About Us
Owners:
Porsché Klemm, MS – Herbal Medicine, Licensed Nutritionist, Compounding Specialist
Ms. Klemm is a graduate of Tai Sophia Institute’s Masters of Science in Herbal Medicine, and a licensed Nutritionist. In addition to her education, Porsché worked in the Institute’s Herbal Dispensary for two and a half years. During that time, she gained the skills, expertise, and hands on experience required in the artisanship of compounding herbal formulations. As the Manager of Tai Sophia’s Dispensary for a year, she also gained insight into business management and development, along with a working knowledge of the cGMPs as set forth by the FDA.
Belinda Knight, MS – Herbal Medicine, Compounding Specialist
Belinda Knight is a graduate of Tai Sophia Institute’s Masters of Science in Herbal Medicine. Most recently Belinda has worked compounding herbal formulas in the Herbal Dispensary at Tai Sophia. It is during her time in the Herbal Dispensary that the dream of owning an apothecary was awakened. She also has extensive experience in Business Administration and substance addiction recovery and treatment. Belinda believes that the “journey towards balance begins on the inside.”
What is Compounding? Simply put, compounding is the act of combining substances to form a new whole, but in the context of what we do, it is the mixing of various herbal ingredients to create a complete holistic formula designed to fit the unique needs of an individual patient. Herbal compounding requires specialized equipment and the use of bulk herbs that are not usually available commercially in most local health food stores. The benefits of customizing the patient’s formulations enables the Practitioner to avoid any non-essential ingredients commonly found in over-the-counter herbal supplements that the patient may be allergic to, and provide for a more exact dosing of an herb or combination of herbs specifically suited for the patient. Herbal compounding also enables the Practitioner to request flavors added to a formula in order to make it more palatable for the patient.
Historically, before today’s mass production of medications became the norm, compounding was a routine activity among pharmacists and herbalists. Community pharmacists and herbalists who have experience with compounding techniques are now less common. The art of medicinal compounding has ancient roots. Ancient societies had acquired a vast knowledge of the medicinal properties of the natural resources within their environment. As a result, these ancient compounders and artisans produced an array of medicinal preparations in the form of teas, powders, liquid extracts, dyes for clothing, incense, perfumes, ointments for wounds, ceremonial compounds, preservatives and cosmetics.
What we do: We custom-compound herbal teas, powders and liquid extracts according to the unique specifications of practitioners who have tailored these products to their clients’ individual needs. We have extensive training in herbal compounding techniques and organoleptic identification of plant material, and regularly attend educational seminars.
