Alexandra Worsley

Interview with Sarah Daly – Sales Manager for A.Vogel

When was the A. Vogel brand developed and by whom?
The A. Vogel brand was developed in 1963 by the Swiss naturopath Alfred Vogel. Vogel founded Bioforce AG in Roggwil Switzerland. 

What are your personal favorite products and why?
Menoforce, because I am 52 and female!  I also love Molkosan Vitality, as it is so good for easing bloating, especially if you have had a late night meal.

What is/was the inspiration behind the brand?
Alfred Vogel was born in 1902 in Aesch near Basel. He was inspired by his grandmother who was a herbalist (and lived until she was 103). He followed in her footsteps and became a naturopath. His fascination for finding health solutions in nature led him to travel to many countries where he lived with the indigenous tribes, learning about their lifestyles and the plants they used to maintain good health. It was Alfred Vogel who brought Echinacea to Europe after living with the Lakota Sioux in South Dakota, where he became friends with their Medicine Man, Black Elk and was given Echinacea seeds as a gift in recognition of their mutual love for and respect of nature. Through his research and the experience he gained through his many years of clinical work, Vogel realized that using fresh herbs to make his tinctures gave the best results, as virtually all the active ingredients in a plant are present, just as nature had intended. Today we continue to grow our own herbs using the same traditional methods, ensuring that our fresh herbs arrive at our factory usually within 2 to 6 hours of harvest.

What are your customers’ favorite products and why?
Echinaforce is a world wide favorite product for colds and flu. Dormeasan is also a favorite for sleep disturbances. Recently Menoforce has rocketed to fame, due to the beneficial effect it is found to have by menopausal women suffering from hot flushes and night sweats.

What does A.Vogel stand for?
Alfred Vogel had eight principles for life and all who work for Bioforce use these principles to guide them in their work. 

1. Nature and the quality of fife to find the true quality of life, live as far as possible in harmony with nature and be aware of nature's powers. 
2. Health Care Foresight is the source of health and happiness. The decision to adopt a natural balanced diet and to heed the body's own signals must be taken freely and deliberately. Health, like illness, does not affect particular organs in isolation, but is closely connected with our attitude towards life, our circumstances and our lifestyle.
3. It's up to you Knowing how nutrition and health are linked makes it easier for us to realise the vital fact that the responsibility for our well-being lies in our own hands, and not in those of the health authorities.The physician or therapist is like a mountain guide. He leads and shows the way, but he does not carry the patients. They have to make their way themselves. We must learn to take responsibility for our own health. 'Adopt a largely vegetarian diet of natural whole food products containing a preponderance of alkaline substances, together with an ample proportion of raw vegetables. You will have already taken a significant step towards long term health and a well-balanced disposition.' Alfred Vogel
4. Balance as a Principle of Life Follow Nature's example and try to find the balance between tension and relaxation, between activity and rest, between intellectual and physical activity. Illness and suffering are caused by imbalance and disharmony in whatever areas of our life they may occur.
5. Respect and Sympathy to live according to the principles of Nature is much more than a technique. It requires an inner attitude typified by a deep understanding of, as well as respect and sympathy for, creation. If we wish to oppose violence, be it against Man, the environment or animals, then we have to learn to respect Life as something sacred. To allow animals, which are part of creation, to suffer in Man's experiments, is cruel and irreconcilable with an attitude of respect towards nature.
6. The Urge to Heal is a Law of Nature'It is never too late to start supporting Nature in its urge to heal because the law of Nature calls for the preservation of life.' After years of illness, many people have recovered their health thanks to a rigorous change in their way of life and with the help of natural medicine. Natural, holistic herbal medicine does not combat symptoms, but seeks to eliminate the causes of the illness.
7. The Holistic Principle - “Each plant is complete in itself; it proceeds from a formula based on intelligence, forethought and wise planning. The precious value of the individual plant is jeopardized if its delicately balanced structure is torn apart“. Every substance contained in a plant has purpose and significance. They complement each other and act as a whole. It is important to grow seeds in healthy soil without using pesticides, and to process the plants for medicinal purposes gently and without using substances that are poisonous or environmentally unfriendly. Wherever reasonably possible, fresh plants should be used.
8. The Power of Love - 'In all your striving let love be your guide. It is the greatest power in the universe.'Alfred Vogel.

What has been your proudest moment building the brand?
For us, it’s not so much a brand as a continuation of Alfred Vogel’s philosophy of life, helping to bring health-promoting remedies and advice to people, to allow them to find their way to better health and enjoyment of life. For me, one of the best moments of my career was standing for the first time in the fields of Echinacea at our farm in Roggwil, realising to the full the wealth of knowledge and experience that goes towards producing such healthy and vibrant plants, that will go on to provide remedies that help so many people around the world. 

What is the future for the brand?
More and more people are looking to take control of their own health through diet and natural medicine.  We are here to help them achieve the best health they can with the assistance of herbal remedies of impeccable quality. We cherish our partnership with retailers and practitioners who share our goal of bringing knowledge and empowerment to their customers. 

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