“Every land has its own special rhythm, and unless the traveller takes the time to learn the rhythm, he or she will remain an outsider there always.” Juliette de Baïracli Levy
Some people walk such a distinctive path in life, they leave indelible footsteps in their wake, however lightly they tread on the earth. Juliette de Baïracli Levy was a British herbalist and author, known for her pioneering work in holistic veterinary medicine, medicinal plant knowledge, and nomadic living. Her dedication to preserving and sharing traditional knowledge of medicinal plants from the natural world earned her the nickname the ‘Grandmother of Herbalism’. For some, she’s simply known as ‘Juliette of the Herbs’.
Juliette was born in England in 1912 to a wealthy family. Her love of animals led her to study Veterinarian Medicine at the University of Manchester and the University of Liverpool. However, after two years she became disillusioned with the methods being used. After refusing to conduct experiments on live animals, she set off determined to find natural methods to treat the animals she loved so dearly. She embarked on a nomadic lifestyle, travelling to America, Spain, France, North Africa, Greece and Turkey. She immersed herself in the natural world and became a student of the land, living amongst the Bedouins, nomads, gypsies, and peasants and learning all she could about how to treat and care for animals using natural methods. As she travelled, she realised that the herbal lore she was learning had only ever been passed down in the oral tradition and that hundreds of years of treasured plant knowledge were in danger of being lost to the world. She dedicated herself to learning and gathering herbal knowledge from the people who lived in closest harmony with nature, and in 1951 wrote the veterinary herbal book Complete Herbal Handbook: the very first of its kind.
She was a pioneer in holistic care, travelling the world with her two children, making homes in abandoned wild places wherever she found them, recording plant remedies along the way, and authoring a host of books that championed the use of natural medicine both for animals and humans. Her Illustrated Herbal Handbook for Everyone and Natural Rearing of Children are the foundations of the herbal renaissance and leave a legacy of learning to live simply and in union with the land. Wherever they found themselves she believed that bathing in the fresh air and fresh water, and connecting to the gifts of plant medicine were the keys to a happy, healthful life “Wherever I go I plant Rosemary, I cure everything with it, it’s the greatest of the wonder herbs and beloved by the bees and the butterflies- once you know a plant it’s in your heart forever as a friend”
At AMLY our holistic skincare has grown from the same dedication to living and working in harmony with the natural world. Our cruelty-free Purifying Hand Mist harnesses a potent blend of essential oils known for their antimicrobial, antiseptic, and antiviral properties including Juliette’s beloved Rosemary, which is blended with Thyme, Eucalyptus, and organic Aloe Vera so you can stay protected: naturally.