Healing Naturally – Profiles – College of the Rockies, Cranbrook BC, Canada // // Laura Young always had an interest in gardening. When she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia she found she was unable to tolerate traditional medication so wanted to learn how to properly grow her own, natural medicines.
In 2010, she looked into the Herbal Practitioner course held at College of the Rockies’ Creston campus and, deciding it was the best herbal course offered in Canada, enrolled in the program. She graduated in 2011 and has been making and wildcrafting medicine for her personal use ever since.
“The program inspired me to start my own medicinal garden, which is now about 1.5 acres in size and holds more than 50 medicinal plants,” she says.
Laura has expanded beyond using her knowledge to assist with her personal needs and has opened Nanny’s Cupboard and Tea house in Cranbrook. Though she does not make medicines for others, she invites anyone to stop by her store for a good cup of locally grown or certified organic tea or to taste her homemade, award-winning hot pepper jellies, antipasto, sweet jam and jellies.
Through her store, Laura shares her Herbal Practitioner knowledge by presenting talks on identifying medicinal plants. These talks are by donation with all funds raised going to the Cranbrook branch of the SPCA for the prevention of animal cruelty.