Eclectic Institute at HomeHerb.Com

The name "Eclectic" was taken from a group of physicians, known as The Eclectic Physicians, who were dedicated to the clinical research and usage of botanicals in the treatment of disease. Practicing from 1836-1937, they were committed to using a rational means of diagnosing and treating diseases. By 1915 there were 12,000 practicing Eclectic physicians. The group founded a number of Medical Schools which flourished during that time period. Those schools provided much of the foundation research utilized by botanical manufacturers today.

History of the Eclectic Institute
The Eclectic Institute was founded in 1982 by two naturopathic physicians, Dr. Edward Alstat and Dr. Michael Ancharski. At that time, Dr. Alstat was the pharmacist for the Portland Naturopathic clinic, the teaching clinic of the National College of Naturopathic medicine and Dr. Ancharski was the Clinic Director. Though in the midst of the top botanical literature, research and practitioners, they could not find high quality, botanical preparations to use in their clinic. Most herbs on the commercial market simply were not pure, vital or fresh enough to be very beneficial. They decided to develop and market their own line of botanical products using only organic herbs carefully grown and harvested and processed while fresh. Eclectic is committed to working with nature's healing power, in the preparation of botanical products which nutritionally enhance total health and well-being.


Makers of extracts with the only Organic Alcohol
This commitment to the environment led Eclectic Institute to develop Organol, the only certified organic grape alcohol used in botanical liquid extracts. Organol allows Eclectic Institute to lead the industry in 100% certified organic extracts. Why insist upon using a certified organic grape alcohol instead of the usual grain alcohol? Alcohol distilled from grain has been sprayed with millions of pounds of pesticides and herbicides. Pesticides and herbicides poison our ground waters, poison our birds, our children and poison ourselves. Grain alcohol may be more readily available, it may be less expensive to use, but from the environment's viewpoint grain alcohol is prohibitively expensive.

Eclectic leads innovation and freshness with freeze drying
Eclectic Institute developed a line of encapsulated botanicals which are fresh, freeze-dried instead of air dried. Why fresh freeze -dried herbs instead of air dried herbs? Fresh freeze-drying the herbs maintains the active constituents of natural potency of most herbs. Fresh freeze-drying preserves all of the biologically active constituents of the fresh plant-not just some of the active constituents.

Alcohol Free extracts introduced
In 1994 Eclectic Institute again led the industry with the development of flavored glycerin " Alcohol Free" extracts. Eclectic Institute uses its Lloyd Extractor, a cold-still processor for removing the alcohol from the extract, we then replace the alcohol with glycerin. The addition of essential oils produces a pleasant tasting and perfect alternative to alcohol based extracts.

Endangered herbs propagated on organic farm
Eclectic Institute grows many types of herbs on its own certified organic farm. We are committed to developing sound propagative techniques for herbs generally wildcrafted. Our farm has given these wild plants some protection as we continue to propagate endangered species such as Echinacea tennesseensis. Our plantings of Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) have been extended each year with the goal of cultivating all of the herbs we use in our own manufacturing processes.


A Commitment to quality
Eclectic Institute has always been committed to leading innovation in the herb industry. We will continue to manufacturer the highest quality botanical products and demonstrate a responsibility to you, the customer as well as to our highly held principles.

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