Today we’d like to introduce you to Lyani Powers.
Hi Lyani , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Modern Herbal Apothecary was born out of a deep-rooted passion for natural healing and a respect for the time-honored traditions of herbal medicine. Our story begins with a commitment to bridge the gap between traditional herbal wisdom and modern wellness needs, particularly in underserved communities.
Our founder, Lyani Powers, first learned from her grandmothers then studied clinical herbalism and ethnobotany. She is a certified herbalist, full spectrum doula, and lactation consultant. She furthered her studies by traveling extensively, learning from indigenous healers and herbalists around the world, including parteras and curanderas in Mexico and midwives in Ecuador. These experiences have in turned, shaped our holistic approach, allowing us to incorporate practices from across cultures while remaining true to our mission of empowering people to take control of their own health through the use of plants.
We are especially committed to supporting individuals through life’s major transitions—whether preconception, pregnancy, postpartum, or general well-being. By offering handcrafted, ethically-sourced herbal remedies, teas, and wellness products, we aim to honor the deep ancestral roots of herbalism while providing accessible and effective solutions for today’s challenges.
At the heart of Modern Herbal Apothecary is a desire to serve, not only at high-end markets but also in areas with limited access to holistic care. Our mobile apothecary helps us bring natural health solutions to underserved communities, offering both products and education in a way that promotes healing from within.
Through our work, we’re reconnecting people with the power of plants, blending tradition with modern science to create a truly integrative wellness approach.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It certainly hasn’t been a smooth road, but that’s the nature of any business. You learn as you go, constantly adapting to better serve your community. One of our biggest challenges was opening in the middle of a pandemic, which brought its own unique hurdles. From supply chain disruptions to adjusting how we could safely engage with our customers, it was a time that tested our resilience.
But it also brought growth. We had to figure out, sometimes on the fly, what our community needed most and how we could best support them in times of uncertainty. We focused heavily on educating our customers about boosting their immunity and using herbs to navigate stress, and we developed safe ways to continue offering our products, like curbside pickups and expanding our online presence.
Thankfully, the support of our community helped us push through those tough moments. Their belief in our mission kept us going, and every challenge we’ve faced has ultimately been worth it. Each bump in the road has made us stronger and more capable of serving our customers in the way they deserve.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My journey into herbalism and holistic care has been deeply rooted in personal and cultural exploration. I’ve always been passionate about the connection between plant medicine and ancestral wisdom, and this led me to immerse myself in various traditional healing systems. I had the opportunity to learn from indigenous parteras and curanderas in Mexico, focusing on techniques like closing the bones and womb massage. Additionally, I’ve been influenced by Black Southern midwifery practices and the herbal traditions of the Caribbean.
My experience is multifaceted—I’m a clinical herbalist, doula, and lactation consultant, and I’ve studied Ayurvedic postpartum care and Southern Black midwifery traditions. I love incorporating diverse influences into my work, whether it’s through Ayurvedic practices or the African botanical legacy, which is always a guiding lens in my approach. I also believe in creating accessibility for healing, which inspired my idea of a mobile herbal apothecary to serve communities with limited access.
The core of my practice is centered around supporting women, particularly in their postpartum journey, which I see as a time for deep restoration. Through nutrition, herbal support, and education, my goal has always been to help people reconnect with their innate ability to heal. This aligns so well with the ethos of Modern Herbal Apothecary, where the focus is on providing sustainable, ethically sourced herbs and nurturing wellness in the Tampa community
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Some of my favorite childhood memories revolve around nature and food. Whether it was camping and exploring the woods with my father or being in the kitchen with my mother and family, preparing big holiday spreads, both of these experiences shaped me. That deep connection with nature inspired me to create the micro farm behind the shop, while my love for food led me to culinary school and eventually to write a cookbook for , Rooted: postpartum recipes based in indigenous and African diaspora traditions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://modernherbalshop.com
- Instagram: modherbshop
- Facebook: modern herbal apothecary
- Youtube: @modernherbal
Image Credits
zebrina maloy
