About
What this publication is, who James Freeman is, and how we make money. Read this first.
About Ashitaba Powder
This is an editorial publication about a single plant — Angelica keiskei, known in Japan as ashitaba, or "tomorrow's leaf."
The stories, research summaries, and sourcing notes on this site are narrated by James Freeman. James is a fictional character — a writer we created to take you to the places these plants come from and walk you through the research. He has a point of view, a sense of humor, and a genuine curiosity about why certain plants have been used for centuries while Western science is only now catching up.
James is not a doctor, researcher, or credentialed expert. He is a narrator. The research he references is real, cited, and linked to primary sources. The distinction matters, and we state it plainly.
What we do
We read the clinical literature on ashitaba and translate it honestly — including the uncertainty. Every claim on this site links to its source. Where evidence is thin, we say so. Where a study is preliminary or conducted only in animals, we say that too.
We document where ashitaba comes from, how it is grown, and what processing methods affect the compounds that make it worth studying.
We are building a third-party lab testing relationship to verify chalcone content in commercially available products. Results will be published when available — including unflattering ones.
What we don't do
We do not claim ashitaba treats, cures, or prevents any disease. We report what studies have found and grade the evidence honestly. The editorial layer exists precisely because this distinction matters.
We do not hide how we make money.
How we make money
Ashitaba Powder earns commission when readers purchase through links on this site. We also sell ashitaba powder directly. These relationships are disclosed on every page that touches commerce.
Our editorial standards are not for sale. The criteria we use to evaluate products are published publicly so we can be held to them.
Who is behind this
Ashitaba Powder is run by a small team based in California. James Freeman is our narrator. We are the editors, researchers, and builders behind the publication.
Questions or corrections: editorial@ashitabapowder.com