Need a calming cup of Love Supreme Tea or craving the sweetness of herbal honey? KindFolk Apothecary & Wellness has you covered with locally sourced, organic ingredients, alongside a dedication to holistic education and a commitment to caring for the planet.
Owners Claire Pyott and Nae Catbagan first met during COVID, when they were simply squares on one another’s screens. Both were attending the Wildflower School of Botanical Medicine, which teaches the responsible, ethical, and safe use of herbal medicine.
“Herbalism was always a glimmer in my peripheral when I was little. I definitely pay a lot of homage to my grandmothers for planting the seed of curiosity,” says Nae. “They’re from the Philippines and immigrated over, and there were a lot of things they’d do with plants that I, at the time, didn’t understand. All I knew was that it was magic.”
It was when she had her first child that Nae’s glimmer glowed even brighter and she decided to dive into her own research, just as Claire was finding her own footing.
“I was a newly single parent, and I was just tired of being afraid of the unknown,” says Claire. “I did Wildflower because I wanted to empower myself to know what to do if we got sick or my neighbors got sick. I could go outside again and not be worried about what was going to happen.”
Despite the initial virtual distance, the two developed a deep friendship that bloomed into a business. In the three years since launching KindFolk, Claire and Nae have found that, even in the stickiest moments, they can move forward with ease. They are the yin to each other’s yang.
Their journey evolved from markets to a storefront, which was designed to be a place where people can find what lights them up and feel like they’ve stepped into an undeniably positive second home.
“When you’re caught in that undertow and getting swept away, that’s when things start to fall off the rails. You forget how to listen to your own inner voice,” says Claire. “It’s important to carve out little pockets of time, whether it’s signing up for an hour or two of a workshop to have some tea, learn about something, do a craft, try something new… It’s about taking a beat to be like, ‘What is my soul crying out for right now?’”
Education is at the forefront, with the goal of giving customers tools to reach for when life gets overwhelming. To further enrich their lives, KindFolk partners with other local entrepreneurs who are similarly passionate about herbalism.
“We’re both Aquarians. So, the idea of commodity and consumerism could be very icky for us, but I think that’s even more reason why we chose a storefront. We want to show people that there are other ways to go about consuming,” says Nae. “We can invite them to be mindful about what they want versus what they need.”
Claire and Nae believe herbalism is our birthright—an ancestral tradition that deserves to be practiced with care. That’s why they offer herbal consultations, getting to the root of your health journey.
“The most fulfilling part is the connections, seeing community come together. That has always been a big desire of mine, to create space for these things to flourish,” says Nae.
“Being of service to others fills my cup,” says Claire. “Something ‘simple’ can make a big impact and shift something in somebody so they can be a more vibrant version of themselves.”
Reimagine self-care when you head to kindfolkapothecary.com and 901 N Vista Bridge Blvd Suite 300, Cedar Park.