About Us
Our Beginnings:
Prairie Doctor Brand was founded in 1994 by Robert, a Vancouver Island based Echinacea farmer. Prairie Doctor Brand began by happenstance, after Robert one year grew more Echinacea than he knew what to do with and decided to tincture it as a way of not letting it go to waste.
In 2020 Prairie Doctor Brand was purchased from Robert by its current owners, the father/daughter/son team of Shawn, Remy & Teagan. Now, in 2023, what was once a single tincture brand has grown to produce approximately 300 herbal tinctures supplying independent health food stores across Canada.
In 2021, Prairie Doctor Brand expanded even further and created a sister brand named Daydream Organics. Prairie Doctor embodies ancient wisdom and traditional herbalism offering authentic herbal remedies, while Daydream Organics infuses these values with simplicity and playfulness, catering to everyday wellness enthusiasts and beginner herbalists alike.
Our Values & Our Products:
With both Prairie Doctor Brand and Daydream Organics we are incredibly meticulous when it comes to crafting our products. Every herb and material that we use is diligently & individually sourced to ensure that we are always offering the highest quality and most sustainable products possible. Close to 80% of our herbs are certified organic, and those that aren't are what we like to call "uncertified organic" meaning that despite not having the certification, they meet all of the standards and guidelines. Being kind to our planet in our choices is of critical importance to us, so we always do our best to source our herbs from as close to home as we possibly can. We are lucky to have the opportunity to work with a lot of BC-based farmers and growers, and what we can't get here we get from within the Pacific Northwest or from sustainable, high-quality producers across the globe.
All of our tinctures are made using a 100% Organic & non-GMO Cane Alcohol as well as a locally sourced spring water. From batching, stirring and pressing to bottling and labelling, all of our products are made entirely by hand in small batches. We're big believers in the energetics of the herbs, and do everything by hand in an effort to not disrupt or alter that by using electrical, industrial equipment. It's labour intensive, but it's what allows us to make the best herbal medicine that we possibly can which is without a doubt worth the extra time and energy.
What We Do:
Prairie Doctor Brand is one of the top suppliers of herbal medicine in independent health food stores across Canada. We offer 105 different Health Canada licensed tinctures in 50ml & 100ml bottles that are the perfect addition to any health food store product lineup.
In addition to supporting and working with independent retailers, we also offer bulk quantities of all of our herbal tinctures to natural health practitioners across the country. We want to help supply individuals and communities with the medicine that they need - so for practitioners we offer our full line of 300 different herbal tinctures and are happy to work with you on creating customized formulas. If you're a natural healthcare practitioner interested in working with us, please reach out to us at hello@prairiedoctorbrand.com
Prairie Doctor Brand is a small, family owned business. We take great pride in knowing all of our customers by their first name and truly connecting with each and every person that we work with.
We hope to facilitate a return to the ways of our ancestors by encouraging and nurturing a relationship with the natural world around us and offering a modern take on the ancient practice of plant medicine.
Want to know more? Feel free to reach out to us at anytime and we'll get back to you as soon as we can!
- Shawn, Remy & Teagan.
Check Out our FAQ's!
General
What is Prairie Doctor Brand?
Prairie Doctor Brand has been creating organic, herbalist-formulated and high quality herbal medicine since 1994. Prairie Doctor Brand is inspired by ancient and traditional ways of healing, the products we offer are from the Earth, and created for your health and wellbeing.
Prairie Doctor Brand is also home to Daydream Organics, a curated collection of herbal medicine products created for simple and everyday living. Daydream Organics offers a modern approach to an ancient practice!
Both Prairie Doctor Brand and Daydream Organics strive to provide you with the highest quality herbal products that encourage a holistic and regenerative approach to health, healing and wellbeing. We understand the power and wisdom held within the earth and hope to help our community nurture a deep connection with the natural world.
For more on us, read our story.
What is Herbal Medicine?
Herbal Medicine is the study and practice of herbs and plants for medicinal benefit. Herbs contain many different components and compounds, which when extracted from the plant, have the ability to exert a variety of positive effects on the mind and body. Herbal Medicine can be understood as a natural way of healing, nourishing and rebalancing the body.
Where is Prairie Doctor Brand From?
To many peoples shock, Prairie Doctor Brand is actually not a Prairie based company.
Prairie Doctor Brand was born on Vancouver Island, British Columbia in 1994 and recently made the move to the Fraser Valley, just outside Vancouver.
Prairie Doctor is a folk/eclectic nickname for Echinacea, the first tincture we ever made.
What Makes Prairie Doctor Brand Different?
At Prairie Doctor Brand, what sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to authenticity, quality, and sustainability in crafting our products.
Our remedies are meticulously herbalist-formulated, drawing inspiration from traditional and ancient healing practices like Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and Western Herbalism.
We take pride in using organic and sustainable ingredients, ensuring that our products are potent, pure and also reflect a deep respect for the environment. Embodying the core values of ancient modalities, our herbal medicines offer a genuine and holistic approach to health, embracing the wisdom of time-honored traditions.
Where Do You Source Your Herbs From?
The majority of our herbs are sourced from within the Pacific Northwest!
While we always do our best to source from as close to home as possible, we also want to ensure we're getting the best quality herbs possible and sometimes that means sourcing from a tad bit further away. But don't worry - we always ensure that the herbs are sustainably and ethically grown!
About Our Products
Do You Offer Custom Products?
Yes! We are happy to help you create a formula specific to you, whether it's a tincture, powder or tea. Send us an email at hello@prairiedoctorbrand.com with the details of what you're looking for and we'll be happy to help you with your custom product.
Are Your Products Organic?
Over 85% of our products are Certified Organic! The few that are not Certified Organic are what we like to call 'Uncertified Organic", meaning that while all of the materials used to make the product meet the standards of being Organic, they do not maintain the official certification as they come from small local farmers and growers.
All of the materials we use to make our products undergo extensive testing to ensure that they are pure, potent and made using clean, sustainable growing practices.
Are Your Products Allergen Friendly?
Yes, our products are allergen friendly. All of our products are dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free and made using only plant based materials.
Are Your Products Safe for Children and Pregnant or Breastfeeding Women?
Many of our products are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women, but we recommend you speak to your primary health care provider for professional advice to determine which are safe and suitable for you.
Our products are created for adults. For children, we recommend consulting a healthcare practitioner prior to use and ensuring that the dosage is appropriate for the childs bodyweight.
What is an Herbal Tincture?
An herbal tincture is a concentrated liquid extract made by macerating (soaking) herbs in a mixture of alcohol and water over an extended period. This process extracts all of the medicinal compounds and constituents out of the plant material, resulting in a bioavailable and medicinal liquid. Herbal tinctures are valued for their effectiveness, long shelf life, and versatility in addressing various health concerns.
Why Are Herbal Tinctures Made Using Alcohol?
Alcohol is commonly used to make herbal tinctures due to its ability to efficiently extract and preserve the active constituents of herbs. Alcohol serves as an excellent solvent, extracting a wide range of bioactive compounds and therapeutic components from the plant material. This extraction process ensures that the tincture captures the full spectrum of beneficial properties present in the herbs.
We use a non-GMO and organic cane alcohol to ensure that the tincture is made with the highest quality alcohol available.
Per dose, the alcohol content in the tincture is extremely low.
How Do I Take a Herbal Tincture?
Tinctures are best taken on their own, underneath the tongue. Because the tinctures are alcohol based, this allows for the tincture to absorb directly into the bloodstream for an efficient and effective benefit.
Tinctures can also be taken in a beverage of your choice. If the beverage is hot, allow it to cool slightly before adding the tincture to avoid minimizing the potency.
What's the Difference Between a Tincture, Powder and Tea?
An herbal tincture is a potent and convenient form of herbal medicine that delivers a strong dose in the easy to use format of a liquid extract! Tinctures are also the most bioavailable form of herbal medicine due to its alcohol base.
Herbal teas and powders are great options for those who don't like the strong taste or alcohol content of a tincture. Despite being slightly less effective than a tincture due to being absorbed via the digestive system, herbal teas and powders are great methods of consuming herbs. Find specific how to use instructions for powders and teas below!
How Do I Use a Medicinal Herbal Tea?
To brew a medicinal cup of herbal tea, we suggest allowing the herbs to steep in the water for 10-15 minutes. It is also important to cover the tea using a lid while it steeps, this will ensure that the essential oils and medicinal compounds do not dissipate with the steam.
Honey and lemon can be added to help with taste, although we tend to think the teas taste wonderful on their own!
How Do I Use a Herbal Powder?
Herbal powders can be used in capsules, smoothies, beverages, baked goods, salad dressings, soups and more! We recommend using 1-2 tsp at a time.
How Do I Know How Much of the Tincture I am Taking?
All of our droppers have 1ml markers on them to help you measure how much of the tincture you are taking!
What is the Extraction Process for the Herbal Tinctures?
Our tinctures are made using a combination of locally sourced spring water and non-GMO organic cane alcohol.
We'll macerate the herbs in the liquid for anywhere from 4 weeks-4 months depending on the herb before pressing, bottling and labelling all by hand.
All of our tinctures are made using dried herbs to ensure the highest possible potency and purity!
Can I Take Herbal Tinctures with Other Supplements?
Every tincture and supplement is different, so we recommend consulting a health care practitioner prior to using more than one supplement, tincture of medication at a time.
Cautions for each tincture can be found on the bottles label.
Wholesale & Partnerships
Do You Offer Wholesale?
We absolutely do! We love partnering with local health food stores & wellness forward shops to offers our 50 & 100ml products!
To start a wholesale account with us, please send us an email at hello@prairiedoctorbrand.com and we'll help you get started.
Do You Offer Discounts for Practitioners & Students?
We love working with practitioners and students and are happy to provide a discount on our 250ml, 500ml and 1000ml sized tinctures for you to use in your practice! Please send us an email at hello@prairiedoctorbrand.com and we'll get an account started for you.
Orders & Shipping
Can I Cancel or Modify My Order?
As long as the order hasn't been shipped, we're happy to help you with any requests or modifications you may have. Please send us an email with your order number at hello@prairiedoctorbrand.com
Can I Return My Order?
Please send us an email at hello@prairiedoctorbrand.com with your order number and we will be happy to assist you.
How Long Will My Order Take?
From the time of the order, it typically takes us up to 48 hours to fulfill the order and have it shipped. Shipping times will depend on where you live, more accurate shipping information can be found using your Canada Post or USPS tracking number.
Do You Ship to the United States?
Absolutely! We ship to anywhere in the continental United States. Select United States option on the homepage of the website for US pricing and shipping.
Can I Track My Order?
Yes, all orders will come with a tracking number from Canada Post or USPS. This will be delivered to you once your order has been fulfilled and the package has been received or scanned by Canada Post.
My Order Says Delivered, But I Haven't Received It
It's common for Canada Post to deliver packages to the nearest post office. If you've received a notification of delivery but haven't received the package to your house, please check with your local post office. If the package is not there, please email us at hello@prairiedoctorbrand.com so that we can promptly resend the package for you.
How Much Does Shipping Cost?
Shipping costs are based on the weight and size of the package.
Prices for standard shipping within Canada typically range from $10-$25CAD. Orders over $100CAD will be shipped for free.
For US orders, shipping will typically range from $15-30USD.
How Long Does It Take for Customer Service to Respond?
We're a small family business, so our customer service team is also our shipping, administrative, manufacturing, marketing and sales team. We do our absolute best to keep up with emails and get back to you as soon as possible, but please have patience as it may take up to 48 hours for us to be able to respond!
If urgent, please indicate so in the subject line!