Herb Pharm (4)

Herbs have naturally beneficial properties, but most of us don’t know how to harness them. That’s why we turn to herbalists who are trained in both the art and science of getting the most out of these plants. Before meeting his business partner Sara Katz, Ed Smith traveled around the world learning everything he could about traditional uses of herbs. He met spice sellers in Asia’s bazaars and Central America’s markets, and even lived with a shaman in the Amazon. Bringing the lessons home, he’s been combining ancient wisdom with modern techniques for the past forty years.

The History of Herb Pharm

Herb Pharm’s history dates back to the 1970s when founders Ed Smith and Sara Katz set out to offer liquid herbal products—or extracts—in their purest form. Here’s a look back at some of the milestones Herb Pharm experienced to become the trusted brand it is today.

• 1970s: Herb Pharm’s founders met at a naturopathic college and partnered to create “Foundation for Natural Living,” their first herb-focused venture, where they held retreats to educate people about herbalism. During this decade, Smith and Katz scoured local stores for extracts, but couldn’t find what they were looking for. Visiting used bookstores, they eventually discovered books from centuries prior, teaching the art of traditional extract-making.


• 1980s: In 1979, Smith and Katz moved to a community of herb-enthusiasts in southern Oregon and began looking for ingredients in the local hillsides. By 1982, the duo had built a lab attached to their home where they could grow, harvest, and extract herbs. As the eighties went on, their home became a business hub, shipping products from their dining room and using their living room as a classroom for future herbalists.


• 1990s: Now armed with a handful of employees, the duo built a larger facility to serve as a dedicated space to extract herbs, which has continued growing to accommodate the business's success.

When the company was in a position to expand again, Smith and Katz bought a large parcel of land they’d often admired when driving or biking through the local area. Because the region had been both under-watered and over-grazed by sheep, they implemented organic and regenerative agriculture practices to nurse the land back to health. Today, it continues to be the site where they grow many of the plants for their extracts.

Herb Pharm Company Mission

Creating the highest quality herbal extracts is the mission behind Herb Pharm. In addition to its product line, Herb Pharm also educates consumers about herbalism and hopes to inspire a love and respect of the natural world and all it offers. Herb Pharm’s founders became founding members of United Plant Savers (UpS), an organization dedicated to preserving native herb populations around the country.

Benefits of Herb Pharm

Herb Pharm follows the FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices to maintain the highest quality in all its products, and has also been third-party audited. The extracts are created from organically grown plants and made in small batches. For plants that can’t be grown themselves, Herb Pharm turns to ethically sourced plants from wildcrafters, farmers, and brokers, supporting local and independent farms whenever possible. When vetting a potential partner, Herb Pharm puts their herbs through a series of tests, including visitations to both domestic and international suppliers to observe their facilities and ensure ethical practices are upheld.

Top Herb Pharm Products

These top Herb Pharm products will help get you started with extracts and supplements.

Mullein Garlic Ear Oil

Ear ache? Applying one or two drops of lightly warmed oil into your ear several times a day may help ease ease your symptoms.

Breath Refresher, Peppermint

Banish bad breath with a single spray. This breath refresher delivers a minty-fresh flavor to your mouth instantly, and the formula is gluten-free, sugar-free, and easy to stash in your purse or travel bag.

Turmeric Extract

If you’re looking to add extra turmeric to your wellness routine, add this extract to your cabinet. Extracted in organic cane alcohol to deliver a full spectrum of phytochemicals, this vegan, non-GMO and gluten-free formula goes down easy.

Thrive Market’s Best Supplement Tips

Curious about supplements? Thrive Market has resources to help you choose the right one for you.

Mushroom Supplements for Your Health

A medicinal mushroom supplement might be just the thing to incorporate into your diet. Learn about our favorite fungi-powered options.

Build Muscle With Natural Supplement

If you’re a dedicated gym-goer, don’t miss this post that shares tips on how to build muscle with natural supplements.

Supplements for Joint Health

For stiff or achy joints, there are a handful of natural ways to help them feel better—including supplements. Check out our list for the ones worth knowing about.