Plant medicines were humanity’s first remedies; many of the active ingredients in the current pharmacopoeia are still those found in the forest, meadow or garden. (Everything has to come from somewhere, after all.) In many cases, seeking out the source is still a great idea when you’re looking to settle your stomach, soothe your skin, and manage your microbiome—but It can be tricky sorting out exactly what you want and need.
That’s where an apothecary comes in, working with growers and foragers, sourcing good organics and stocking their shelves with blends, tinctures and salves that make it easy for you to apply them to your life. You can purchase pre-made products or study up on growing, foraging, drying, and the other skills involved in building your own botanical medicine cabinet from scratch.
Just stepping through the door of an apothecary—the good smells, the sweet smart welcoming vibe—can make you feel better. Here are some spots where you can tap into various aspects of the local herbal and botanical wisdom:
Cold Spring Apothecary
40 Main Street, Cold Spring
This shop offers a full-service salon and spa where you can relax and enjoy meticulously created products that merge functionality and indulgence. Founder Stacy Dugliss-Wesselman, a lover of natural sciences and of beauty, got her start developing products that wouldn’t trigger allergies but would make people feel pampered. Her handcrafted shampoos are legendary and the line now includes skin, hair, body, home goods, and more.
Field Apothecary & Herb Farm
75 Main Street, Cold Spring
A family farm in Germantown, they grow fresh ingredients in a 1.5 acre herb garden with rescued rain water, saved seed-stocks, and lots of hands-on TLC. They offer seasonal Wellness Boxes that contain everything you need to build a medicine cabinet as locally and organically sourced as the finest menu, or you can make your own selections from their array of balms, bitters and remedies for all sorts of ills.
[Field Apothecary & Herb Farm has closed since this article was written]
Village Apothecary
79 Tinker Street, Woodstock
You can get your prescription filled (along with a one-on-one consult with a licensed and friendly pharmacist) and find custom compounding and rigorously chosen supplements of all sorts in the same Woodstock location. Co-founder Neal Smoller styles himself “PharmD, Holistic Pharmacist, Big Mouth” and prides himself on evidence-based recommendations and superb customer service.Good Fight Herb Co.
253 1/2 Warren St, Hudson
Founder Lauren Giambrone is also a co-founder and educator with Wild Gather: Hudson Valley School of Herbal Studies and opened her brick-and-mortar shop in Hudson in 2017, where you can find fine locally sourced herbal meds such as the Hard Workin’ NYer Immune Blend and a Heart Mender elixir. There’s a powerful strain of social and medical justice here. Recent workshops include smudging with plant allies, herbs for the active, and “healing sacral/sexual energy and deepening pleasure + intimacy.”
[Good Fight Herb Co. has closed its physical shop and moved entirely online]
Kaaterskill Herb Exchange
130 Tinker St, Woodstock
This Woodstock outfit works to connect herb farmers and remedy-crafters with the people who need their help. There’s a fresh herb CSA complete with recipe booklets, a “skillshare” section on the website where you can learn about proper herb gardening, drying, and usage, plus workshops devoted to various aspects of wellness with sliding-scale fees.
[Kaaterskill Herb Exchange has fully closed since this article was written]
The People’s Cauldron
3669 Main St, Stone Ridge
You never know what they'll be blending next in The People’s Cauldron, which began in Rosendale and has relocated to Stone Ridge, where they continue to offer prepared medicines, a great selection of bulk herbs, and apothecary. It's a vibrant community space rich in connectivity for lovers of ‘zines, art, music, the Resistance, and locally roasted direct trade coffee.
[The People’s Cauldron has closed its physical shop]
Witchey Handmade
5 Post Hill Road, MountaindaleWitchey Handmade just off Mountaindale's main drag is the type of ethereal refuge fairy dreams are made of. Gallon glass jugs of wild foraged and organically grown herbs and spices line the shelves in a luminous space peppered with fresh and dried flower arrangements. Lovers of apothecary as both a medicinal resource and an aesthetic will rejoice in the collection of bottles, antique crates, and herb bundles hanging from the ceiling. This is a place where ancient curandera wisdom comes together with modern lifestyle brand in quiet, yummy-smelling harmony. In addition to loose herbs and teas, founder Hollie Witchey also has a proprietary line of personal care products ranging from face mists to body oil to candles, which you can purchase in this quintessential small town storefront or online.
Whether you're interested in natural remedies or a budding hedge witch, the Hudson Valley's wealth of apothecaries will make your hunt for just the right herb a whole lot easier.
[Witchey Handmade has closed its physical shop and moved entirely online]
Sugar Loaf Mountain Herbs
67 White Oak Drive, ChesterAfter 18 years in business, Sugar Loaf Mountain Herbs persists as a year-round haven for tea enthusiasts, spice lovers, and herb aficionados. Their stock includes a rich variety of teas, spices, dried herbs, essential oils, and skin care products. Not only do they showcase certified organic and kosher herbs, but their fair-trade blends include pure leaf black, oolong, green, and white teas. On top of all that, they've crafted their own line of natural herbal sprays, lotions, and soaps, suitable for all skin types and vegan-friendly. You can also pick up dried florals grown in Sugar Loaf. Fresh bouquets, potted herbs, and flowers are available in season.
