When traditional medicine didn\u2019t work, JoLynn Makelin turned to plants. Now, she has built a business trying to help others find the same natural support.<\/p>\n
Rayz Haven, a handcrafted herbal wellness company founded in 2021, offers another approach to health and healing \u2014 one grounded in tradition, care and clean ingredients. Makelin, its founder, offers supportive herbal teas, tinctures, glycerites and seasonal blends.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything I make is thoughtfully formulated for people with sensitive systems, including those navigating chronic stress, inflammation or seasonal changes,\u201d Makelin said.<\/p>\n
Her journey into herbalism started with necessity.<\/p>\n
After experiencing adverse reactions to prescription medications because of autoimmune issues, she turned to plant-based remedies. What began as a personal wellness journey soon turned into a business, as friends and family began requesting blends to help manage their own stress, digestion and seasonal challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started doing it for myself and using different plants, and I found that it just worked with my body so much better for me,\u201d Makelin said. \u201cIt just gives people another option besides just medication.\u201d<\/p>\n
Makelin has formal training in various herbal traditions, such as Western, Ayurvedic, Native American and folk. She also takes monthly education classes to stay up-to-date on clinical applications.<\/p>\n
Rayz Haven\u2019s products are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure disease, and the founder emphasizes the importance of working with the medical system, not against it.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy role isn\u2019t to replace your doctor, but to offer plant-based support that helps the body feel more grounded, balanced and resilient,\u201d Makelin said. \u201cRayz Haven products work with the body\u2019s natural pace of healing, and I often collaborate with customers and their health care providers to ensure the herbs are appropriate for their individual needs. I always advise everyone to talk to their health care provider before using herbal supplements, especially if they have existing health conditions or are on medications.\u201d<\/p>\n
A major goal of Rayz Haven is education. Makelin regularly teaches community classes in Norfolk, Battle Creek and surrounding areas, offering plant walks and wellness workshops.<\/p>\n
That said, she\u2019s quick to clear up some common misconceptions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve heard so many people say, \u2018Well, it’s natural. You can just take anything, and it’s all just fine.\u2019 Or they think, because my products are natural, that they can just double the dose, or just take it all the time because it’s natural,\u201d Makelin said. \u201cSo then they think that it’s not dangerous or that it’s OK then, but poison ivy is natural, and it doesn’t mean you want to go roll in it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite early challenges, such as zoning issues that prevented her from opening a shop on her rural property, Makelin is hopeful about the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would like to be able to help educate people and offer this in a way that I can actually help people \u2014 that would be just wonderful,\u201d Makelin said. \u201cIt’s not hopeless just because you haven’t found the right medication or the right whatever it is that you have going on with your body, that there’s a lot of different ways out there to help you.\u201d<\/p>\n