Our Founders
“Black Lotus began as a seed — a dream to reconnect people with the medicine of the Earth and the wisdom within. What started as a kitchen apothecary has grown into a community clinic, education hub, and sanctuary for healing.”
— Arin & Akil, Co-Founders
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Black Lotus Apothecary was born from the belief that healing must be embodied, accessible, and rooted in everyday life.
My own path through physical, mental, and spiritual transformation revealed that true wellness isn’t found in separation—it’s found in relationship. Relationship to the body, to community, to the Earth, and to the unseen rhythms that sustain us.
As a healing arts practitioner and co-founder of Black Lotus Apothecary, I weave together herbal medicine, bodywork, energy practice, and social care to help others return to this sense of wholeness. My background as a licensed Reiki and Massage Therapist and my years working alongside elders and individuals with diverse abilities have shown me that healing, in all its forms, is a right—not a luxury.
Through the work of Black Lotus, I seek to bridge the clinical and the creative, the personal and the collective. Herbalism, movement, and ritual are not just tools for recovery—they are acts of remembrance and reclamation.
My mission is simple: to help others reconnect with their bodies, their intuition, and the living intelligence of nature—empowering each person to “live inside out.”
— Arin DeGroff,
Co-Founder, Black Lotus Apothecary
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Black Lotus Apothecary began as a vision—to restore relationship between people and plants, and to remember the ancient truth that healing is both personal and collective.My journey with herbal medicine started in the wild. Long before formal study, I was guided by the land—learning through observation, intuition, and ancestral memory. That connection led me to pursue formal training at the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism, where I earned a scholarship and completed their two-year clinical program.
Today, my work as a Clinical Herbalist, educator, and medicine maker is rooted in the traditions that shaped me—Caribbean, African, Chinese, and Indian lineages—and guided by the balance between science and spirit. Each formula, class, and ceremony is a bridge between worlds: modern and traditional, seen and unseen.
Through Black Lotus Apothecary, I hope to make herbal medicine accessible, relevant, and rooted in cultural restoration. Healing, to me, is a sacred act of remembrance—a way of honoring the Earth, our ancestors, and the wisdom carried within every seed.
In each session, each tea ceremony, and each conversation, my mission remains the same: to help people return to harmony with nature and themselves—to awaken the healer within.
— Akil Kuumba Kelley
Co-Founder, Black Lotus Apothecary
Black Lotus Apothecary
Trusted for transformative, natural healing.
A sanctuary where holistic healing, herbal medicine, education, ceremony, and community care come together to support your path to wellness and health.
Our herbal medicines and clinical sessions address a wide range of health needs. Each formula is crafted by certified Clinical Herbalists blending Western, Caribbean, African, Chinese, and Indian traditions for deeply integrative, root-cause healing.
We commonly support clients with:
• Hormonal & Reproductive Balance
• Digestive & Gut Health
• Stress, Fatigue & Emotional Recovery
• Immune & Respiratory Support
• Skin, Circulatory & Lymphatic Health
• Specialized Populations & Chronic Illness Support
Each visit is a journey toward balance, vitality, and reconnection—guided by nature, crafted by hand, and rooted in tradition.
Client Reflections & Healing Journeys
At Black Lotus Apothecary, our work is guided by one truth: when medicine is made for the individual, healing happens naturally.
Below are real reflections from those who have walked the path with us—each story representing the many ways herbal medicine, energy work, and integrative care have supported transformation across body, mind, and spirit.
A truly transformative experience!
These herbal products are amazing. I felt a noticeable boost in my energy, a deeper sense of wellness, and a renewed appreciation for nature’s remedies. Specifically, the oil helped reduce my ankle pain in a very short period of time. If you are looking for something that not only supports your health but also uplifts your spirit, this is it! 💛💛💛💛💛
- GC
As Akil’s student, I learned about herbs that assist in a ‘Calm Mind & Steady Heart’ and herbs that ‘Cleanse & Restore’ the body. It is important for community to gain knowledge and big up the herbal/functional medicine locally. It will essentially and most importantly bring us back to our roots in the wonder of our ancestors. I highly recommend indulging in some educational courses and have that tea conversation on herbal medicine. The tea is exquisite!
-Nya
I highly recommend Akilkuumba Kelley. I came in after seeing multiple functional doctors, which don’t get me wrong, are great. However, the supplements weren’t working like I needed. The tea and tincture that was customized to me helped my leaky gut symptoms more than anything I’ve ever tried. Obviously, on this journey, I’ve changed a lot of things about my day to da,y really doing the work- the tea and tincture by far pushed the healing to a whole new level. I couldn’t be happier.
-Alex K
Great products, awesome tea, not to mention knowledge on all things herbal and medicinal.
- Russell R