Ask an Herbalist…

Susan Horning, BBA, ERYT, CHT

Susan has been working with herbs for many years while operating her boutique studio, Unity Yoga Teahouse, on Commercial Drive for over a decade.  Her interest in tea motivated her to explore herbal remedies and her friends helped her design the tasty and unique signature blends that Unity Herbals is known for.

Her interest in medicinal plants started with plant infusions, which she found to be not only refreshing but also encouraged a sense of deep well-being.   It seemed only natural to include plant medicine as another facet of her holistic practice, which includes yoga, partner massage, classical Feng Shui and astrology.

As her sensitivity to plants grew, so did her apothecary of plant material.  Most of the dried herbs you find in her teas are sourced carefully from different growers and distributors to seek out organic (where available), fair trade, and sometimes wild crafted plants from pristine wilderness areas in BC.  Susan hand crafts many of her tinctures to ensure a high quality standard, as well as her topical skin salves and plant oil infusions.

Susan has completed a 4-year clinical program in Herbal Therapy as well as the Chartered Herbalist program at Vancouver’s Dominion Herbal College, the oldest herbal medicine school in North America.  Her training also includes Intermediate level Herbal Medicine with the Wild Seed School on Salt Spring Island and coaching with Jasmyn Clift.  She is passionate about continuing to learn through study and mentorship, enriched by her own personal experience.

For more information on her personal consultations, rates and products, please email her for appointment times.

Unity Yoga Teahouse – yoga, tea and good company!

Unity Yoga Teahouse (established July 2006, closed April 2020) was a community hub for yoga, tea and good company, a space for healing and connection, and the birthplace of Unity Herbals.   A natural part of a holistic lifestyle, herbal teas were served to complement the daily drop in classes as this community-driven yoga studio for almost 14 years.  Unity herbals continues to specialize in quality plant products, to support plant based healing and therapies.

Unity’s infusions, decoctions, tinctures and skin salves are made from high quality (organic when available) botanical-only ingredients, and each plant ingredient has attributes that support the body in a process of vital living.   We are all an integral part of our natural surrounds, which fuels and supports our wellbeing.  Whole plants are easily assimilated in our bodies via water infusion, decoction (boiling), or as aqueous alcohol extractions in varying strengths.

The combinations in our teas have simple, clean, flavour and aroma, and do not contain any artificial flavours, ingredients or colouring.   Plants used have unique healing benefits and can be customized and formulated to match individual needs, or our balanced blends can be enjoyed as a refreshing and nutritious (and mostly caffeine-free) hot or cold drink – some are great iced!

Living in harmony with nature starts with you, and our herbal products are here to help support you in sustaining wellness for yourself, others, and the planet.  Please get in touch if you’d like to connect more deeply with the plant world!