A new Beechworth business offering holistic Indian medicine has seen strong demand amidst multiple snap lockdowns.
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Former Myrtleford Butter Factory owner Naomi Ingleton has had workshops at her Ford Street store sell out within 24 hours.
While the new shopfront has been impacted in the fifth and sixth lockdowns, Ms Ingleton is gaining new clients.
"Twelve months ago, peak COVID, I opened a clinic to see if there was interest," she said.
"There was ... and when a shop came up, I thought it would be great to have a spot in the main street.
"There are a lot of people who have been finding out about me for the first time.
"They might be a little bit stressed ... I make a range of teas and botanical elixirs for specific purposes like that."
Ms Ingleton has studied Ayurveda through Melbourne University and is upskilling in Apothecary through a Bachelor degree in Western Herbal Medicine.
"Ayurveda is the sister science to yoga," she said.
"I had the Butter Factory in Myrtleford for 15 years and then moved out to Valley after selling it.
"I really hadn't taken any time off from having children, I went straight back to work ... everything was just a whirlwind.
"So when I had time, I looked at healing myself.
"I started study two-and-a-half years ago.
"I can't really go any further with my studies in Australia, I'd have to go to either to America or to India.
"So I swapped over now to do a Bachelor ... that allows me to combine the western and eastern herbal medicine."
Ms Ingleton has a treatment room at the Ford Street store and sells a range of health products, with plans for growth through a juice and elixir bar.
"There's no one quick fix - it needs to be a lifestyle choice," she said.
"It's very much about you; this medical system is based around individuality and working out balance.
"There's no one else really doing Ayurvedic medicine in the North East."
The "holistic herbalist" has found the practice to be life-changing.
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"I treat lots of men - they find it really comfortable," she said.
"I know there's things that you can't really control like shift-work; having been a chef, I know you don't eat properly and at midnight, you're buzzing.
"There's really great techniques like bodywork and breathing techniques that can help with that."
