Clinical herbalist and educator Selima Harleston Lust believes that working with plants is more than wellness… it’s a path to joy, self-trust, and connection. As the co-founder of Iwilla Remedy®, she empowers others to reclaim their healing through intentional rituals, community wisdom, and vibrant infusions made with love, and her LĒVO.
Tell us a little about yourself!
I’m Selima Harleston Lust, Clinical Herbalist and Co-Founder of Iwilla Remedy®, an herbal education and apothecary based in Decatur, Georgia. I’m originally from Connecticut, but Atlanta has been home for many years now. I’m married to my soulmate and business partner Tami and we have a 10 year old son and dog named, Prosper. I’m deeply inspired by the healing power of plants and how they help us reconnect to ourselves, our bodies, and our lineage. In the kitchen — and really any creative space — I’m fueled by the belief that healing doesn’t have to be hard or heavy. It can be joyful, delicious, and deeply nourishing.
How did you get into infusion?
Infusion was a natural part of my journey into herbal medicine. When I started working with plants, I realized that infusing oils, butters, and honeys was such a beautiful way to extract their properties and benefits and make them accessible in everyday life. There wasn’t one specific moment, but rather a growing desire to make herbalism simple, effective, and pleasurable. I wanted to teach people how to care for their bodies and spirits through holistic nourishment—and infusions are an easy, powerful way to do that.
What do you love most about using your LĒVO infusion machine?
The LĒVO makes my life so much easier! It takes the guesswork out of infusions and gives me complete control over temperature and time, which is so important when you’re working with delicate herbs. I also love how mess-free it is—no more straining oils through cheesecloth and making a huge mess on my counter. It’s sleek, efficient, and allows for more consistent and mess-free infusions.
What’s your favorite infusion to make with LĒVO, and how do you use it?
I love making infused honeys with my LĒVO! Honey is already wonderfully therapeutic—soothing, nourishing, and naturally preserving—and when you infuse it with herbs, it enhances the experience. My favorite combinations include spicy and aromatic herbs like jalapeños and Thai basil. The heat from the jalapeños balances beautifully with the sweet honey, while the Thai basil adds a rich, peppery depth. I use these infused honeys in everything—drizzled over cornbread, stirred into herbal teas, or even as a glaze for roasted veggies. They bring so much vibrancy and flavor while capturing the flavor and goodness of the herbs in a delicious, easy-to-use form.
Do you have any tips, tricks, or advice for others using their LĒVO machine?
Yes! My biggest tip is to really take your time getting to know the herbs you’re infusing. Each plant has its own personality and range of constituents—some need a little more warmth, others do best with lower temps. Don’t be afraid to experiment! I also recommend using high-quality carrier oils and making sure your herbs are fully dried to prevent any spoilage. And lastly, infuse with intention. Infuse love, gratitude, and healing energy into everything you make—it truly makes a difference.
If you could describe your “infusion style” in three words, what would they be?
Intentional, Effective, Fun
What inspires you to create recipes or infused products?
I’m inspired by accessibility and the needs of my community. When someone comes to me wanting to feel more grounded, to get sleep better, or to nourish and soothe the skin, I immediately think about the practices and the plants that can support them. Then my mind starts creating their blend! I also draw inspiration from traditional folk practices, my ancestral lineage, and the intuitive wisdom that lives in all of us.
What’s one thing you’d like others to know about you or your journey?
I didn’t grow up around herbal medicine. There weren’t jars of herbs lining the kitchen cabinets or healing traditions passed down at the dinner table. I came to this work through necessity—through my own journey of healing deep emotional wounds and the very real physical imbalances they created in my body. Like so many people, I was searching for relief, but more than that, I was searching for wholeness. Herbal medicine found me in that search. Plants became my partners in healing—not just to address the physical discomfort, but to help me process grief, find peace in my spirit, and reconnect to my body in a way that felt safe, nourishing, and empowering.
That’s why I’m so passionate about making this work accessible to others. I know what it feels like to be disconnected from your body. To feel like you’ve tried everything and nothing works. And I also know the joy that comes from reclaiming your power, understanding your body, and being an active participant in your own healing.
At Iwilla Remedy®, we teach people how to become their own healers through our signature CALYPSO Healing Method® and our Herbal Medicine for the Soul® mentorship program. It’s about more than taking herbs—it’s about remembering who you are, cultivating a relationship with plants, and practicing radical self-care that uplifts the mind, body, and spirit. Healing doesn’t have to be heavy; it can be joyful, liberating, and deeply transformative. That’s the path we walk together at Iwilla Remedy®, and I’m honored every time someone chooses to take that journey with us.
Can you tell us about the recipe you developed for this feature?
Absolutely! For this feature, I created a Topical Relief Oil that’s as supportive as it is simple to make. It’s an infused oil blend featuring calendula, clove, and lavender, all infused in coconut oil. The beauty of this recipe is in its versatility, but also in how thoughtfully these herbs work together to nourish the skin and bring comfort to areas in need. It was inspired by one of my clients who experienced Topical Steroid Withdrawal, a painful skin condition that can develop from prolonged topical steroid use.
✨ Calendula is one of my favorite skin allies. It’s bright and cheerful, and it brings those same healing properties to the skin—soothing dryness, itchiness, and promoting a calm, hydrated feel.
✨ Clove is often overlooked when it comes to skin care, but it’s powerful! It helps to ease discomfort, soothes the skin and promotes a refreshing sensation that feels revitalizing.
✨ Lavender rounds out the trio with its calming scent and skin-soothing properties. It’s familiar, comforting, and offers both topical and aromatic relief.
Anything else you’d like to share with the LĒVO community?
I just want to share how grateful I am to be part of a community that values creativity, wellness, and the healing magic of plants. What we do when we infuse oils, honeys, butters—it’s not just about making something beautiful or delicious (though it’s definitely that too!). It’s about creating tools that help people heal, nurture themselves, and reconnect with what matters most.
In my work as an herbalist and educator, I have literally seen how I’ve seen how herbalism has empowered people to reconnect with themselves, feel more balanced, and build stronger routines of self-care, their relationships with their kids—and most importantly, their relationship with themselves. That’s the deeper medicine in what we’re doing here. When we take the time to work with plants intentionally, we create opportunities for healing that ripple far beyond just us. They touch our families, our communities, and future generations.
At Iwilla Remedy®, everything we do is rooted in this belief. Whether it’s our Herbal Medicine for the Soul® mentorship, our Family Farmacy beginner program, our CALYPSO Healing Method®, or the remedies we craft in our apothecary, it’s all about helping people reclaim their power, deepen their self-trust, and find joy on their healing path.
Thank you to LĒVO for making it easier to share this work. And if you want to connect, learn more, or take your herbal practice deeper, you can find me on Instagram at @iwillaremedy or visit us at iwillaremedy.com. Keep infusing love, intention, and joy into everything you make. It matters more than you know!
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