Herboristerie du Pépin

(© Saskia Vanderstichele)

From an inflamed shoulder to sleeping problems or a flee-ridden cat, the owner of Herboristerie du Pépin tries to find answers to very diverse questions using only the healing power of herbs.

Silvia Moreno started out as a nature guide, which is where she discovered the healing power of plants and herbs. She then trained as a herbalist and early December – much sooner than expected – she opened her own shop. The herbal aroma that wafts to meet you when you walk into the Herboristerie du Pépin, on the Naamsepoort/Porte de Namur, stands in sharp contrast to Brussels’s city smog.

When you see Silvia bustling with her paper bags and carefully weighing spoonfuls of herbs, it immediately conjures the image of a traditional medicine man. About 100 tins on the shelves contain dried herbs, plants, and flowers. They are all organically grown, and a great many of them are actually from the Ardennes. What Silvia enjoys most in her work as a herbalist is making the preparations. She also proves that natural and organic produce need not be boring. You will find pampering for your taste buds and skin, exquisite tisanes, and delicious smelling cosmetics for yourself or to give as gifts. She also sells super foods like the blue-green salt-water alga spirulina. Or you can make your own preparation of essential oils, choosing from sweet orange, orange blossom, lemon grass, patchouli, and a hundred other options. Essential oils are not as harmless as they may seem, so it is always important to consult a professional herbalist. Pregnant women, for example, should be particularly careful.

A healthy, "green" lifestyle is obviously a hot topic nowadays. Alternative medicine and related subjects have gradually become less taboo. The general public are becoming increasingly conscious of the harmful effects of chemical substances in and on our bodies. In fact, the first medicine is good food, and everything you eat shows on the outside. During the workshops that are organised every month, you can make your own cosmetic products. Silvia’s mission is to put people back in touch with nature, and that is also perfectly possible in the inner city.

What is the best way to maintain a healthy immune system during the winter? Rosemary and thyme are a great help in the cold months, but the real miracle product is grapefruit extract, which is even known as a natural antibiotic.

HERBORISTERIE DU PÉPIN •••
Kernstraat 8 rue du Pépin, Brussel/Bruxelles, 02-538.78.88, www.herbodupepin.be, ma/lu/Mo > za/sa/Sa 10.30 > 18.30