Friday, August 14, 2015

Gaia Herbs: Meet Your Herbs!

I have always been a bit skeptical of encapsulated herbs. Most herbal supplements I knew of in the past, were either dried and ground herb, standardized, or extracts. The dried and ground just didn't seem potent enough, standardized herbs involve toxic solvents for extraction-so I stuck with liquid extracts. Then I was introduced to Gaia Herbs.  Based out of Brevard, North Carolina, Gaia Herbs produces extracts, but also a line of quality encapsulated herb supplements. What makes them so unique is that their herbal supplements are basically extracts in a capsule, incredibly potent, with herbs grown sustainably. Their mission is, "to create and nurture healthy connections between plants and people. We do that through finding and maintaining strong global relationships in addition to championing personal and environmental sustainability here at home, on our own organic farm".

What really sets them apart is their Meet Your Herbs program. On the back of every product you purchase from Gaia is an ID number. When you enter this number in to their website, it will take you right to the field where that herb is grown. It is there that you can view a certificate of purity, integrity and potency, up-to-date information on your herb purchase, as well as its history and how it works in the body. Detailed information on seed source, the farm, parts used, you name it. Full transparency.

 In addition to this unique traceability program, Gaia Herbs is an amazing example of a business that uses their success to help the world. Globally, they help in almost every country in which their herbs are grown. In Kenya, they help Masai girls get the support they need, be it school or a rescue shelter. When the island of Vanuatu, in Indonesia, was hit by a large cyclone, Gaia Herbs was there to provide tools and supplies to help the residents of this island rebuild their homes and farms. They are part of the growing need to reduce carbon emissions by purchasing renewable energy credits and supporting the wind power industry. Organic farming is essential to Gaia Herbs, they support these practices all over the world. Locally, their tractors and trucks in Brevard, North Carolina are fueled with cooking oil waste from local restaurants. Every year they donate thousands of pounds of organic produce, from their large farm, to their local food bank. Gaia is there to help save the Everglades, they were there to support those in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, they are working to support preservation of remote Costa Rican coastlines. Really, the list goes on and on. When you purchase a supplement from  Gaia Herbs, you are not only getting an excellent product (that actually works!), you are helping support a wealth of programs focused on making this world a better place.


My favorite product: Adrenal Health

Runner-Up: Turmeric Supreme Extra Strength