Katheryn Langelier oversees four acres of medicinal herb production on her certified organic farm in Union, ME. All the herbs and vegetables grown on the farm are used to create Herbal Revolution’s herbal products. She has received numerous awards for her formulas from the American Herbalists Guild, International Herb Symposium and New England Made Shows. In 2019, she received an award for being the Best Home-Based Business for Maine and all of New England from the Small Business Administration.

Langelier is the author of Herbal Revolution: 65+ Recipes for Teas, Elixirs, Tinctures, Syrups, Foods + Body Products That Heal. She has studied clinical herbalism with David Winston, Leslie Alexander and Leslita Williams.

Question: Please describe Herbal Revolution. When and how did you start the company?

Answer: Herbal Revolution started in October of 2009 and has been inspired by the resiliency and tenacity of plants. The tender green sprouts of dandelion plants that rise up, breaking through the asphalt of the sidewalk—this is where the heart of Herbal Revolution lies.

Our mission is radical wellness. It’s a lifestyle we live and breathe every day. We want to revolutionize how people care for themselves, the land and our communities by creating high-quality, plant-based products that reconnect humans to plant medicine in modern ways. We are fueled by the commitment to empowering people to take action in supporting their health and wellness. As honored stewards of the land, we value this mission over revenue. From farm to bottle we focus on premium ingredients rooted in the highest organic, sustainability and fair-trade standards.

Question: How do you develop your product line? What needs are you trying to meet when developing a new product?

Answer: When developing new products, I’m inspired by the plants I’m working with on the farm and by people’s everyday concerns. My goal is to create products that easily fit into people’s everyday lifestyle with a focus on preventative care and stress reduction. I want people to feel empowered to be a part of their own health.

Through our Elixir and Tonic lines, we focus on creating products that are meant to be an experience and used daily as preventative care. Our intention is to help enable people and communities to take back power over their health by providing a science-based, modern approach using time honored ingredients.

Our Tonics are made with raw organic apple cider vinegar, and we elevate it to the next level by infusing it with vitamin and mineral rich herbs and vegetables.

We create effective, functional and versatile concentrates that can be used alone, added to water, made into drinks or used for making food. It’s a true food as medicine experience.

Our tonics are alcohol free, anti-inflammatory and support a healthy immune and digestive system and come in five delicious formulas, Fire, Turmeric, Digestive, Elderberry and Energy Tonic.

Our Elixir line is a modern approach to alcohol and water based herbal extracts. Most herbal tinctures can be harsh and unpleasant to use and most syrups are loaded with unwanted sugars, making our Elixirs the perfect solution.

We focus on blending effective herbs, roots and mushrooms and combine them with warming spices and organic Maine maple syrup to create a delicious experience. Our Elixirs can be taken straight, added to water or tea, or made into drinks.

Question: What are the advantages and struggles of farming in Maine?

Answer: Maine has a strong community of organic small farms and communities that support those farms. We have a climate that is suitable for a wide range of medicinal plants and more farmers are starting to add medicinal plants into their growing season. [The struggles are] resources, infrastructure, farm help and distribution.

Question: Please describe your commitment to herbal sustainability?

Answer: As a formulator and business owner I’m always thinking about the sustainability and accessibility of the herbs that I’m working with. I first consider if the plant can easily be cultivated and is abundant in nature, and if not, what plant can that is similar in compounds and activity. I also consider sustainability and effectiveness. The herbs grown on our farm do cost more than buying in, but they are far superior in quality. This also ensures the best quality control measures. We have a smaller carbon footprint from growing on our farm and processing in our facility. We also support the local economy and living farm wages. We don’t buy into the oppressive behavior the government allows for “farmers workers” and “seasonal workers;” these loopholes do not support sustainability or community wellness.

Question: What’s next for the company?

Answer: Our goal is to continue growing as a recognized and trusted national brand; to be a leading company in the wellness industry that is known for its authenticity and passion for people’s health and wellness.