At first glance, Ahiflower looks like a weed. Thereâs a good reason for that.
âWe actually found the wild plant growing in a hedgerow in the U.K.,â says Andrew Hebard, president and CEO of Nature Crops International (NCI), a company headquartered in Winston-Salem.
Ahiflower turned out to be a weed with potential. A team of plant experts hired by NCI found it as part of a quest for an alternative to fish oil.
âWe did an Indiana Jones type of number,â Hebard says. âWe recruited people to travel around the world â theyâre called ethnobotanists.â
Oil made from Ahiflower provides a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, an important nutrient. Omega-3s have been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, ease joint pain and stiffness, and make anti-inflammatory drugs more effective, according to WebMD. They boost the visual and neurological development of infants, and may also help reduce depression, prevent Alzheimer s disease and