Iceland review - 2013, Page 57

ICELAND REVIEW 55
INNOVATION
Kolbrún Björnsdóttir, owner of herbal pharmacy Jurtaapótek and
one of just three certified herbalists in Iceland (Anna Rósa and
Ásdís Ragna Einarsdóttir complete the trio), is among those who
also harness the plants’ properties for oral consumption.
Aside from the wide range of herb products which she prepares
from raw ingredients—picked locally when possible, otherwise
ordered from abroad—from teas to face creams and bath salts to
capsules and oils, she also holds appointments with patients. “I
get everyone from infants, right up to 90-year-olds—it really var-
ies,” Kolbrún says of her clientele. “Sometimes they have the flu,
other times they have a longstanding, more serious issue. I also get
people with no symptoms at all but who are simply looking for
ways to further improve their health.”
According to Kolbrún, interest in herbal medicine and general
well-being exploded in 2009, following the economic crash the
year before. “People started to think more about themselves and
how important their health really is.” Despite its lengthy existence
prior to the advent of modern medicine, the reacceptance of herb-
al therapies has been a long time coming, Kolbrún says. “Over the
years, modern medicine took over. At one point, people looked up
to doctors as if they were God—but that is changing. People are
realizing that they can help themselves.”
And she is aiming to do just that. “I don’t want to be seen as
a doctor but rather as a teacher. I want to teach people how to
use herbs, that they can use them as food, for example,” Kolbrún
explains. “You don’t have to be sick to use herbs. In fact, don’t
wait until you’re sick,” she stresses. Herbs are an integral part of
Kolbrún’s life and she uses them depending on her condition.
While her store boasts an extensive range of products, she’s keen
to do more with Icelandic herbs. “There are endless possibilities,”
she says.
FuturE PotEntiAl
Fellow herbalist Ásdís Ragna Einarsdóttir is also keen to explore the
opportunities. “People can even grow herbs as they do vegetables.
There is a lot of potential and many possibilities for product develop-
ment. Herbs and plants in Iceland are really like any other resource
here, like the seaweed and the fish in the ocean,” she enthuses.
Ásdís has noticed the upward trend since the crash too. “I’ve seen
big changes, an awakening, really. People are thinking ‘what do we,
what does nature, have right here that we can use?’ For example,
people are picking herbs and making their own tea instead of buying
imported varieties.”
Both Ásdís and Kolbrún hold introductory courses. “People find
it really interesting to pick herbs and make their own creams or
teas,” Ásdís says. Although few plants in Iceland are poisonous, she
emphasizes the importance of familiarizing yourself with the differ-
ent plants and what they can be used for before heading out to pick.
“You can use an illustrated guide to learn about what each herb is
used for. It’s also important to know when and where to pick. It’s
best when it’s dry—not pouring rain—and bright. It’s also best to
pick away from the road, where there is less pollution. But, everyone
can learn to pick herbs.”
Like Kolbrún, Ásdís orders some herbs from abroad, either because
they don’t grow in Iceland or because she can’t get hold of them in
large enough quantity. “There are not many places where you can
do this and the areas are not that large. I need much more than I can
pick, or get hold of myself here in Iceland,” she says. “I enjoy picking
for fun, though, or when I’m making gifts for friends.”
Ásdís says for many of her patients, it’s not a question of con-
ventional medicine vs. herbal but rather about combining the two.
“Many people who come to me are on medication but also want
CREaM CaKE wITh ChERvIL FLowERS.
Lupine features strongly in Kristján Ingi’s designs.