Helen Reyes is busy helping people get well from Covid-19 and a host of other modern-day ailments. She's not a doctor — though what she's been doing will most likely make medical practitioners sit up and take notice.

One of the original cofounders of an institution among live music venues, '70s Bistro, and who has worked in sales, marketing, and operations of a commercial product, Reyes is now the sole proprietor of Ancient Healing — a line of homemade, plant-based oils which users claim have been "life-savers" and "heaven-sent."

Reyes herself makes the products, initially to help her then ailing husband, lawyer Wijohn Reyes — famous as Joey "Pepe" Smith's pro bono legal counsel who got the rock star freed in 1992 from a 17-month incarceration.

Daily Tribune had an email chat with Helen.

Daily Tribune (DT): What's the latest from Ancient Healing?
Helen Reyes (HR): Ancient Healing has touched more lives in ways that I did not expect. Amid major challenges in the physical, mental, and emotional health of Filipinos, Ancient Healing became very relevant.

At the height of Covid-19's Delta variant, it was heartbreaking to see loved ones left to heal and recover on their own while on isolation. This was when remedies and medications seemed not enough, and even unsure, since it was the first time that people found themselves in this situation.

There was also confusion brought about by companies and groups with financial interests. People were exasperated and got tired of the fear-mongering and turned their attention to natural methods.
It was fulfilling for me to receive feedback and messages of gratitude on how the Ancient Healing remedies helped people through their recovery process — with words like "life-saver" and "heaven-sent," how the Haplos Oregano Oil gave them relief and took away their fear while alone with breathing difficulties.

The tinctures relieved coughing almost instantaneously. The throat and nasal sprays were distributed among family members as preventive and early-stage management measure. What really touched me was how people ordered products to be sent to their afflicted friends as expression of love, care and support.

Ancient Healing is not just the products. It also brings back to our awareness the ways, tools, methods and principles of natural healing. Beyond the "store" are practices that deal with sound, numbers, geometry, frequencies and others forms of energy healing.

DT: What particular products are sought after?
HR: I have 50 products and each has its fan base.
The flagship is the Haplos Oregano. It's an experience that "hooks" you for whatever purpose it served you on the first instance, and the discovery of more benefits as you keep on using it. I don't want to use the word "addictive" but that is what users say. Don't start introducing Haplos to your elders if you are not ready to get nagged for immediate refills. Users are "afraid" to run out of it, especially those who depend on it for relaxation, restful sleep and stress relief.

It is also a patok gift for any occasion. Recipients profusely thank their giver and ask for information where to purchase, since they can't find Haplos in drugstores and health establishments.

The Oregano Throat and Nasal Sprays are becoming must-have, carry-along items, now that pandemic protocols are easing up. Using it at the first sign of respiratory symptoms prevents a full-blown ailment. Spraying it before going to public places also becomes a preventive practice.

The Aloe-Castor Oil continues to give hope to people with a balding head. The Alagao Salve is for skin itchiness, insect bites, and relief from psoriasis. There's also an all-natural mosquito repellent consisting of nine essential oils; space-clearing sprays to neutralize negativities; oil rollers for goodnight sleep, stress, and forgetfulness; supplements like mangostana, serpentina, lagundi, turmeric, and moringa at lower cost, natural shampoos for humans and dogs; natural soaps that are great for the skin, and more.

All these I formulated initially to help my ailing husband before he died, and later, to respond to the requests and calls for help from friends and long-term customers.
DT: Are your products still homemade? How many people do you employ and how big has it grown?
HR: Yes, it's still homemade. Some plant materials are still grown in pots up on the roof, and my small kitchen remains the factory. Bryan is my sole assistant. I prefer to keep things small. Ancient Healing business is my sole income source at the moment. It pays the bills, buys me clothes and food, and allows me to do the simple things I want to do. I don't have sales targets. I don't even compute my gross sales. My "customers" love me so much, they beg me to bill them, since sometimes I fail to collect on time. I ask them to directly message me for orders and not just "add to cart" in my Shopify app. I want to personally interact with them.

I allow the flow to lead me where to bring Ancient Healing. It is aligned with my spiritual path. As long as it brings me love and joy at every moment, I am okay.