FtC health
Survive and Thrive with Dr. Nicole Apelian:
Recovering ‘Lost’ Herbal Remedies By Sasha Frate Nicole Apelian, Ph.D. is a biologist, anthropologist, mother, educator, researcher, author, expeditionary leader, safari guide, herbalist, and traditional skills instructor. A leader in the field of transformative nature education, Nicole shares with the world her expertise in nature connection, indigenous knowledge, natural wellness, and survival skills. A native of Massachusetts, Nicole’s first exposure to true wilderness living began while working as a field biologist in Botswana. Following a job as a game warden with the US Peace Corps, she began tracking and researching lions in southern Africa. Nicole immediately fell in love with the African landscapes and the San Bushmen’s way of life, and later, while working with the San Bushmen, Nicole completed her doctorate in Cultural Anthropology within the field of Sustainability Education.Years of visiting the San Bushmen and developing strong relationships within the tribe allowed Nicole to learn many of the primitive skills and ways she practices and teaches today. Nicole continues her work with the San Bushmen to help them find strategies to preserve their traditions and is currently cataloging indigenous plant uses with a community of Naro Bushmen who regard her as family. She is the co-founder of “The Origins Project“, a 501c3 set
68
FACE the CURRENT MAGAZINE
up as a joint venture with a community of San Bushmen to help create a legacy of ancestral connection for future generations. A passionate educator for many years, Nicole has also worked as an adjunct professor at Prescott College and as an instructor at various schools, universities, and leading conservation education programs. Nicole was also a challenger on the second season of History Channel’s TV series, Alone, where she thrived solo in the wilderness for fifty-seven days. In 2000, a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis led Nicole to apply her research skills towards her own personal wellness. She developed a healthy living
strategy that focuses on health and wholeness, and formed her own Herbal Apothecary. At her home in the Pacific Northwest, Nicole makes her own herbal medicines from local plants and through simple changes in her lifestyle and eating habits, she restored her vitality. She has since become a founder and primary guide for her wildlife safari company, Eco Tours International. Nicole chatted with Face the Current and shared her thoughts on transformative nature education, the benefits of wildcrafting and foraging, the best approach to selecting selftreatments, and tips for learning about and incorporating plant medicine into our daily lives.
