Ask an HerbalistFeb 2, 2022

What’s the difference between Certified Organic, Responsibly Wildcrafted and Purity Verified herbs on your labels?

We love talking about herbs and herbalism, and we especially love answering your questions about those topics. That's why we brought in our team of herbal experts to respond to some of the most common questions and concerns we hear.

Our herbalists have decades of combined experience working with herbs — and the people who take them. They answer your most pressing questions, in our regular column “Ask an Herbalist.”

What’s the difference between Certified Organic, Responsibly Wildcrafted and Purity Verified herbs on your labels?

At Herb Pharm, we use different terms to describe our herbs based on how they are grown and harvested, including Certified Organic, Responsibly Wildcrafted and Purity Verified. Regardless of its classification, each herb is subject to a variety of tests, including organoleptic assessment, high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and microbiological testing, to confirm identity and quality. We also have a testing program for heavy metals and pesticide screening, which includes pesticides, herbicides, miticides and fungicides.

Certified Organic

Certified Organic herbs are sourced from our farms in southern Oregon or our trusted partners. The herbs on our farms are cultivated using sustainable, regenerative methods to encourage soil health and protect the ecosystem. Read more about our practices here.

As Certified Organic handlers, we handle organic products in alignment with National Organic Standards. We also apply for organic certification for specific products when appropriate.

Responsibly Wildcrafted

Responsibly Wildcrafted herbs are collected according to specific guidelines in their natural habitats by a carefully vetted network of wildcrafters and brokers. Our wildcrafters are required to adhere to Good Collection Practices to ensure high quality and consistency for our raw ingredients. Herb Pharm limits our wildcrafted sourcing to species with robust populations in order to protect their long-term viability and prevent overharvesting.

Purity Verified

Purity Verified herbs are cultivated but for various reasons do not have organic certification. In some cases, certification is not possible in the regions where our raw materials are sourced. These herbs undergo very rigorous testing to ensure their quality and compliance with our specifications. Whenever possible, growing operations have been inspected to meet our standards.

Where can you find this info for each herb?

Look for the ingredients list on every one of our product labels. We use symbols next to each herb to confirm the classification:

Certified Organic: O

Responsibly Wildcrafted: W

Purity Verified: P