Meet Daniela Rey | Herbalist and Educator at Growing Up Rooted

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daniela Rey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniela, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Four years ago, my family and I made the move from the city of Los Angeles to a small town in the mountains of the Angeles forest. We bought a house on a quarter-acre lot of barren, eroded soil and as soon as we moved I started working to help the land heal, transforming our backyard it into a vibrant natural sanctuary where we host a Nature School for children, currently in its fourth year.

Two years ago, in response to requests from friends, I began crafting larger batches of the herbal blends I shared at Nature School. The success of that initial small batch of Summer Blend, inspired me to expand my offerings, creating larger batches of many herbal remedies I had long enjoyed making for my family. Today, Growing Up Rooted proudly offers a clean line of herbal teas, tinctures, topical salves, bath salts, smudging, and more, all with the intention of continuing the tradition of herbalism through herbal rituals that promote health and balance.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am committed to creating a holistic space where we can cultivate well-being through plant remedies and community. From nourishing botanical blends to personalized wellness consultations, our mission is to empower you on your journey to vibrant health and rooted living.

As I learned about herbalism, I discovered the joy of incorporating herbal infusions into my daily routine. It’s more than just sipping tea; it’s about nourishing my body throughout the day. Now, every morning, I start a new batch of herbs in hot water in my 60-ounce teapot. This infusion becomes my hydration source for the day, providing not only water but also the beneficial properties of herbs like vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. It’s a beautiful ritual that keeps me feeling balanced and healthy.

Drinking herbal infusions daily has made a big difference in how I feel, my energy levels, digestive health and my ability to remain healthy as I support my small children in growing and healing from viruses.

Some of my favorite herbs to drink are:

Nettles: a deeply nourishing weed, nettles is packed with minerals like calcium and magnesium. It also supports us in reducing inflammation and strengthening our organs to stay healthy.

Chamomile: a wise and beautiful plant, chamomile is a medicine chest in and of itself. With bitter taste that supports healthy digestion and liver health, and nervine properties to find calm and sleep better, chamomile is a go-to for me and my family

Calendula: the sunny flowers of the calendula plant are wonderful allies to help us heal our skin. Drink it as an herbal infusion to support the lining of our digestive system and externally in a salve or infused oil to help skin heal, reduce inflammation and protect agains infection.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in a small town an hour or so away from the busy Los Angeles city, and if someone came over to visit I would first take them to our new brick-and-mortar space in the village. Aptly called Village Roots Collective, our little space is not only a curated shop selling our apothecary products, locally made anti-aging skincare, and home goods and gifts, but it is also a community space were we host classes, book club and even a low-key fiber arts club.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am grateful to have been influenced by many teachers on my path. I first studied herbalism with Rosemary Gladstar and Marisya Miernovska from The School of the Sacred Wild. I also studied anatomy and physiology for herbalists with Tammi Sweet, and Ayurvedic care with Jenna Furnari. I am currently working towards a clinical herbalist certification with The School of Evolutionary Herbalism by herbalist Sajah Popham.

Website: https://growinguprooted.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growinguprooted

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@growinguprooted

Image Credits
Photography by Sheva Kafai and LR Photography