Posted by Meri-Tuuli on April 2, 2006, at 16:45:01
In reply to Re: medicinal herbs and spices + pesticides ?, posted by Declan on April 2, 2006, at 13:59:02
Hmmm yeah I have thought about this as well. Obviously, I try and buy organic but often that option isn't available for spices and herbs.
But one thing to note that often the active ingredients in plants that we use are specifically the chemicals that are protective for the plants themselves against insects, being completely eaten etc. so then maybe they don't need the level of insecticides etc that crops would need. Plus the plants used are pretty much how they would occur in the wild, so they would be adapted to living without commerical help. Like St John's wort, camomile, valerian, gingko, lavender etc etc, just grow fine by themselves. But things that man has selectively breed for consumption like lettace, cucumbers etc are much harder to grow - they're tasty to all those insects - so need insecticides etc.
Obviously, alot depends on what type of spice/herb it is. I mean things like lavender and gingko are pretty insect repellent, so I doubt they would need insecticides etc.
Alot of the spices etc are grown in developing countries - I don't know if this means they would use insecidcies etc more or not. Maybe alot of these things are harvested in the wild... I doubt it.But then you never know with commerical farming techniques. I'm sure the giant agri corps have invented some chemical to sell to farmers. Although maybe its a niche market....
poster:Meri-Tuuli
thread:627787
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20060313/msgs/627909.html