Where do Chinese herbs come from and how are they grown?
Chinese herbs coming to the US are grown primarily in China or Taiwan or other Asian countries. The Chinese have developed refined methods of cultivation for large yields of high quality herbs. Contrary to common concerns, Chinese herbs are usually grown organically (pesticides only work for more cultivated plant species and are not affordable for Chinese farmers) and generally not irradiated. Some raw materials are grown outside of China, imported for processing and may be exported again. What about animal substances? I’m a vegetarian! There has been some controversy regarding the killing of endangered animal species and their trade on the black market (e.g. tiger bone, rhino horn), but such substances are excluded from import to the US and their use would be considered unethical by American practitioners. With the vast number of substances available, substitutions can easily be made (e.g. buffalo horn for rhino horn). The same applies for substituting plant materials for animal mater
