The Wise Cat Story
Wise Cat Apothecary is a small herbal business located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma owned and operator by myself, Tabatha Hibbs, with enormous support from my husband Mark Paulissen. Wise Cat Apothecary has developed over two decades of managing my fibromyalgia. When I was diagnosed with fibro in 2002, I learned two things very quickly. First, little was known about how to treat fibro. Second, I reacted badly to most medications used to manage fibro symptoms. I began to look for alternatives to managing my fibro—everything from diet to yoga to massage to herbal remedies. This combined approach has allowed me to live an active life despite the fibro and its many annoyances.
Along the way, I’ve progressed from using simple herbal tea remedies for pain management to creating special tea blends that are more supportive for my entire body. I also began formulating salves, first, to treat mild psoriasis and then to topically treat localized fibro pain. As I developed formulas that worked for me, I shared the salves and teas with friends and family. Not everyone has fibro, but many have some sort of pain—and pain is pain; no one wants to hurt. Nearly all found relief from my creations. Nearly all said, “You should sell this stuff. It’s good.” I also started developing custom products for friends with specific concerns. This process led to this place Wise Cat Apothecary. Currently, we have a booth at the local Farmers Market, and we sell online. My dream is to one day have a brick and mortar store where I can met with clients in comfort and more easily prepare custom blends to meet individual needs.
In the meantime, I hope my current herbal creations will help support your well-being. My products are created in small batches, and I use organic and fair-trade products whenever possible. Some of the herbs come from my back yard—they are raised organically but are not certified organic. It’s also important to know that my goal is to support contemporary medicine, not replace it. I’m not a clinician, and I don’t diagnosis illnesses or claim that my herbs are better than modern medicine. We have a wealth of medical knowledge in the 21st century, and we should take advantage of it. However, we also have access to an abundance of herbal riches that can support contemporary medicine. The goal of Wise Cat Apothecary is to work at the intersection of those two worlds so our clients can live the healthiest, happiest life possible.