Azure’s Apothecary now open at Old Tribal Center
The Traditional Food & Medicine Program has opened a new self-serve station, dubbed “Azure’s Apothecary,” where tribal members and their families can access elderberry syrup, healing salves, and medicinal teas at any time.
The apothecary is located in a new garden shed just outside the entrance to the Traditional Food & Medicine Program workshop on the far left side of the Old Tribal Center building on Sandy Hook Road.
The idea behind Azure’s Apothecary grew out of a simple problem: access.
“The big push was that I never knew when I was going to be here,” said Azure Boure, who runs the Traditional Food & Medicine Program. “I wanted people to be able to come when they’re available and not have to rely on me being around.”
What started as a few items set out informally has now become a permanent, self-serve space designed to support everyday wellness. Tribal members, their families, and staff can stop by day or night to pick up plant-based remedies and traditional preparations, no appointment required.
What’s available
Inventory shifts throughout the year based on the season and what’s being made, but several core items are expected to remain in regular rotation.
Elderberry syrup is a daily herbal blend commonly used to support immune health, especially during cold and flu season. Research suggests elderberry may help reduce the duration and severity of cold and flu symptoms when taken early, and many people also use it preventatively.
“It’s preventative medicine,” Boure said. “You take it daily, but if you do get sick, you can bump the dosage up to three times a day to help kick that virus sooner.”
Dosage instructions for adults and children are clearly labeled on each bottle.
All-purpose healing salve is intended for minor, everyday skin issues such as small cuts, scrapes, burns, bruises, and insect bites.
“I call it my herbal Neosporin,” Boure said. “It’s for cuts, bites, burns—any of those small, itchy, scratchy things.”
The salve is applied directly to the skin as needed and relies on plant-based ingredients traditionally used for their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Devil’s Club (arthritis salve) has long been used in the Pacific Northwest for joint, muscle, and skin support. This salve is intended for sore joints, arthritis, dry skin, eczema, and other chronic skin concerns.
“This one is more for arthritis or skin issues,” Boure said.
It can be used regularly as part of an ongoing self-care routine.
A rotating selection of loose-leaf, medicinal teas is stocked depending on the season. Common options include:
- Cold and flu tea, often a blend of peppermint, elderflower, and yarrow. “Yarrow is really good for breaking fevers,” Boure said.
- Echinacea tea, commonly used during illness or periods of stress to support immune health.
- Peppy nettle tea, a mix of peppermint and nettle that has become a community favorite. “That’s our most popular tea,” Boure said. “People really like that one.”
In addition to these staples, seasonal and small-batch items may appear as they’re made. Boure recently added homemade blackberry jam and plans to stock plum and huckleberry jam made in collaboration with tribal members and elders once labeling is complete.
“Just kind of as things pop up, they’ll get popped in there,” she said.
Designed for access and community care
Azure’s Apothecary is intended primarily for tribal members and their families, but staff are also welcome to use it. Boure said staff are generally mindful about making sure tribal members have priority access.
“We want our staff healthy and happy too,” she said. “Most staff are really respectful and will wait a day or two if something’s low.”
While the apothecary is open and visible, Boure said issues with misuse have been rare.
“It’s been a couple years now, and I’ve only had one issue,” she said. “That’s not enough to punish everybody else.”
Plans are already underway to continue improving the space, including upgraded shelving, clearer signage, and informational materials explaining what each item is used for and how to use it. An artist has also reached out about creating a permanent sign for the apothecary.
Workshops and hands-on classes offered through the Traditional Food & Medicine Program, such as seasonal jam-making and food preservation, complement the apothecary by sharing knowledge alongside finished products.
Azure’s Apothecary is open now and available 24/7.
