Vineyard Herbs Teas and Apothecary of Martha's Vineyard

As a unique, full-service herbal apothecary based on Martha's Vineyard, Vineyard Herbs hand-harvests 85% of the organic plants in our remedies and hand-craft our herbal medicines and natural body and bath products. Vineyard Herbs salves and syrups are award-winning medicines, and our herbal tea, black tea, green tea, arnica liniment, bath salts, powders, and aromatherapy products are pure, mostly organic, all-natural and have been enjoyed by tens of thousands since our opening in 2005. We are directed by traditional certified herbalist Holly Bellebuono. (Click here for wholesale info.)

We are owned and operated by herbalist Holly Bellebuono, MPA, CH, CPC, who teaches, leads workshops, mentors students, counsels clients, and is the author of The Essential Herbal for Natural Health (Shambhala Publishers, 2012). Holly offers two wonderful women's holistic coaching programs: a 9-week Program called Open the Gates, and a 1-Year Soulful Connection Mentorship Program. We also operate Martha's Vineyard's award-winning full-service holistic apothecary.


Holly Bellebuono President and CVO holly@vineyardherbs.com Mailing: P.O. Box 913, West Tisbury MA 02575 Phone: (508) 687-9600

NONE of our products contain petroleum, petroleum-derived ingredients, synthetic flavors, dyes, colorants, natural flavors, parabens, sodium laurel/laureth sulfates, sulfites, or hydrogenated oils. None of our products are tested on animals.

Vineyard Herbs wildcrafts (collects) almost all of its plant material (leaves, flowers, roots, bark, berries, fruits, etc) for its tinctures, salves, liniments, bug repellent, and syrups FRESH from meadows and forests here on Martha's Vineyard. Approximately 85% of our plant material is hand-gathered by Holly. Our remedies are strong, potent, pure, guaranteed to be the plant identified on the label, and they have endured minimal processing and shipment, if any.

We use sustainable harvesting methods, do not tramp through sensitive habitat, and use a 1:10 harvest guideline. Our products are made in small batches with minimal packaging. Holly Bellebuono is a member of United Plant Savers and the North East Herb Association.

No, these are different healing modalities. Homeopathy is a system of medicine which is considered a valid, legal healing system in several countries, including Germany and the United States. It was devised by a man named Samuel Hahnemann, a German in the late 1800s who believed "like cures like." This meant that an illness with a certain symptom could be cured by something that causes that very same symptom. Hahnemann took items from nature (including herbs, animal matter, and minerals) and diluted them. Imagine making a large pot of tea and then taking a drop of that tea and adding it to a large pot of water. Then, take a drop of that dilution and add it to another large pot of water. Eventually there is very little, if anything, left of the original pot of tea. Could you find any chemical similarity between the dilution and the original tea? Hardly. But energetically there is something there: this is the idea behind homeopathy. Today, homeopathy is a very scientific healing system that is considered very safe. It is all based on symptoms, and it uses substances in addition to herbs, as well as poisonous herbs, in order to bring about healing.

This is very different from herbalism. Herbal therapies have been used for millenia, and indeed were probably the second form of healing, after water therapies. Using herbs means collecting plant materials--not animal or mineral substances. Plants cause various reactions in the body (some good, some bad) and these can be utilized for healing. Herbal remedies are not dilutions: they are concentrates. The herb in use will be selected based on its direct effect on the body or on the virus, bacteria, or fungus causing the sickness (as opposed to the symptom being expressed). Herbal medicine is very specific and acts in various methods (for instance, an herb can be an adaptogen, a vulnerary, an emetic, etc.).

For more information about homeopathy (which is NOT what Vineyard Herbs does), please refer to books or articles about Samuel Hahnemann or homeopathy.

What is the Shelf-Life for Your Products?

It depends on the type of product and what sorts of preservatives are used. Vineyard Herbs uses only natural ingredients (not chemical or synthetic preservatives) and these have various effects on shelf life.

For instance, our salves are made with oils, plant extracts, and beeswax. That's it. That's why they are so good for your skin. But we don't add synthetics, so the salves will not last forever. We guarantee one year shelf life, but it's very possible that with proper storage (cool temperature and dry air) you will realize 2 or more years of shelf life. A salve is too old if it smells musty or if the texture is no longer creamy but rubbery and dry.

Herbal vinegars often have so much water content in them that they will last about 6 months. This is typical of most herbal vinegars you will find at Farmer's Markets and stores. Check you vinegar for mold floating near the top (any sediment at the bottom is probably normal and does not indicate spoilage). Vinegar based tinctures will turn metal lids blue or black and will gum up in the inside of the lid; this means they are too old.

Herbal teas (dry bulk teas) stored in our tin canisters will keep fresh and usable for at least one year, probably more. Keep them away from heat and wet areas (do NOT store them above the kitchen stove!). Generally, dried herbs lose their potency after a year. Use them and enjoy them!

Last, herbal tinctures, concentrates, and extracts are all alcohol based. This means they have an extremely long shelf life--even 10 years or so. Many of my tinctures prepared with vodka or brandy are still viable and strong after 10-12 years. Again, store them in a dark place with a tight lid. They should smell of the herb used, and of a bright, rich alcohol smell. Be careful with syrups prepared with sugar: they tend to keep a long time, but best store them in the refrigerator. Shake well as sediment settles at the bottom; otherwise, enjoy them knowing they are beneficial for a long time.

Do you offer an apprentice program?

We offer a limited program, usually for 1 to 3 people per season. Click here for more information.

Vineyard Herbs is a Registered Trademark of Vineyard Herbs Teas & Apothecary LLC * P.O. Box 913 * West Tisbury MA 02575 * email * (508) 687-9600 * All Material © 2011 * Terms & Conditions * Privacy Policy Life Coach Health Coach Career Coach Wellness Coach Women's Coach Executive Coach Nourishment Coach Personal Coach Wellness Speaker, women's speaker, nourishment speaker, essential herbal speaker, conference speaker, event speaker, health speaker, retreats

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