Herbal Remedies

Jurtaapótek, or the Herbal Pharmacy, on Laugavegur is a fairly new addition to the array of shopping in the downtown area - a fairly surprising fact considering that Icelanders have been known to be avid users of herbal remedies and Icelandic fjallagras, which is exactly what Jurtaapóket offers, as Kolbrún Björnsdóttir herbal practitioner and owner of Jurtaapótekið explains when asked about the store.

"We sell herbs, herbal remedies and cosmetic products, not made out of chemicals and actually safe to eat, oils for the body and face and flower essences." Even as recently as a few short years ago, she explains, this place would never have turned a profit. She goes on to explain the purpose of the store: "We want to teach people to rely more on themselves as well as suggest and offer dietary advice and hold seminars."

Popular Products

No store of this kind existed a few years back; very fewpeople specialized in herbal remedies at home. But before I could actually sit down with Kolbrún at the store and interview her, I had to wait a while because it was such a busy place. So, what are all these people buying? "Our most popular products are for menopausal women, herbs that contain oestrogen and our cleansing mix, for example, after eating unhealthy foods, that contains, e.g. spirulina, burdock, horsetail and other herbs that stimulate the kidneys to cleanse the blood. People tell me how much better they feel afterwards."

Icelandic Herbs

It's obvious to me that Jurtaapótekið has a following, but what about non-Icelanders or visitors? "No, tourists usually come in here accidentally thinking this is a drug store. Some are very curious, it depends on their interests." So, the typical question arises, do the tourists ask about Icelandic products or herbs? "Yes, but I don't use as many Icelandic herbs as I would like because I need such a magnitude of herbs, and it takes a lot of time to pick certain herbs, such as creeping thyme and birch. It stings me not use more birch. Most tourists want Icelandic herbs, but unfortunately they are imported," explains Kolbrún. She explains the lack of more Icelandic herbs is because of the government. "The problem with our legislature is that anybody can sell the same products as I do; therefore, my job is not legally protected. For example, there are certain herbs I cannot sell, like rhubarb root and dooryard dock."

I asked her if we have an Icelandic super herb. "Yarrow is the most potent herb used in Iceland and around the world and cures various ailments, we are taught to use it if a case stumps us," says Kolbrún, who also informs me that to study herbal medicine she had to go to England. But things are looking more positive because Jurtaapótekið intends to seek legal recognition as herbal practitioners from Alþingi.

Jurtaapótek, Laugavegur 2, 101 Reykjavík.

Text by Marvin Lee Dupree, Photo by Valgarður Gíslason