Nuwati Herbals

Nuwati Herbals and its Cherokee-inspired herbal line

Nuwati Herbals is an American maker of loose herbal tea blends and complementary natural body products, presented on its site as a "Medicine Cabinet of Mother Earth." The catalogue is organised around remedy tea blends, balms, creams, oils, bath salts, a pet line and a selection of ceremonial and gift items. The company frames its work within Native American creation stories and the Cherokee tradition of the Tsalagi people, and states explicitly that its products are not represented to be Indian Products as defined by law.

Loose teas bottled in amber jars

The tea range is sold as loose herbal blends bottled in amber jars, a choice the company says protects the herbs and preserves their effectiveness and flavour. Each jar is described as containing between 9 and 34 different herbs. A standard 4 oz jar is said to make approximately 35 to 45 cups when a level tablespoon is used.

Two formats depart from that standard. Cloud Walking, the only one of the 17 large jars filled at 3 oz because its herbs are very fluffy, still yields roughly 35 to 45 cups. The Healer Tea, described as stronger because it contains cayenne pepper, is dosed at a teaspoon and produces 60 to 70 cups per jar. The site notes that teas can be mixed together as long as their intended use does not conflict.

Recognised blends

• Tea Pee Tea, voted Best New Product in the Open Class at World Tea Expo in May 2014.
• ThunderHeart Tea, named 1st Runner Up by the Coalition of Visionary Resources (COVR) in June 2014.

The range also extends to flavoured teas and coffee, and the site groups its teas under remedy blends and general herbal blends.

Balms, creams, oils and bath salts

Nuwati balms are built on a base of extra virgin olive oil infused with a variety of healing herbs and natural beeswax, and are offered in two sizes. The stated uses cover soothing aching muscles and joints, relieving burns and minor skin irritations, promoting sleep and relaxation, moisturising dry or cracked skin, helping open blocked nasal passages, fading bruises and spider veins, and easing the pressure of headaches.

The creams follow a related method: the herbs of the matching tea — Cloud Walking, Laughing Coyote and Moon Cycle — are cooked in extra virgin olive oil to infuse it, and the result is blended into a thick cream. Bear Feet Cream and Laughing Coyote Cream are presented as new additions. Application is directed to pulse points, under the nose, the back of the neck and the soles of the feet. Tea and cream packages combine both formats.

Body and massage oils are prepared in the same way as the balms but without beeswax; the line comprises four body oils and one massage oil. Herbal bath salts combine sea salt, Epsom salt, seven herbs and three essential oils, and are sold in three sizes with three packaging styles. The company links the bathing ritual to the Cherokee practice of "going to the water" as a sacred ceremony.

A first pet care line

Responding to customer requests, Nuwati Herbals has introduced three products for animals: The Dagny Shampoo Bar, a Flea & Tick All Natural Treatment, and Animal Tracks Oil, intended for dry or cracked paws in cold weather and for hot spots in warm weather.

Medicine Wheel packages and the Medicine Bag

The company sells Medicine Wheel packages built around the symbol it describes as representing harmony and connections among living beings, and around the four Medicines of the Cherokee People — Spiritual, Natural, Physical and Mental. A separate assortment, the Medicine Bag, gathers items such as Arvel Birds' music, sage and ceremonial items, authentic dreamcatchers and tea infusers, with the stated intention of expanding the selection over time.

Support for troops and product disclaimers

Nuwati Herbals states that it offers free shipping to troops stationed in the USA and abroad, with orders placed directly by phone and a gift from Nuwati included for the recipient. The site also carries a disclaimer that its statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, that the company makes no medical claims and that its products are not intended to diagnose, treat or heal medical conditions; pregnant or nursing women and people with known medical conditions are advised to consult a physician before taking herbal products.