COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE • UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, LEXINGTON, KY, 40546

FOR-91

Growing Forest Botanicals and Medicinals Deborah B. Hill, Forestry

Introduction the big box stores or in other simi- People have harvested and lar locations, you will find listed: processed forest for medici- • nal purposes since the beginning • Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum of recorded history. One of the thalictroides) great dangers of losing the Ama- • Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) zon rainforest is that we may lose • Bloodroot (Sanguinaria highly valuable medicinal plants; canadensis) there’s no telling what has already • Wild ginger(Asarum canadense) been destroyed. Annual sales of • Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) medicinal and other economically • Witch-hazel (Hamamelis useful forest plants are now about virginiana) $60 billion worldwide. • Mayapple (Podophyllum The temperate forests of Ken- peltatum) tucky are known for their hard- Black cohosh ( wood timber. In addition, there are Actaea racemosa) herbaceous plants and as well as trees that can be used for: yungshu chao, gettyimages.com Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) Liquid Extract • Medicinal purposes (ginseng [Panax quinquefolium], golden- seal [Hydrastis canadensis]) • Dyes (black walnut [Juglans nigra], yellowroot [Xanthorhiza simplicissima]) • Food (ramps or wild leek [Allium tricoccum]) Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org • Flavorings or teas (sassafras [Sassafras albidum], mints Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) [Mentha spp.], wintergreen [Gaultheria procumbens, Betula lenta, B. alleghaniensis]) Ginseng is perhaps the best known of our medicinal plants, and it is easily the most commer- cially valuable. However, if you read health supplement labels in

Agriculture and Natural Resources • Family and Consumer Sciences • 4-H Youth Development • Community and Economic Development EXTENSION goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)

Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org

2 Interest in ginseng and golden- Scouting your woodland will Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) seal has encouraged their cultiva- help you decide what grows best tion, and information on how to among your forest trees and grow them successfully is available. whether you want to grow them Other species have largely been as wild-simulated or forest farmed harvested in their wild state, but (also called woods-cultivated). increased interest in them for their Many medicinals grow together medicinal benefits may make it in the same area, so if you see a necessary to develop appropriate goldenseal , you may well see cultivation techniques for them also. ginseng, mayapple, or wild ginger. Because many of them can grow Starting out in a neighborly fashion in the wild, If you are interested in produc- you can also produce them in a ing some of Kentucky’s native diverse group rather than form- medicinal plants, the first step is to ing mini-monocultures of a single gather as much information about type of plant. Diversification would them as possible. Several books, make your production system contacts, and organizations are more sustainable, as well as guard listed at the end of this publication. against insect and disease prob- lems for any individual species. First, ask yourself: Wendy VanDyk Evans, Bugwood.org If in your scouting expeditions • Why do I want to grow forest you locate some sizable patches of botanicals and medicinal herbs? one of these plants and think you • What is my proposed target could start out by simply harvest- market (home, local business, ing what you already have in its large company)? wild state, make certain that you • What species do I want to grow? never remove more than 30 per- • What parts of that species are cent of what is growing in a given marketable (seed, , , location. The residual patch will , bark)? continue to grow and produce Joseph O’Brien, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org • Do I want to produce only the more of your target product in the raw material or make value-add- future. Careful and conservative ed products from them? wild harvesting of an existing plant • Do I want to produce these population could be the starting • When does it set fruit? plants organically? point for your medicinal plant or • What part (or parts) of the plant Do some homework first. Take forest botanical forest farming contains medicinally active in- the time to walk through your for- operation. gredient (root, leaf, seed, flower, est, especially in the springtime, bark)? Do your homework and find and identify what plants are grow- • What kind of soil is best for it? out everything you can about your ing on the ground and in the • How much shade does it need? target species. Answer the follow- layer. Take soil samples to identify • How long will it take to grow a ing questions: soil types and pH. The pH level, marketable product? one of the pieces of information • What does it look like? Find workshops, seminars, and you will get from the soil analysis, • How does it grow? resource materials through your should be 6 to 7 for many of the • How does it reproduce (seed, county extension office, your pub- common medicinal plants. See root sprout, layering)? lic library, and on the Internet, and your county extension office for • Where does it grow? connect with herb-growing groups help, both with the correct tech- • What other plants grow with it so you can visit and talk with nique for sampling soil and with or near it? people who are already producing the interpretation of the resulting • When does it flower? medicinal herbs for market. analysis.

3 Ginseng products nutrients.) Ginseng, for example, grows well under dense shade from tree species such as tulip-poplar or black walnut. It also requires calcium and does well near or under sugar maple trees, which can supply calcium. Many medicinal plants are perennials and will continue to ap- pear on an annual basis if parts of the are left behind when har- vesting or when, as with ginseng, the fruits or berries are scattered in the area when the rest of the plant is harvested. Many of them also produce their valuable part or parts each year, although gold- enseal, one of the more valuable species, takes three to four years to develop a marketable fibrous root system. For a reliable annual har- vest, however, it is wise to replant or re-sow your target plants every year. Production—organic or not? Medicinal plants can be wild- harvested from the forest or produced intentionally by forest “farming”—creating raised beds under the forest canopy for the plants to grow in humus and leaf litter from the forest floor—or by wild-simulation—“sowing” rootlets or seed of your proposed product with minimal disturbance of the forest floor. This sowing is done more or less randomly into loca- yungshu chao, gettyimages.com tions in your forest where your tar- get plants are most likely to grow General characteristics mid-slope or base of a slope than naturally. Many medicinal plants will like- on hilltops or ridges. Some of them ly be found on north- or east-facing like to be near certain tree species, The term wild-simulated is most slopes, where the microclimate as those associations are ben- often heard about ginseng. Gin- is cooler and moister. They like eficial to them—they will always seng, which has a taproot, takes shade—often close to 90 percent— do better close to trees that have many years (7 to 10) to develop and moist but well-drained areas deep roots or taproots rather than a root size that is marketable. with ample organic matter. They those with shallow roots. (Shallow- Wild ginseng is the most valuable will be less successful in heavy clay rooted tree or shrub species would form of this plant, bringing $300 or sandy soils. They are usually probably compete more with these or more per pound of dried root. found in greater abundance on the herbaceous plants for water and

4 Ginseng can be and is grown like Ginseng’s monetary value is very much greater demands on your any other shade-grown crop, under attractive to prospective growers, time and resources. Interacting shade cloth in raised beds, but the but the perennial problem with with people already involved in the ginseng that comes from that kind ginseng production is that the herb or medicinal plant business of production is worth only $20 to crop is often poached before the will help you determine the scale $50 per pound. Wild ginseng has owner can get it dug for market. that is appropriate for your indi- its greatest value when it has been Since several of the other species vidual situation. grown undisturbed for 10 or more can produce a reasonable value in a years; wild-simulated is almost im- shorter period of time—several of Preparation for market possible to distinguish from wild them on an annual basis—it makes Medicinal plants can be grown and takes almost as long. Commer- more sense to consider some of the for raw products such as the roots, cially produced ginseng can form more modestly valuable species to stems, bark or (or combina- marketable roots in 3 to 5 years but cultivate. tions of these from the same kind for a far smaller economic return. of plant). Some can be marketed The Asian market, still the largest Next steps fresh, but most are sold dried. buyer of American ginseng, prefers The second step after identifying Most roots, except ginseng, can wild-harvested ginseng, followed by what is growing naturally in the be dried in the sun in thin layers wild-simulated and forest farmed. woods is to find out what the mar- on screening or other surface that While you are considering ket is for the plant or plants you allows air circulation. All me- which of these production meth- want to grow. Determine the value dicinals can be dried successfully ods (or combination) you want to of the proposed crop, as some are in a barn loft or attic, which are use, consider also whether or not worth more than others, and if you likely to be both hot and dry. Plant you want to grow your medicinal are planning to farm these plants, materials should be checked (and plants organically. If so, you need you should choose plants that will roots turned over) once a day in to follow the requirements for provide a reasonable return on the beginning to make certain they organic certification established by investment. are not rotting, becoming moldy, or over-drying. Barks should be the US Department of Agriculture. Once you have done some re- dried indoors, and herbs should (Contact your local extension office search and communicated with in- be dried either indoors or in the or organic farming organizations dividuals or groups that are already shade rather than in full sun. for details, or check the web [www. growing and marketing medicinal Many medicinal plant parts will be ams.usda.gov/nop].) forest plants, draw up a business bulky and need proper storage and plan for what you plan to do. Make Medicinals grown organically packaging. Check with buyers for sure you have realistic figures for are better protected against con- specific preparation directions. tamination and insect or disease costs of inputs and reasonable problems. The value-added prod- expectations for a return on your Getting your product to market ucts you might make from them investment. will involve shipping costs, which reduce your profit margin. Adding can demand premium prices in Your response to the question value or product packaging, such relation to the same products that about your target market—home- as making tinctures, lotions, steam have not been grown organically. based, local business or large distilled aromatic oils, and soaps One success story is a Georgia company—will determine the scale or creams may bring you higher farmer who has developed a wide of your plant production. If you prices and greater profit margins. range of products using organic plan to supply your own needs (for goldenseal and has also established a homemade, value-added product a cooperative of growers for the such as a salve, for example) or Summary production of organic goldenseal. a local business, a few pounds of As with any new venture, start He is able to increase his profits by your product may be enough. If small and see how production of not only offering seed and roots for you want to work with the larger this crop fits with other activities planting to his collaborators but regional or national companies, as far as your time, energy and also by producing lotions, creams they will probably require tens of money are concerned. There are and soaps containing the active pounds to hundreds of pounds established markets for these ingredient of this valuable plant. of product, which would involve plants, although not as obvious

5 Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) Reppert, Bertha. 1994. Growing Your Herb Business. Storey Pub- lishing LLC. Sturdivant, Lee, and Tim Blakley. 1999. Medicinal Herbs in Gar- den, Field and Marketplace (a Bootstrap Guide). San Juan Natu- rals, P.O. Box 642, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Internet references Appalachian Ginseng Foundation - www.a-spi.org/AGF: Appala- chia—Science in the Public Inter- est, 50 Lair Street, Mt. Vernon, Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org KY 40456-9806. Phone: 606-256- 0077. as markets for corn, soybean or Foster, Steven. 1998. An Illustrated The Business of Herbs -http://www. cattle. Some national organizations Guide: 101 Medicinal Herbs. herbworld.com/businessofherbs. purchase medicinal plants, as well Interweave Press. Loveland, CO. htm. as local brokers scattered all over Harding, A.R. 1972. Ginseng and Davis, J.M., 2007. Websites with Kentucky and the entire Appala- Other Medicinal Plants. A.R. forest botanical herb produc- chian region. Since these crops are Harding, Columbus, OH. tion and marketing informa- new and different, the grower will The Herb Companion -http:// tion: ncspecialtycrops.org and need to find out when and how to www.herbcompanion.com/. ncherb.org. Dr. Jeanine Davis, harvest the various useful parts of Ogden Publications, Inc., 1503 North Carolina State University, the plants. Most of them will need SW 42nd St., Topeka, KS 66609- Mountain Horticultural Crops at least minimal processing—dry- 1265. Research and Extension Center, ing, for example—and will need to The Herb Quarterly -http://www. 455 Research Drive, Fletcher, NC be packed and shipped according herbquarterly.com/. Chris 28732. [email protected]. to particular specifications. Note:( Slaughter. Phone: 510-668-0268. National Appropriate Technology Contact buyers before harvesting Fax: 510-668-0280. cslaughter@ Assistance Service - http://www. to see what you need to do to cre- egw.com. ncat.org/. NCAT, P.O. Box 3838, ate a marketable product from the Herbrandson, Dee. 1994. Shaker Butte, MT 59702. Phone: 406- raw material that you plan to har- Herbs and Their Medicinal Uses 494-4572 or 1-800-ASK-NCAT. vest and to optimize your return (seventh edition). Shaker Heri- www.attra.org. on investment.) tage Society, Albany, NY. Rural Action - http://www. ruralaction.org/forestry.html. Reference materials on Morales, Mario R. (Editor). 2011. Herbs for Common Illnesses. Plant summaries on goldenseal, herbaceous medicinal Mountain State University, ginseng, black cohosh, false uni- plants Beckley, WV. (order from Me- corn, bloodroot, stoneroot, ramps. Organizations Books and Magazines dicinal Botanicals Program, Mountain State University, 410 American Herb Association - Bedner, Lisa. 1995. The Simple Neville Street, Beckley, WV http://www.ahaherb.com/. P.O. Book of Herbs. Pipsissewa Press. 25801-4511). Box 1673, Nevada City, CA Bloomington Spring, TN. Persons, W. Scott and Davis, 95959. Phone: 530-265-9552. Epler, John W., Jr. 1996. All About Jeanine M. 2005. Growing and American Herbal Products Associa- Saleable Medicinals. Cornhusk- Marketing Ginseng, Goldenseal tion (AHPA) - http://www.ahpa. er Press. Hastings, NE. & Other Woodland Medicinals. org/. American Herbal Prod- Foster, Steven. 1995. Forest Bright Mountain Books, Inc., ucts Association, 8630 Fenton Pharmacy: Medicinal Plants in Fairview, NC. Street, Suite 918, Silver Spring, American Forests. Forest MD 20910. Phone: 301-588-1171. History Society, Durham, NC. The Ginseng Research Institute of Office of Small Scale Agriculture Mountain Natural Products. - 4562 America - http://www.guid- - http://sfp.ucdavis.edu/pubs/ Chloe Road, Pikeville, KY 41501 estar.org/organizations/ brochures/mushroom.html. or P.O. Box 470, Pikeville, KY 39-1637537/ginseng-research- Small Farm Program, One 41502. Phone: 606-432-0501 or institute-america.aspx. Ginseng Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616- 606-434-9926. Research Institute of America, 8699. Smoke Camp Crafts. - www.manta. Inc., Wausau, WI 54401. Roots of Appalachia Growers com/c/mr5j9t7/smoke-camp- Herb Growing and Marketing Net- Association (RAGA) - www. crafts. 1289 Smoke Camp work - www.herbworld.com, rootsofappalachia.org. 33560 Road, Weston, WV 26452- www.herbnet.com. P.O. Box Beechgrove Road, Rutland, OH 7940. Phone: 304-269-6416. 245, Silver Spring, PA 17575- 40732. Strategic Sourcing, Inc. - Edward 0245. Phone: 717-393-3295. The Society for Economic Botany - J. Fletcher, Botanical Division Herb Research Foundation - www. http://cms.gogrid.econbot.org/ C.O.O., 115 Snow Ridge Road, herbs.org or http://www.herbs. SEBHome.html. Banner Elk, NC 28604. Phone: org/herbnews/. Buyers/sellers 828-898-7642. The Herb, Spice, and Medicinal Frontier Natural Products Co-op - Walnut Meadows Ginseng Plant Digest - http://www. http://www.frontiercoop.com. Company. - Route 3, Box 186, worldcat.org/title/herb-spice- 3021 78th Street, P.O. Box 299, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525. and-medicinal-plant-digest/ Norway, IA 52318. oclc/049995985. HerbalGram - http://abc. herbalgram.org/site/PageServer. mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) Hortideas - http://users.mikrotec. com/~gwill/hi-index.htm. The International Herb Growers and Marketers Association (IHGMA) - http://iherb.org/. International Herb Associa- tion, P.O. Box 5667, Jackson- ville, FL 32247-5667. New Farm - http://rodaleinstitute. org/new farm. Rodale Institute, 611 Siegfriedale Road, Kutz- town, PA 19530-9320. Phone: 610-683-1400, Fax: 610-683- 8548. National College of Naturopathic Medicine - http://www.ncnm. edu/. 049SW Porter Street, Portland, OR 97201. Phone: 503-552-1555.

Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, M. Scott Smith, Director, Land Grant Programs, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Lexington, and Kentucky State University, Frankfort. Copyright © 2013 for materials developed by University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. This publication may be reproduced in portions or its entirety for educa- tional or nonprofit purposes only. Permitted users shall give credit to the author(s) and include this copyright notice. Publications are also available on the World Wide Web at www.ca.uky.edu. Issued 3-2013