People all across the United States consume various herbs for health purposes. Whether they’re natural multi-vitamins or herbs especially for prenatal care, herbs have become more and more in demand. These naturally-occurring substances can be purchased from drug stores, pharmacies and online. However, it is also possible to import them from other countries. In many cases, the herbs you import from another country will cost less than those available in the United States.
Buying Imported Herbs
You can buy imported herbs from retailers based in other countries, or you can buy them from companies based in the United States that import these substances in bulk. If you buy from an international retailer, your products will be shipped to you from overseas. Many international retailers offer cheap international shipping in order to entice consumers from other countries to buy their products. On the other hand, if you choose to buy your herbs from companies in the U.S. that have already imported the products, you will pay only domestic shipping.
However, because the domestic retailer must pay to have the substances shipped from overseas before you buy them, they may pass a portion of the cost on to you in the base price. For this reason, the prices of imported herbs sold inside of the U.S. are comparable to the prices of those sold outside the country.
How Herbs Enter the Country
When you import herbs from outside the United States, they can enter the country legally in one of two ways: by formal application or as dietary supplements. The formal application process is long and expensive. Companies that choose this process must wait up to seven years before their applications are approved. They must also pay the U.S. Food and Drug Administration a large sum of money for the privilege.
Herbs imported into the United States as dietary supplements arrive much quicker than those imported using a formal application. No application is required, nor does the company purchasing the products need to pay millions of dollars to the FDA. For this reason, buying these substances from retailers that import them as dietary supplements is typically less expensive than buying them from companies that import the products using formal methods. Nonetheless, all imported herbs tend to be cheaper than those that were not. Despite the shipping costs and everything associated with it, the combination of cheaper labor and different growing climates typically makes herbs cheaper.
Typical Retailers
Regardless of the method you choose, buying imported herbs can save you a significant amount of money. Many websites offer herbs at cheaper prices, partly because they’re imported and partly because they don’t have to operate with a brick and mortar storefront. The result? Herbs for a fraction of the cost you would pay in a drugstore.
The author, Maire, loves to save money, back double chocolate brownies and walk her precious dog, Pete.
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