Welcome to Red Turtle and the Plant Spirits’ organic herbal apothecary! By clicking on the link you will be taken to my Etsy shop where you can purchase high quality tinctures, salves and more. These herbal remedies are hand made in small batches using only the very finest of organic ingredients.

I am committed to creating medicine that is vibrant and alive with the spirits of the plants, which is why I am picky about the quality of the herbs I use. Most of the herbs are grown organically in my garden or wildcrafted in a sustainable manner from the mountains and meadows near my Portland, Oregon home. I grow and harvest all plants and prepare all medicine in a prayerful and mindful manner. When wildcrafting, plants are always approached with a respectful prayer and a tobacco offering. I believe that in this way good relations are built and maintained between myself and the plants. This translates into a more powerful medicine and is my small contribution to the healing of the rift between Human and Earth. If I find myself needing to buy an herb I only purchase certified organic herbs from reliable sources.
I use 100% organic 190 proof cane alcohol and organic vegetable glycerin in all my tinctures, in addition to distilled water. Salves are prepared from organic herbs that have been infused into organic olive oil. Tinctures are listed in 1 fl.oz. or 2 fl.oz. sizes. Please contact me to arrange a larger quantity and discount pricing if available. Because of the small batch production larger quantities may be limited to supply on hand until the next harvest or until more tincture can be made.

HOW TO CHOOSE AN HERB

Plant medicine is not “one size fits all” which is very unlike the western medicine model. A plant that works for me may not work for you at all, even though at first blush we may seem to be exhibiting the same symptoms. A skilled herbalist will not just throw an herb at a symptom, but really get to know the person and try to carefully match herbs to the person’s particular constitution. When reading the description of the herbs, pay careful attention to how I describe each plant in terms of whether it is warming, cooling, moistening or drying. How do you feel? Do you feel hot and dry and in need of some cooling and moistening help? Or do you feel cold and damp and think some warming/drying action would help you? Use your intuition and what you instinctively are noticing about your body. You can experiment yourself (great fun and so educational), or if you are interested in an herbal consultation please contact me by clicking on the link from the home page.

ABOUT TINCTURE DOSING

The recommended dosing for the various tinctures is based on a review of herbal literature and recommendations made by many top herbalists in this country and abroad. It is important, however, to keep in mind that every person is unique and will therefore interact with the plant medicine in a unique way. You may experience a desired effect at a much lower dosage or you may need a bit more than the recommended amount. I invite you to tune in to your body and notice what is needed and helpful. I do not sell tinctures from plants that are considered “low dose” herbs, where more than a few drops could cause unpleasant effects. However, you should always immediately discontinue any herb that is having unwanted effects in your body.

IMPORTANT!!!

With every herbal tincture, I have listed contra-indications, in other words, situations under which that particular herb should be avoided. Please read these carefully so that you are making an educated and safe decision!! Please feel free to contact me if you have any further safety questions and I will do my best to find the answer for you.