Since this plant is the key to the formula that stoped/cured my 9 year leg rash from working with lead for 30 years, it is a must have herb for the formula. Not available by herb companies anymore, assuming the market has lost interest in the herb and wild crafters no longer hunt it, or they have over hunted it to the point of extinction, etc...the only choice is to buy from a source that grows herbs.
I figure at the current price for a live plant, the total price for a pound of dried roots can easily cost $2,000.00 now. 10 years ago when available it could be purchased dried for $70.00. The HERBAL BUSINESS in the USA has changed to the third world countries markets, if they don't commercially grow it, the USA herb companies don't sell it and Virgina Snake Rt. is a native of the eastern USA. The GOOD STUFF is hand picked and people in the USA need to be making $10+ an hour to make a living and this means extremely few pick herbs for a living. In the case of virgina snake rt. it is a small low growing plant extremely hard to locate in a woods and now only available by a specialty herb growing company at top dollar and when there is ONLY ONE, we all know the price is high. Those with out competition set their own prices.
I have seen Dr. Christopher company raise and raise their prices and Shulze was always high to begin with, Clark was always high and Clarkia is just plain insane prices from the get go, etc., etc. and many web sites are asking $9+ per ounce for a herbal tincture of any kind. I doubt it is going to get any better in the future before herbs go medical/German and need a prescription from the md. as they are phased out all together and humans all forced to accept medical vaccinations as the farmer tends the needs of his humans.