“It’s our responsibility to keep our heritage alive.” Shereen Al-Mulla on launching Hikma Rituals, motherhood and reclaiming her heritage.

The Lighthouse Conversations with Hashem Montasser

Hashem meets up with Shereen Al-Mulla, soon-to-be Master Herbalist, and co-founder of Hikma Rituals, a homegrown brand of botanicals including oils, tinctures and dusts. Hashem and Shereen discuss the beginnings of her journey into herbalism by way of a rose infusion ritual, the desire to reclaim her Iraqi heritage, and the serendipitous meeting with Mahdiah El-Jed, her business partner and co-founder. Shereen talks about the challenges that Hikma Rituals faces going head-to-head with big Pharma and the wellness industry’s good, bad and ugly. We also catch a glimpse of Shereen’s efforts towards community building and the rewards she reaps by mending client ailments…and a bonding session with Hashem over cold water immersions!

Here are the books Shereen mentioned on the episode:

• The flora of Iraq
• Shahina A. Ghazanfar, A Herbal of Iraq
• Prof. Aref Abu-Rabia, Indigenous Medicine Among the Bedouin in the Middle East
• Rania Abou Samra, Tania Tabar & Layla K. Feghali, Li Beirut | herbal + healing support guide
• Talitha Fanous: Sun Sisters: A Field Guide to Levant Flowers