Those of you who are new to herbs and those who are branching out into new herbs should be aware of the ecological problems associated with wildcrafted herbs. Many of the at risk herbs are being denuded from their natural habitats to supply the ever growing herb trade. Land which supports many wild plants is being torn apart, killing not only the overharvested plant but the many which grow in association with it.

There are potholes across the prarie of the midwest where echinacea has been strip mined. American ginseng and goldenseal are nearly gone from the wild. But many of us have heard that "wildcrafted is stronger".

What to do?
First, there are several herbs that you should avoid altogether, like Lady's slipper orchid (Cypripedium spp.), Venus fly trap (Dionacea muscipula), Sundew (Drossera spp.), Osha (Ligusticum porteri and spp.).

Osha, for example tends not to grow well in cultivation- it requires high elevations, doesn't set seed every year and the practice of "ethical wildcrafters' of replanting the crown appears not to be terribly effective at allowing regrowth.

Then there are herbs which you should avoid unless you KNOW you have organic cultivated sources. Echinacea angustifolia, for example, is rarely cultivated because it is somewhat more difficult to grow than E. purpurea. Wildcrafting of echinacea is responsible for habitat destruction and the disappearance of rarer varieties of echinacea. So use cultivated echinacea and that usually means E. purpurea.

Avoid goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) altogether in major name brands because there is not enough cultivated organic goldenseal to supply major suppliers. There are smaller labels that can supply organic cultivated goldenseal, but there is so little that you should reserve it for pneumonia or serious, deeply entrenched respiratory illnesses. HerbPharm is doing promising chromatographic analysis to see whether the leaves can be sustainably harvested instead of the root, but it isn't at market.

Use NO echinacea-goldenseal capsules either- they do different things and the capsules are wasteful of one herb or another. Goldenseal does not prevent flu or colds and is not useful at the early stages of the illnesses. Use cultivated echinacea or Oregon grape instead. And if you need it, or even just have the proper habitat, grow goldenseal yourself.

Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) should also be cultivated because it is disappearing from the wild and the digging destroys habitat. The increasing demand from both the herbal and pharmaceutical industry has placed this herb at risk. Don't use it as progesterone if you need progesterone, because that isn't what it does (you would need a lab, not a human body to transform it.) Use cultivated sources for the legitimate lubricating uses.

Kava kava (Piper methysticum) from Hawaii is at risk. Use kava from other areas or from the small manufacturers which are known for their committment to ethical wildcrafting.

American ginseng can be difficult to cultivate without fungicides. Woods grown Panax quinquefolium is being cultivated in Maine and should be on the market in five years or so. A few growers using glacial soil dust have cultivated root that equals wild-crafted root, but this is a minority of the American ginseng on the market. Use eluthero (Siberian Giinseng) which is generally more suitable for younger, adrenally stressed persons, with warming herbs for older people who might actually benefit from panax species. Or nettles, ashwaganda, or other tonic herbs as appropriately chosen for the person in question.

Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) has succumbed to Dutch Elm disease, habitat destruction and over harvesting. Use marshmallow instead and plant slippery elm trees if you have land. It would be a tragedy if this important tree were to disappear.

Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)'s popularity for menstrual and menopausal conditions has created a huge demand which threatens the plant. Much of the black coholsh harvested in America goes to the multinational pharmaceutical industry. It can be harvested sustainably by breaking off the bud-less "back" of the pronged root and replanting the remaining prong. Planting is difficult (the seed must be planted quickly after stratification) but not impossible and if you use it, grow it in your garden. The plant is ornamental and readily available for cultivation. Try to find cultivated sources.

Other at risk plants include Bloodroot (Sanguinaria cancdensis), Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalicteroides), Helonias or False Unicorn Root (Chamalirium), Lomatium dissectum, Partridge berry (Mitchella repens), Peyote (lophophora williamsii), Trillium and True Unicorn (Aletris farinosa). Find substitutes for these plants or simply avoid them. Grow these if you have the proper conditions, even if only to provide a sanctuary for the future.

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Herbal Danger List
If you are pregnant, DO NOT USE any of the following herbs for any reason. Many can cause early contractions, birth defects, and even miscarriage. Make sure you check and see what herbs food and drinks contain before ingesting them. Check with your doctor or a herbalist, if possible as well.

Angelica
Belladonna
Burdock
Cinnamon essential oil
Cow Parsnip
Hyssop
Immortal
Mistletoe
Motherwort
Oshá
Pennyroyal
Peony
Rue
San qi
Shepherd's Purse
Thyme oil
Vervain
Wood Betony
Wormwood
Yarrow
Yerba