Quality, Quality, Quality: Where to Source Your Herbs From

We live in a global economy in which virtually anything can be ordered at any time of day for any reason - and from anyone. While this can be incredibly convenient when you're prepping for a last-minute dinner with the in-laws, frantically ordering extra paper towels and flowers for the table, the same logic cannot be applied to ordering your daily supplements and herbal remedies.

In today's post, we're diving into the importance of sourcing quality herbs when it comes to finding lasting impacts on your health and wellness. What goes in your body is just as important as where it came from, and we want to help you make sense of the wild, wild West that is purchasing Chinese herbs.

Where NOT to Go

We find it's important to explain where not to buy your herbs first, so you don't make the mistake of buying them from a non-reputable seller. Stay away from big-box stores and warehouse sellers: The quality and potency of herbs can quickly degrade with prolonged exposure to damp, dark, dusty conditions. It's also nearly impossible to tell how long a product has sat on a shelf, and what temperature the herbs have been stored at, which can impact how they effect you.

What to Look For

Now to what you should look out for! After you've consulted with your Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner about what herbal remedies might be best suited to you and your lifestyle, we encourage you to explore these avenues to finding your perfect blend!

Herbalists' use custom formulas for specific ailments, so you'll need to meet with a qualified herbalist to get the proper TCM pattern diagnosis. That practitioner will then use a patent or custom formula to treat you.

Here are some good spots to find high-quality herbs and supplements:

1. A trusted acupuncturist or TCM provider who knows the in's and out's of your conditions

2. Organic grocery stores like Whole Foods and Erewhon

3. Family-run, long standing herbal business' like PCT Herbs in Los Angeles' Chinatown.

4. Quality brands like KPC Herbs, Designs for Health, Pure Encapsulations, and Metagentics, and more (listed below).

Please note that it's most important to follow the medical advise of your provider, including where to find your herbs! These are just a few of our personal tips!

Herbs at Wildflower

At Wildflower Acupuncture in Toluca Lake, we only source herbs and other daily supplements from brands that Dr. Laura Mann has vetted herself. We find it's important to know where our products are coming from and how they were stored so that we can ensure the highest quality medicine is going to our clients.

Here are a few of the high-quality brands we carry in store:

1. Panaxea

2. Evergreen Herbs

3. Blue Poppy

4. Thorne products (not herbs, but additional supplements)

We'd like to note that we source these products from reputable sellers and do NOT recommend purchasing these on your own without the supervision and guidance of someone certified to prescribe herbal medicine.

Some Final Thoughts

The whole point of adding an herbal supplement (or supplements) to your daily routine is to improve your condition, to make you feel better and to aid you along the life-long journey to bettering your health. If you think an herbal supplement you're taking isn't doing anything or maybe even be worsening your condition, please consult with your herbal medicine practitioner right away.

We hope this article steer you towards making the right call when it comes to buying herbal medicine. We're rooting for you (get it? ROOT-ing! Like medicinal root herbs!)

With love,

The Wildflowers