The Jar That Started It All…

I want to share the story behind it all – because it's quite personal, and it's actually how Moon Haven began.

When I'd had enough

Back in 1998, I was really struggling.

I'd been dealing with terrible muscle pain for years, and doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong.

Finally I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia Syndrome.

Their solution? A bunch of pills that made me feel like a zombie – muscle relaxants, antidepressants, heavy painkillers.

That wasn't going to work for me.

Some days I couldn't get out of bed. Walking to the letterbox was beyond me. And sleep? I'd wake up every few hours with pain all through my body.

I'd had enough. If conventional medicine couldn't help me, I was going to have to help myself.

Back to my roots

Luckily, I've always been drawn to natural solutions. As a kid, I had a chemistry set and turned our laundry into my laboratory (much to my parents' amusement!).

So I started researching herbs and essential oils, connecting with aromatherapists and herbalists around the world. After months of experimenting with different combinations, I finally created something that actually worked.

A simple salve that could take my pain away for hours at a time. Made it right there in our kitchen – which had pretty much become my laboratory by then.

Two heroes

Two special herbs made all the difference:

St John's Wort –These sunny yellow flowers are powerful nerve soothers. Unlike menthol-based rubs that just distract from pain, St John's Wort actually helps calm overactive nerve pathways. Think of it as nature's way of turning down the volume on pain signals.
Calendula – Our beautiful golden calendula flowers are amazing anti-inflammatory healers. They help soothe irritated tissues and support your body's natural healing process. We grow our own here at Moon Haven – I still get excited every time I see them blooming in our garden.

Combined with eight carefully chosen essential oils (no harsh menthol here!), these herbs created something I'd never experienced before – real, lasting relief.

From kitchen creation to Moon Haven

We originally called it "Achy Breaky Rub" because that Billy Ray Cyrus song was everywhere back then! Word spread quickly among family and friends, and soon Eric (my late husband and Moon Haven's co-founder) and I were making batch after batch in our kitchen.

As Moon Haven grew, we changed the name to St John's Wort & Calendula Rub because we wanted the name to reflect the powerful herbs inside. Though many of our longtime Moonies still affectionately call it Achy Breaky!

When you need extra support

Sometimes the rub alone wasn't quite enough for really tough days. That's when I discovered that adding a drop or two of our Achy Breaky Essential Oil Blend on top gave it extra power. The combination is remarkable.

Still made the same way

That little jar didn't just give me my life back – it gave birth to Moon Haven. Every product we've created since comes from the same approach: natural ingredients that actually work, made with genuine care.

We still make it exactly the same way – infusing our own herbs, wildcrafting when we can, combining aromatherapy and herbalism in ways others don't.

It's not just our most popular product. It's our founding story in a jar.

Perfect Companions for Complete Relief

This article was written by Moon Haven’s aromatherapist and founder Leonie Gully and as such represents her personal opinion on the given subject.

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Leonie Gully- Moon Haven's Aromatherapist

While any advice provided is general in nature, it is not intended to replace medical diagnosis or treatment. If you are at all concerned about your condition, it is important that you do consult your medical practitioner of choice for an individual consultation and treatment plan.