The Eclectic
Institute was founded in 1982 by two naturopathic
physicians, Dr. Edward Alstat and Dr. Michael Ancharski.
At that time, Dr. Alstat was the pharmacist for the
Portland Naturopathic clinic, the teaching clinic
of the National College of Naturopathic medicine and
Dr. Ancharski was the Clinic Director. Though in the
midst of the top botanical literature, research and
practitioners, they could not find high quality, botanical
preparations to use in their clinic. Most herbs on
the commercial market simply were not pure, vital
or fresh enough to be very beneficial. They decided
to develop and market their own line of botanical
products using only organic herbs carefully grown
and harvested and processed while fresh. Eclectic
is committed to working with nature's healing power,
in the preparation of botanical products which nutritionally
enhance total health and well-being. |
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| Makers
of extracts with the only Organic Alcohol |
| This
commitment to the environment led Eclectic Institute
to develop Organol, the only certified organic grape
alcohol used in botanical liquid extracts. Organol allows
Eclectic Institute to lead the industry in 100% certified
organic extracts. Why insist upon using a certified
organic grape alcohol instead of the usual grain alcohol?
Alcohol distilled from grain has been sprayed with millions
of pounds of pesticides and herbicides. Pesticides and
herbicides poison our ground waters, poison our birds,
our children and poison ourselves. Grain alcohol may
be more readily available, it may be less expensive
to use, but from the environment's viewpoint grain alcohol
is prohibitively expensive. |
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| Eclectic
leads innovation and freshness with freeze drying |
| Eclectic
Institute developed a line of encapsulated botanicals
which are fresh, freeze-dried instead of air dried.
Why fresh freeze -dried herbs instead of air dried herbs?
Fresh freeze-drying the herbs maintains the active constituents
of natural potency of most herbs. Fresh freeze-drying
preserves all of the biologically active constituents
of the fresh plant-not just some of the active constituents.
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| Alcohol
Free extracts introduced |
| In
1994 Eclectic Institute again led the industry with
the development of flavored glycerin " Alcohol
Free" extracts. Eclectic Institute uses its Lloyd
Extractor, a cold-still processor for removing the alcohol
from the extract, we then replace the alcohol with glycerin.
The addition of essential oils produces a pleasant tasting
and perfect alternative to alcohol based extracts. |
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| Endangered
herbs propagated on organic farm |
| Eclectic
Institute grows many types of herbs on its own certified
organic farm. We are committed to developing sound propagative
techniques for herbs generally wildcrafted. Our farm
has given these wild plants some protection as we continue
to propagate endangered species such as Echinacea tennesseensis.
Our plantings of Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) have
been extended each year with the goal of cultivating
all of the herbs we use in our own manufacturing processes.
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| A
Commitment to quality |
Eclectic
Institute has always been committed to leading innovation
in the herb industry. We will continue to manufacturer
the highest quality botanical products and demonstrate
a responsibility to you, the customer as well as to
our highly held principles.
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History
of the Eclectic Institute
