Julie Mazi
Juli Mazi received her doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon, where she trained in the traditional medical sciences and ancient and modern modalities that rely on the restorative power of Nature heal. Juli Mazi radiates the vibrant health she is committed to helping her patients achieve. Her positive outlook inspires confidence; her deep well of calm puts people at immediate ease. The second thing they notice is that truly she listens. Her very presence is healing.
What is your hobby?
I have a few hobbies. I love hiking, yoga, weight lifting, dancing, singing, listening to music, writing, and wild crafting herbal medicines. For the purpose of this interview, we can focus on wild crafting herbal medicines.
How did you get started with this hobby?
I got started making herbal medicines and other concoctions as I learned about herbal medicine during medical school. One of my elective classes in medical school focused on identifying herbal medicines in nature, learning their history and medicinal purposes, and then using those herbs in different medicine preparations. I started making teas, culinary spices, internal tinctures, topical salves, various drinks such as kombucha, real ginger beer, and real root beer. Infusing oils, vinegars, alcohols, or glycerin can be a great way to deliver the medicinal qualities of herbs in the form of medicine.
Tell us what you love about your hobby.
I love infusing medicinal herbs into everyday life. Getting to experience the medicinal benefits of these herbs by incorporating them in various ways helps enhance mood, energy, brain function, sleep, and overall health, in general.
What types of things/equipment have you spent money on for your hobby?
A friend and I rented two pony kegs to make our ginger beer and root beer. Otherwise, most of the money is spent on various bottles or jars and sometimes other ingredients required to make the finished products. Otherwise, the fun part is going foraging for medicinal herbs in nature. Going into the forest on a hike and coming out with grocery bags full of medicinal herbs and sometimes foods feel fantastic. Nature is so bountiful.
What are some of your favorite places to shop for your hobby?
I typically shop online for my supplies. If I end up purchasing herbs in bulk, I love to purchase them from Mountain Rose Herbs.
How much money have you invested into this? How much would a beginner have to invest to get started?
Most of the medicinal concoctions I’ve made, I have given away as gifts, so I would only purchase small batches at a time. Depending on the project someone wants to do and the batch size someone is planning to make, that will really determine the cost.
How has your hobby changed your life?
This hobby has improved my health and the health of others. It has helped me get clarity on the process of developing medicinal herbal products, so I can appreciate when products like this are already made.
What advice do you have for others starting out with this hobby?
Make sure you know how to identify medicinal herbs in nature, and if you don’t, be sure to purchase herbs from a high-quality distributor, such as Mountain Rose. Find various recipes for your ideal outcome, so you can cross-compare them and make what may be the best possible product in the end.