Wildcrafted and organically grown botanicals

written by Terri Davies (Sunstar Media)

This is Joanne Marks’ first year as an exibitor at Organic Islands (though you may have seen her at the Moss Street Market). She has been working with plant medicines for over 15 years and owns a company called Fireweed Holistic Health here in Victoria, BC. Joanne told me that she teaches a women’s workshop on both medicine-making and the history of women as healers (doesn’t that sound intriguing?). She also teaches workshops on Bach flower remedies.

Today I learned about the process of creating the Fireweed Botanicals product line where all of the flowers and plants are wildcrafted or organically grown and harvested on the South Island at their peak medicinal times. They are then transferred into oil so that the natural healing properties of the plants infuse the oil. The products have a wonderful aroma although no scents are added other than the natural fragrances of the healing botanicals.

Joanne’s most popular product is the Herbal Relief Oil which contains 3 local medicinal plants: dandelion flower, black cottonwood bud and St. John’s wort. It is a chronic pain combination that can be used, for example, to help with arthritis, old injuries that cause pain etc.

As I was speaking with Joanne she took a moment to describe to a customer how St. John’s wort in particular is perfect for soothing sunburned skin (among many other things) and actually helps to repair the tissue, reduce swelling and heal damaged nerves beneath the skin.

Joanne’s work focuses on educating people about the energy, intelligence and healing properties of plants. “Plants have a lot more to offer us than just the nutrients from food”.

What a pleasure it was to talk with Joanne and to learn more about the philosophy and handcrafting behind her work! Contact Joanne: fireweed57@shaw.ca