About us
About Valentine
If you don't know me, I'm Valentine, folk herbalist and the proud creator of The Eldermother Apothecary.
Three years ago, after studying law for five years and graduating with two master's degrees in human rights in 2021, I gave up everything to move to Ireland and study Celtic herbalism, all because of (or should I say thanks to) a book from Maïa Toll, The Illustrated Herbiary.
If we go back in time a little, in beggining 2021, I was looking for an end-of-year internship to validate my master's degree and, honestly, I kept getting turned down over and over again to the point where I was ready to give up.
One day, while I was at the bookshop, I bought Maïa's book without even looking at what I had in my hands. Once I got home, I decided to take a look at it, and after reading the first few lines of the preface, where she talks about her journey into herbalism, I don't know how to explain it, but deep down, I knew in my heart that it was what I was meant to do.
And believe it or not, once I had made my decision and told my family that I was leaving everything behind to study herbalism, everything fell into place. I found the perfect internship for me and shortly afterwards, I found a course, but not just any course, or rather, I should say, not with just anyone.
Indeed, after reviewing dozens of training courses, I found one in Ireland offered by Gina McGarry. After writing her an email with my story, she replied that she was Maïa's teacher. Some might say it was a coincidence, but for me it was a sign from the universe confirming that I was on the right path. So, that's how, on the 14th February 2022, I arrived in Ireland to embark on that new path.
After a long journey of learning, I qualified as an herbalist at the Brighid's Academy of healing arts after completing four years of training in the Arts and Sciences of Botanical Medicine in 2024 alongside Gina McGarry and Bernie McCann.
About The Eldermother apothecary
Through The Eldermother Apothecary, my dearest wish is to help you reconnect with your inner essence, with Mother Nature, but also, to the best of my ability, with Celtic herbalism, which has been passed down to me.
Celtic Herbalism is based on the premise that plants, trees, animals, rocks, etc. are the teachers. For druids, herbalists and others, plants are individuals that possess a living spirit and must be approached with respect and love, so that the Spirit of the Plant harmonises with our needs and generously offers their healing gifts.
All of my products are based on this philosophy. The idea is to offer you herbal products that will help and support your body in its healing process, rather than doing it for you with a whole list of unwanted side effects because the plant has not been treated with respect and has been misused for exploitative purposes.
In this quest to reconnect with Nature, all the products I offer are created from organic ingredients rigorously selected from each of my suppliers or hand-picked ingredients by myself in Nature or by Noël, a friend of mine also herbalist, located in Co. Laois.