Herbal healthcare

Sandra Clair harvesting St John's Wort in Central Otago.

For more than 15 years Dunedin-based natural health company Artemis has been harnessing medicinal plants to deliver fastacting, effective, 100 per cent natural healthcare.

Blended to traditional European herbal recipes handed down to Artemis founder Sandra Clair by renowned Swiss medical herbalist and midwife Sister Pauline, the formulations are backed by scientific research.

Turning to natural medicines to alleviate common health problems is ingrained in everyday healthcare in her home country - a wellbeing philosophy Clair wanted to bring to New Zealanders.

The result is a range of BioGro-certified products aimed at being the first line of defence for a range of common health problems that can be used safely by everyone, including babies, pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Designed to protect and heal the body, the Artemis products can also be used alongside pharmaceutical medicine."Artemis cares deeply about the health of our communities," says Clair. "I just believe health is our first wealth; I think when people are healthy, they're happy, they're productive and as a society I think this is a very important goal to have."

The formulas might be Swiss in origin but, where possible, Clair gives preference to New Zealand-based organic growers and wildflowers for her ingredients. "What really struck me when I first came from Switzerland was that the quality of medicinal plants here is absolutely world-class." She says that's down to New Zealand's unique climate - particularly in her favourite wildflower picking location of Central Otago - which can see dramatic weather conditions ranging from strong winds and biting cold through to blistering sun. Natural remedies harness the plants' own defence mechanisms to the extreme climate. "The harsher the environment, the higher those active constituents are," she says.

What you won't find in Artemis products are any of the sugars, flavours, colours, gluten, binders, fillers, preservatives or GMO plants found in some other brands. Sustainability permeates through the Artemis business and Clair says she's never been tempted to take shortcuts with the product in order to make more money. "I wanted to do a product line that was good for people but also good for the environment so ethical concerns have been the absolute core of the business."

Artemis oral liquid supplements, remedial bodycare products and certified organic health teas are available in health stores, pharmacies and online at artemis.co.nz.

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