Introduce yourself.
Irish Botanica is a partnership between Naturalife Health and David Foley. David is a consultant herbalist, trained in both Western and Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine (TCM). He has been practicing for the last 25 years while running a busy health food store in Letterkenny with his wife for the past 35 years. The Irish Botanica range of pure, high strength herbal products has been developed by the founders of Naturalife Health, Darragh Hammond and Dominic Galvin, in consultation with Irish Herbalist David Foley.
The Irish Botanica herbal range includes amongst others our Echinacea Tincture used to relieve the common cold and flu-like symptoms based on traditional use, and our new Seésta capsules, a blend of herbs with magnesium that’s formulated to support a healthy sleep, while our mushroom range includes Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane and Reishi as well as our Mushroom Complex, which is a blend of these three with Vitamin C for immune support. We sell them exclusively through Health Stores and Pharmacies.
What inspired you to join the natural health sector?
For Darragh, “having family involved in the natural healing area has given me a life-long passion for herbal remedies. Growing up, herbs were always part of our home medicine cabinet.”
Where did you get the idea for your brand?
Working as a consultant medical herbalist and running a health food store, David realised that the way herbal remedies were sold to the public did not achieve their true potential. Therefore, he wished to develop a brand that could match the quality and potency of the remedies used in his herbal clinic. This was the basis for starting the Irish Botanica range of herbal remedies. Working together with the founders of Naturalife Health, Darragh and Dominic, was an ideal way to bring herbal remedies of a similar standard as used by a professional herbalist, to the general public.
Darragh and Dominic met consultant herbalist David Foley some years ago at a trade show and discovered a mutual passion for natural remedies and health supplements. With David’s background in Western and Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine (TCM) and Darragh and Dominic’s experience of working with health supplements, together they were able to join forces to bring these herbal products to a wider audience.
What makes your brand unique?
35 years of experience working with these herbal remedies means David Foley has excellent first-hand knowledge of sourcing the highest quality ingredients and formulating remedies that have been tried and tested with patients. In our manufacturing process we work with raw ingredients of the highest quality; our products are minimally processed so you can experience their natural goodness as nature intended. We only work with suppliers who share our faith in the natural process; to do as little as possible with our raw ingredients so they stay pure and potent. We source ethically and manufacture cleanly, and we test rigorously both before and after manufacturing to ensure the final product is as unadulterated as the plants and herbs we began with. Irish Botanica natural products are the best herbal supplements on the Irish market.
What are your company’s core values?
Goodness is a value that runs through everything we do. Many of our ingredients are organically grown. All our products are ethically sourced and cleanly manufactured. We carefully choose suppliers who also share our ethical values and mindful approach. We believe in creating products that are gentle and kind, both to our consumers, to everyone in the supply chain who has helped bring us these gifts, and to the natural world.
How do you support your community?
Naturalife employ over 30 people in Ireland giving back to the community through our annual charity donations which are over €20,000 a year. We send a list of all the charities supported to our trade customers each Christmas.
What has been the most rewarding part of your brands journey?
It’s really encouraging to get feedback from members of the public whose lives have been improved by our products like a woman recently who had been suffering from peri-menopausal symptoms and experiencing trouble sleeping. She tried Seésta and after 3 weeks reported back that she used to wake up almost every hour, every night. Now she might wake once during the night, if at all. That makes what we do all worthwhile.
What in your opinion makes Irish brands unique?
Thankfully Irish people appreciate high quality Irish brands, they understand the level of quality ingredients and manufacturing guidelines that must be adhered to. There is also an appreciation that Irish Botanica supports local employment.
We at Irish Botanica have an in-depth understanding of Irish people’s unique health needs. Partnering with Evergreen Healthfoods, who place a strong emphasis on product training, completes the link from source to consumer.
What is your favourite product from your brand?
I was thrilled when we decided to add mushrooms to our range – I had been using these for a while and I am a particular fan of our Lion’s Mane. It comes in both capsules and powder format, which is handy depending on your day. I love adding the powder to smoothies in the morning but, if I’m on the go, I’ll take the capsules.
Tell us about something that has shaped your brand?
Irish Botanica has a deep respect for nature, and also for the traditions which have come to us from generations past. We value folk wisdom, the learnings of ages. We take this knowledge and skill and combine it with the scientific knowledge and expertise of our time, to create and deliver products that are kind but effective. We don’t improve on nature; we simply deliver natural goodness in a convenient form.
What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
Continuing to increase the public’s awareness of herbal supplements to support good health. I look forward to discovering new herbal ingredients and blends while maintaining the highest of quality and standards for our brand.
