Organic vs. Conventional Herbs: What's the Difference?

When shopping for herbal supplements, one of the first things many people notice is that organic products often cost more.

 

That naturally raises the question: Is there really a difference?

 

After all, organic chamomile looks a lot like conventional chamomile. Organic milk thistle looks nearly identical to conventionally grown milk thistle. If the plants appear the same, what exactly makes one more expensive than the other?

 

The answer lies not in how the finished herb looks, but in how it was grown.

 

Most consumers are familiar with the idea that fruits and vegetables may be sprayed with herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides during cultivation. What many people don't realize is that medicinal herbs are agricultural crops too. Depending on how they are grown, herbs may also be exposed to a variety of synthetic chemicals designed to control weeds, insects, and plant diseases.

 

This doesn't necessarily mean conventionally grown herbs are unsafe.

 

Agricultural chemicals are regulated and approved for use under specific guidelines. However, scientists continue to study the long-term effects of these compounds on soil health, water quality, wildlife, and the health of animals and humans exposed to them over time.

 

Organic agriculture takes a different approach. Rather than relying primarily on synthetic chemical inputs, organic farmers focus on building healthy soil, supporting biodiversity, and managing pests through biological and ecological methods.

 

So when people choose organic herbs, they are not simply paying for a certification label. They are supporting a different way of growing plants—one that may have implications not only for the quality of the herb itself, but also for the health of the surrounding environment.

 

To understand why organic herbs often cost more, it helps to look at what happens long before a plant is harvested and made into a supplement.

 

 

What Does "Organic" Actually Mean?

 

Organic farming standards prohibit the use of most synthetic herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and synthetic fertilizers.

 

Instead, organic growers rely on:

• Crop rotation
• Cover crops
• Compost and biological fertilizers
• Beneficial insects
• Mechanical weed control
• Soil-building practices

 

The goal is to work with natural ecological systems rather than relying primarily on synthetic chemical inputs.

 

What Chemicals Are Commonly Used in Conventional Herb Production?

 

Many medicinal herbs are grown similarly to other agricultural crops and may be exposed to synthetic inputs during production.

 

Examples include:

Herbicides

Herbicides are used to control weeds that compete with crops for sunlight, nutrients, and water.

Glyphosate

• Commonly used in agricultural production worldwide.
• May be used in the production of herbs such as peppermint, chamomile, milk thistle, echinacea, lemon balm, and calendula.
• Sometimes used as a pre-harvest desiccant to dry crops uniformly before harvest.

2,4-D

• Used to control broadleaf weeds in some commercial herb and forage production systems.

 

Insecticides

Used to control aphids, beetles, caterpillars, and other crop pests.

Examples include:

• Imidacloprid
• Thiamethoxam
• Clothianidin

These belong to a class known as neonicotinoids, which have been extensively studied for their effects on pollinators.

 

Fungicides

Used to prevent mold, mildew, and fungal diseases.

Examples include:

• Mancozeb
• Azoxystrobin
• Propiconazole

These chemicals help prevent crop losses but can also enter surrounding ecosystems through runoff and drift.

 

Why Does This Matter for Horses?

 

Horses often consume the same supplements daily for weeks, months, or even years.

 

Unlike a person who may rotate foods frequently, many horses receive the same feed and supplements every day. Even when pesticide residues occur at levels considered acceptable by regulatory agencies, some horse owners prefer to minimize chronic exposure whenever possible.

 

Researchers have investigated pesticide exposure for its potential role in:

• Oxidative stress
• Endocrine disruption
• Reproductive dysfunction
• Alterations in the gut microbiome
• Immune dysregulation
• Neurological dysfunction

 

The long-term effects of low-dose exposure remain an active area of scientific investigation.

 

The Gut Microbiome Connection

One of the most fascinating areas of current research involves the gut microbiome.

Glyphosate works by inhibiting an enzyme pathway called the shikimate pathway. Animals do not possess this pathway, which is one reason glyphosate was initially considered relatively safe for mammals.

However, many beneficial bacteria do.

Researchers have found that glyphosate exposure can alter microbial populations and reduce microbial diversity in animal models. A large review published in Frontiers in Microbiology reported that more than half of human gut bacterial species may be potentially sensitive to glyphosate exposure.

While horse-specific studies are limited, horses rely heavily on a diverse microbial ecosystem to digest fiber, produce vitamins, regulate immunity, and maintain gastrointestinal health. For this reason, many horse owners choose to reduce unnecessary chemical exposure wherever possible.

Endocrine Disruption: When Chemicals Mimic Hormones

Some agricultural chemicals have been shown to interfere with normal hormone signaling.

Endocrine disruptors are substances that can alter the body's hormonal communication systems, potentially affecting:

• Reproductive health
• Fertility
• Thyroid function
• Metabolism
• Development

For example, the herbicide atrazine has been extensively studied for its endocrine-disrupting effects in amphibians and laboratory animals. Research has demonstrated altered reproductive development and hormonal signaling even at relatively low levels of exposure.

Although atrazine is not permitted in organic agriculture, it remains one of the most widely studied examples of how agricultural chemicals can influence biological systems beyond their intended targets.

 

Oxidative Stress and Cellular Damage

 

Many pesticides and fungicides have been shown to increase oxidative stress.

 

Oxidative stress occurs when the production of free radicals exceeds the body's antioxidant defenses. Over time, excessive oxidative stress may contribute to:

• Chronic inflammation
• Cellular damage
• Accelerated aging
• Reduced tissue repair

 

Researchers studying glyphosate, mancozeb, and other agricultural chemicals have documented increases in oxidative stress markers in laboratory and animal studies.

 

While exposure levels in agricultural settings differ from those found in supplements, these findings continue to raise questions about cumulative exposure over a lifetime.

Healthy Soil Creates Healthier Plants

 

One of the most overlooked aspects of organic agriculture is soil biology.

 

Healthy soil is alive.

 

A single teaspoon of healthy soil may contain billions of microorganisms, including:

• Beneficial bacteria
• Mycorrhizal fungi
• Protozoa
• Nematodes
• Earthworms

 

These organisms help plants access minerals, build resilience, and develop many of the compounds that give herbs their medicinal value.

 

Research consistently demonstrates that organic farming systems support greater soil microbial activity, higher earthworm populations, and improved soil carbon levels compared with conventional systems.

 

Healthy soil is not simply a growing medium—it is the foundation of healthy plants.

 

What Happens Beyond the Farm?

 

Agricultural chemicals rarely stay exactly where they are applied.

 

Rain, irrigation, wind, and erosion can move pesticides into surrounding ecosystems.

Water Quality

Herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides can enter:

• Streams
• Rivers
• Ponds
• Wetlands
• Groundwater

Glyphosate residues have been detected in surface waters around the world.

Runoff from agricultural fields can affect aquatic ecosystems by altering microbial communities, impacting amphibians, and exposing aquatic organisms to chemical mixtures that were never intended to enter waterways.

Everything that enters a watershed eventually moves downstream.

The health of rivers, wetlands, and groundwater is directly connected to farming practices occurring upstream.

Pollinators

Many medicinal herbs depend on pollinators for reproduction.

Neonicotinoid insecticides have been associated with:

• Reduced bee survival
• Impaired navigation
• Reduced colony performance
• Lower reproductive success

Pollinators are responsible for the reproduction of many flowering plants and food crops.

Without healthy pollinator populations, ecosystems become less resilient.

Birds and Wildlife

The effects of agricultural chemicals do not stop with insects.

When insect populations decline:

• Birds lose important food sources.
• Fish lose aquatic insects they depend on.
• Native plants lose pollinators.

Researchers have documented significant declines in insect biomass in some agricultural regions, raising concerns about cascading ecological impacts throughout food webs.

Every field exists within a larger ecosystem.

What affects soil organisms can ultimately affect pollinators, wildlife, waterways, and the broader landscape.

 

Why We Believe It Is Worth the Investment

When you purchase an organic herbal supplement, you are not simply paying for a certification label.

You are supporting farming practices that generally:

• Reduce synthetic pesticide exposure
• Protect soil biology
• Support cleaner water systems
• Encourage biodiversity
• Reduce chemical burden on surrounding ecosystems
• Support pollinators and wildlife
• Build healthier soils for future generations

Science is still uncovering the long-term consequences of chronic low-dose chemical exposure.

But we do know that healthy soils support healthy plants, healthy ecosystems support biodiversity, and agricultural practices extend far beyond the boundaries of a single field.

At Wild Fed, we believe that choosing organic herbs is an investment in the health of our horses, our environment, and the generations that will steward these lands after us.

 

References Glyphosate and Gut Microbiome Puigbò P, et al. Does Glyphosate Affect the Human Microbiota? Challenges and Possibilities. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2022. Lehman PC, et al. Low-dose glyphosate exposure alters gut microbiota and induces inflammatory responses in mice. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2023. Hu J, et al. Low-dose exposure of glyphosate-based herbicides disrupts gut microbiota and metabolism in rodents. Scientific Reports. 2021. Endocrine Disruption Hayes TB, et al. Hermaphroditic, demasculinized frogs after exposure to the herbicide atrazine at low ecologically relevant doses. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2002. Hayes TB, et al. Atrazine induces complete feminization and chemical castration in male African clawed frogs. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2010. Oxidative Stress and Cellular Damage Cattani D, et al. Mechanisms underlying the neurotoxicity induced by glyphosate-based herbicide in immature rat hippocampus. Toxicology. 2014. Mansour SA, Mossa AH. Oxidative damage, biochemical and histopathological alterations in rats exposed to glyphosate and the ameliorative effect of antioxidants. Journal of Toxicology. 2011. Pollinator Health Whitehorn PR, et al. Neonicotinoid pesticide reduces bumble bee colony growth and queen production. Science. 2012. Woodcock BA, et al. Country-specific effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on honey bees and wild bees. Science. 2017. Soil Health and Biodiversity Mäder P, et al. Soil fertility and biodiversity in organic farming. Science. 2002. Lori M, et al. Organic farming enhances soil microbial abundance and activity.PLoS ONE. 2017. Water Contamination Battaglin WA, et al. Glyphosate and its degradation product occurrence in U.S. waters. Journal of the American Water Resources Association. 2014. Van Bruggen AHC, et al. Environmental and health effects of the herbicide glyphosate. Science of the Total Environment. 2018. Insect Decline and Ecosystem Effects Hallmann CA, et al. More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas. PLoS ONE. 2017.