Bio: My journey began in the 1970s as an activist involved in environmental and women's rights movements. My commitment to living a self-sufficient, natural lifestyle led me to Colorado, where I embraced plant education and learned under renowned herbalists, including Feather Jones and Michael Moore. I also explored cross-cultural indigenous traditions at the Naropa Institute and embarked on pilgrimages guided by local shamans to sacred sites worldwide. In Boulder, I co-founded the Rocky Mountain Herbalist Coalition, where we educated on ethical wildcrafting and influenced the creation of the United Plant Savers for herb sustainability. Determined to introduce herbalism to the mainstream, I formulate effective multi-herb liquid blends with catchy names to make herbal medicine accessible to a broader audience.
What herb started your journey? I recall a pivotal moment in my life when I was on a cold winter walk and heard an odd buzzing sound. I noticed a plant in full bloom with bees buzzing all around it – it was the middle of January. How could this be? I referenced my botanical field guide and found out it was witch hazel. I was stunned by this thriving plant; and what might seem like a small moment, in fact, sparked my lifelong curiosity and dedication to medicinal plants. I began learning about them from a local herb grower in the community.
What is your favorite WishGarden formula? One of my favorite products came to life through a meaningful experience at my daughter's Waldorf school, where the principal approached me with a request to create a remedy for a persistent bug affecting the students. This opportunity was not only a testament to the trust the community placed in my expertise but also a chance to address a real and pressing need. I meticulously formulated two versions: Kick-It Cough for Kids, designed specifically to be gentle yet effective for children, and Serious Cough for parents. Developing these remedies brought me immense satisfaction, knowing that I could support and positively impact the well-being of both children and parents in our community. Witnessing the relief and gratitude from the families who benefited from these products reaffirmed my passion for herbal medicine and its ability to care for and nurture those in need.
What is your favorite herb book? One of my favorite books is David Hoffman's Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. I am captivated by how it beautifully bridges the gap between traditional herbal wisdom and modern scientific understanding. Hoffman's comprehensive approach provides a deep dive into the pharmacology of herbs, alongside practical guidance on their clinical applications. This blend of science and tradition resonates with my own journey as an herbalist, where I have continually sought to unify ancient practices with contemporary knowledge. The book's detailed analysis and evidence-based insights reinforce the credibility of herbal medicine, making it an invaluable resource in my work to educate and inspire others about the profound healing potential of plants.
Bio: I am dedicated to lifelong learning and personal growth, with a passion for plants that began at the Rocky Mountain Center for Botanical Studies. I spent over 20 years in leadership roles at natural product and wellness retailers like Wild Oats and Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, using my plant knowledge to curate impactful product assortments. Recently, I've focused on formulating, extraction, and phytochemistry, becoming a Certified Aromatherapy Specialist and Artisan Incense Crafter. At WishGarden, I've helped launch new products and improve existing ones. I collaborate with industry experts and serve on the boards of Naturally Colorado and the American Herbal Products Association, and am part of the CSO Forum for Naturals, aiming to help WishGarden acquire BCorp Certification. And if all that wasn’t enough, I’m also an avid soccer and cheer mom.
What herb started your journey? So many herbs resonate, but I will say Urtica dioica, Common Nettle, was one that blew my mind in the various ways it can be used. The fact that it stings and that sting is medicinal in itself, was profound for me to learn. In school Brigitte Mars always said, if there was one herb that you could and should take everyday, is nettles. I wholeheartedly agree. It’s an awesome plant!
What is your favorite WishGarden formula? I have many favorites, but I have a special love for Rise & Shine. This formula was something I conceived through a desire to create something that was truly differentiated from other products. I believe we were the first to tincture Yerba Mate! When you formulate you never know how it will taste and this one was a pleasant surprise. It tastes like stewed apricots and makes you feel amazing. The combination of herbs in the formula is truly special.
What is your favorite herb book? My favorites change often, but the one book I use often is Lisa Ganora’s Herbal Constituents Book. This book was the foundation of the phytochemistry program I graduated from. What I love about the book is the simplified way she teaches about something not simple at all. When I need to come up with a solvent system for a tincture, or if I need to verify the therapeutic actions for a chemical family, I reference her book. It’s a must have for any medicine maker’s library!
Bio: As a Naturopathic Doctor who has been on the forefront of innovative education for over 20 years, I’m passionate about people transforming their lives through the healing power of plants.
I’ve always been drawn to immersing myself in the natural world, planting my first herb garden in high school. I was also concurrently surrounded by medicine my entire life, as both my dad and grandfather were surgeons. Ultimately, I chose a unique career path as a Naturopathic Doctor, that beautifully blends science and nature, while honoring the inner capability that we all have to heal. As a Naturopathic Doctor since 2001, I stay close to the primary principles of naturopathic medicine - the healing power of nature, treating the whole person, and doctor as teacher.
I came to realize early in my career that I love to educate! Shortly after beginning my naturopathic medical practice, I became an instructor at Southwest Acupuncture College, teaching Western Pathology and Psychology of Healing. I also did one-on-one health consultations during my time as Lead Practitioner at Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy. More recently, in my roles as Director of Education and Medical Director over the last 12 years, I’ve developed a unique ability to translate technical knowledge with an engaging personal style to support education with strategic partners, retailers, media and consumers.
As Medical Director at WishGarden, I’m energized about finding new and effective ways to help share the power of herbalism through WishGarden’s platforms, and to reach the growing number of people who are seeking to own their health with the power of herbs.
What Herb Started your Journey? Hawthorn, a flowering tree that is part of the rose family. Early in my botanical medicine training, an herbalist was teaching me about the properties of hawthorn as an antioxidant, heart tonic and more. She then said something I’ll never forget, “Hawthorn is about opening your heart while simultaneously keeping it protected. You can see this by the beautiful flower which becomes a berry, found alongside the thorns on its stem. This is a plant ally.”
What is your favorite WishGarden Herbs Formula? Emotional Ally is an herbal formula that’s been there for me during various challenging times in my life. I love the combination of some of my favorite grounding and centering herbs - milky oats, passionflower, and motherwort. When I feel stressed or overwhelmed, Emotional Ally is my go-to!
What is your favorite herb book? There are too many favorite herb books for me to choose one, so I’m going to go back to my earliest days of learning about herbs when I always had Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Healing for Women (published in 1993) close by. Rosemary did such a beautiful job educating about the plants while also bringing them to life. I happily remember referring to it often as a trusted resource!
Bio: My journey with natural health started in 2005 when a health crisis upended my life overnight. When western medicine failed to offer many solutions, I started reading books at the local health food store that opened my eyes to ‘nature as medicine.’ Diet & lifestyle changes and supplements turned my health around quickly and from there I was all in. I changed career paths and started learning everything I could about nutrition, herbalism and all things natural health. In addition to a ton of self study and working with amazing teachers and mentors, I’ve done formal training as a health coach, herbalist, and yoga teacher. I joined WishGarden in 2017 and it has been such a privilege to grow with this incredible company. My love for herbalism has expanded tenfold thanks to Catherine, our team and the thousands of customers I’ve had the opportunity to both teach and learn from.
What herb started your journey? I have to give credit to milk thistle. It’s not the first herb I ever used but it’s the first one I can really remember feeling a difference from using. My liver needed a lot of help after my early 20s, and milk thistle opened my eyes to how powerful herbs can be. That was the experience that inspired me to learn everything I could about herbalism.
What is your favorite WishGarden formula? It’s a tie between Kick-Ass Biotic and Liquid Bliss. Kick-Ass Biotic is my travel buddy, I never leave home without it and I think it’s an absolute lifesaver. Liquid Bliss is one of the most unique herbal formulas and it’s perfect for those times you desperately need a quick mood boost.
What is your favorite herb book? Braiding Sweetgrass. It gives me so much hope for the future of our planet and ourselves as humans.
Bio: My name is Lauren Ann Nichols-Sheffler, and I am a bioregional herbalist dedicated to studying and working with nature. I obtained my certification in medical herbalism from the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism in 2018. As a member of the United Plant Savers’ Botanical Sanctuary Network, I am committed to plant conservation through community herbalism, educational initiatives, and urban herb cultivation. I specialize in hydrosol, an alchemical process of herbal steam distillation that captures the aromatic soul of plants. As the Sourcing & Senior Purchasing Manager for WishGarden Herbs, I promote sustainable procurement by collaborating with organic farmers, ethical wildcrafters, and forest farmers, while representing WishGarden in nonprofits like The Sustainable Herbs Initiative.
What Herb Started your Journey? At this stage in my plant-loving saga, two green heroes stand out for setting me on this leafy path: Ponderosa Pine and Yarrow. Growing up in Northern Arizona, the Ponderosa Pine was like a skyscraper of nature—its red-brown bark and lofty branches filled with aromatic pine needles a permanent fixture against the sky. From a tender age, these wise, towering giants beckoned me to lounge under their canopy, providing a sanctuary of peace and grounding. I fondly think of them as my 'grandmother trees.' Then there’s Yarrow, the plant that nudged me toward the world of herbalism. While living amidst the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, I felt a pull towards this resilient herb. Acting on instinct, I gathered a bit of yarrow from the mountainsides and crafted oils fueled by nothing but good intentions and my intuition. This magical experience led me straight to the doors of the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism, where I dived deep into the world of regional herbs with mentors like Lisa Ganora and Kat Mackinnon.
What is your favorite WishGarden Herbs Formula? Oh, picking a favorite product? That’s like asking me to choose my favorite leaf on a tree! But if I must, I'd say I’m pretty much joined at the hip with Kick-Ass Immune. Packed with powerhouse herbs like my beloved Yarrow, Yerba Santa Leaf, Lovage Root, and the ever-mighty cultivated Osha Root, it's my go-to rescue remedy. Feel a tickle or an ominous tingle in my throat? A few servings of this wonder potion over 2-3 days, and I’m back to chatting about the plants. Plus, it tastes like a cinnamon hug—what’s not to love?
Bio: I fell in love with herbs while managing a supplement department, where I began using them in my own life and witnessed their incredible benefits firsthand. It wasn’t just my own experience—customers would come back to me saying, “This herb changed my life.” Hearing those stories lit a spark in me, driving me to dive deeper into the world of herbalism and my fascination with plants. I completed a 500-hour course at Herbalism Roots, where I became completely enamored with the magic and science of plants and how they work in harmony with the body. I knew I wanted to work with herbs for the rest of my life. My passion grew even stronger as I learned about women’s bodies and how herbs can support hormonal balance at every stage of life. This interest led me to pursue a doula course, and I’m excited to continue empowering women to take their health into their own hands.
What herb started your journey? Lavender was the first herb that helped me realize how powerful herbs can be for calming anxiousness, which I’ve always been prone to. It’s also beautiful and so soothing to the soul.
What is your favorite WishGarden formula? Emotional Ally. It’s an underrated formula in my opinion. It has helped me through grief, break ups, and times when it was just hard to be a human. It’s very grounding and comforting.
What is your favorite herb book? I love the The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook: A Home Manual. My favorite part of being an Herbalist is making my own medicine, and this book empowers me and is a great guide.
Bio: I started my official herbalist journey with just the simple desire to be outside more often. I was a person that worked a tech job and was planted in front of a computer screen for much of my day, which it turns out is not the path to happiness and wellness. When I came across a school that offered botany classes out in the field, I couldn’t sign up fast enough. While botany was a large part of this program, so was anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and a whole community that I did not yet know I would be so inspired by.
I was already a house plant lover, but this expanded my view of plants as decoration to plants as healers. It helped me gain a deeper understanding and respect for the larger green world around me. Fast forward to today, working at Wishgarden Herbs allows me to apply this botanical knowledge of our ancient herbal allies and to share my passion for their magic with a larger community.
What herb started your journey? The first herb I recall having an affinity for was peppermint. I always enjoyed it as an ingredient in treats (looking at you mint chocolate chip ice cream..!), but it wasn’t until I went to herb school that I realized its full potential. As a long time motion sickness girly, carrying peppermint essential oil has become, well, essential. It would stop nausea in its tracks and for that I am eternally grateful.
What is your favorite WishGarden formula? There’s so many to love! But I think the formula that I return to often is Digestive Rescue. I’ve shared this formula with many family and friends because it is immediately soothing for any gi upsets. The modern American diet is no match for this one.
What is your favorite herb book? One of the most insightful books I’ve read about herbs is The Business of Botanicals: Exploring the Healing Promise of Plant Medicines in a Global Industry by Ann Armbrecht. The author does a great job of explaining the importance of plants to the evolution of humankind. She also explains the processing, marketing, and sale of herbs and the ways they are and are not sustainable - both historically and in a modern context. It's eye-opening, well-researched, and asks important questions that can help guide modern herbalists to consider the bigger picture when working with herbs. An important read for any person in the industry.
Bio: My connection with and love for the natural world started at a very young age. Being homeschooled, I spent a lot of time outside, dissecting/drawing plants and pretending to make healing teas in the forests behind my childhood home. Fast forward to my college years and I felt like I was missing something. I wasn’t sure what major I wanted to pursue and I felt pretty lost. My mom had mentioned that she had found an herbalism school and I told her that sounded like a dream. Her response was “Don’t let it be a dream, do it!”. So I moved home and earned my herbalist certification through PrairieWise Herbal School and The Herbal Academy. Through my time in herbal school, I was nurtured back to my roots and became incredibly passionate about sharing the power of plants. Herbs are sacred supporters and I feel honored to get to work with them every day.
What herb started your journey? The first herb I remember having a profound experience with is St. John’s Wort. During my first year of herbal school, I was struggling with seasonal depression and my teacher introduced me to St. John’s Wort tincture. As soon as I took it, I noticed an immediate difference in my mood, and so did she. I remember her saying, “You’re different on St. John’s Wort!”. This plant brings sunlight back in when you’re feeling blue and it’s truly a gift.
What is your favorite WishGarden formula? That’s so hard! I think it’s a tie between Digestive Rescue and Liquid Bliss. I’ve had stomach issues my whole life and Digestive Rescue is such a fast-acting, supportive formula. Liquid Bliss is very calming and helps me lighten up when I’m taking life too seriously. It also tastes great! I’m so thankful that I get to work for such an incredible company.
What is your favorite herb book? One of the books I referenced a lot when I first started my herbalism journey is The Modern Herbal Dispensatory by Thomas Easley and Steven Horne. It covers a lot of great information about several different herbs, preparations, formulas/dosages, etc.
Bio: I’ve always loved working in the garden and getting my hands in the dirt, but I really started getting interested in herbalism after facing some unexpected health issues and feeling less than supported by the medical system. I knew I needed to make some large changes in my life but I had no idea where to start. A friend of mine was attending the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism and after hearing about her experience I felt called to enroll. I’m about to start my second year of herb school and I’m happy soaking up as much knowledge as I can on this journey.
What herb started your journey? The first herb I really started to experiment with was rosemary. I love rosemary as a culinary herb, so it felt natural to dive into the other benefits as well. The grounding, calming focus rosemary brings me is currently unmatched in my herbal line up.
What is your favorite WishGarden formula? It’s so hard to pick a favorite but I think it would have to be Liquid Bliss. It helps me feel more comfortable and relaxed in social situations so that I can fully enjoy the experience.
What is your favorite herb book? I’m currently reading Energetic Herbalism by Kat Maier, it’s been a great resource and covers a little bit of Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine along with Vitalism.