More about Bioforce
Echinaforce
Alfred Vogel travelled tirelessly all over the world,
living with indigenous peoples and learning about the herbs they
used, their lifestyles and diet. He was struck by how the diseases
of 'civilisation', both physical and mental, were absent from these
groups of people.
One of Vogel’s first
journeys of discovery was in the early 1950s when he ventured into
the Native American reservations on the prairies of South Dakota.The
Sioux Medicine Man, Ben Black Elk, was initially wary about
speaking to this European, but he soon realised that they both
shared a deep respect for nature and a wish to nurture and conserve
the healing herbs which had been provided in abundance but which
needed care and consideration to ensure that they were sustained
into coming centuries.
Black Elk sealed this bond
with the gift of Echinacea purpurea seeds, a herb much favoured by
the Sioux nation. Vogel returned with his gift to Switzerland and
spent several years carefully nurturing the tender young plants in
his organic garden to create a healthy harvest used in the
production of the fresh herb organic tincture, Echinaforce. This
first harvest formed the basis for the plants which are still grown
and harvested today in a sustainable, organic way to ensure the
continuation of both the herb and the remedy for future generations
At Bioforce, the Echinacea plants are
cut with great care, usually starting just after sunrise as this is
the time when they contain the highest level of active substances.
Each autumn, we collect Echinacea purpurea seeds to create
the new stock of spring seedlings. These are planted out by hand in
our organic fields where the Swiss climate is ideal for cultivating
strong, healthy Echinacea plants.
The vigorous plants which flower in our fields each summer are a
clear testimony to the organic farming methods Vogel always used. He
would not permit insecticides, fungicides or chemical fertilisers to
be applied to any of his herbs - a principle we follow to this day.
Within a very few hours of harvesting our Echinacea plants find
themselves at the first stage of their journey to becoming a fresh
herb tincture. This transformation uses a time honoured and
painstaking processing method.
The result of this careful and gentle handling from seed selection,
through organic cultivation, to the use of fresh herbs and the
creation of tincture filled with all the active substances, is the
world renowned, holistically standardised Echinaforce.
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