Each IHS the community brings its best work to the Herbal Product Contest, facilitated by John Cummings, with judges drawn from teachers and staff. Products are entered blind, judged during Free Thyme on Saturday, and winners are announced at the close of the symposium. These are not commercial awards. They are the community recognizing fine medicine made by its own.
Congratulations to every winner, and to every person who entered. The contest is one of the quiet engines of craft in this community.
17th IHS Product Contest Winners
Grand Prize
The Grand Prize Winner of the 17th IHS was Chelsea Joel of Conscious Seed Apothecary in Loveland, Ohio, for her Kava Chai, which also took first place in the Anything Goes category.
Purely Medicinal Category
1st Place
Black Walnut/Wild Cherry Bitters
Alex Williams, First Curve Apothecary (Chicago, IL)
2nd Place
Wellness by Helen
Helen Magnani, Restorative Tonic
(Los Angeles, CA)
3rd Place
Blue Lotus Spagyric Tincture
Amanda Souther, Archaeus Apothecary (Asheville, NC)
Anything Goes
1st Place
Kava Chai
Chelsea Joel, Conscious Seed Apothecary (Loveland, OH)
2nd Place
Mukhwas Carminative Blend
Michele Crosta, MotMot Collective (Ocean, NJ)
3rd Place
Appalachian Sweet Dreams
Stan Haught
(Glouster, OH)
Medicinal Salves, Ointments & Oils
1st Place
Get The Funk Out
Erica Macrum, Sweet Fern Apothecary (Washburn, WI)
2nd Place
Ona Ona
Keya Kai Guimarães, Ecotone Kauai
(Kapa’a, HI)
3rd Place
CBD Liniment
Amanda Souther, Archaeus Apothecary
(Asheville, NC)
16th IHS Product Contest Winners
Grand Prize
Afternoon Delight – A Cordial Experience
Shelley Kelley Sullivan
(Plymouth MA)
Purely Medicinal Category
1st Place
Black Birch Tincture
Michelle Hughes, Reclamation Herb Farm (Germantown, NY)
2nd Place
21st Century Chyawanprash Herbal Jam
Sandeep Agarwal, Pure Indian Foods
(Princeton Jcn., NJ)
3rd Place
Best Shilajit Ever
Sandeep Agarwal, Pure Indian Foods
(Princetonii Jcn., NJ)
Simply Delicious Category
1st Place
Afternoon Delight – A Cordial Experience
Shelley Kelley Sullivan
(Plymouth MA)
2nd Place
Black Reishi Fire Cider
Little Dove Botanicals
(Torrington, iCT)
3rd Place
Real Absinthe
Rosemary Kielnecker
(Swampscott, MA)
Luscious Lotions & Creams
1st Place
Four Elements Calendula Toner
Jane Hawley Stevens, Four Elements Herb Farm
(N. Freedom, WI)
2nd Place
Rosemary’s Famous Face Cream
Laura Sheppard
3rd Place
Sun Screen
Clarissa Bell
(Palm City, FL)
Anything Goes Category
1st Place
Dewy Fruit Sensory Lubricant
Dr. Phiona Gitsham, BioHerboloQi
2nd Place
Ratza Chocolate Jujubeet
Sara Ratza
Tarrow Springs, FL
3rd Place
Chaga Eishi Chai
Kim Geisier, Transcending Roots
Medicinal Salves, Ointments & Oils
1st Place
Four Elements Wild Yam Balancing Cream
Jane Hawley Stevens, Four Elements Herb Farm
(N. Freedom, WI)
2nd Place
Birch Pain Oil
Amelia South, Black Sun Farm
(Danielson, CT)
3rd Place
Natural Insect Repellant
Elaine Taylor