We source herbs from their traditional growing regions where these plants have been cultivated for centuries. This honors the terroir and expertise of the regions where these herbs originated. For many TCM products, this means sustainable farms in Asia. For Western herbs, this could be Europe or North America.

Root + Spring is a small, woman-owned business based in the United States. We were founded by a family with deep roots in traditional Chinese herbalism, and we've grown into a trusted modern herbal shop serving customers worldwide. While some of our products or ingredients come from overseas, our tinctures are formulated in small batches right here in the USA, giving you the best of both worlds: authentic heritage and American-made quality.

Yes, within the constraints of being a small business. For instance, we use glass amber bottles when possible (better for preservation and recycling), we reuse materials whenever we can, and make eco-conscious choices about packaging. We work with suppliers who are also dedicated to making sustainable choices whenever possible.

Yes, and for good reason: it makes the products most effective. We use alcohol decoction because it's the most effective method for extracting and preserving the active compounds in herbs. Alcohol pulls out therapeutic properties that water alone can't access, ensuring maximum potency.

If you're concerned about alcohol content: The alcohol content is relatively small per dose (usually a dropper full), and you can further reduce it by adding your tincture to hot tea or hot water. The heat causes the alcohol to evaporate while leaving the beneficial herbal compounds intact.

We source organic and wild-harvested herbs whenever possible. However, some traditional herbs aren't always available organically due to long harvest cycles—for instance, certain roots take years to mature, and those farmers may use moderns practices (like pesticides) to prevent losing entire harvests.

Many of our products are naturally gluten-free, but if a product does contain gluten it will be specified on the product description and on the label.

Availability can shift based on natural harvest cycles. Some herbs take years to grow and aren't always available from our trusted sources. When this happens, we may temporarily remove products or suggest alternatives with similar therapeutic properties. We'd rather wait for quality herbs than substitute with inferior options.

Technically, no — herbs don't expire in the way that food spoils or becomes harmful. However, FDA regulations require expiration dates on products like herbal supplements anyway (which is typically 4 years from production). Still, it's best to keep your herbs in a cool, dark place (like a cupboard) to maintain their freshness as long as possible.

It's important to know that over time, herbs may gain or lose potency. Interestingly, liquid tinctures and liniments often become more potent as compounds continue to concentrate.

Additionally, some herbs are only harvested every 4-5 years, so products may seem older if we are nearing a new harvest cycle (even though they are still safe and effective).

Due to our small-batch production model, we don't provide COA testing for our tinctures (which can cost hundreds of dollars, even on just 24-48 bottles). To keep prices as low as possible for you, we work directly with trusted manufacturers and distributors to ensure high quality through our sourcing relationships rather than per-batch testing.