Q&A with Founder Emily Wiggins

1: What first drew you to herbal infusions as a daily practice, and how did that practice change your relationship with your body over time?

I’ve always been drawn to natural ways of supporting the body. My mom is French and I grew up with her reaching for Echinacea when we were sick. We would wander around the store with her asking for ee-keen-a-saya (how you pronounce it in French) and no one knew what she was saying. I think that’s part of why when I was dealing with my own chronic health issues in my early 20s I didn’t accept the conventional doctors with their lack of answers and offer of medications as a solution. Ultimately, I found naturopathic medicine and started to heal and knew I wanted to share this medicine with others. Part of my training was in herbal medicines and when I decided I was ready to start a family, I learned about the classic NORA blend. Nettles, oatstraw, raspberry and alfalfa. I made infusions with these herbs leading up to, during and after my pregnancies and it felt like the routine that kept me grounded amidst the immense transitions during that time. I knew that through it all I was at least hydrated and well-nourished.

When I drink herbal infusions, which usually make up at least half of my fluids each day, I just feel better. I’m less thirsty, I’m more balanced and I at least have the felt sense of being just a little more grounded as I go about my day. Plain water tastes like it’s missing something anymore. Making herbal infusions is a part of my evening routine. I love the process of it (even more with our infusion bags) and at this point my body craves it. I definitely notice when I get out of the routine. 

 

2: When someone is new to PLANTWALK, what do you hope they feel the very first time they prepare an infusion?

I hope they’re excited and curious. I hope they feel a little more connected to their senses as they take in the subtle scents of the herbs and flowers. I want this to feel easeful and also have people know they are connected to a very deep and beloved practice. I hope they feel the intention and care in using these infusions.

3: How do you personally weave PLANTWALK into a normal day that includes work, family, and real world responsibilities?

First of all, I cannot claim to be perfect with this practice. Preparing my infusion usually starts after my girls go to bed. I boil a kettle of water and take a second to think about which blend I’m needing. Once the water is ready, I add a sachet to a jar and pour the water over top. I like to cover the vessel and leave it on the counter to steep overnight. In the morning, I squeeze out the bag, toss it in the compost and usually start drinking right from the jar it was steeping in. If I’m home for the day, the jar just lives on the counter and I’m often done with it by late morning or early afternoon. If I’m going out, I pour the infusion into a travel mug so I can take it with me.

4: For someone who feels a little unsure or intimidated by loose herbs, what would you want them to know before they begin?

This is exactly why PLANTWALK was created. Sourcing and blending bulk herbs can feel like a lot. Especially if you don’t have any herbal training and aren’t looking for another passion. You can trust PLANTWALK herbal infusions to be intentionally sourced and formulated and because the herbs are sealing in infusion sachets, it’s truly a simple and satisfying process to start this practice.

 

5: How is an herbal infusion different from a typical tea in terms of strength, extraction, and nourishment?

Herbal infusions are usually more complex in flavor because they use a higher concentration of herbs and steep for so much longer. Because teas use a very small amount of herbs and steep for such a short amount of time, they taste lovely but contain rather limited nutrition. The time water is in contact with the herbs with an herbal infusion allows a much deeper extraction from the plants which significantly increases the nutrients that transfer to the water.

6: We drink water all day, yet many people still feel depleted. How do you think about modern water in relation to minerals and true hydration?

You can drink regular water all day but very often it doesn’t actually hydrate the cells. Many people are mineral deficient because our food and our water don’t contain the minerals they once did. The way we live also causes a certain amount of stress in the system and stress requires even more minerals. Electrolyte drinks have become popular as one way to add minerals back into water and support true cellular hydration. Plantwalk herbal infusions are like nature’s electrolytes. Herbs are highly concentrated in minerals and vitamins and very special chemicals, called phytonutrients, that can only be found in plants. When water is infused with these herbs, it is able to create the ideal balance for deep cellular hydration.

7: As a naturopath, how has your clinical training shaped the way you think about nourishment and long term daily support?

What I have come to see is that the more we stray from our connection to the planet we live on, the more challenging it is to be truly nourished and balanced. The daily practices that connect our bodies to the rhythms of each day and the earth we live on are essential to our foundational health. Light hygiene, grounding, drinking pure mineral-rich water, breathing clean air. These are all the little things that regulate and orchestrate all of the incredible functions our bodies do for us. Without them we start to lose our way. Our daily practices don’t need to be rigid but they do need to be intentionally added to the flow of our lives.

8: In your work with clients, what patterns led you toward herbal infusions as a foundational practice?

The pattern I see most with my patients and clients is depletion. Undernourishment, dehydration, hair loss, fatigue. I work primarily with women and many of them have a mental and physical load that actually increases their need for nutrients but their schedules and pace keeps them from being able to care for themselves the way their bodies need. Herbal infusions are not a substitute for nutrient dense foods and proper rest. They do, however, help fill in the gaps and can replenish deep mineral and vitamin stores in a way that is hard to achieve in other ways because herbs are so bioavailable. With regular use, they can help build strong, resilient body systems and the kind of abundant nourishment that looks like glowing skin, thick hair and steady energy.