LEADING THE WAY IN THE ORGANIC REVOLUTION

From Buzzwords to Principles

‘Natural’ is a buzzword these days. It wasn’t long ago that our society seemed less concerned with nature than with ‘progress’. But now we see the importance of sustainability and human values. The way we live, and hope to live, has undergone a revolution. Natural Medicine was at the vanguard of this revolution. Thanks to the work of pioneering naturopaths ‘a balanced diet’ and ‘regular exercise’ were accepted as basic requirements for health. Naturopathy is hardly alternative if you consider that its essential ideas form the basis of this massive shift in our thinking about food and the body.

Today, the Natural Revolution has evolved into ‘The Organic Revolution’. The Organic Revolution has really only just begun, but already it has redefined our concept of a healthy life. We have realized that what we assume to be natural – fruits, vegetable, herbs – are not necessarily produced in natural ways. Pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and genetic modification have corrupted our food sources and compelled many of us to aspire to a new ideal: living free of harmful chemicals.

Promises Promises

Now ‘Organic’ rivals ‘Natural’ in buzzword status. But the way many companies and products use the word ‘organic’ can be deceptive. Visit almost any supermarket and you’ll find foods, drinks, and cosmetics claiming to be ‘natural’ or ‘organic’, often both.

Sadly, these claims don’t necessarily guarantee that what you are getting for your money is chemical free. In fact sometimes the claims can be made regardless of whether products contain chemicals that are known to be harmful – shampoos with sodium lauryl sulphate and sodium laureth sulphate for example.

In the herbal medicine marketplace consumers and practitioners face the same problem. Apparently ‘natural’ herbs are often treated with harsh chemicals during growing and processing. Just as chemicals threaten the ‘natural’ status of our foods, so too they undermine the ‘naturalness’ of Natural Medicine. In the medicinal herbal industry the problem is made worse by the use of imported herbs. It is easier and cheaper for suppliers to buy herbs from overseas, regardless of the fact that they are fumigated with methyl bromide on entry to Australia, and sometimes even gamma irradiated before use.

Towards a True Organics

PPC Herbs was founded for the purpose of providing Natural Medicine with the high quality organic herbal extracts it deserves.

Unlike cosmetics and body-care products, the medicinal herb industry is carefully regulated. Nothing can be described as ‘organic’ unless it has been ‘Certified Organic’ by one of the three key regulatory bodies. Farmers go to great lengths to become, and stay, Certified. They must ensure that their herbs are harvested and grown in areas that have not been over-cultivated or over-grazed, away from industrial areas, sanitary landfills and garbage dumps, and protected from bushwalking and introduced pest species.

For us too, as the manufacturer of herbal extracts, Organic Certification is the rigorous benchmark. Not only must the herbs we use be grown under Certified Organic conditions, but the way we store, process, and package them must also meet strict criteria for purity.
 

Our organic herbs are kept in a special area, protected from contamination by trade herbs. Processing takes place in temperature controlled rooms to ensure true cold percolation - because overheating during processing reduces the potency of actives, enzymes, and nutrients. This special treatment continues until the extract is bottled, and labeled with our Gold Medal and Organic Certification stickers. The end result is a herbal extract of unrivalled organic quality.

No Reason Not to Go Organic!

The organic herbal extract industry is still young. Organic growers are small to medium sized organizations of dedicated people who take the ethics of an organic lifestyle very seriously. For over a decade we have been supporting and encouraging Australian farmers in their pursuit of an organic ideal. We are immensely proud to stand alongside them in what is often a struggle. Together, we still have a way to go. The industry needs to use more Certified Organic herbs to keep these farmers viable and in business.

Remarkably, considering the care taken to ensure organic quality, organic herbs aren’t actually more expensive than trade herbs. Practitioners and manufacturers really have no reason not to use them.

The general public also has the opportunity to go organic. Organics are increasingly used to enrich cosmetics and it is these products that promise to spread the word about organics, to grow our fledgling industry to a point where it can sustain itself – and benefit everyone! To this end PPC Herbs manufacture and sell, direct to public, a range of Certified Organic hair and skincare products. These products contain the same high quality organic herbs that we use in herbal medicines. They are a perfect way to incorporate the benefits of organics into everyday life.

Leading the Way.

We consider ourselves part of the vanguard of the Organic Revolution – leaders in the pursuit of a goal we truly believe in. Where naturopaths succeeded in convincing our society of the benefits of holistic health, we will succeed in helping people live an organic life. We hope that other herbal medicine manufacturers will join us in taking the pursuit of organic standards seriously.

At present PPC Herbs are still the first and only processor of Medicinal herbs in Australia Certified Grade A by the Organic Herb Growers of Australia (OHGA). We are also the first, and still the only medicinal herb manufacturer Certified as an organic processor of Herbal Medicine by the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA), which is internationally accredited by the International Federation of Organic Movements (IFOAM). No other manufacturer of herbal extracts in Australia can match our organic qualifications. But we look forward to a time when every herbal manufacturer meets these standards. Global demand for genuine organic products is growing, as is Australia’s deserved reputation for clean air and soil. PPC Herbs looks towards a clean, green, organic future for our industry, and our beautiful country.

Gordon Robertson
Managing Director