Kristyn Helgeton, RMT

The story of the dandelion is an interesting one, at least if you find this sort of thing interesting! 🤓

Before the mid-century suburban lawn boom, dandelions were generally valued rather than vilified. Early European settlers brought them to North America as a source of food and traditional herbal medicine. Their leaves were eaten in spring salads, their roots used in tonics, and their flowers supported pollinators after long winters. Ecologically, their deep taproots also help break up compacted soil and bring nutrients closer to the surface. Over time, shifting ideas around the “perfect lawn,” along with aggressive marketing of broadleaf herbicides, rebranded this resilient plant as an unwanted w**d and people started spraying them with toxic chemicals rather than using them in the kitchen and medicine cabinet.

Recently though, the little yellow flower is getting some attention in the lab, and the herbalists aren’t mad. Early research (preclinical in vitro studies) is showing that dandelion root extract is triggering apoptosis in certain cancer cells. Apoptosis is essentially cellular su***de, where the damaged or abnormal cells basically shut themselves down and die off naturally. In the studies, certain cancer cell lines like leukemia, melanoma, and colon cancer have shown this response when exposed to concentrated extracts, while healthy cells don’t seem to react the same way. Scientists think it may be linked to how the extract disrupts energy production and stress signals inside the cell. It’s early research, but it shows some real promise. Especially if you compare that to data related to the effects of herbicides! Oh, the irony-but hey, we don’t know what we don’t know until we know it.

Anyways, all of this to say that my backyard dandelion patch is coming along just dandy. 😏🌼

Awkward, but educational! Thanks for watching. 💚

Meet me (Kristyn), my tincture Vita, and my big fuzzy emotional support cat Rune who helped me make this video without me so much as asking. A big shoutout to my dear friend Tiff @themartletbarbershop for being a confident and encouraging friend and amazing entrepreneur. Go get your hair cut! She’ll make you laugh. I promise. If you’re curious about the tincture, hit me up! I’m a person. Thanks for watching guys 💚 #slowmade #apothecary #supportlocal #tincture #emotionalsupportcat

Apothecary update: for the first time in many moons, the herbalist has been defeated by influenza.

Current treatment plan:
✨ elderflower cordial from last year’s stores
✨ homemade ginger ale strong enough to resurrect the dead
✨ a dash of Irish whisky as medicine
✨ aggressive napping

Fun fact: whisky was still prescribed during Prohibition and legally sold through pharmacies with a doctor’s prescription. In small amounts, alcohol acts as a vasodilator and can help you warm up, relax, manage aches and pains, and rest. The emphasis here is on a “little” whisky- we are talking healing elixir; not time travel, haha.

And if you’re a non drinker, it’s still worth knowing about the elderflower cordial and ginger ale; it’s packed with quercetin, vitamin C, anti-inflammatories, soothing aromatics….the list goes on and on here.

2026 or the old days, the best remedies still involve herbal syrups, pain relief and rest.

Stay well, Red Deer! 💚

Doing some research on hypnotics with my new buddy Rúcach, or Rook in English.

The Irish pronunciation is a little sooty, which fits, since the rook is the ultimate liminal bird in Irish lore. They’re considered protectors of the land and guardians/ushers of the dead and are very socially complex; they’re known for “parliaments” or communal grieving, and they like to hang out around what herbalists have affectionately called the “wild edges” …the biodiverse transition places where lots of super resilient herbs grow.

I wasn’t sure where the name came from at first, Rook just popped in my head and I thought…Chess. Crows….Rookie, the new guy…
I went with it but after a little research, it feels far more meaningful than expected to have my new apothecary pal carry it.

So, here’s to floofy new fur friends, to full moons, and to all the creatures of our land inspiring creative and curious pathways to learning that we didn’t know we were looking for. 🌕🐈‍⬛🤍

Herbal tea is embedded into the culture and diet of Peruvian people and here in the high Andes, not a single day has passed me by without at least a few cups of herbal goodness!

Most days it’s just herbs steeped directly in a cup of hot water but I’m in town today so it got a little fancy with an infusion blend of Coca leaf, Munã (Andean mint), Eucalyptus and Airampo.

Coca leaf amps up energy and focus, and helps manage high altitude. Munã is a wild mountain mint with refreshing, digestive, breath-supporting qualities, and in that way is another elevation ally. Eucalyptus, appreciated for its clearing and aromatic respiratory support and finally Airampo: a native Andean cactus fruit traditionally used for hydration and digestion.

Together, they create a blend that reminds me of the mountains themselves: sharp and cool with a green earthy base, and a distinct energy.

I love daily rituals and have so enjoyed connecting with the land and culture of the Andes in this way. Will miss my daily Coca and Munã dose, for sure!

I’ve never really explained the name.

“Beneath our Hands”…
is study. is practice. is patience and passion.
is a desire to connect to the old ways.
is an essence unique to me; just as yours is unique to you.

Beneath these hands is where I find what I’m meant to create, and how I’ve learned to share it with you: through massage, herbcraft, and even writing.

These hands feel like a strange little portal, a way for me to tune in. Sometimes it feels like there really is something beneath them. I think that’s what I would call Spirit.

Tonight beneath these hands, roots become remedy in another batch of herbal tea, under a beautiful March moon. 🌕

I’m not the kind of woman who believes every day has to be a good day. Every once in a while I tune out and stay cocooned in bed with the cat- sometimes a little sad, often a little worn down, and occasionally wishing for a slightly different reality. Don’t get me wrong: I’m not a victim of life by any means. I’m just a human, having a very human experience.

I don’t think it’s negative to feel sad.
I don’t think hard vibes or low vibes are bad vibes.
I don’t think the darkness is dangerous.
And I know that without decay, much of what grows wouldn’t exist at all.

So today (on a less-than-perfect day) I’m throwing it back to the mushroom forest sunrays, knowing I’ll return to that lighter space again eventually, and taking it all as it comes until then. 🤍🌀

Daily obsession: Anti-inflammatory tea! 🫖

(Yes, I see the opportunity for a great play on words here but I’m playing it cool with good spelling, haha…)

This stuff tastes lovely and is packed with functional herbs: from the classic turmeric + black pepper combo for inflammation support, to burdock root for gentle flushing and detox support.

Warm, a little spicy, and so good with a drizzle of honey, it’s built to soothe, calm, and support the body from the inside out. Nature does it best. 🌿

They say you shouldn’t talk about politics, religion, or death- which is hilarious because those are basically my favorite topics, haha. Add a soft spot for taboo conversations, and here we are! So in that spirit, today’s post is brought to you by yet another slightly uncomfortable subject: herpes! 🙃

Herpes is an extremely common virus and can show up in many forms including cold sores, shingles, and other uncomfortable rashes or sores. Estimates suggest that around 60–70% of people in Canada carry HSV-1, and roughly 15% carry HSV-2; as for shingles, if you’ve had chicken pox, you’re at risk.

Realistically, this is something most of us are affected by, directly or indirectly, so we should probably be talking about it…

The virus itself is generally harmless, but outbreaks can be really uncomfortable. After having the unfortunate experience of shingles a few times last winter, I started experimenting with making little balms for myself, and from there, these little guys were born. I call them Hush-1 and Hush-2.

These balms are made with herbs traditionally used for viral support and skin healing (with growing clinical research to support their use) especially lemon balm and heal-all. Hush-1 is designed for oral cold sores, and Hush-2 is for more sensitive outbreaks. They are gentle, discreet, smell like fresh citrus, and they’ll work well alongside other antiviral supports.

Questions? No need to stay hush- hush. 😏
DM me, I’m a person. 💚🌿

No doubt that we’re having a Prairie Winter here this year, and that’s just what Prairie Hands Barrier Balm is for.

This rich, smooth, spicy-sweet stuff was formulated specifically for those of us who work with our hands and wash a lot: barbers, blue collar folks, gardeners, tattooers, and of course- my kindred RMT’s. Infused with plantain, heal all, and comfrey, it works on chapped, cracked hands along with wind-burnt or weather-burnt skin. 🙌🏻

I use mine all day, every day (because it smells awesome and I have an endless supply, haha) but even a once-a-day application before bed will do the trick.

Wanna try it out? Get at me…I’m a person! 💚🌿