KARYN SCHWARTZ
Owner, SugarPill
“There is so much that I have learned over the years, that I really think we should all know—so many ways that people can safely take care of themselves—and by making myself available in a brick-and-mortar setting as opposed to a private practice, I get to share this knowledge with so many more people,” says Karyn Schwartz, herbalist and owner of Seattle apothecary SugarPill. Schwartz’s personal touch is important considering anyone can buy herbs online without guidance: “The market for exotic miracle herbs, packaged with claims to be the secret that changes your life overnight, is enormous—and largely unethical. I work with very small producers of very high-quality herbal medicine—people who either raise or gather the plants themselves in truly sustainable ways and make medicine in very small quantities, entrusting me to know when and how to recommend it safely to people who will use it well.” She attributes much of her success to mentors who let her ask questions and observe, folks who “eventually welcomed me as a colleague in a profession that I did not even know existed when I was growing up. I never thought I would end up owning my own shop, but it is the perfect place for me.”
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