Alfred Vogel traveled tirelessly all over the world, living with indigenous peoples and learning about the herbs they used, their lifestyles and diet. He was struck by how the diseases of 'civilization', both physical and mental, were absent from these groups.
One of Vogel’s first journeys of discovery was in the early 1950s when he ventured into the Native American reservations on the prairies of South Dakota. The Sioux Medicine Man, Ben Black Elk, was initially wary about speaking to this European, but he soon realized that they both shared a deep respect for nature and a wish to nurture and conserve the healing herbs which had been provided in abundance but which needed care and consideration to ensure that they were sustained into coming centuries.
On Vogel's departure, Black Elk sealed this bond with the gift of Echinacea purpurea seeds, a herb much favored by the Sioux nation. Vogel returned with his gift to Switzerland and spent several years carefully nurturing the tender young plants in his organic garden to create a healthy harvest used in the production of the fresh herb organic tincture, A. Vogel Echinaforce. This first harvest formed the basis for the plants which are still grown and harvested today in a sustainable, organic way to ensure the continuation of both the herb and the remedy for future generations.
