Herbal mutual aid and community care

One of the reasons I got into herbal medicine is because I am passionate about healthcare accessibility and empowerment, and growing/making our own medicine is one of the most empowering things we can do. It’s also important to me that people can access herbal medicine if they can’t make or buy it themselves, so I help organize herbal mutual aid support.

Last fall when the hurricane hit the mountains, I got together with local herbalists/medicine makers Leah Van Winkle and Bugz Fraugg, and we had a big medicine-making and bottling session to send a very large box of tinctures (about $1500 retail value) and other herbal supplies to Aflorar Herbal Collective in Asheville. From there, Aflorar distributed the herbs to community members and stocked their apothecary for future needs.

When the floods hit EKY last month we were activated again. Thanks to Bugz’ strong connections with the mutual aid community, we received some financial support from Mutual Aid Disaster Relief, which allowed us to buy containers for more herbal medicine making. We had a medicine-making party in my kitchen, and made several nervous system supporting blends, a throat spray, a first aid salve, and a muscle salve.

gathering to make medicine at my house with Bugz Fraugg, Leah Van Winkle, and Joana Amorin; from top left moving clockwise: salve making materials, concentration faces of Joana, Bugz and Lauren, Leah pouring salve while Bugz looks on, close up of salve pouring, bottles awaiting labels,

The medicine-making was in preparation for a wellness event and herbal clinic at Hemphill Community Center in Letcher county. While I wasn’t able to attend the event, it was well supported herbally with Bugz and Leah, who distributed herbal medicine and served as a supportive ear for the folks from the community who had health concerns. They were joined by Kyra Higgins, who offered a flag dancing workshop to bring in some beauty and gentle, meditative physical movement that nicely rounded out the day’s wellness offerings. The day also received support from June who acted as a host welcoming participants and helping with the song circle that closed out the day.

Snapshots of the Hemphill event: Leah and Kyra at the herb distribution table, June with array of musical instruments

We have plenty of medicine to distribute to community members in need, so please reach out if you know of organizations or people who would appreciate herbal support.