for answers turn to Motherlove

A growing family business

New mothers and moms-to-be seeking solutions to problems such as stretch marks, sore nipples or low breast milk production should turn to their loving mother. Motherlove, that is.

According to Kathryn Cox, herbalist and founder of Motherlove herbal company, empowerment can be found right outside your front door. In fact, Cox believes so fervently in the healing powers of the earth that she has built a business on that concept.

Growing up, Cox had close ties to the medical profession and great respect for mainstream medicine as both her father and grandfather worked at the renowned Mayo Clinic, and her brother graduated from the Mayo Medical School.

Turning away from these traditional methods, Cox altered her path to explore the plants outside her Colorado mountain home in an attempt to find natural methods of healing. Thus began her relationship with the earth.

"I lived in a teepee for a period of time and studied herbs," she recalls. "I was a real '70s earth child, making dyes out of plants and creating beautiful hats, baby booties and assorted crafts with the natural dyes."

To learn more about the variety of plants that surrounded her, in 1975 Cox took a class in wild edible plant identification at Colorado State University. Using that knowledge, Cox began to teach herself about the nutritional value of plants.

A move to Santa Cruz, California in 1978 put Cox into a center of alternative healing, where she continued to learn from local herbalists. However, her life and her herbal education took a real turn in 1982, when she returned to Colorado and became pregnant.

"While pregnant with my first daughter, I made an herbal salve to prevent stretch marks that worked wonderfully," Cox says. She also used herbs such as yellowdock to treat low iron. The formulas for these creations later became some of Motherlove herbal company's most popular products – Pregnant Belly Oil, Pregnant Belly Salve, and Yellowdock Plus.

Cox gave these to friends – and gave birth to a business, as well as to baby Silencia Deva. Soon, she was teaching local people about the medicinal and edible properties of the 180 plants that grew in the pine forests, and mountain meadows.

Despite the popularity of her products, Cox thought of herself primarily as a teacher and did not focus on the business end of her work. Things changed when owners of a local natural food store attended one of her classes and asked Cox if they could sell her products.

"I had no marketing, no packaging, not even a name," says Cox, who came up with the moniker of Motherlove. "The focus of the company is on the mother and child and, of course, the love of Mother Earth for us, her children."

Cox continued to pick the herbs for her products with Silencia helping out as soon as she was old enough. Sisters Zenna and Jasmin were born soon afterwards, and the business grew as well. The salves, tinctures and oils were manufactured out of the family's home until demand forced Cox and the company to move to a larger facility in Laporte, Colorado.

Cox is enthusiastic about the surge of interest in herbal healing – and the Motherlove line of products. "The general public is now more accepting of herbs, or at least curious about their healing capabilities. Women are realizing that pregnancy is a very natural time to take extra care of themselves. Herbs can be an integral and effective part of that care."

As a result, Motherlove is getting increased business from lactation consultants, niche stores, natural pharmacies and maternity shops. "More women are choosing to breastfeed because of the benefits of this perfect food for their babies. Our herbal tinctures including More Milk, More Milk Plus, and Goat's Rue are very effective in increasing breast milk and are recommended by lactation consultants throughout the country."

Cox speaks at conferences about herbs for pregnancy and breastfeeding, and teaches her own philosophy of caring for the earth. "We need to respect and revere all life around us, understanding that there is a web that connects us, and the important role that plants play in health care." To that end, she has written a book, Pocket Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants, and is working on a second.

An increasing number of women are learning that herbs can be an ally during this special time of pregnancy and breastfeeding. Motherlove herbal company is the answer to the needs and education of women, providing information and products that comfort and empower them, all from their loving mother – the Earth.

Printed in Pregnancy Magazine, February 2002