The company, which is based in Washington, NJ, was founded almost as an afterthought, as master herbalist and company founder David Winston, RH (AHG) began selling surplus extracts that he had formulated for his own clinical herbal practice. Winston said that in 1982 he couldn’t find what he thought his patients needed, and so was driven to make his own formulas. Economies of scale, even at that small beginning level, meant he was putting together batches that far exceeded the needs of his own practice.
New manufacturing facility planned
The extracts were a hit, and have grown popular enough that today Herbalist & Alchemist is moving to a new, expanded manufacturing facility. The company says that move should be complete by the end of the year. The company has expanded its product beyond the original line of tinctures and other liquid formulas to herbal products in capsule form.
“I began making extracts for my practice because I couldn’t find the quality I wanted in the marketplace,” David said. “As demand grew it became clear H&A needed a businessperson to run it while I focused on educating, writing, and formulating. I was fortunate to find Beth Lambert, who became my partner and CEO in 1995.”
“It’s been such an amazing journey to work with David and this fantastic staff, many of whom have been with us for many years,” said Lambert. “Having the confidence of customers and knowing we make a difference in people’s lives and the environment gives me pride in what we do every day.”
In 2020, Lambert told NutraIngredients-USA that her company, like many others, had benefited from a pandemic-related surge in demand. H&A’s strong position in adaptogenic herbs put it in a good position in this regard, she said.
Expertise recognized
Winston’s long history in the industry and devotion to traditional product forms, such as the so-called ‘solid extracts,’ figured strongly into judges giving the company the NutraIngredients-USA Botanical of the Year award this year for H&A’s Hawthorn Solid Extract.
This delivery form requires significant expertise to make well, and is often in high demand in the marketplace. Trying to meet that demand and avoid out-of-stock situations was one of the motivating factors for construction of the new facility.
Winston’s expertise and experience have been recognized by more than just the awards judges. In 2019, he was presented with an honorary Doctor of Science degree from National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR. The degree recognized Winston’s 50 years of service to the field.
The school had this to say for the reason’s for the award: “He is distinguished for his long-term work in economic botany; ethnopharmacology; botanical medicine protocols and practice standards, including botanical safety; and professional leadership in the field of botanical medicine and medical herbalism.”
