64. Sustainable skin care, the benefits of tree hugging and living in harmony with nature: Kaja Skraskova on Self Care with Herbs

The Elder Tree Podcast

Kaja Skraskova is a scientist and plant lover. When she was 11 years old, Kaja dreamt of opening an old style apothecary- a place sought after by people who needed to reconnect with herbs to heal. Kaja’s roots are in the Czech Republic and after embarking on a pharmacy degree in Prague and being lured down the research path, it was a research trip to Tasmania that set in stone her path towards creating a bush apothecary.

Kaja is passionate about sustainable skin care and her Herbae Thylacini skin care range aims to raise awareness of the interrelationship between humans and the plant world, with a focus on re-discovering traditional medicines, and finding better ways to live in harmony with nature.

It’s fascinating to hear of Kaja’s study of the constituents of native Australian plants and the crossover between their European counterparts which are used by herbalists across Australia…we ponder how and if it might be possible for non indigenous Australians to use native Australian plants medicinally, in a way that does not misappropriate the knowledge of the traditional custodians of the land on which they grow.

Kaja’s living far from home and support networks, while running a small business and raising 2 small children - and the theme of ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ threads through our conversation- we mourn the model of existing in immediate family silo’s where it’s difficult to find the time and space for self care.

Kaja is a big picture thinker and questions the idea of self care as only individual care- pondering is it more pertinent to ask- what does my community need, my neighbour, my work colleague- and watching the ripples of good will and connection flow from helping one another.

Along with being a passionate plant lover, Kaja’s a skilled herbal medicine maker and I loved picking her brains about different herbs and manufacturing techniques.

Towards the end of our interview, Kaja shares the most unique and nourishing herbal recipe that she uses to sneak extra herbal goodies into her two young daughters- I can’t wait to try it and I’m sure you’ll love it too!

https://herbaethylacini.com.au/

Connect with Kaja here:

https://www.instagram.com/herbae_thylacini/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/herbaethylacini/

**SHOW NOTES**

Goulds Apothecary https://www.gouldsnaturalmedicine.com.au/apothecary

Penelope Ody's Complete Medicinal Herbal

https://www.amazon.com.au/Complete-Medicinal-Herbal-Penelope-Ody/dp/156458187X

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The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins. You can find Chad's music here and here.