Chemistry = Andy's Apothecary
I believe that plants heal, and that we were given the amazing plant queendom of our planet to learn more about ourselves and our inherent natural powers of self healing. I've been learning this magical queendom working with her allies since 1995, and here are the areas of focus I've centralized on:
Comfrey salveFor over a decade, Andy has been making a small-batch comfrey salve that's nothing short of MAGIC - for just about any external ailment, and some internal ones too (not to be ingested) - from burns and rashes to bruising and soreness, this salve is a crowd pleaser. Andy grows the comfrey and calendula ourselves, dry and steep the leaves in olive oil for 3 moons-- so it takes love and patience to make our salve, and it's fresh and often made-to-order. We are "small batch;" we harvest and make just 2 batches of the oil per year, and so if we're out, you can get on our list for our next batch! Kid tested, mother approved!
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What our comfrey plant looks like steeping
All about making the comfrey salve... |
Comfrey Salve Testimonial
This stuff is AMAZING! We have struggled with my 5 year old daughter’s skin on her hand (it just one spot at her left wrist) once she was in NICU. This time of year (and with the extreme hand washing in preschool) her hand gets chapped & itchy- last week she had a couple spots actually split open!! I have tried everything- changing soaps (she even took her own to school), creams, medicated ointments, essential oils... & nothing worked. It has been THREE DAYS with your miracle cure and it’s almost completely CLEARED UP with no pain, stinging, or overwhelming smells (she sucks her fingers so it’s a hard sell in some of the oils)! Thank you so much! You have a customer for life! - Amelia and Quincy
This stuff is AMAZING! We have struggled with my 5 year old daughter’s skin on her hand (it just one spot at her left wrist) once she was in NICU. This time of year (and with the extreme hand washing in preschool) her hand gets chapped & itchy- last week she had a couple spots actually split open!! I have tried everything- changing soaps (she even took her own to school), creams, medicated ointments, essential oils... & nothing worked. It has been THREE DAYS with your miracle cure and it’s almost completely CLEARED UP with no pain, stinging, or overwhelming smells (she sucks her fingers so it’s a hard sell in some of the oils)! Thank you so much! You have a customer for life! - Amelia and Quincy
Additional Potions in the works:
I completed a 12-mos certification in Herbalism in 2024 (finally!), and through this amazing experience, I've formulated a lot of tinctures, teas and formulas for deodorant and lip balm, a Goddess cream, and more. Our newly ID'd Shambhala-native plants have been added to my new herbal teas page and more to follow! Stay tuned!
Andy's herbal background
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Andy studied herbalism in both Oregon in 1995 at the Lost Valley Educational Center in Dexter, and in Scotland in 1997 through private tutorial at the Glasgow Apothecary. Upon moving to Steamboat, she received additional training through her work at Yampatika Nature Education Center from several amazing tutors. The comfrey salve recipe comes to us from published author and herbalist Mary O'Brien, and the comfrey plants in her yard all come from local herbalist Susan Mead.
Andy's core belief is that plants heal, and they're God's gifts to our bodies. When in alignment with nature, all things are possible, including health, homeostasis, and balance. Andy's constant educator and co-formulator has been her guide Merlin, and from a young age they would formulate "potions" together under the kitchen sink. What is channeled from this ancient, wise alchemist is straight from Source itself. |
Always at home the most in nature, here's Andy foraging the hills of Scotland in January of 1997
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