"Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy." - Thomas Merton
This quote from the Christian mystic and Trappist monk embodies not only what seems to be missing in our world today, but what we at Helleborus Botanicals strive to bring to our community.
We are not simply focused on making herbal products, but rather look at this as the doorway through which we can guide people on their healing journey. It has been said that humans have become at least two generations removed from the soil at this point in time. We forget, it was not all that long ago that we were digging our hands in the dirt, growing our own food, and surrounding ourselves with herbs and plants that benefited our health and well-being. We had a relationship with the plants which gave us nourishment, and the creator who provided them to us. We were appreciative of the blessings we received, thanking God for each meal and bringing prayer into our healing.
Throughout history we lived in tight communities, supporting one another in tough times and celebrating the joys and triumphs. Community is one of the greatest things that we as humans can experience, and yet, as we expand on a global scale we lose these close relationships which provide us with strength and support. It is not only the earth that we have become disconnected from, but each other and our creator. A society without the compassion, patience, mercy, and love that God bestows upon us is one that cannot survive, and this has never been more apparent than it is today. People have shut this out and turned away in favor of idolatry, hate, and iniquity. Technology has become a source not just of information, but of separation.
Our mission is to serve God and our community, our “village”. We want to help those around us, get to know our neighbors, and build that rich connection which allows us all to thrive together. We want to be a source of peace and comfort, who you can turn to not only in times of need but can also be a part of your life. An herbalist isn’t just someone who you buy products from, but someone who serves those around them and sees each individual for who they are, to help them grow. We want to welcome each and every one of you in with warmth and love, as it should be.
MEET KRYSTALL, THE HERBALIST BEHIND HELLEBORUS BOTANICALS
Originally from the PNW, a reverence for the earth came easy. A childhood spent running through the forest, climbing trees, exploring the mountains, and swimming in the ocean felt nothing short of magical. From a family of spiritual teachers and ministers, we valued bringing God and nature into the home through healthy lifestyle, study, and spiritual practice.
But, like many, I strayed from the person I knew I was at my core. I was living in southern California, fulfilling a lifelong dream of being a makeup artist, but feeling lost and deeply unsatisfied in life. I was unsure if I wanted to keep working in an industry that was starting to feel counterintuitive to who I was. I found myself becoming disillusioned with the unhealthy products and methods that were being widely used in the industry. So I started searching for better options for myself, and my clients. At this same time I was also struggling with health issues, and found myself consistently coming back to my upbringing with natural health. I decided to take a break, and instead went to work at an acupuncture clinic where I could learn about herbs and natural medicine on a deeper level. Finally starting to feel like myself again, I delved deep into this education and realized that I couldn’t turn away from it. It felt nourishing in a way that I had not experienced in some time.
I knew that I wanted to return to my roots, and reconnect with the place where I felt the most enriched. In 2017 I moved back to the PNW, this time to study herbalism in Portland, OR. Here I studied a variety of topics and modalities, under some of the great herbal minds of our time. I got a job at an integrative medicine clinic that allowed me to work closely with naturopaths and acupuncturists, to further my education and work in a clinic setting. I interned at the Herb Shoppe after graduating, which allowed me to work with individuals in a rewarding one on one setting as they came in seeking help for a number of concerns. Between working in the shop and the clinic medicinary, filling custom formulas of tinctures, flower essences, and teas, I got a wonderful hands on insight to formulation. I fell in love and began experimenting with my own formulas, some of which were eventually used for patients of the clinic.
I moved to Colorado in the fall of 2019, during a huge life shift, and used the next few years to focus on my herbal education, through courses, intensive personal study, and my work with a local plant nursery. I started formulating more products for those around me, furthering my passion for what I was doing. I was seeing the hardships that people were going through, with so many intense issues coming up in our world. I chose to finally start my own company in the winter of 2023. I couldn’t ignore the need for healing in the world, and that need is stronger now than it ever has been.
Some of the modalities that I work with include TCM, pulse and facial analysis, Ayurveda, Astrological Herbalism, western herbalism, flower essences, and so much more. However, I recognize these traditions for what they are, and I do not place them above God. I focus on the emotional, mental, and spiritual underlying causes of ailments, helping those I work with to heal on a foundational level. Our bodies and souls are resilient, and when we allow God's true nature to shine through we are capable of anything.