We launch our first Herbal Sisters workshops for women

We are always looking for new ways to provide income-generating opportunities for women and girls, so it was great to welcome acclaimed herbalist Anna Rosa from Iceland recently to run in-camp training workshops.

In groups of 20, Anna Rosa taught the women how to make soothing herbal teas and a nourishing healing balm, using local beeswax and herbs simmered in oil. The long-term idea is that the women will be able to earn sustainable incomes from making and selling similar products in their own communities in future, and Anna Rosa plans to return to Kurdistan to progress Herbal Sisters later this year.

After qualifying as a herbalist more than 30 years ago, Anna Rosa decided she wanted to ‘give back’, so stepped away from her role as a clinician last year to focus on growing her business and philanthropic efforts. “After starting my company 14 years ago, I now produce over 100 products in Iceland – and handpick and make everything myself,” she says.

“The ointment I taught the women to make can be used from head to toe for so many ailments – including wrinkles and fungus feet – and it’s better for them than very cheap creams which usually contain a lot of toxic ingredients. By teaching them these skills, we could help avoid a lot of problems with plastics and toxicity in future.”

While in Kurdistan, she tracked down beeswax from a local beekeeper and discovered plentiful herbs in the local markets, including chamomile and stinging nettles. “I also found things like turmeric, ginger and peppermint, which are all common and available everywhere – but are powerful medicinal herbs. They’re also highly affordable which is essential for the women.”

Anna Rosa is now working on developing other types of herbal workshops to take back with her. “The women were telling me they’re in physical pain, with things like arthritis, muscle tension and diabetes as well as insomnia. Traditionally they don't have much to help with these things. I also do a lot on the mental health side, which is a real issue for them after the trauma they’ve been through. They thought many of these problems were unique to them, but of course lots of people are struggling in the same way. Herbs are very helpful for things like anxiety and depression.”

Speaking of her experience of running the workshops in March, Anna Rosa adds: “I feel at home when I'm teaching, and the women were so welcoming and enthusiastic. We laughed a lot and had good fun, which is an essential part of it. If you can connect like that, we can figure everything else out – that's how I look at it.”

Anna Rosa is now looking to secure funding so she can return to the region and make Herbal Sisters a more permanent part of our programming. “I want to be able to finance this myself and love the idea of it being sustainable, but of course I need to raise money to support it,” she says. If you can support her or want to hear more, please do email Anna Rosa on care@annarosaskincare.com.