THE BIRTH OF AFRIGETICS
PART 5 - Pelargonium sidoides:?Exploring The Power & Significance Of Southern Africa’s Most Promising Wild Plant
Steven Hurt discovered his passion for wild plants while studying conservation through the Environmental Sciences Department of Durban from 1993 to 1996, and the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) from 2001 to 2002. It is here where he became acutely aware that 80% of the people in Africa were using indigenous medicines as their primary health care. While doing his Masters at WITS, his interest in the sustainable use of traditional ecological resources grew rapidly.
Hurt started his entrepreneurial career when he began selling his kombucha brand in local South African health stores between 1999 and 2002. Upon market research, he discovered that most of the herbs found in the stores were European. “I realised that surely there must also be a herb in Africa for every ailment. At that time, local indigenous herbs were mostly seen as ‘muti’, and by some, ‘witchcraft’,” says Hurt. Wishing to address that and delve deeper into the world of African ethnobiology, Hurt saw a gap to introduce indigenous herbs to the marketplace.
He created the Afrigetics brand which could a) honour the inherent value of African medicinal herbs and b) pioneer the tremendous potential of these herbs with the aim to build a market which could be introduced globally.?
Hoodia was the first product developed and sold by Afrigetics from 2003 to 2006, followed by Aloe Ferox.?But it was Pelargonium sidoides which soon stole the limelight, becoming popular in 2012 due to the release of numerous clinical studies which showed its incredible efficacy and safety.
领英推荐
Hurt quickly noticed that Pelargonium stood out from other African herbs and decided to make it Afrigetic’s flagship product. “The star of our medicine chest became Pelargonium. It was proven to be safe, effective, sustainable and the Southern African equivalent to ginseng, elderberry and echinacea,” says Hurt.?
Afrigetics has since become a leading exporter of superior Southern African medicinal herbs. Rooted in African ethnopharmacology, we are experts in?traditional medicinal knowledge and our team maintain strong ties with rural harvesters, ensuring diligent partnerships and sustainable harvesting. In Part 6 of this series, we take a closer look at this delicate relationship between plant and harvester.
To learn more about the Afrigetics Story, visit our website HERE
....
This series on?Pelargonium sidoides?is a part of?#FairWildWeek, which takes place from the 20th to the 24th of June 2022. In 2021, Afrigetics took the?#WeUseWild?Pledge, proudly declaring our use of wild plant ingredients, and placing a spotlight on what we're doing as an organisation to maintain ethical and sustainable sourcing practices in wild-harvested supply chains. We join?FairWild Foundation?over the next couple of days with the aim to increase awareness of wild plant ingredients, showcase initiatives, ensure sustainable sourcing for future availability, and meet the consumer’s increasing demand for responsibly-sourced wild ingredients.?