Simples Tonics: An Interview With Founder Traci Donat
When I received an invite to the opening of Traci Donat’s Simples Tonics in Santa Monica, CA this past September, I was bummed I couldn’t make it. Any chance I get to dive into the world of herbalism and immerse myself in the time-tested beauty and knowledge of sacred plants is always a no-brainer for me. I truly believe there is so much we can learn from the plant world and the herbalists that have made them an intrinsic part of their lives. To me, this knowledge is priceless.
What are Simples?
Their tea-like appearance may make Simples seem a bit unassuming; but don’t be fooled. Based in traditional herbal medicine, these beautifully nourishing plant tonics contain copious amounts of vitamins, minerals and other healing compounds. Simples are each concocted using a single powerful plant or herb, and are brewed over a period of several hours in order to extract a high concentration of bio-available nutrients.
The Interview
Traci Donat, founder and creator of Simples Tonics has had a life-long relationship with plants. For decades, she has immersed herself in traditional folk medicine and herbalism. I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to interview this incredibly knowledgeable herbalist on her relationship with plants, how she stays grounded and the passion behind Simples Tonics.
Can you share your journey with us, and how Simples Tonics came to be?
Herbalism has been passion of mine for most of my life, and I have been working with herbs and plants since I was a teenager. In my twenties I discovered the power of herbal infusions and began brewing them at home for myself, and my friends and family. Because of the incredible reaction that I received from people, and the deep healing I experienced and witnessed in others, and the constant requests for brews, the idea for Simples was born. I knew that this was a category of plants, and of nutritional beverages that was completely overlooked and I felt I had a mission and responsibility to bring these Herbal tonics to a larger audience. About 10 years ago I started playing with the idea of Simples Tonics and Apothecary. It took several years to finally muster the courage to dive in. With a lot of faith, trust and pixie dust, I have been bootstrapping and learning as I go. I am happy to say that our doors are open on Main Street in Santa Monica and we are building a loyal community who feel the medicine deeply. It is everything and more than I could have imagined. I joke that I am trying to change the world, one tonic at a time. But I’m actually not really joking.
Can you tell our readers about your sustainable process in creating your product and sourcing your medicine?
We try to be mindful about every part of the process and footprint at Simples, and are always looking for ways to do even better. For the tonics, we brew with organic dried plant material that we source from several different distributors, all of whom have stringent quality control practices in place. For our vinegars and tinctures, we grow almost all the plants ourselves in our Simples garden, and we are continuing to expand the garden to accommodate new product offerings and the increasing quantity demands for our products. We use glass bottles for our tonics, and do our best to limit plastic use and waste. What I think is most unique and fortunate about the Simples sustainability model is that we have the benefit of a compost system and a garden. There is a lot of plant material remaining after we brew our tonics and I take that plant matter, as well as our compostable sample cups and napkins, home and they are composted on site at the Simples garden. Then that rich, gorgeous compost is put into the garden to feed the plants that we use in the vinegars, and tinctures for the Simples Apothecary products. So it’s full cycle, and we not only really reduce waste, we alchemize it into something precious.
What has been the most healing perspective that you’ve had?
I think if I were to sum up my journey or my perspective on healing it would be that I have become firmly of the mind that deep nourishment is the key to optimal health. When you consume herbal infusions, like our Simples tonics, you are receiving a plethora of vitamins, hard to get minerals, as well as the benefits of the plants constituents, all in a water-based, easy to assimilate form. I have found in my own life that when I am giving my body the raw materials it needs, it is better able to build healthy new cells, the organs are supported and function optimally, so detoxification, immunity, energy and radiance improve. The plants we work with are powerhouses of nutrition and drinking them is completely fortifying and a supreme source of deep healing nourishment.
How do you incorporate self-care into your daily routine and what are some of your favorite grounding rituals?
Self- care is definitely top of mind these days, and it is a phrase that seems ubiquitous. I find it a complex question for where I am in my life right now. So the simple answer is, I meditate, if only for 5 minutes, everyday, I drink a ton of Simples Tonics to nourish my body and maintain good health and radiance, I indulge in great baths with amazing bath salts made by some of the country’s best herbalists, I hike in the beautiful Santa Monica mountains, I put my hands in the soil of the garden, I go to bed early.
But I am really interested in exploring the deeper levels of self- care, what it really means to care for yourself, beyond just the physical body. I practice self-care by stepping into my place in the world, opening a shop even though it’s hard and scary, because it is a dream. It’s about having the courage to pursue my destiny. Allowing myself to feel valuable, and that I am contributing to the world, feeling worthy of taking up that space, staking that claim. Even the act of speaking my truth and feeling worthy of letting my voice be heard right here on this page is a form of honoring and caring for myself. Or learning to not say “yes”, when I mean “no”, thereby eliminating resentment and negative emotions from my life, and being more authentic in the world. Or caring for my conscience by living by my values, and being mindful of the products I buy or don’t buy, or what I put in my body or mind.
I am really trying to look at the bigger picture of what it means to care for myself in the world. Not that I don’t love a good vacation or massage, don’t get me wrong, but for me it doesn’t end there.
What sparked your interest and exploration into the world of plant medicine?
As a teenager I started working with an herbalist and I had a powerful and immediate response to the herbs she gave me. My health quickly transformed and I was completely smitten with herbalism. I learned a lot from her and plants became my go to for healing. In my twenties when I discovered Susun Weed, it opened up a whole new perspective for me and I dove into the world of the wild plants and began using herbal infusions as the foundation of my work with herbs. I have been studying and practicing ever since. I believe it’s a calling. The plants called to me, and I answered.
Is there a particular plant that you have cultivated a unique relationship with?
I have a very long standing and deep connection with Motherwort. When I was enrolled in a course with Gail Faith Edwards almost a decade ago, one of our assignments was to choose a plant ally to work with over an extended period of time, to really study, get to know, focus on, and to build a relationship with. I chose Motherwort. I studied her properties, planted her in the garden, sat with her, studied her leaves and flowers, drew her, tinctured her and consumed her. It is a love affair for sure. She still has a prominent place in my garden, and I have been working actively with her ever since. The Motherwort tincture we have in the shop is from those plants, and made by me with a heart full of love. The amazing, or maybe not so amazing, part is people really feel it. Our Motherwort tincture is magical just like certain formulas from herbalists are magical because there is such a deep and powerful relationship between the herbalist and the plant. Motherwort is my special plant.
We have learned that the medicinal garden on your property is also home to the Gaia School of Healing. Can you tell us a bit about your involvement with the school?
I was in the first graduating class of the Gaia School a few years ago, and my husband and I have donated the use of property for the school’s use this current school year.
** If you find yourself on Main Street in Santa Monica, head over to Simples Tonics and explore Traci’s beautifully curated menu of tonics, herbal vinegars, flower essences, tinctures & elixirs!
