Meet our owner
Chris Alstat
Herbalist, Sustainable Businesswoman, and Keeper of Herbal Wisdom.
A Story Rooted in Plants
Today, Eclectic Herb is guided by Chris Alstat, a plant loving naturopath and wife of founder Dr. Ed Alstat.
Chris's own story with plants began in childhood. She grew up with her Japanese mother who introduced her to herbs and Japanese healing traditions. Her grandfather was a farmer and champion dahlia grower, while her grandmother wove garlands of flowers for temples during World War II — a family rooted in devotion to the land and the beauty of plants.
These stories and traditions became the foundation of Chris’s lifelong relationship with plants.
Naturopath & Herbalist
Carrying forward the knowledge and traditions of plant medicine.
Keeper of Herbal Knowledge
Curator of a rare apothecary and library to preserve plant wisdom.
Botanical Storyteller
Sharing the voices of plants through remedies, writing, and teaching.
Sustainability Advocate
Committed to earth-friendly, ethical practices in business and beyond.
Legacy Guardian
Carrying forward Ed’s pioneering vision while shaping a new era.
"A sustainable business is one that grows with integrity — nourishing the Earth as much as it nourishes people"
Chris Alstat, Owner & CEO
Carrying the Legacy Forward
Chris’s path with plants has always been one of devotion and discovery. Trained as a naturopath in New Zealand, she wove her cultural heritage and passion for herbal wisdom into her studies — a path that led her to Dr. Ed Alstat, a kindred spirit and herbal pioneer. Their shared love of plants became a shared life, and together they carried the vision of Eclectic Herb forward.
Today, Chris continues the legacy she and Ed nurtured, keeping the company true to its roots while guiding it into a new era. She tends her own herb garden, surrounds herself with a vintage apothecary and library, and remains a lifelong student of the plants. With a love of teaching, she passes this wisdom to the next generation through children’s programs and junior herbalist internships — ensuring that the knowledge she treasures continues to grow.
A Voice for Plants, People, and the Planet
As a herbalist, storyteller, and sustainable business leader, Chris blends her own heritage with her husband Ed’s legacy to carry Eclectic Herb forward. She speaks with authenticity about sustainability, women in leadership, and the timeless wisdom of plants — bridging tradition with innovation.
Alongside her naturopathic training, Chris has studied sustainable business, giving her the tools to guide Eclectic Herb with both heart and strategy. Her leadership reflects a harmony of old and new — rooted in a deep love for plants and guided by a vision of sustainable growth.
Inside Chris’s Herbal World
The Eclectic Library: A Victorian Herbal Apothecary
This blog offers a virtual tour of the Eclectic Institute Library, a private collection curated by Chris Alstat in memory of her late husband, Dr. Ed Alstat. The library preserves...
Mother Herbs: Plants that Symbolize Protection and Love
This Mother’s Day, we explore four herbs that embody maternal energy: Motherwort, Calendula, Lemon Balm, and Hawthorn. Rooted in tradition and rich in healing properties, these plants offer emotional support,...
"Every plant, every product, every customer I reach carries the spirit of the plants forward."
Chris Alstat, Owner & CEO
Chris' Favorite Product
Milky Oats
Chris’s plant ally is Milky Oats, a gentle yet powerful remedy for the nervous system. Life can be stressful, and Milky Oats offers the best form of nourishment and restoration — but only when harvested fresh, at the brief moment when the seed exudes its milky benefits. As someone who cannot take alcohol, Chris treasures freeze-drying as the perfect way to preserve these delicate compounds which degrade quickly if not preserved. For her, tending this plant is both science and devotion — watching carefully for the exact moment it ripens, capturing its gifts at its peak.