Plant Magic at Uprooted Apothecary and Spa
Photos by Lydia Stern
Herbalism struck Briana Wiles, 34, at a young age. Her mom enjoyed using natural remedies: whiskey, honey and lemon for coughs; garlic cloves and olive oil for ear aches. Her Italian grandfather picked fruits from trees and taught her to recognize edible plants in the woods. Wiles was intrigued by alternative healing and learning more about the body.
“Plants were always appealing to me,” Wiles says. “And, I like doing things outside the box.”
Ethnobotany is the study of plants through time, place and culture. Wiles delved into this anthropological study of herbs and greenery in various colleges throughout the country, clocking in over seven years at five different schools. She studied the art of massaging and Reiki in Mariposa, California, botany at Western Colorado University and Rolfing (a form of bodywork) in Boulder, among others.
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Wiles lives in Gunnison, Colorado, with her husband and two young children, Salix and Jewelia Pearl. Wiles started selling her herbal creations — like “Cottonwood Bliss Butter” — at farmer’s markets in Crested Butte and Gunnison in 2011. She opened her boutique herb shop, UpRooted Apothecary and Spa, formerly Rooted Apothecary, in 2016. She opened her second store in Crested Butte in November 2018. You may have seen her products at Alpine Botanicals in Nederland or at the Adventure Hub in Buena Vista.
UpRooted Apothecary stores are adorned with walls of teas, essential oils, CBD products and Wiles’ organic and wild-crafted skincare line. There is also a treatment room in each shop — designed and built by Wiles’ husband — offering massages, herbal consultations, esthetician services and more. Most products are created at the Gunnison location, with teas also being blended at the Crested Butte shop. Employees help at both locations.
Their ingredients are mainly sourced from local farmers in the Roaring and North Fork Valleys and Front Range area. To align with Wiles’ leave-no-trace philosophy, herbs are sourced a little bit at a time from each place to create variety and promote sustainability.
Wiles has written two books on using wild plants for health and wellness: Mountain States Foraging and Mountain States Medicinal Plants, sold at both stores and featuring photography by Wiles herself.
“I did all the photography work in there, which was a big part of it,” says Wiles. “A lot of guide books are pretty heavy on the photo end where you have these thumbnail pictures and drawings. I wanted to go out there and get the photos myself, so I could show exactly what I wanted to show.”
Wiles is offering a “Botany and Foraging Intensive” two-week course this summer in collaboration with Thomas Elpel and Kat MacKinnon, who are top instructors in botany, wild food foraging and herbal medicine. Wiles says it’s created for novice and experienced botanists and foragers alike. The adventure starts in Gunnison and runs from July 26 to August 8, costing $750 if you secure your spot before July 1. Wiles believes in fostering the intimate connection of tending to nature’s garden: “You get back this foundational piece we’re all missing as modern Americans. We all have the skills to do all this stuff; we just don’t take the time to really learn about it,” she explains.
Wiles’ Skincare Routine
Emerald Lake Face Oil Cleanser
A non-sudsy oil cleaner that doesn’t dry out the skin. Apply on a moist face and gently remove with a hot wash cloth.
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Apply while face is still slightly damp to bring moisture into the skin with Grindelia and Populus.
Rose Hemp CBD Face Glow
Wiles uses this new product in combination with the hyaluronic serum as her moisturizer for the day.
W-Under Eye Gloss
Wiles gently dabs this CBD eye serum under her eyes.
Blue Dream CBD Night Cream
Wiles says this new product smells amazing and works as a nice night layer for corrective issues. It softens the skin and is infused with Blue Tansy and Neroli essential oils.
510 Elk Avenue / #6 | Crested Butte, CO 126 N Main St. | Gunnison, CO