How I got started in Herbalism
It’s hard to believe that it has been over 24 years since I first got interested in herbal medicine. It has been quite a journey, and I have learned so much and met so many wonderful people, but it never would have happened if it wasn’t for my wife.
I met my wife on May 1, 2000. She was a natural beauty that didn’t need or wear makeup. I immediately knew I had to talk to her. To make a long story short, we hit it off immediately and we decided to get married the following year on May 5, 2001. At the wedding she again didn’t need or wear any makeup. She looked so beautiful that day and the wedding was flawless.
After the wedding I asked her one night about why she doesn’t wear any make up or use any cosmetic products. She informed me that she was severally allergic to the shelf stabilizers and chemicals in so many of today’s products. It was so bad that she would get chemical burns to the point where her skin would start to peel. I thought that was horrible and began to look into the chemicals that were used in commercial products. What I found out was eye opening. Even the most natural products still had horrible chemicals that can’t be good for anybody let alone someone that is allergic to these chemicals. I decided then and there that I would find an alternative for her because she deserves it and that is what lead me to look into the power of herbs.
I began researching native plants that I would find growing in the area. Much to my suprise I discovered herbs like St. John’s Wort, Yarrow, Mullein, and many others that grew naturally in Michigan and I decided to try making my first recipe. My wife like to work out in the garden and she would always get little nicks and cuts etc. I started with Yarrow as that is a great anti-microbial to help keep any of her cuts clean. I then added St. John’s Wort which is a good anti-inflammatory. I then added some Calendula to help the skin heal itself. I also added a little mint essential oil to it to combat the itching and finally a little beeswax to create my first salve. My wife loved it from the first batch. I have made small modifications to it over the years but I still sell that salve. It is known as our Cut and Bug Bite Salve. A 24 year old recipe that is still one of our best sellers.
After that first success, all my free time was spent studying and learning. After a few more successes and a lot more failures I starting giving out herbal products to family members for birthdays and Christmas. My mother-in-law still asks me for more of the liquid soap that I made her 20 years ago but I lost that recipe so no soap for her. I always wanted to sell my herbal products, but I lacked the confidence. I was always afraid people would hate it or that they would tell me it didn’t work so I never tried to sell it.
That is when my wonderful wife stepped in and convinced me to give it a try. She was selling her art at a couple of farmers markets back in 2021 and wanted me to put some herbal remedies in the booth to see what happens. I was hesitant and disagreed with her, but like always she was right. People began buying the herbal products, which didn’t surprise me, the surprise came when people came back and told me how much the products were helping them. To this day I still get excited every time somebody tells me how much one our products helps them. I went from having no confidence to having the confidence that I can help just about anybody with the power of herbs.