Oregano Leaf, Certified Organic

As of May 2015, we use 190-proof non-GMO sugar cane alcohol for all products extracted in alcohol at our facility in Brevard, North Carolina. The amount of alcohol contained in a serving of one of our alcohol extracts is somewhere between the amount found in a ripe banana and the amount in a non-alcoholic beer.  A ripe banana contains trace amounts of alcohol, typically 0.2% to 0.5%

Alcohol By Volume (ABV), as natural yeasts convert sugars into ethanol during ripening, with overripe bananas having slightly more; this is a tiny amount, similar to some non-alcoholic beers, and not enough to cause intoxication. For a standard medium banana (around 118g), this translates to a fraction of a milliliter (e.g., <0.59 mL of pure alcohol). Non-alcoholic beer typically contains trace amounts of alcohol, usually less than 0.5% Alcohol by Volume (ABV), meaning a standard 12 oz (355 mL) serving might hold around 1.8 mL of ethanol. 

Gaia Herbs® purchases Certified Organic ingredients when possible. We believe supplements should reflect the integrity of the plants themselves. That’s why Gaia Herbs® maintains a “No List” of ingredients we choose not to use – such as artificial fillers and unnecessary additives. We are also continually adding Non-GMO Verified status to many of our products.

This approach helps ensure our formulas stay true to nature and to the values we share with our community. For product-specific organic status, please consult the product label. USDA Organic herbal supplements use ingredients grown and processed according to certified organic standards. This includes restrictions on prohibited synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, and GMOs. Always check each Gaia Herbs® product label for organic certification.

Gaia Herbs® tests products for quality, including identity, purity, and potency. Testing includes screening for concerns such as heavy metals, pesticides, and microbial contaminants, with batch traceability available through Know Your Herbs for added transparency.

Gaia Herbs® uses ICP-MS to test arsenic, mercury, cadmium and lead on all lots of incoming ingredients while finished products are tested using a risk-based approach. ICP-MS stands for Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. This instrument is the centerpiece of Gaia Herbs® ’ heavy metals testing. This powerful technique can observe a wide range of metals at quantities as low as a nanogram of metal in a gram sample.

The ICP-MS allows Gaia Herbs® to obtain precise and sensitive data for all materials in a high-speed manner. Samples are aerosolized and the aerosols are introduced into the plasma. In the plasma, the extreme temperatures cause the aerosols to further atomize and ionize. The ions are then separated by their mass-to-charge ratio using magnetic fields. Finally, the separated ions are quantified using an electron multiplier detector.

Gaia Herbs® uses advanced testing methods, including Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry, or GC-MS/MS, to help ensure the purity of our raw herbs. This testing supports our comprehensive pesticide surveillance program and is performed using a risk-based approach. For example, USDA Certified Organic ingredients are monitored periodically, while conventionally grown ingredients are tested with every lot.

Gaia Herbs® is committed to sourcing non-GMO ingredients and does not intentionally purchase GMO herbs or materials. We carefully review our sourcing practices to help ensure compliance with non-GMO standards across our products. Many Gaia Herbs® products are also Non-GMO Project Verified®, and that list continues to grow. In addition, all herbs grown on the Gaia Herbs® Farm are Certified Organic and GMO-free.

We grow and craft every product with your well-being in mind, and we want you to feel fully confident in every purchase. If you’re ever not in love with a Gaia Herbs® product purchased directly from us, just reach out we’ll make it right with a full refund. You can request a refund up to 45 days from the ship date from Gaia Herbs®. Please visit our Satisfaction Guarantee for the full policy and information on starting a return.