THE APOTHECARY

Medicine made with the intention of wellness for all

HERBAL APOTHECARY

Seed’s apothecary consists of medicine made with attention and care by Clinical Herbalists who know each plant - from its seed to its medicinal constituents. Our apothecary is kept well stocked with quality, sustainable, and accessible herbal medicine. The herbalists on-site will blend your custom herbal remedies with expertise, eliminating the need for you to source ingredients independently.

We believe herbal medicine that is practiced in a good way supports and affirms all life on our planet. The plants invite you to forge a deeper connection with the earth, fostering a sense of reciprocity that enriches your wellness journey.

Why choose herbal medicine?

Sustainability

With the current climate emergency, discussions of sustainable herbal medicine are more important than ever before. Using herbal medicine formulated specifically to your needs is in itself a sustainable approach: An experienced herbalist will offer you medicine customized to your goals, and thus you will take less medicine overall but with better results. Sustainability is also top priority when it comes to the conservation status of plants within our apothecary. Many herbs are at-risk or endangered from over-harvesting. Our clinic either abstains from stocking them or reserves their potent effects for very specific circumstances.

Transparent Sourcing

Knowing where your food comes from is important, and we at Seed feel it is important that you know where your herbs come from as well. Whenever possible, we source the herbs stocked in our apothecary from within Canada. When a plant cannot be found in Canada, the herbalists at Seed seek out plants that are grown organically and with the principles of fair trade in place. Detailed sourcing information is made available to our clients.

Accessibility

At Seed we hold herbal medicine as the original & traditional form of medicine of all people. We believe all people have the right to access herbal medicine, regardless of their income, socio-economic status, or circumstance. We also believe that an individual’s financial health is a part of the holistic health model. If you are experiencing a financial challenge, let us know and we can offer you reduced fees for consultations and herbal medicine.

Types of herbal medicine

Herbal medicine is the practice of using plants to both relieve symptoms and address underlying causes of chronic illness. Historically, herbs have been the original and traditional forms of medicine for all people groups, with many modern pharmaceuticals derived from plant extracts. As natural remedies, herbs resonate uniquely with the body, helping to guide it back into balance and restore overall well-being.

A TINCTURE is a concentrated liquid extract made from herbs, typically infused in alcohol or vinegar, that captures the plant’s medicinal properties for easy consumption and use. Herbal tinctures can then be combined in a formula to create blends that complement each other and better support specific health goals. The origin of the word tincture comes from old English “to dye”. Going further back in time to tincture a piece of cloth was to change its qualities. In many ways, one could say, changing the qualities of illness to qualities of health is a good description of herbal medicine in general. Seed uses organic alcohol in all their tinctures.

HERBAL TEA is a calming drink created by steeping dried herbal leaves, flowers, or roots in hot water. Certain herbal blends infuse for extended periods, particularly those with tougher parts like roots, to fully extract the plant’s beneficial properties. Herbal teas also offer the important medicine of sitting quietly for a moment, sipping tea. The herbalists at Seed encourage everyone to pause and enjoy their moment with a cup of rejuvenating herbal tea.

TOPICAL herbal preparations, such as infused oils and liniments, are designed for external application on the skin. These preparations effectively deliver the medicinal properties of the herbs directly to the specific area of concern, providing targeted relief for various ailments.

POWDERS are a traditional way of offering herbal medicine. The powder is mixed in a glass of water, with perhaps a little honey or maple syrup, and then drunk. Powders are useful when a person cannot take tinctures due to the alcohol content. One of the challenges with powdered herbs is they lose their medicine quickly. This is the reason why we powder the herbs we need on site and per use.

SYRUPS are a traditional preparation of herbal medicine made with sugar, honey or maple syrup. For general childhood illness, syrups are useful as they are delicious and can be used to mask the flavour of other herbs that may not suit discerning palates.

HERBAL BATH waters infused with plants can be used to relieve anxiety & depression, pain, viral & bacterial infections, support sleep, and ease the burning or itching of skin conditions. At Seed we offer blends of herbs to use in the bath.

SMOKE BLENDS have a long tradition in herbal medicine. At Seed we can help you with a smoke blend to ease the effects of the body caused by smoking as well as supporting the cessation of smoking.

Please note: custom-formulated herbal medicine can only dispensed after a client has had a herbal consultation with a practitioner.

OPENING SPRING 2025

My herbs totally rebalanced my energy levels. I was experiencing low energy and was unable to focus due to brain fog. Tori’s approach was very methodical and looked at the whole picture. After a few months with the herbs, I regained my energy and found my body continued to adjust on its own after that!

- MALEK T

What is your location & hours?

Our clinic will be located in Ottawa ON - opening late Spring 2025. Our walk-in hours will be Tuesdays to Saturdays, 2-7pm.
Do you work with virtual clients?

Yes, we offer video conference for both in-depth and walk-in herbal consultations.
Where do you source your herbs?

Whenever possible, we source the herbs stocked in our dispensary from within Canada. When a plant cannot be found in Canada, the herbalists at Seed seek out plants that are grown organically and with the principles of fair trade in place.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule an appointment?

We require 48 hours notice to cancel or reschedule appointments. If you are unable to provide this much notice, we reserve the right to charge you a Cancellation Fee. No fee will be charged if the cancellation is due to an emergency or if you are unwell with a transmissible infectious illness.
Will my health insurance cover your fees?

Our Herbal services are unfortunately not covered by OHIP. Some health insurance providers cover Massage Therapy and Acupuncture, often only when prescribed by a Medical Doctor first. It is your responsibility to check the individual details of your plan coverage.

HERBAL MEDICINE COSTS

We at Seed believe that financial health is a part of one’s overall health. If you are struggling financially, please ask about reduced rates for herbs.