Overview#
Boericke & Tafel is America’s oldest homeopathic pharmaceutical company, founded in 1835 in Philadelphia by Francis Edmund Boericke and Rudolph Leonhard Tafel. Before the end of the 19th century, it was the largest homeopathic medicine manufacturer in the United States.
Today, the brand operates as a sub-brand of Nature’s Way, sold under the “Nature’s Way Boericke & Tafel” branding for homeopathic remedies including cough syrups, topical gels, and natural medicines.
Key Facts#
- Founded: 1835 (Philadelphia, PA)
- Founders: Francis Edmund Boericke, Rudolph Leonhard Tafel
- Original Business: Swedenborgian bookstore + homeopathic remedies
- Peak Status: Largest US homeopathic manufacturer (late 1800s)
- Acquired by Schwabe: 1987 (via VSM Netherlands)
- Moved to Nature’s Way: 2005 (from Santa Rosa, CA)
- Current Status: Active sub-brand of Nature’s Way
- Keepa Products: ~6
- iHerb Products: ~2
Corporate History#
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1835 | Founded in Philadelphia as Swedenborgian bookstore |
| 1853 | Francis Boericke and Rudolph Tafel start homeopathic remedies |
| 1869 | Boericke & Tafel partnership formally established |
| Late 1800s | Becomes largest US homeopathic manufacturer |
| 1987 | Acquired by VSM (Schwabe Netherlands subsidiary) |
| 1992 | Moved to Santa Rosa, California |
| 2005 | Operations consolidated under Nature’s Way (Utah/WI) |
| 2025 | Continues as “Nature’s Way Boericke & Tafel” |
Ownership Structure#
Schwabe Group (Germany, est. 1866)
│
├── VSM (Netherlands) - acquired B&T in 1987
│
└── Schwabe North America
└── Nature's Way Brands LLC
└── Boericke & Tafel (sub-brand)Flagship Products#
| Product | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cough & Bronchial Syrup | Cough/Cold | Homeopathic cough relief |
| Nighttime Cough & Bronchial | Sleep/Cough | Nighttime formula |
| Florasone® | Skin | Homeopathic skin cream |
| Sports Gel | Pain Relief | Muscle and joint relief gel |
| Alpha CF | Cold/Flu | Cold and flu symptom relief |
| Migraide | Headache | Migraine and headache relief |
Distribution#
- Primary: Nature’s Way website (naturesway.com)
- Amazon: Available via third-party sellers
- Retail: Kroger, natural products retailers
Data Sources#
Generated by DogTag System | Last verified: 2025-12-30
Relationships
From this profile →
- → Parent Company: Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG (external) (1987)
- → Sister Brand: Nature's Way (2005)