General Store operations

Q: What are your hours?

A: Monday thru Friday 10-6pm, Saturday 11-6pm and Sunday we are closed.

 

Q: Do you do consultations at the shop?

A: Although everyone who works behind the counter is a trained, certified herbalist, we do not provide consultations at the shop. Rebecca's staff members do not give medical advice. The information you receive at Rebecca's is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

 

Q: What is a Certified Herbalist?

A: A Certified Herbalist is someone who was educated in an approved institution and completed a certain number of hours required for certification by the state's board of education and the American Herbalists Guild. A Certified Herbalist's education may also include apprenticeships, attending conferences, workshops and experiential learning on the subject. A Certified Clinical Herbalist is someone who has completed hours in a clinical setting.

 

Q: Are herbs safe?

A: The medicinal actions of every plant are unique. The chemical constituents within an herb can be contraindicated for an individual when used with other medications. The safety and effectiveness of herbal medicine is best understood under the guidance of a certified herbalist, naturopath or health care professional. That said, there are many herbs that have been used safely throughout the ages in households around the world by people who are not trained herbalists.

 

Shopping Online

Privacy Policy

When you place an order with us, we request your name, billing address, shipping address, credit card number and expiration date, and email address. We consider this information to be private, and we keep this information on a secure server to protect it from outside parties. We use the information only for the limited purposes of processing your orders, administering our site, notifying you of products or special offers that may be of interest to you (only if you select to be included on our mailing list). We do not share your private information with anyone.

 

Return Policy

We strive for 100% customer satisfaction. When your order arrives, please check purchased items and contact us immediately if there are any questions or concerns. We accept returns within 30 days of purchase for refund or exchange for all online orders. Please provide copy of receipt with return. Shipping and handling fees are non-refundable unless it is our error. Returns may be shipped to 1227 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302. For questions concerning returns please call us at 303-443-8878.

 

Shipping Policy


By placing your order, you agree to all the terms outlined in our “Shipping Policies” below. Shipping options may be selected at checkout with our Carrier Calculated Shipping drop down menu.

Rebecca's Herbal Apothecary processes shipping orders Monday-Friday, from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. MST. Please allow 1-3 days for processing in our shop before your order is ready to ship. Once shipped, your order should arrive within 2-8 business days, depending on the selected shipping method and the destination of your package. Delivery time is calculated by business days and does not include weekends or holidays. This delivery time is a transit average estimated by the carrier and is not guaranteed. Unavoidable delay may occur due to extreme weather conditions.

We offer expedited shipping if orders are placed before 12 p.m. MST; Monday through Friday.  Please be aware that even expedited shipping options do not include Saturday delivery. Some UPS carriers offer Saturday delivery for an additional fee to your expedited shipping rate. Please call your local UPS store to see if Saturday delivery is an option in your area before placing this request.

Due to Federal regulations, the following essential oils cannot be expedited and must be shipped UPS Ground: Cypress, Ponderosa Pine, Scotch Pine, and Pinion Pine.  Please select UPS Ground at checkout when purchasing these oils through our online store. We will automatically adjust the shipping carrier to UPS Ground if it has not been selected.

If your parcel is visibly damaged or does not contain the contents you ordered, please retain the package in your possession and notify us via email: shop@
rebeccasherbs.com so that we may resolve the problem.

Please be advised that we do not replace a lost shipment if the carrier delivered an undamaged parcel to the correct address and the parcel was subsequently removed or damaged by a third, unknown party. You may require “Signature Upon Delivery” for a $2.75 fee through the United States Postal Service.  If you have concerns about the safety of your delivery, please contact us to apply the “Signature Upon Delivery ” option.

As always, please email (shop@
rebeccasherbs.com) or call (303-443-8878) with any questions you may have and we will be happy to assist you.

 

Class questions

Q: How do I sign up for a class?

Payment for classes can be made online using a credit or debit card. The classes can be found under "STORE" in the top navigation bar of the website. Select the class you would like to sign up for and follow the steps to complete your payment. Your space in the class is reserved once payment is received. Please be aware that classes fill up quickly, so sign up early! 

 

Q: Where are the classes held?

A: All classes are held in store at Rebecca's Herbal Apothecary, with the exception of our seasonal Herb Walks in which case, the class location will be announced a week before the class is held.

 

Q: What if I sign up for a class and cannot attend?

A: Refunds will be given if you cancel your class registration at least 24 hours before the class begins.

 

Q: Can I use my credit card to pay for a class?

A: Yes

 

Q: Can I write a check for a class?

A: No

 

Q: What time do I arrive for my class?

A: The doors will open 15 min prior to the class start time. We do recommend arriving with enough time to find a parking space, as it is often busy downtown.

 

Tea making questions

*Medicine making is very much like cooking, please use the following information as a general guideline, but as always, check your own resources and intuition.

 

Q: How long should I brew this tea?

A: All of our teas have brewing instructions on the label, as each herb is unique!

 

Q: How do I make a tea?

A: Infusion (for flowers, leaves and aerial parts of the plant): In general we recommend making an herbal infusion loose in a canning jar, French press or other lidded jar. Use one tablespoon of tea per cup of water. Pour your boiled water over the blend. Steeping time depends on the herb(s). Strain and enjoy!

Decoction (for roots, bark, berries, etc.): In general we recommend starting with room temperature water using one tablespoon of tea per cup of water in a pot or saucepan. Bring to a boil, then turn down to simmer. Simmer covered anywhere from 15-45 minutes or until it smells done. This is variable for each plant.

 

Q: How long can I keep a tea after brewing it?

A: As long as it is stored in the refrigerator, we recommend you keep your tea no longer than 2 days after it has been brewed and strained.

 

Product related questions

Q: What is a tincture?

A: A tincture is an alcohol and/or glycerite extract of a plant. It can be either a single herb or a combination of herbs.

 

Q: What is a hydrosol?

A: A hydrosol is the water that is collected during the process of steam distilling an essential oil. A hydrosol is literally the water from within a plant. You can use a hydrosol therapeutically both internally and externally.

 

Q: Should I store my hydrosols in the refrigerator?

A: Yes. Although hydrosols contain a small percentage of essential oil which is preservative in nature, hydrosols are primarily water and therefore should be stored in the refrigerator if possible.

 

Q: What is the difference between the hydrosols and aromatherapy spritzers?

A: A hydrosol is the water that is collected during the process of steam distilling an essential oil and the aromatherapy spritzers are made by adding drops of essential oil to a base of pure spring water. We recommend you use the spritzers for external use only, where as you can use hydrosols both internally and externally.

 

Q: What is an essential oil?

A: An essential oil is an extraction of the volatile oil within a plant. Essential oils are the part of the plant that are used for Aromatherapy. The extraction method is usually through steam distillation, although there are other methods of extraction that are used (Co2, absolute and cold pressed). Essential oils are created only from plants that contain volatile oils and numerous pounds of plant material are used in the extraction process. Essential oils are very potent and we do not recommend using them internally.

 

Q: Why are essential oils different prices?

A: Each price will vary depending on how much plant material it takes to extract the volatile oils. For example, you may find Rose essential oil to cost quite a bit more than a Citrus, this is because it takes approximately 1-2,000 pounds of rose petals to make 1 fluid ounce of essential oil!

 

Q: What is the difference between infused oils and essential oils?

A: Infused oils are created by infusing dry or fresh plant material into base carrier oils (olive oil is the most traditional). An essential oil is an extraction of the volatile oil within a plant.

 

Q: What is the difference between an essential oil and a flower essence?

A: An essential oil is an extraction of the volatile oil within a plant. Essential oils are what are used for Aromatherapy. A flower essence is an energetic remedy that works with emotional healing and does not contain a scent.

 

Q: What is a flower essence?

A: Flower essences are subtle, vibrational remedies that work with emotional healing. The formal use of flower essences was developed by Dr. Edward Bach in the 1930's. He created a line of flower essences designed to heal specific emotional patterns of imbalance. They do not have a direct, bio-chemical or physiological action in the body, but rather work on an energetic, emotional and spiritual level. When you take a flower essence you are being filled with the life force of a particular flower, which can touch, resonate with and awaken healing qualities within you.

 

Q: How are flower essences made?

A: Flower essences are created by making a sun infusion of the flowers, which imprints the energetic healing qualities of the plants into water. Similar to homeopathic remedies they go through a dilution process, and are then preserved with brandy.

 

Q: Are flower essences safe for everyone?

A: As flower essences are subtle, energetic, diluted remedies, they are safe for everyone! They can be given to children, elders, pets and are also safe to use throughout pregnancy. They have no known contraindications with prescription medications. Since they are preserved in a brandy/water base, people who wish to completely avoid alcohol may not want to take them internally. In this case, they can still be used topically, added to aromatherapy spritzers and/or baths.

 

Q: Where does shea butter come from?

A: Our raw unrefined shea butter comes from an African Women's Cooperative. The shea nuts are hand harvested from the shea tree (formerly known as Butyrospermum paradoxum, is now referred to as Vitellaria paradoxa). This women's cooperative harvests shea nuts over a vast area of West Sahel Africa including Burkina-Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Niger, Togo & Senegal. The nuts go through many steps which require years of experience to extract the butter including; blanching, extraction, drying, inspection, crushing, grinding, whipping, collection of the fats, filtering then stirring to initialize the crystallization process, finally the last step is to pour the partially crystallized butter into containers where it continues to crystallize until it reaches its final destination.

Our refined shea butter also comes from Africa; however it is not sourced through this Women's Cooperative.

 

Q: How is shea butter & cocoa butter refined?

A: After the shea butter is extracted from the nut, it can be further processed to remove color, impurities and scent. Shea butter is refined via a steam vaccuum process that uses low temps to release the volatile oils (that smell), then vaccuums them out. The color is removed via clay filters. No chemical agents of any kind are used.

 

Q: What is the difference between refined and raw shea butter?

A: The raw shea butter has a natural nutty scent and is a natural light brown color. Refined shea butter typically has no scent at all, contains no impurities and can be white in color. Using raw or refined shea butter is a matter of preference.

 

Q: How do you use the Precious Face Serum?

A: Rebecca's Precious Face Serum can be used as a daily facial moisturizer. This magic moisturizer is also good for skin cell rejuvenation and for promoting general skin health. It can also be used as a spot treatment.

 

Q: Should I store my carrier oils in the refrigerator?

A: The answer depends on the oil. In general most of the carrier oils we sell do not need to be kept in the refrigerator if used within 3-6 months with the exception of the following; Rose Hip Seed, Evening Primrose and Sesame which should be kept refrigerated.

 

Q: What should I use for dry skin?

A: As all skin types are different, one product cannot be recommended to heal all dry skin types; however we do carry a variety of products for moisturizing the skin. Shea butter, cocoa butter, Soothing Skin Salve, Lotions, Precious Face Serum and many of our carrier oils are beneficial for the skin. Also, remember to drink plenty of water!

 

Q: What are magic eggs used for?

A: Magic eggs are a tool used in Feng Shui to direct energy around a space; they reflect light beautifully and are commonly used on windowsills or in fountains. They can also be used for hand strengthening exercises, or simply as a fun object to look at. Kids love them too!

 

Q: How do I use a sitz bath?

A: Use a sitz bath tub or large bowl. In general, add 1/2 gallon water to 1 cup sitz bath blend. Let steep for 10-30 minutes. Strain and cool until the infusion is at a comfortable temperature. Immerse yourself in the infusion. For a diluted sitz bath, add the above infusion to a bathtub or simply place your sitz bath in a muslin  bag, hang under faucet and enjoy!

 

Q: How do I use the decongesting steam?

A: Bring a pot water to a rumbling boil. Take the pot of water off heat source and with your face over the pot, throw in a generous handful of the steam blend. Drape a towel over your head and water pot, creating a small tent in order to concentrate the steam. Breathe in the steam deeply & enjoy!

 

Q: Do you have any facial cleansers?

A: Yes, we have two different types of facial cleansers; one is called Sweet Honey Scrub and the other is called Exfoliating Face Scrub.

 

Herb related questions

Q: Are your herbs organic?

A: Most of our herbs are certified organic, otherwise our herbs are wildcrafted or cultivated without chemicals. You can see the growing status of each herb on our website under the Bulk Herbs section.

 

Q: What does wildcrafted mean?

A: Every herbalist/company describes wildcrafting differently. Other terms used could be; hand harvested, eco wildcrafted, sustainably wildharvested, or wild foraging. Here we refer to wildcrafting as harvesting plant material from their natural habitat or wherever medicinal plants decide to grow. Basically anything that is harvested that is not cultivated. Rebecca's is committed to supporting ethical wildcrafting methods.

 

Q: What is the best way to store my herbs?

A: We recommend air tight glass jars and storing them out of light and heat (i.e.: your pantry). The second best option for storage would be a paper bag.

 

Q: Are any of the herbs that you sell endangered or threatened?

A: Yes, Osha Root, Goldenseal, American Ginseng and False Unicorn Root, although ours are organic or ethically wildcrafted, we encourage you as consumers to use these herbs with great care and moderation and find suitable alternatives whenever appropriate.