By Denise Clarke, Staff Reporter 
WESTERN BUREAU:
WHEN BUCKSTON Harrison was involved in a motor vehicle accident 25 years ago, little did he know it would change his life forever.
He spent months in hospital, nursing serious back injuries which had caused temporary paralysis. Eventually, he recovered, only to see his back problems emerge five years later, accompanied by immense pain and paralysis.
Harrison sought help from a number of doctors and immediate surgery was recommended. He, however, was afraid of surgery and decided to act on a friend's advice to try comfrey, a dark-green leafy bush usually recommended as a local remedy for pain.
This turned out to be the defining moment in Harrison's life.
"Miraculously, I was healed," he told Wednesday Business. "It was then I was convinced bush was medicine."
With this conviction, Harrison started researching herbs. Using his experience as an agriculture science teacher, he began exploring the healing properties in herbs.
"I saw some herbal teas from America and realised we have some of the same things here in Jamaica. So, I thought to myself; 'Why can't we do it the same way?'"
That's exactly what he did.
In 1984, Harrison made his first batch of herbal tea, which he gave away to his friends. They loved it and encouraged him to make more.
He made the tea along with six packs of herbal seasonings which he sold. With the money from the herbal seasonings, Harrison increased his production and that was how the business got started.
He currently employs five persons and occasionally offers temporary jobs to students in the summer.
Harrison's herbs, spices, tonics and other products can be found in supermarkets and beauty shops islandwide. Though the company does not export directly, Harrison said visitors to the island often buy a large quantity of his products to take back with them.
"During my research, I realised many of the seasonings people are using are not good for the digestive system. So I decided I would produce a seasoning which is natural and healthy.
"I first made six packs, which I sold and used the money to make 12 more packs and I went on from there," the herbalist explained.
Using escallions, garlic and other herbs, Harrison made what he called a natural alternative to powdered seasoning.
At that time, he used to get the labels for his products typed up at the Lucea library. Shortly afterwards, he began manufacturing tonics and experimenting with ointments of skin disorders.
Now, several years later, 'Johnnie Get Up and Stand Up', 'Mary Lie Down' and the Noni Juice are his fastest selling products.
"I discovered that sarsaparilla is good for sexual rejuvenation,"
