We have listened to our customers and withdrawn all credit card charges

In June this year we imposed a 3% charge on credit card transactions. Following the recent change of ownership of Herbs in a Bottle we carried out extensive consultation with our customers and now realise that this imposition had an unreasonable impact. We therefore withdraw the charges with effect from Monday 28th November.

Because of the way we are structured and independently audited it is impossible for us to cut costs by using cheaper herbs (that may well be substandard), missing out key quality tests, or ignoring GMP standards.

This Commitment to maintain high standards was one of the reasons for the mistaken imposition of the credit card charges in June.

Following the arrival of David Carter as our new Managing Director a considerable programme of investment and expansion has commenced. This will result in yet more benefits that we will pass on to you, our valued customer, through sustained quality, service and reliability.

A personal message from David Carter, the new Managing Director of Herbs in a Bottle

I thought I would just write a few lines to introduce myself and explain my vision for the future of Herbs in a Bottle. As you will already know, Tony Carter has decided he needs to refocus his future on the technical and innovative aspects of herbal medicine. To this end he has sold the controlling interest in the company to myself. To ensure continuity Tony has agreed to act as ongoing technical adviser and shareholder for the next two years.

I was very excited to be offered the opportunity, as I immediately saw the tremendous potential of Herbs in a Bottle to participate in and contribute to the future of herbal medicine.

My intentions are to maintain the existing high standards of quality, service and reliability to which the company currently operates and to continue our involvement with medical herbalists at every level within our company. To ensure our services are fit for purpose we need the help and cooperation of all our valued clients, customers and friends.

My background, working for strong brand leaders in the agricultural produce industry introduced me to the organic movement to which I have a strong commitment. I have found that enthusiasm and commitment combined with an ethical commercial approach builds businesses with the kind of values and ethics I know we all share.

We already have in place a significant investment plan to grow Herbs in a Bottle with these ethical values. You can be assured that I will be investing in the key areas of people, processes and of course technology. I will do this by reinvesting profits, with the aim of Herbs in a Bottle becoming the premier herbal medicine manufacturer in the United Kingdom, if not the world.

Over the coming months I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible and I do genuinely regard you all as partners in the great enterprise of herbal medicine manufacture. In that spirit, please do not hesitate to send us your feedback, suggestions and ideas for the future.

With very best wishes,

David J Carter,
Managing Director, Herbs in a Bottle

Viburnum opulus or Guelder Rose

Today we are making tincture of Viburnum opulus or Guelder Rose.

Constituents of Viburnum opulus include bitter compounds, coumarins, glycoside (viburnin), resin, salicosides (Salicin), tannin, valerianic acid.

Actions of Viburnum opulus include anti-spasmodic, astringent, hypotensive, nervine, sedative, spasmolytic, tonic.

Geum urbanum or Avens herb

Today we are making tincture of Geum urbanum or Avens herb.

Constituents of Geum urbanum include volatile oil, glucoside, Gein, geum-bitter, tannic acid, gum and resin.

Remembered Remedies by Anne Barker

A new book on ethnomedica has been published by Anne Barker MNIMH entitled Remembered Remedies.

The book is available: http://www.birlinn.co.uk/book/details/Remembered-Remedies--9781780270043/

An interview given by Anne Barker to BBC Radio Orkney, during the course of field research, can be found here: http://www.nimh.org.uk/?attachment_id=2553

Commiphora molmol or Myrrh

Today we are making tincture of Commiphora molmol or Myrrh.

Constitutents of Commiphora molmol include volatile oil (m-cresol), eugenol, formic acid, acetic acid, heerabolone); resin (commiphoric acids).

Rosa canina or Rosehip shells

Today we are making tincture of Rosa canina or Rosehip shells.

Constituents of Rosa canina include calcium citrates, citric acid, iron, malates, niacin, phosphorous, Vitamins A, B1, B2, C, E, K and P.