Happy 42nd Birthday Eclectic!

Eclectic's story began with our founder, Ed Alstat, a plant-loving naturopathic physician with roots that trace back to a family farm. Though his path eventually led him into pharmacy, Ed’s heart was always connected to nature. Surrounded by plants throughout his upbringing, he developed a deep respect for their healing power. 

As a pharmacist, Ed noticed something troubling: people kept returning for prescriptions but never truly got well. This realization sparked a life-changing question: "What if there was a better way to help people?"

Driven by his passion for nature and a desire to make a lasting difference, Ed pursued naturopathic medicine, where his vision for a new kind of wellness company began to take shape. In 1982, in the heart of Portland, Oregon, at the National College of Natural Medicine, Eclectic Institute was born—dedicated to harnessing the full potency of plants to bring people back to wellness, just as nature intended.

Did you know that Eclectic Herb was a true trailblazer in organic farming and production? Our herb farm was the very first to be certified organic by Oregon Tilth , setting the standard for purity and sustainability in the herbal industry. 

Ed Alstat’s commitment to offering the best nature has to offer didn’t stop there. Eclectic was also the first company to use organic alcohol in our tinctures, ensuring that every ingredient in our products was as clean and natural as the herbs themselves. From the very beginning, Eclectic Herb has led the way in organic herbal wellness, holding true to our core belief: what’s good for the earth is good for us all.

Founded as Eclectic Institute in 1982, our company has always been dedicated to preserving and advancing herbal knowledge. Through the Eclectic Library, we safeguard centuries-old botanical wisdom, ensuring that the healing traditions of the past remain accessible today. While Eclectic Institute focuses on preserving and educating, our exceptional product line of freeze-dried herbs is produced under Eclectic Herb, bringing ancient wisdom to life in original, potent supplements.

Our name, Eclectic, is inspired by the Eclectic physicians—19th and early 20th-century doctors who blended the best of herbal medicine, traditional remedies, and emerging medical science to create balanced wellness solutions. We proudly carry on their legacy by using time-honored techniques like the Lloyd Cold Still, which extracts the purest herbal compounds, alongside modern innovations like freeze-drying. Together, we stay true to the Eclectic philosophy: harnessing the full potential of plants to promote holistic wellness.

When Ed Alstat founded Eclectic Institute , his goal was simple: to create products that retained the full power of the plants he loved. But how do you preserve herbs as fresh and potent as those picked straight from the wild? Ed found the answer in an innovative process called freeze-drying . He had learned that freeze-drying plasma could preserve it in such a pure state that it could be reinjected into the body, and he envisioned applying the same principle to herbs. Freeze-drying offered a way to capture the freshness and full nutrient profile of each plant without sacrificing any of its potency.

Unlike air drying or other methods, freeze-drying uses no heat and no chemicals. The process gently removes moisture while preserving the plant’s cellular structure, nutrients, flavors, and active compounds—just as if the herbs had been freshly harvested. This method ensures that from the moment our herbs leave the field until they reach your shelf, they remain as close to nature as possible.

As we honor our roots and continue the Eclectic legacy, we look forward to the future with excitement and purpose. Today, Eclectic is proudly owned by Christine Alstat , Ed Alstat’s wife and a New Zealand-trained naturopath and herbalist of Japanese descent. Christine is passionate about plants and deeply committed to the healing power of nature. As a healer, leader, and plant lover, she carries Eclectic's mission forward with dedication and vision. Under her leadership, we remain committed to providing the highest quality herbal products while continuing to innovate for the future.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to you—our loyal customers—whose support allows us to preserve the knowledge of the past and carry it forward into the future. Together, we’re building a legacy of wellness that will last for generations to come.