Upon entering Tilia Botanicals, it’s easy to feel a sense of well-being and calm — the scent of dozens of herbs and plant-based products combine to create an atmosphere that feels more spa-like than store-like.
“We really did want to create something very different,” said Ginger Fulop, a former Saan manager who brings 40 years of retail experience to the shop.
It is indeed different to most stores, even if that refers simply to the products’ ingredients — everything must be organically or ethically grown. And that covers a long list of items: scone (including lavender-white chocolate) and brownie mixes, mulling and soup spices, teas, herb-infused chocolates, cleaning supplies, baby creams and powders, sunblock and much more.
The most popular part is the blending bar, offering unscented bases, including shampoo, body wash, massage oil, shower gel and facial cleanser, to which customers add essential oils, creating their own personal line of bath and body products.
“It took months of research to find the ones that were plant-based,” said medical herbalist Rachel Beck.
Her domain, shared with clinical medical herbalist Jessica Shearer, is the apothecary behind the retail store. There, they mix any of over 200 tinctures to create herbal remedies for everything from colds to psoriasis to hemorrhoids.
“Coming to work every day is like playing,” said Beck, who also teaches the herbal practitioner program at the College of the Rockies.
A former clinical psychologist who counselled patients in the AIDS ward at Vancouver’s St. Paul’s Hospital, Beck studied herbal medicine in England, allowing her to continue helping patients with their emotional ailments, as well as physical ones.
“Flower essences are good for the emotions that cause us to be sick,” she said, and added, “We’re here to support what your doctor is doing for you.”
Tilia had a soft opening in the summer, celebrating its grand opening last month, and Beck already has bigger plans for its future — she wants to open a clinic for herbal practitioner students to put in their 500 hours after completing the COTR program.
Shearer is a graduate of a four-year clinical herbalist program in Vancouver, keen on finding safer alternatives.
“There are so many chemicals in anything, it’s nice to have something natural,” she said.
Anxiety is one of the common issues Shearer had found with patients coming into the apothecary.
“A lot of people really need to balance their nervous systems,” she said. “There’s so much stress.”
Shearer has found that customers are thrilled to find a store like Tilia in town.
“They can get stuff for babies and don’t have to worry about what’s in it,” she said.
“Every child born today will be born with 150-200 toxins in their umbilical cord blood,” said Beck. “It’s time to say they’re not going to be a part of this.”
To help customers get more familiar with the store and its products, Tilia will be hosting invitation-only women’s and men’s night before Christmas — which will give Beck a chance to enjoy her favourite part of the business.
“That’s the fun thing — educating people about things they might not know about medicine,” said Beck. “I love it when I get reactions.”
