Sara McKean is a mama of two, herbalist, and founder of Honor Earth Apothecary – an online curation of plant medicine for skin and spirit made by herbalists, land stewards, and farmers, brought to life with the utmost reverence for Mother Earth, the sanctity of plants, and the transformative power of self-care. Sara is driven by a passion to spotlight the offerings of those who walk in reciprocity with plants and nature as their way of life, remind us to embrace aging as one of the greatest gifts, and encourage us all to remain curious about the gifts of the earth…all the while inviting this wisdom to be passed along to the generations to come, including to our children.
Would you share a bit about your personal postpartum experience?
My two postpartum experiences were drastically different. As a first-time mama, I found myself lacking community, the knowledge on how to nourish myself in my new role, and the resourcing to handle the grief I held from the loss of independence. Plus, the lack of sleep! I wasn’t prepared for the impacts of sleep deprivation on top of everything else. I did a shame deep-dive for having a tough timetransitioning into motherhood, so I began exploring why I felt like I was failing. And I realized that I was rejecting the notion that I could hold two seemingly contradictory feelings simultaneously and it all be ok: feelings of frustration and surrender, overwhelm and ease, sadness and joy. Navigating these complex emotions enlightened me on the fact that two things – two feelings - can be true at once: it doesn’t have to be either-or. With the birth of our second daughter, I allowed all the feelings in and navigated motherhood with greater self-compassion. I’ve realized that when I’m firmly rooted within myself as a human and as a mama – I know and vocalize my needs, tune into how I feel best nourished, and embrace asking for help – my entire experience is transformed.
What is your favorite herbal ally for postpartum support?
An abundance of herbal allies are incredible for postpartum support, including nettles for expansive nourishment, milky oats for nervous system restoration, and skullcap to revive when overstimulation and feeling touched-out take hold. But, for me, motherwort is so special for postpartum support. I first met motherwort when I was six weeks postpartum and struggling. My acupuncturist/clinical herbalist suggested I incorporate motherwort’s medicine in the form of a vibrant tincture crafted by a local herbalist. It changed my life. Motherwort is a nurturer, calmer, and easer of tension and a racing heart. A soothing friend to calm the nervous system, especially when stress is held in the chest/around the heart. Motherwort also helps to balance the emotions and the mind, and epically strengthens the heart. I’ve found in my relationship with motherwort that this plant friend helps to restore courage – reigniting the feelings that you can and you will, you are enough, and you are held in so much love and support.
Do you have any tips for immune support during the colder months?
I wholeheartedly believe in foundational practices for supporting immunity: sunshine (or red light therapy if the sun is hiding its face during very wintery months), being outside whenever possible, going to sleep around the same time at night (and at least one hour after you’ve shut off all devices), nourishing with warming broths and soups, delighting in herbal teas, getting daily movement, and committing to some form of stillness. I especially love yoga nidra in the colder months to settle into a deep conscious awareness state that is incredible for easing tension and soothing the nervous system.
How has your relationship with Mother Earth evolved since starting Honor Earth Apothecary?
Stewarding Honor Earth Apothecary has served to deepen my awe of the natural world and the absolute sanctity of plants and plant medicine in ways I never could have dreamed. It has ushered in an ever-expanding awareness of how walking in reverence and reciprocity with the earth opens us up to an entirely new world – perhaps even a new existence – where the invitation to witness the magic and medicine that exists within every tree, every flower, every seed is always there. The question is: will we accept the invitation and allow ourselves to sit in wonderstruck amazement? Or will we simply not show up to the celebration because we allow the busy, the fast, the instant of today’s world to supersede this most sacred invitation? It is a daily choice. And we get to decide how we journey through our human experience in relationship to, and with, nature with each new day.
Tell us about your favorite place in nature.
What does your self-care routine look like at the moment?
One of the most transformative lessons I’ve learned in my 7 years of being a mother is that loving myself first helps me love my daughters best. In the beginning, I thought motherhood meant sacrificing all my needs and that was the recipe for showing up for my daughters as the best version of myself. But, in actuality, it’s the exact opposite: taking care of myself is the foundation for resilient, grounded motherhood. A huge component of self-care for me is waking up before my girls and not for my girls…meaning I am waking up an hour and a half before them and not waking up right when they do. So, I wake up around 5am to workout in our garage and sit in stillness – and silence - before they wake up at 6:30. This has been instrumental in helping me infuse more emotional regulation, patience, and love into the day. I have also discovered, especially in this season when we are homeschooling and they are young, that leaning into infusing self-care into the in-between moments has been monumental. Making my herbal tea with complete presence, closing my eyes and thanking the plants for their medicine before I take a tincture, pausing to place a hand on my heart and one on my belly and taking three deep belly breaths in the shower. Making those daily commitments to keep showing up for myself - even in the seemingly smallest of moments - with grace, compassion, and love helps me greet each day and experience with more confidence, integrity, and resilience.
