Meet Selima Harleston Lust | Clinical Herbalist & Co-Founder of Iwilla Remedy

We had the good fortune of connecting with Selima Harleston Lust and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Selima, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
The most important lesson Iwilla Remedy has taught me is that healing is not passive—it’s an active, daily choice. Building this business has mirrored the healing journey itself. It requires consistency, courage, vulnerability, and a willingness to grow through discomfort. I’ve learned that real transformation, whether it’s in our health, our mindset, or our purpose, asks us to show up for ourselves with compassion and commitment, especially when it’s hard.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Iwilla Remedy is a holistic healing brand that uses plant medicine, spiritual practice, emotional healing, and mindset work to help people feel whole again—body, mind, and spirit. We specialize in helping folks turn their wounds into wisdom and reclaim their joy, often after years of feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from themselves.

What sets us apart is how deeply we integrate emotional and spiritual healing into our herbal work. Herbs aren’t just physical remedies—they are energetic allies. So in our courses, our mentorship programs like Herbal Medicine for the Soul®, and even in our apothecary formulas, we teach and work with plants in a way that acknowledges the whole person. We don’t just focus on symptoms; we look at root causes—spiritual disconnection, suppressed emotions, limiting beliefs, ancestral patterns. That’s what the CALYPSO Healing Method® is all about: helping people heal from the inside out.

I’m most proud of the real transformations we’ve supported. When someone tells me they feel like they’ve come back home to themselves, or that they’re parenting differently because of what they learned in our mentorship, or that they finally feel seen—that’s everything. That’s the medicine.

And no, it wasn’t easy getting here. When I started Iwilla Remedy, I had no roadmap. I was navigating the pain of my own trauma, healing in real-time while building a business. There were years when I had to trust deeply in the vision even when there was little evidence it would work. But I stayed committed, because I knew this work mattered. What helped me overcome the challenges was a deep spiritual practice, strong community, my family’s unwavering support, and constantly doing my own inner healing alongside the work I was offering others.

One lesson I’ve learned—and keep learning—is that alignment matters more than anything. If you’re out of alignment with yourself, your health will tell you. Your spirit will tell you. And if you’re building a business, your audience will feel it. The more I honor my truth, the more everything flows.

What I want the world to know about Iwilla Remedy is this: healing doesn’t have to feel heavy all the time. It can be beautiful, creative, sacred, and joyful. Yes, you’ll cry, but you’ll also laugh, dance, forgive, and rise. I know what it’s like to carry pain in your body and confusion in your heart. And I also know what it takes to come out on the other side with power and purpose. That’s the essence of Iwilla Remedy—we help people get free.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When my best friend visits, I want the week to feel like a healing retreat—restful, joyful, full of nature, culture, and incredible Black and Brown-owned spots to eat. Here’s how I’d shape it:

Day 1 – Arrival + Ease In
We’d start at Just Add Honey Tea Company, a Black-owned tea shop with the sweetest atmosphere. The perfect place to sip, settle in, and ground into the week.

Day 2 – Nature Walk
We’d spend the morning at Yellow River Park, walking the trails and letting the river reset our energy. Dinner that night would be at Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours, where Chef Deborah VanTrece creates soulful, imaginative dishes that never disappoint.

Day 3 – Deep Rest
This would be our restoration day at Float Atlanta. Floating is pure medicine—an hour of silence and weightlessness that feels like coming home to yourself. Afterward, we’d keep it simple and head to Port Royal, a Jamaican restaurant with food that’s vibrant, flavorful, and deeply nourishing.

Day 4 – Gardens + Community
We’d spend the day exploring the gardens at the Wylde Center in Decatur. Walking through those green spaces feels grounding and inspiring, a reminder of how much beauty grows when community tends to the land. Dinner would be at JenChan’s, an Asian-Southern spot that’s playful, flavorful, and full of heart.

Day 5 – Market Day
Sunday morning we’d head to the Grant Park Farmers Market, strolling, tasting, and connecting with local growers. We’d bring our finds home and cook a fresh, beautiful brunch together—because there’s nothing like turning market produce into a shared meal. Later in the afternoon, we’d wander through Krog Street Market, checking out the shops, treats, and energy of one of Atlanta’s most iconic food halls.

Day 6 – Movement + Ritual + Celebration
We’d begin the day with a class at The Yoga Studio Atlanta, a Black woman–owned studio that feels like a sanctuary. Moving, breathing, and stretching together in that space would be such a powerful reset. Later, we’d take time for ritual—candles, journaling, maybe an ancestral offering.

Day 7 – Gratitude + Closing
On the final day, we’d head to Your DeKalb Farmers Market, one of my favorite places for fresh, global foods. We’d pick out beautiful ingredients, then go home and cook a meal together—slow, intentional, and full of love. Cooking side by side would be the perfect way to close the trip, reflecting on the week and giving thanks for the memories we created.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Oh, absolutely! This journey would not be what it is without my wife Tami and our son. Tami has been my anchor. My son epitomizes the joy you can have and reclaim when you heal.

Website: https://iwillaremedy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwillaremedy/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IwillaRemedy/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd8dbDfkbv5xin3ELgzfQXw

Image Credits
Tami Lust