Author: Freddy Jean Date: 2010-07-30 Region: Les Sources
Up until a few years ago, most people were hesitant about trusting remedies from sources other than doctors and pharmacists. Today attitudes have greatly changed and herbal remedies are gaining momentum. Teas, roots, plant-based ointments and lotions are common items used to cure small and great ailments in households all over the province. This new appreciation for old wisdom is the cause for significant growth in the no longer obscure field of medicinal plant farming. In this opportune context, the Eastern Townships, with its vast fields and fertile soil, has won the favor of many budding and established herbalists.
Lysianne Bédard is an herbalist from the region of Asbestos. She and her partner, Ann-Renée Tisseur, became interested in medicinal plant farming six years ago while contemplating parenthood and deciding on the lifestyle they wanted to provide for their children. At first, their interest in plant remedies was just that, but as they started to work on their gardens and to experience the benefits of their efforts, the hobby turned into a passion and soon they both decided to head back to school to make a profession out of it.
Lysianne Bédard explains that before making this career move, she was faced with two options. With ample experience working as a florist and in various garden centers, she knew that being around plants was something that could make her happy. On the other hand, she had a strong desire for a career that would provide opportunities to help others. Herbalism was the perfect match - working and living on a farm with healing plants was a dream come true to her. Today, Bédard and Tisseur are the proud owners of Les Ortisanes, a local company well known to herbalists and natural remedy fans alike. The plants they transform are found packaged or bottled in homoeopathic stores such as Le Capucin in Sherbrooke.
With greater acceptance from the public, demand for homoeopathic products has risen considerably in the past twenty years and herbalists have seen their profession change with the trend. As the number of herbalists grows, the field is becoming increasingly monitored and professionalized. In 1995, a group of Quebec herbalists got together to create La Guilde des Herboristes du Quebec. Today, the organization meets the needs of over 300 members with a regulating board, information for the public, as well as training for those wanting to specialize in the therapeutic and counseling branch of the field. The Guilde also serves the important purpose of providing professional accreditation for those wanting to be recognized by their peers and the public they serve.
Since the industry is flourishing, this would seem to be a perfect time to enter the profession. Not so, says Lysianne Bédard, who's seen the adverse effects of the newfound popularity firsthand. All is not rosy for those who chose to do the farming and transforming on their own installations. Just 10 years ago, explains Bédard, it was alright for an herbalist to work from home with rudimentary installations like wooden tables and hairdryers. Back then, it was possible for them to sell their products with minimal interference from the government.
With more people using natural remedies, the Quebec government and the Canadian health agency Santé Canada has felt the need to bring in new regulations and sometimes restrictions. Bédard blames the strong lobbying of the rich pharmaceutical industry for much of the changes. Plants that were previously packaged and provided by herbalists are now restricted to be sold exclusively in pharmacies.
At l'Ortisanne however, most of the production has remained the same. It usually starts with a little macerating. Bédard and Tisseur take the raw plants, such as chamomile, ortiz, vervain or others, steep them in olive oil or wine vinegar before moving on to other steps of transformation. The final product can be a cream ointment or therapeutic oil. Lysianne admits they often try new plant remedies at home with the family and wish that these too could be packaged and sold for the benefit of more people.
Unfortunately, introducing new medicinal plant products to the market requires a lot of money. Business owners have to include not only the cost of harvesting, transformation and packaging, but also the ever- increasing price of licensing with Santé Canada. Because most of the products produced at L'Ortisane are meant for external use only, new regulations have had a little impact on their operations, but others have not been as fortunate. L'Armoire aux Herbes, located in the municipality of Ham-Nord, is one of the oldest medicinal plant farms in Quebec. With 30 years of experience, they are among the pioneers in this field. This year marks the first time in their history that they have had to close their gardens.
Despite the mounting difficulties, those who chose to make a living from growing medicinal plants seem happy about the choices they made. Customers appreciate their products. Homoeopathic stores are well served with remedies grown, harvested and packaged by people who love the work they do - a cycle as healthy and natural as the plants at the heart of it.
Up until a few years ago, most people were hesitant about trusting remedies from sources other than doctors and pharmacists. Today attitudes have greatly changed and herbal remedies are gaining momentum. Teas, roots, plant-based ointments and lotions are common items used to cure small and great ailments in households all over the province. This new appreciation for old wisdom is the cause for significant growth in the no longer obscure field of medicinal plant farming. In this opportune context, the Eastern Townships, with its vast fields and fertile soil, has won the favor of many budding and established herbalists. 
With greater acceptance from the public, demand for homoeopathic products has risen considerably in the past twenty years and herbalists have seen their profession change with the trend. As the number of herbalists grows, the field is becoming increasingly monitored and professionalized. In 
