Rachel - Wilder Botanics
Rachel, founder of Wilder Botanics, is a herbalist, naturopath and author of Super Herbs. Drawing inspiration from raising their four children across diverse age ranges and fueled with a passion for incorporating the healing benefits of herbs into every day life - Wilder Botanics was born. Using 100% natural ingredients across all their chemical free products, Wilder Botanics provides care for your whole wellbeing.
What is Wilder Botanics?
Wilder Botanics are herbal formulations made by hand in our studio using the very best organic wild crafted and natural ingredients in oils, balms, infusions, salts , clays and tinctures all therapeutic for whole wellbeing .
Can you tell us a little about your background as a herbalist and naturopath?
I qualified in 2004 as a naturopathic iridologist and master herbalist. I had the most wonderful inspiring tutors! In between having children I’ve been seeing clients from my practice at home in North West London and from Neals Yard Therapy rooms.
At this stage of my life I’m definitely interested in healthful ageing - nourishing longevity herbs and herbs that help us to manage daily stressors. I’m seeing so many people in our store who are feeing overwhelmed and trying to manage feelings of anxiety.
How can herbs help us?
Herbs contain many constituents and phytonutrients that help to nourish and protect the whole body system . They can help to calm where there’s irritability, rebalance where there’s disharmony, boost our vitality, prevent and cure illness.
How can we implement herbs in our day to day?
There are so many ways - in my book Super Herbs I suggest 10 different ways to use 20 different herbs in our daily lives.
You can make fresh and dried infusions/teas. There are so many delicious nutritious supporting brews you could prepare specific to your needs, and in cooking - there’s so many ‘culinary‘ herbs that help with our digestion, or are anti microbial, anti fungal, anti viral and anti biotic, rosemary, thyme, garlic, oregano, mint, sage .
There are macerations of herbs in oil to ingest and others to use on our skin to help protect and heal. Tinctured herbs in alcohol or glycerine and powders to add to our juices or smoothies and soups.
I could go on and on, you can even wear them… hemp, nettle.
What is your wish for Wilder Botanics?
I have met so many incredible people through Wilder and even more so now that we have our little shop and the feed back is invaluable. We hope to continue to do this and to bring more herbal ingredients into our store that help to support and nourish the whole being.
We also want to put together workshops and maybe even another book.
Do you have any other self-care practices?
I love to dry body brush, it’s better than any coffee and gets the endorphins going - skin feels smooth and the lymph has a helping hand. I love my herbal teas, yoga, eating as healthily as I can, walking in nature, taking time out to breathe. I also love a bath.
What is your favourite ritual?
Our house is pretty busy and full and with our youngest being 3 I still am trying to carve out some time, but I would say its most probably a bath in our Healing Spirit Soak.
It’s my time, no one disturbs me. I never put it off to do something else. It’s my time to reflect on myself and my day.
How can we follow you and your work?
Through our Instagram account @wilder.botanics.
Subscribe to our Wilder community as I’m finally getting around to sending news letters! https://www.wilderbotanics.com/home
Find the store on Broadway Market, London.