<DIV>'I believe that educated people who pick and use the plants should set the standards, and most people I meet are educated by retailers, instead of herbalists or ecologists, on the use and harvesting of herbs. '</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I would say instead of taking the advantage of one community,there is a need to consider the opinion of all the communities from traditional healers to ecologists.But there should not the dominance of any lobby.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>regards</DIV>
<DIV>Pankaj Oudhia</DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.pankajoudhia.com">http://www.pankajoudhia.com</A><BR><BR><BR><B><I>Stiki Niki <texas_herbalist@hotmail.com></I></B> wrote:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Wow<BR><BR>I skimmed through many of the responses to the question and I am pretty <BR>fired up as well about the issue. I come to this issue as an anarchist at <BR>heart and practicing herbalist and ecologist so here is yet another opinion. <BR>I wildcraft and grow as many herbs as possible for my practice. I have a <BR>hard time commodifying health and herbs, but obviously, I am stuck in a <BR>system down here in the bowels of the beast (occupied Mexico). I, like many <BR>others, attempt to make a living doing what I love, and I love plants and <BR>the healing arts.<BR><BR>The arguments brought forth have been very broad and outside of my scope. I <BR>tend to think a little more practically. I am one of the people who <BR>educates the others in my community about how to use herbs, where to get <BR>them and how to choose high quality preparations, as well as treating folks <BR>and
seeing the direct effects of my herbal medicine. In other words, I am a <BR>much smaller player, but there are many of us. Most of us aren't on the <BR>listserves or members of any groups. I have many herbalist friends in the <BR>U.S. and in Mexico that want nothing to do with certification of plant <BR>material or our healing art. We are the ones who are stewarding the wild <BR>stands of plants around the US and other countries. We are also the ones <BR>watching large herb companies create the necessary scenario in order to <BR>decimate large stands of plants that cannot be replaced---ever. We just <BR>mourned the loss this last year of a huge stand of Osha in Colorado some <BR>European company wanted to probably sell back to the U.S. later. Who are <BR>the environmentally and socially responsible companies?? Good question. <BR>There is a lot more to a high quality herbal preparation than a bunch of <BR>letters on the label. I am not saying there shouldn't be standards but I am
<BR>the first to question whether all of the bureaucracy will bring us higher <BR>quality herbal preparations.<BR><BR>Who should set the standards? Well, I believe that the direction herbalism <BR>and the herb market has headed in the last decade in the U.S. is not a <BR>direction that I personally support. I believe that educated people who <BR>pick and use the plants should set the standards, and most people I meet are <BR>educated by retailers, instead of herbalists or ecologists, on the use and <BR>harvesting of herbs. A few of the retailers may also be herbalists or <BR>ecologists, but many just learn catch phrases and trendy "substitutes" to <BR>pharmaceuticals.<BR>In my ideal world, we would form local committees that set standards for <BR>medicinal plants and herbalists based on consensus from folks in the local <BR>community. The local committees may then act as representatives to other <BR>communities that wished to trade and our local community may decide to <BR>empower
this committee to make the decisions based on the local communities <BR>concerns and values. A greater emphasis should be placed on bioregionalism <BR>in general so that folks create a stronger bond with their local <BR>environment, and have more of a reason to protect it.<BR>I share concerns over where my plants come from and I do my best to <BR>decentralize my use of herbs by finding bioregional equivalents that are <BR>weedy and therefore create less of a strain on plant populations. Sometimes <BR>I have had to buy herbs and as my business grows, I am now ordering more and <BR>more supplies and dried plant material. I have great concerns over the <BR>quality of herbs grown in different areas of the world for a global <BR>medicinal plant market, as well as global food market. Since my ideal world <BR>isn't here yet, then personlly, I would choose medicinal plants from places <BR>that could answer more of my questions on the phone with regards to ethical <BR>harvesting, where the
plant matter came from, irradiation, etc. I have yet <BR>to find a company that sells herbs to retailers and herbalists that can <BR>answer my questions sufficiently. Therefore, after the hours and hours I <BR>have spent with larger, more affordable companies---many well known ones, I <BR>have decided to spend the extra money and go straight to the small companies <BR>like mine, who I can actually get some deep, thoughful answers from about <BR>their plants. In Texas, I helped to create a small association of local <BR>herbalists who share plants and supplies.<BR>Social equity is VERY important. When people are getting what they feel <BR>they deserve for their work, the end result is a better product. Plain and <BR>simple. Fair Trade is another questionable term. My friend from Mexico <BR>interviewed "Fair Trade" farmers and found many indications that there was <BR>nothing "fair" about fair trade. It still depends on whose doing the <BR>trading but when it comes to large
corporations I have no trust in them at <BR>all.<BR><BR>I decided after several years of training in herbalism to pursure bodywork. <BR>I went to get my Massage Therapy Registration in Texas. The skills and <BR>ability of herbal practitioners who are not required to be certified are as <BR>variable as the Registered Massage Therapists. The Midwives of my area <BR>decided to go for National Certification and are now kicked out of <BR>hospitals. Certification of medicinal plant does not ensure high quality <BR>medicinal plants. Certification of herbs may be helpful and effective for <BR>large companies, but not small ones. Therfore, maybe it is time to try to <BR>envision another way to get direct participation of local communities. <BR>Education and trust is key. If I had more time and energy, or it was my job <BR>to do so, I would try to create better ways to educate and focus more on <BR>accessiblilty. As it is, I am spending way too much time on this and I <BR>have a client
soon.<BR><BR>I have tried to answer the questions put out to the listserve to show that <BR>there is yet another perspective alive and well on this listserve. We need <BR>new ideas and new systems, not reform. In holistic mediicne you have to <BR>think outside of the box to get answers. I would like to see the same thing <BR>with the standards we create for medicinal plants. I am on the side of <BR>people in their local communities being supported by their neighbors <BR>sustaining our local economies. I understand that creating a market for <BR>herbs may be all that some people have in some countries, (another hour long <BR>essay) but I have to stay true to decentralization. I am on the side of the <BR>beautiful weeds of various biorgegions being celebrated. I respect and <BR>honor all of the work so many have put into such things as Organic <BR>standards, but as much as I'd like to, I just can't afford personally live <BR>an Organic lifestyle. I think more than give any answers, I
have a lot more <BR>questions surrounding this issue. I do believe that there should be <BR>standards but in order for them to truly work, they have to be able to be <BR>integrated in at a grassroots level.<BR><BR>Thanks for your time and remember to support your local herbalists!!!<BR>Niki Telkes<BR>www.wildspirit.info<BR><BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>MPWG mailing list<BR>MPWG@lists.plantconservation.org<BR>http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/mpwg_lists.plantconservation.org<BR><BR>To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to MPWG-request@lists.plantconservation.org with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.<BR><BR>Disclaimer <BR>Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc. reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific medical condition or question. All
medical and other healthcare information that is discussed on this list should be carefully reviewed by the individual reader and their qualified healthcare professional. Posts do not reflect any official opinions or positions of the Plant Conservation Alliance. <BR></BLOCKQUOTE><p><font face=arial size=-1>
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