Heron's Nest

Sustainability is defined both by what you do and by what you refrain from doing. Heron Botanicals is committed to both components of sustainability. Our product line-up is made up of exclusively sustainably sourced herbal medicine. We revisit our product lineup regularly to insure that each product's sourcing continues to meet our commitments to ecologic sustainability. Despite our strong commitment to preserving traditional herbal medicine, there is a growing list of traditionally used herbs that cannot be sustainably source. We are persistent in our search for sustainable ways to source these herbs, but despite many sources claiming to be sustainable, ethical sourcing an increasing concern. We refuse to stock endangered products, but actively seek out alternatives to ensure that your dispensary can remain effective despite. Here is a list of alternative to threatened herbs:  Threatened/endangered herb North American alternative(s) Aspidosperma quebracho (quebracho) Lobelia infalata (lobelia), Asclepias tuberosa (pleurisy root), Asclepias asperula (inmortal) Boswellia spp (frankincense) Populus spp (cottonwood) buds, Pinus spp (pine) resin, Picea spp (spruce) resin   Bursera microphylla (elephant tree) Populus spp (cottonwood) buds, Pinus spp (pine) resin, Picea spp (spruce) resin  Castela emoryi (crucifixion thorn) Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven) weed in N Amer, Quassia amarga (Surinam quassia) Chamaelirium luteum (false unicorn) Nuphar polysepalum (yellow pond lily) Commiphora mukul (guggul) Cinnamomum spp (cinnamon) Commiphora myrrha (myrrh) Populus spp (cottonwood) buds, Pinus spp (pine) resin, Picea spp (spruce) resin, Abies spp (fir) resin, Pseudotsuga mensiezii (Douglas fir) resin Cypripedium spp (lady's slipper) Pedicularis spp (lousewort) Dionaea muscipula (Venus flytrap) Artemisia absinthium (wormwood, for Crohn's disease), Annona muricata (soursop, for cancer), Echinacea spp Drosera rotundifolia (sundew) Populus spp (cottonwood) buds, Grindelia spp (gumweed) Frangula purshiana (cascara sagrada) Rheum palmatum (rhubarb) uncooked root, Cassia spp (senna) Gentiana lutea (yellow gentian) Arctium lappa (burdock), Artemisia spp (mugwort/wormwood) Guaiacum officinale (lignum vitae) Larrea tridentata (creosote bush) Harpagophytum procumbens (devil's claw) Salix spp (willow), Populus tremuloides (aspen) Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) Berberis aquifolium (Oregon grape) + Rubus spp (blackberry) Lepidium meyenii (maca) Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) US cultivated Ligusticum porteri (oshá) Osmorhiza occidentalis (western sweet cicely), Lomatium dissectum (desert parsley), Ligusticum grayi (Gray's lovage) Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng) Oplopanax horridum (devil's club), Codonopsis pilosula (dang shen) US cultivated Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) Oplopanax horridum (devil's club), Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) wild simulated Picrasma excelsa (Jamacian quassia) Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven) weed in N Amer, Quassia amarga (Surinam quassia) Picrorhiza kurroa (kutki) Silybum marianum (milk thistle), Arctium lappa (burdock) Prunus africanum (pygeum) Serenoa repens (saw palmetto), Urtica dioica (stinging nettle) root Rauvolfia serpentina (Indian snakeroot) Rauvolfia serpentina (Indian snakeroot) cultivated, Rauvolfia vomitoria (poison devil's-pepper) Saussurea costus (Indian costus) Inula helenium (elecampane), Inula racemosa (puskaramula), Balsamorhiza deltoidea (deltoid balsamroot), Balsmorhiza sagittata (arrowleaf balsamroot) Tabebuia spp (pau d'arco) Thuja plicata (red cedar), Thuja occidentalis (arbor vitae) Trillium ovatum (eastern trillium) Alchemilla spp (lady's mantle), Trillium ovatum (western trillium) in moderation Ulmus rubra (slippery elm) Althaea officinalis (marshmallow), Zea mays (cornsilk), Elymus repens (couch grass) Uncaria tomentosa (cat's claw) Oplopanax horridum (devil's club), Chilopsis linearis (desert willow)   Additional herbs that we do not yet have alternative source for: Santalum alba (white sandal wood), Hoodia gordonii (hoodia)