Mama & Lou
Apothecary
Mama & Lou Apothecary is a small-batch product range, blended from high quality natural and organically farmed ingredients sourced from Australia and France. Each product is blended with intention to support women and children on an emotional therapeutic level.
Meagan Berkhout is a student of aromatherapy, a women’s massage therapist and she’s founder of Mama & Lou, based in Noosa, QLD. She is passionate about women’s self-care, and their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Being a young mum, she’s particularly interested in helping other mothers with young children to especially navigate tricky, hard transitional times in their life.
Q & A
What made you start Mama & Lou?
At four years of age my eldest son (Lou) was diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay (GDD), while also showing traits of ASD, ADHD and anxiety. We found our everyday family life became significantly impacted due to all emotional highs and low, Lou’s confidence was taking a real hit, his behaviours hard to handle and other sensitivities intensified.
We needed professional help and find better strategies to manage it all. It was a real process to get to the point we are now, and we are still making our way slowly down the path of diagnosis.
During these harder times, I started to do a lot of research to understand Lou’s diagnosis and find ways to help him in his daily routine and settle his anxieties. I came across a podcast one day on essential oils for ADHD kids and how they can help. I was fascinated, because being a massage therapist I was using all the basic essential oils in my everyday business, but I really did not understand their true potential. I became very passionate about essential oils and so I decided to go back to study aromatherapy.
Mama & Lou Apothecary was really inspired by my son and the struggles we have and still are going through as a family. My hope is that our products can help calm the chaos of motherhood, even if it is in some small way.
How do your products work?
I launched Mama & Lou Apothecary with a range of essential oil roller blends which are blended with the intention to assist and support on an emotional therapeutic level.
These are products for both mothers and parent to use to help ease nervous tension, encourage mindful moments, a tool to help settle our little one’s emotions and encourage self-regulation, simple and natural beauty for mums! We have big plans to expand on our range with a lot more products developed specifically for women and children.
Is Mother Nature the ultimate medicine cabinet?
I believe in a good balance, and there is a time and place for natural therapies and when to consult in the conventional medical system. Up until I had my kids, I was a person who would not really think twice about reaching for the Vick’s vapour rub if I needed to clear congestion, take Panadol if I had a headache or buy the cold and flu tablets if I felt a bit ’throaty’.
Now knowing what I know and having a room full of essential oils, other carrier, and herbal oils, I do tend to treat every day minor ailments at home first using my own supplies and knowledge. I enjoy the process of mixing up a respiratory rub for the family and reaching for helichrysum if my kids fall over and cut themselves or even using cypress as a decongestant in the shower.
Using natural products derived from Mother Nature is all about trying things out, listening to your body and intuition, and having some trust in what you are using.
Meg, Miles and Lou.
Has it been hard to source pure ingredients for your products?
If you do enough good research, you will eventually find the right suppliers and ones that you trust. When it comes to aromatherapy and to ensure you reap the therapeutic benefits, it is important to purchase authentic oils and clean ingredients. Sadly, there are a lot of essential oils on the market today that are either wrapped up in the fragrance trade and mixed with synthetics or have been adulterated in some way.
When I first started, I gravitated to certain aromatherapists and aromatherapy institutions and from there they guided me to certain oil distilleries and suppliers. I buy all my raw ingredients from suppliers based in either Australia or France, but I prefer to support Australian-based businesses. Australia is in-fact the largest global producer of ethically sourced and sustained harvested Sandalwood essential oil, so why not go straight to the source!
Do you think most people these days are aware of aromatherapy as a valid form of therapy to bring about wellbeing?
I think more and more people are becoming aware of aromatherapy and there is certainly a trend for natural alternatives of healing and the non-toxic household. In terms of the validity of aromatherapy, I do believe self-experimentation and knowledge is key. I feel your everyday essential oil user might diffuse oils in their space or use them to replace cleaning products in their home, but they tend to stop there.
Oils have so much more scope and applications. They are essentially the essence of a plant put into a bottle, so when we absorb all that plant information it is a pretty wonderful experience and a beautiful form of healing.
Miles and Lou.
What has been the best thing about starting this business?
The best thing has been the fact I have started this business for all the right reasons. I am very passionate about it because it is, so purpose driven and it comes directly from my heart. I am doing this for my son, and to help other mothers and children. It feels good and I want to keep going and growing!
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