At Megan & Co. Herbal Apothecary, Megan Fuhrman-Wheeler sells teas, lotions and other wellness products derived from old traditions, current science or a mix of both.
Writer: Hailey Evans
Photos: Chad Holder
Right off U.S. Highway 71, in the charming lakeside town of Spirit Lake, you’ll find the storefront of Megan & Co. Herbal Apothecary. Inside, rows and rows of handmade products line dark wooden shelves, like an old general store you might have found on the same avenue a century ago.
But there’s a bright, modern feel to this boutique wellness palace. Owner and founder Megan Fuhrman-Wheeler opened the shop in 2017 after her own health challenges prompted her to look for solutions outside of traditional medicine.
“I had a particularly debilitating form of epilepsy,” she said. She would get on one medication, the dose gradually increasing to keep up with the seizures until it was maxed out, then doctors would shuffle her on to the next medication with hope this one would work. “When I was 25, I was at a point where there weren’t any more pharmaceutical choices for me. I had gone through everything on the market.”
A trip to Denver and a chance encounter at an apothecary there led her to skullcap, an herb native to North America that Native Americans and early European settlers used for centuries as a nerve tonic, sedative and anticonvulsant. “Within one month of taking it, I went from having three seizures a week to about one a month,” she said. That was in early 2010. She hasn’t had a single seizure in about eight years.
“That’s why I’m passionate about what I do, because of my history, and how long it took me to be introduced to herbal medicine,” she said.
Fuhrman-Wheeler grew up in Estherville until her family moved to Spirit Lake, far from the cosmopolitan ideas in places like Denver. “I wanted to bring that knowledge to rural communities.”
What is an apothecary?
Centuries ago, the term “apothecary” referred to a person who prepared and sold medicinal herbs and mixtures meant for healing, similar to today’s pharmacists. The profession fell out of favor as advances in science led toward chemically synthesized medicines and away from plant-based compounds.
Nowadays, the term refers to a place that sells holistic, herbal or other nontraditional remedies reminiscent of the old ways. While these types of tinctures and tonics aren’t meant to treat or cure diseases the same way as pharmaceutical-grade drugs, continued research and historical records point to their potential medicinal benefits.
Fuhrman-Wheeler said she often sees customers come in from doctor referrals — patients like herself, who might need other options or an extra boost beyond prescription drugs.
Products to check out
In the summer, Megan & Co. sells a lot of Boji Bliss green tea blend and Mint Aloe lotion. With Spirit Lake being so close to Okoboji, the popular summer vacation destination sees plenty of dehydrated, sunburned tourists. “The green tea blend will give you a gentle boost of energy while also being really hydrating, especially if you’ve been out in the sun all day,” Fuhrman-Wheeler said. “The Mint Aloe is cooling and soothing for burns.”
Fall and winter bring cold and flu season, so she stocks several formulations of herbal teas, oils and salves meant to help with inflammation, coughs and sore throats.
“Our store is broken up into sections so people can find what they need for specific symptoms. We have sections for gut support, fatigue, pain or inflammation, nervous system support like sleep or anxiety issues, body care, cold and flu, and a new mom/baby section,” she said. The shop in Spirit Lake also sells bulk herbs and oils, books and other reference material.
Fuhrman-Wheeler is a certified clinical herbalist, clinical nutritionist and flower essence practitioner through the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism, so beyond the general retail products sold in-store and online, she also creates custom formulations for clients. These come after a private wellness consultation done in the clinic portion of the brick-and-mortar space.
Megan & Co. is a licensed food processing plant for dietary supplements through Iowa’s Food and Consumer Safety Bureau, so consumers can feel assured their formulations are safe. Even so, these products are not intended to prevent, treat or cure any disease. It’s always a good idea to ask your doctor before starting a new supplement regimen.
