Wych’s Bloom

Blessed with a bounty of fresh fish, wildflowers, organic produce, local honey, free-range eggs, and even sea salt, we can add the power of plants and their healing powers to our list of gifts the east end offers.

Wych’s Bloom, an apothecary founded by Christina (FM) Winters, had humble roots. The founding (and the roots) started with a Witch Hazel tree, something many of us may have in the yard, as an inspiration to ‘dig deeper’ into the power of plants. In our region we can find plants with medicinal properties that can heal us, if we know what to look for.

While herbalism is an ancient practice, the philosophy and products of Wych’s Bloom stem from what we can find today in our garden or growing in the wild in our environment. In a recent workshop, Christina demonstrated how to find these plants in our yards, how to harvest them, make an infused oil or craft a salve that can heal sunburn, bee stings, cuts and inflammation to name a few. Working with harvested and dried plants, we have discovered several available species that can easily be made into oils and balms that promote health and healing.

Chickweed: Leaves are used for wound care, can help psoriasis, muscle and joint pain, and even relive symptoms of asthma and stomach pain.

Plantain: Another powerhouse to sooth inflamed skin, acts as an anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal, and can support digestive health.

Calendula: Referred to as the “Athlete of Skin Care,” you can make your own remedy to heal acne, wounds and diaper rash. It is also an antibacterial, antiseptic and is usually the base of many recipes in modern products.

Meadowsweet: Popular with those that workout and are athletic, reducing pain in joints, aching muscles, tissue damage caused by free radicals and can even help arthritis.

Lemon Balm: Especially in the summer months of play outside, treat bites, stings and bruises, as well as wounds with a salve made of this antiviral.

Learning about the herbs, plants and their properties can be overwhelming, and understanding how to discover the right combination of ingredients to match health concerns is a historical tradition dominated today by store-bought pharmaceuticals. By looking closer into our gardens around us, we can approach healing from a more pure, holistic method with quality ingredients and without fillers and being overly processed. On August 15th Christina will host a workshop on plants and herbs that alleviate stress and promote sleep, a common concern today. In addition to her work as an herbalist, you will find small-batch remedies, spell jars and honey harvested from her beehive on the East End. Happy healing! www.mandalayoga.com