It didn’t take long for the company to spread its wings and fly and quickly moved to a small warehouse in Albuquerque and was armed with a group of Ayurveda enthusiasts that shared the same vision – to help the world enjoy great health and wellbeing with the healing powers of certified organic Ayurveda herbs and products.

Over time, Banyan Trading Company was renamed to Banyan Botanicals and expanded its line of products from 9 formulas in 1998 to more than 40 to date. They made sure the company was supplied with certified organic herbs from their own farms in India, and also transitioned from their old warehouse into a USDA Certified Organic facility in 2003. The next step was to make sure the entire manufacturing process met the strict organic standards from start to finish; another goal that was achieved a year later.

Ever since Banyan Botanicals has been adding new series of formulas and expanding partnerships while also keeping their focus on supreme quality products undivided.

The Three Practices

When it comes to the production of their herbs, Banyan Botanicals is committed to the following practices:

• USDA Certified Organic – The company wants to contribute to a healthier planet. For that reason, their organic herbs are grown by farmers that also keep an eye on ensuring environmental quality for generations to come. This is why they only use renewable resources while minding the soil and water are properly conserved. Herbs and products with a USDA Certification are produced without GMOs, sewage sludge, chemical fertilizers, ionizing radiation, or pesticides.
• Sustainable Sourcing – The corporation takes into consideration the long-term impact wild-harvesting of Ayurvedic herbs has on the environment or the species. Supporting sustainable projects that use eco-friendly ways of harvesting and farming is the way Banyan Botanicals tries to ensure that no plant or herb is threatened or in danger of being unavailable one way or another. The Banyan Botanicals partner farms harvest with respect to the plant’s life and prevent overharvesting by cultivating herbs and botanicals in natural forest settings while using seed planting, pruning, root dividing, and other sustainable techniques.
• Trading Fairly – The organization wants to help small farmers position themselves in global markets. On top of a fair payment, farmers receive extra income and a stable price for their crops to improve their quality of life. Banyan Botanicals also works on supplying a closer link between products and consumers.

The Banyan Botanical Values

The entire Banyan Botanical structure is based on:

• Quality – They are constantly trying to improve the quality of their products, customer service, and the reliability of the provided services. Also, broadening their existing knowledge and the timeliness of their delivery is at the heart of the company.
• Honesty, respect, dignity – Nurturing healthy relationships with co-workers, vendors, and customers alike is essential for Banyan Botanicals. Hence, they allow respect, dignity, and honesty to govern these relationships, which enables everybody involved to work together as one team.
• Nature sanctity – It is critical for the corporation to minimize its environmental footprint with respect to the sanctity and beauty of nature. Their products contain exclusively natural ingredients and make every effort possible to support sustainable energy sources, recycling, and organic farming.
• Knowledge growth – Banyan Botanicals encourages innovation and progress. Their team is offered continuous education and training while also providing a work environment that inspires growth and responsibility.
• Responsibility – The company firmly believes in their social, fiscal, and environmental obligation to act in an environmentally sensitive and socially responsible manner and make certain they remain competitive to ensure their survival and make a difference in people’s lives.

Quality Control and Testing

At this time, the vast majority of Banyan Botanicals products (98%) are USDA certified organically grown and sustainably harvested. The company has also partnered with reputable US laboratories to ensure the safety and purity of their herbs, always with consumers’ well-being and health in mind. To make sure their botanicals maintain the highest possible quality standards, they employ an extensive testing system that comprises of:

• Microbiologicals – Every batch of herbs undergoes stringent testing at 3rd-party laboratories, whose analysis testing methods and criteria are determined by leading protocols and 3rd-party organizations, such as the (1) Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM), to help detect bacteria, microbial toxins, mold, yeast, parasites, and viruses, (2) Official Methods of Analysis International (AOAC) that evaluates molecular biology, microbiology, and chemistry methods of analysis, (3) USP that sets public health standards, and the (4) American Herbal Products Association (AHPA).
• Heavy metals – To be compliant with California Proposition 65, the corporation has added the warning label to their California-sold products. The formulas are tested for mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic using interdependent labs in the US to ensure they remain within the safety guidelines set by ANSI (American National Standards Institute) 173.
• Pesticides – For an herb to be USDA certified organic, its entire production has to be free from pesticides, among others. To be considered certified organic, a product must be validated by an accredited certifying agency. The gold standard in the country for such materials right now is the National Organics Program. All Banyan Botanicals products bear the USDA certified organic label.
• Physical examination of herbs – Organoleptic testing is an industry-accepted practice led by recognized experts in the field of Ayurveda that helps identify botanicals using the senses of touch, smell, taste, and sight. Besides, a botanical verification process of every species that is grown is also being conducted in India by qualified botanists. The company uses microscopic identification, visual identification, HPTLC (High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to verify that the collected species is the correct one.

Finally, Banyan Botanicals tests the dried herbs in accordance with the Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India, which validates that the recommended reference ranges of active ingredients, ash content, and level of solids are met.

Important Projects & Milestones

1. Certified B Corporation

Business owners that use their businesses as a force for good and positive change comprise the B Corporations. For the time being, there are 2,800 Certified B Corporations from more than 60 countries and 150+ industries. Their shared mission is to “redefine success in business”. What sets them apart from other organizations is that they meet higher standards of accountability, transparency, and environments (and social) performance. These standards are verified by B Lab, a nonprofit organization, and are transparent and comprehensive. Given Banyan’s objective to help people maintain a great quality of life and achieve (also sustain) optimal health with the assistance of Ayurvedic wisdom, among others, has given them a ticket to enter the elite Certified B Corporations club.

2. Guggulu Cultivation Project

Part of the organization’s mission is to protect the long-term availability of ancient Ayurvedic herbs. Attempting to preserve a flowering plant called Guggulu, which is one of the most powerful and potent herbs in Ayurveda due to its medicinal tree resin, the company’s partners have joined hands with a farming cooperative in India’s Rajasthan precinct to establish a reliable and sustainable source of the plant. For that reason, they planted organic Guggulu trees, which are only tapped when they reach full maturity. Also, harvesting is conducted in a way to enable the trees to grow and thrive. The Guggulu Project is one of the very few farming projects in the world that support certified organic, sustainable Guggulu trees.

3. FairWild Certification Project

This refers to an initiative that ensures wild plant species and their habitats are well protected. It also fairly supports the livelihoods of the people that take part in the harvesting of wild plant species. The first Banyan Botanicals FairWild certified formula is Triphala, which uses FairWild certified bibhitaki fruit. The most beloved herb in Ayurvedic pharmacopeia is harvested from an old bibhitaki forest in a way that preserves the forest and natural habitat of not only bibhitaki tree but also the beautiful Great Pied Hornbill (bird species) that lives there.

Best-Selling Banyan Botanicals Products

Nasya Oil – It supports healthy nervous system function, decongests sinuses, promotes normal skin function, and alleviates from congestion-induced headaches.

Healthy Kapha – It provides support to the immune system and encourages normal weight management and lung function.

Stress Ease – It offers adrenal support, helps combat stress, encourages relaxation, and promotes normal energy production.

Kapha Digest – It is indicated for gastrointestinal support, proper digestion, and healthy metabolism and lung function.

Manjistha – It supports healthy blood flow, maintains clear channels, reduces kapha and pitta, fosters proper liver and kidney function, promotes healthy skin, and removes toxins from the blood.

Kutki – It helps alleviate respiratory issues while supporting normal immune and liver function.

Cedar Eucalyptus – Ideal for healthy hair and nail growth, and also supports normal skin function.

Hibiscus Flower Power Organic – It helps keep hair healthy, encourage nail and hair growth, and protects the skin and kidney function.

Arjuna – Designed for optimal cardiovascular support, it protects the heart, helps keep blood pressure and cholesterol within normal limits, and boosts normal blood circulation.

Punarnavadi Guggulu – It promotes healthy kidney, urinary, metabolism, and heart function while providing antioxidant support.

Breast Care Balm – It can be used to support normal skin function, as a massage aid for regular breast care, and to foster normal circulation.