FairWild

In this episode, Wilson talks to Anastasiya Timoshyna of FairWild. Anastasiya and Wilson talk about a specific conservation effort called TRAFFIC and how FairWild is working to ensure that the trade in wild species is not a threat to environmental conservation.

As part of this work, Nuherbs has been supporting the development and the growth of the FairWild...

Climate Change and Developing Sustainable Harvesting Practices

Wilson Lau, and Josef Brinckmann, Traditional Medicinals, Vice President of Sustainability talk about climate change, growing herbs, and building a sustainable supply chain. According to Josef, sustainability begins with evaluating and understanding what is needed most to sustain and improve your supply chain.

1:30: What do you consider to be a sustainable herbal s...

Does Just In Time Inventory Make Sense For the Global Supply Chain?

In this episode, Wilson Lau and Sam Joshi, talk about “Just in time inventory” and some trends that make “just in time herbal ingredients” harder to secure these last few years. The conversations provides an extensive overview of the stakeholders involved the global herbal supply chain including:

1. Government / Regulators
2. Farmers / Wildcrafters
3. Aggregators
...

In this episode, Wilson and Ann discuss key areas of sustainability impacting the growth, cultivation and harvesting of herbs. Listen to their conversation to better understand:

Farming Practices - Soil Health: Choice of the crops, variety, seed, rotation, soil fertility, The temperature, soil, terrain, micro-climate and humidity all influence potency of the plant. For the plants to continue to thrive, the entire ecosystem mus...

Jon Benninger of Informa, and Wilson Lau of Nuherbs will be discussing the importance of hybrid events and platforms such as SupplySide365 and Jon’s Morning Mingle are for the herbal supply chain.

In this episode, they discuss and explore how the herbal industry can use online platforms to supplement traditional trade shows to discover new suppliers, customers, and make new connections. Jon and Wilson look at how companies wil...

In this episode, Wilson talks with Bill Chioffi of Ric Scalzo Institute for Botanical Research. In it, Wilson and Bill discuss: What the institute is and what its mission, and Wilson asks:

• Currently, herbs depending on the level of research and claims that it seeks to make can be classified as a Food, Drug, or Cosmetic, which are all regulated by the FDA. An example of this is Vitamin C can be classified as a drug, if it’s d...

In this episode, Wilson speaks to David Winston of Herbalist & Alchemist, who is the world’s leading expert on adaptogens. In this episode, they discuss:

2:00: The history of adaptogens.

3:00: The historical definition of what an adaptogen is.

4:40: Practitioners still use old definitions of adaptogens.

5:30: We need to define adaptogens correctly. There are only 9.

6:12: Classifying other herbs with adaptogenic properties...

In this episode, Wilson speaks to Dr. Holly Johnson, the Chief Science Officer of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA).  Last season, Holly and Wilson discussed the importance of AHPA’s Tonnage Study. They are back to start season two with the conversations that happened around sustainability at AHPA’s 10th Botanical Congress. In this episode:

0:52:  Climate Change is Real – And It’s Affectin...

Part two of our interview with Dr. Holly Johnson, the Chief Science Officer of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA).  In this episode, Wilson and Holly discuss the following:

1:20:  Climate Change is affecting the way we grow and harvest.

2:58:  High Temps in the Pacific Northwest decrease the yield of valerian root.

4:12:  Be the bestie to your farmer or supplier before it’s too...

In this episode, Suzanne Shelton of the Shelton Group interviews Wilson Lau on his thoughts about sustainability.  In this episode, they discuss:

2:04:  Five macro themes that impact the future of our food supply chain.

4:09: How do we avoid global famines?

7:10:  Proof that climate change is real.

9:48:  Extreme weather impacts the cost of business.

14:09: We have to invest in a way tha...

In this episode, Suzanne Shelton, of the Shelton Group, interviews Wilson Lau, on his thoughts about sustainability.  In this episode, they discuss:

1:26:  Finding the greatest impact:  global change or local change

3:42:  Shortening the food supply chain.

5:33:  The impact of technology on pesticides.

7:57:  Eliminating food waste - is it worth the cost?

14:51:  Are Synth...

Intro/Overview

In this episode, Wilson speaks to David Winston of Herbalist & Alchemist, who is the world’s leading expert on adaptogens. In this episode, they discuss:

2:00: The history of adaptogens.

3:00: The historical definition of what an adaptogen is.

4:40: Practitioners still use old definitions of adaptogens.

5:30: We need to define adaptogens correctly. There are only 9.

6:12: Classifying...

Intro/Overview

In this episode, Wilson speaks to David Winston of Herbalist & Alchemist, who is the world’s leading expert on adaptogens. In this episode, they discuss:

0:18: How practitioners can best help their patients understand the use of adaptogens.

1:15: Energetics, primary and secondary uses. Look at each adaptogen, and if it

makes sense for you.

6:11: Treating the person, not the problem.

...

In this episode of Herbal Explorations, Wilson welcomes Julien Gervreau, the Sustainability Director of Sensiba San Filippo. With his extensive experience in accounting, agriculture, and a passion for sustainability, Julien shares valuable insights on integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices into businesses.

Julien emphasizes the need for companies to understand the importance of transitioning companie...

Wilson and Julien delve into the crucial topic of emissions and sustainability in the supply chain in this episode.  They explore the challenges of sharing usable data across the entire product supply chain, emphasizing the need for standardization and accounting practices. They mention the importance of using calibrated calculators specific to the industry and having engagement from different departments to track and analyze ...