Exploring Life & Business with Amanda Sypula of Fly Girl Apothecary

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Sypula. 

Amanda, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Becoming an Herbalist has only been part of my life in recent years. I’ve been a Flight Attendant since 2008 and have enjoyed it immensely. Once I became a single mom, I needed to find an additional income that gave me the freedom to still fly and be a mother, so I started substitute teaching at my daughter’s school. Teaching reignited my passion for learning and helping others. I met my now-husband when my daughter was 5 and shorty after noticed that I was sick often. Seemed like every couple of weeks I came down with cold symptoms, that would not subside with over-the-counter medications. It made flying extremely difficult and teaching just as hard. I must have gone into the doctor’s office and specialists over a dozen times, and all they would do is prescribe more medications that didn’t help. Finally, a nurse mentioned having a full-screen allergy panel done. Why not! Sure enough, it came back positive for severe allergies to birch trees and molds that grow in recirculated air systems, like the air systems on airplanes. I had developed an allergy to my JOB! Leaving the airline just wasn’t an option, it was my main source of income and insurance, not to mention I love it. So I was put on an aggressive and experimental allergy regiment of shots. One whole year of giving myself an injection every other day and then weekly after that. Two years of injections was painful and I was so fed up with pumping chemicals into my body, with no end in sight. I started researching alternative ways of beating my allergy without chemicals and came across herbs. I started treating myself and they worked, alleviating my symptoms and making me feel better all the way around. So, I signed up for a course on herbalism and found my new passion. A couple of years in I had an Herbalism degree, and I haven’t looked back. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I don’t believe there is a smooth road to anywhere in life. How you walk that road determines how you perceive it. Juggling being a full-time mother, full-time flight attendant, substitute teacher, and a newlywed meant my plate was overflowing. But I am not a person that sits around doing nothing for more than an hour. Finding time to keep up with life and study was a struggle but so incredibly worth it. And I had support for everyone around me. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I decided last year to open up an online Apothecary out of my home. I want to be able to help every “BODY” with whatever ails them. Many herbs that I store are grown in my personal garden, but there are some that just can’t be supported in the Colorado climate. So, I work with organic farms across the country to supply the other herbs I need. I handcraft herbs into tinctures, tonics, syrups, teas, and salves made for general ailments. But my true love is personalizing remedies to help individual people. No two bodies are alike, so what works for one may need to be tweaked for another. I proud to be able to offer guidance and teaching knowledge so my clients can learn how their body works and how herbs can help without chemicals. And without a huge price tag. 

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
There are so many books and information platforms out there that can help everyone. I love reading and learning, and it is something that I will never stop doing. I enjoy the teachings of Rosemary Gladstar who is an herbalist and author and an all-around rockstar female. 

Contact Info:

• Email: flygirlapothecary@gmail.com
• Website: www.flygirlapothecary.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/flygirlapothecary
• Facebook: facebook.com/flygirlapothecary