HERB BUS

The Original Mobile Herb Clinic

The Herb Bus was Herbalista’s original mobile clinic, serving Atlanta for over a decade. Bringing herbal medicine out of the shadows and into the hands of the people, the Bus provided free clinical care, a spot of tea, and herbal education to communities in need.

The Bus made regular monthly stops at set stations around Atlanta, providing follow-up care that allowed us to partner with people on their health journey. We offered both basic first aid treatment and long-term tonic therapy based on a constitutional and energetic approach. Our dispensary, situated inside the Bus, custom compounded an array of tinctures, teas, aromatic remedies and more. Finally, at the ripe old age of 34 (well over 100 in van years) the Bus has passed the herbal torch along to other younger clinics, such as the Herb Cart and Herb Bike, and is greatly enjoying her re-TIRE-ment. 

Like any community-based project, the Bus and other Herbalista projects have evolved over time– responding to the specific needs in our community and with the resources we had available. And also based on how our own practice as herbalists changed over time. We hope that our journey helps other herbalists looking to create mobile clinics in their neck of the woods.

The Herb Bus Mobile Clinic is set up with the top of the van popped and the side tent open. Two people are seated under the side tent conducting an intake. There are other bins and signs around with a tea station.

The Little Bus that Could

The Herb Bus was the original mobile clinic of the Herbalista Free Clinic, tasked with the mission of providing herbal care + comfort to communities in need. The Herb Bus hit the road in Atlanta, Georgia on February 6, 2013. With the side tent as a consult room and the interior of the Bus as our dispensary, where customized formulas were compounded and dispensed, the Bus served hundreds of visitors over the years. All services and remedies were dispensed for free.

For 5 years, the Herb Bus made regular monthly clinical rounds to two separate stations in Atlanta– the Open Door Community and the Big House. Both stations were along the Ponce de Leon corridor of Atlanta where Lorna grew up.

In February of 2018, after the closures of both the Open Door and the Big House, the Herbalista Free Clinic made a major transition, refocusing our efforts on expanding our other mobile clinic models. We reworked the Herb Cart Program in Atlanta, helped to start the Herb Bike Clinics in Ireland, and expanded the reach of our HerbCare Stations. We realized that not everyone has access to a Bus to run a clinic, so we wanted to focus our attention on the development of simpler models that could be easier to replicate by other herbalists trying to make change in their communities!

The Herb Bus continues to play a large role in the work of Herbalista in and around Atlanta, still offering pop-up HerbCare Stations, transporting other herbal projects around town, and serving as a mobile classroom. 

Over they years, we have shared the Herb Bus model with communities and herbal schools around the country through practical clinical trainings and workshops and know she has made a lasting impression. We are thrilled to be able to share her with you and wish you well on your herbal adventures. Viva la Herb Bus!

Starting a Mobile Clinic

Interested in starting a mobile clinic of your own? If you find yourself with a passion to serve but are wondering where to start? See the suggestions below. Looking for even more resources? Please join us as a sustaining member for access to our online Herbalista Toolkit– sharing tools for community herb work. 

But first, a few quick thoughts that have served us well:

  • Work with integrity and your project will draw support.
  • Continue to build your skills (always and forever)
  • Identify the populations you wish to serve and which organizations are already working in those communities (community centers, shelters, other non-profits, etc.) and get to know them better first, before beginning a project.
  • Volunteer with other organizations to get a better understanding of the community to be served, what their particular needs and desires are, and how your project could be a valuable addition. Partnerships rock!
  • Find other like minded herbalists to team up with.
  • Identify the local resources that you can call on for help (medicine makers, herb growers, small independent health food cooperatives or independent pharmacies, networkers, mechanics, herb schools, herb groups or organizations, local chapters of the AHG, etc.)
  • Start small, take on what you can manage and get a feel for the work. Maybe try out an HerbCare Station at first, before trying your hand at a more robust clinic. This can also give you a chance to cultivate your apothecary and volunteers to help you in this work.

Planning for a Pop-up Clinic

Here is a little brainstorming worksheet to help you think through some of the aspects of planning for a clinic. It asks you questions about who you are serving and where; what are some of the issues you might expect to see; what infrastructure will you have available; and more.

Planning for a Pop-up Clinic
Worksheet

Herb Bus Webinar

Running a free mobile herb clinic is a demanding but rewarding environment.

Join Herbalista Lorna as she shares a bit about the Herb Bus and how we go about running a free mobile clinic.

This webinar explores several aspects of the Herb Bus Clinic, from set-up to breakdown, community building to legalities, to offer a starting point for creating your own mobile clinic.

We presented this for the American Herbalist Guild in 2014. Please refer to the Herb Bus Service Manual for additional information.

Herb Bus Service Manual

The Herb Bus Manual was written to help us establish some basic protocols when working in the unpredictable field of mobile medicine.

We hope it offers a glimpse into how our clinic was organized, helping other herbalists wishing to offer this type of care in their community. 

The manual also served as part of the training curriculum for our apprentices and volunteers. It contains information regarding how we set-up and service a station, how we stock and maintain the apothecary, examples of the forms we use to track patient care and inventory, and oh-so-much more. 

This manual was last revised in 2014.  When we do an update, we will post it here.

For information on other aspects of care, including insurance and all things legal-schmegal, please see the most recent edition of our Herb Cart Manual, available on our Guides + Manuals Resource Page.

Herb Bus Service Manual
The cover image of the Herb Bus Manual. It has the Herbalista Logo and reads "The Herb Bus Service Manual Providing Earth-based Care for Underserved Communities" On the cover is a photo of two hands holding a tincture bottle.

Herb Bus Gallery

bus
The Herb Bus is on the road with the Atlanta skyline behind it.
The Herb Bus is set up for clinic with the top popped and the side tent erected. Under the side tent is a table where three people are sitting and talking.
An herbalist sits at the tincture table in the Herb Bus apothecary. They are writing notes in a clipboard and the tincture kits are next to them open and displaying rows of tincture bottles.
A shot of the interior of the Herb Bus Apothecary taken from the back bench looking forward to the front of the bus. The front passenger seat is swivelled around and faces the back bench. The tables are out and the kits line the counter that runs along the left wall. The roof overhead is popped up.
Lorna and two people stand outside the Herb Bus holding two brightly colored herb kits in front of them.
Lorna's hands taking the pulse of a Herb Bus visitor.
Red monarda flowers are hanging from a line across the roof of the Herb Bus. The top is popped and sun streams through the window.
Lorna sits under a tent in front of the Herb Bus teaching a class. The class participants are sitting around a picnic table.
Lorna sits outside the Herb Bus at the intake table and Corinne stands over her shoulder making notes in the files. Inside the bus are three other apprentices, sitting at the different stations.
Lorna sits in the Herb Bus with the side door open holding a blue tincture run kit.
An herbalist sits inside the Herb Bus and holds up a box with a bright colored picture on the front.
The interior of the bus shows kits and baskets filled with herbs and harvesting tools. One basket one the table has yellow arnica flowers and the other has brown osha roots.
The Herb Bus is set up for clinic with the top popped, the side tent open and the consult table underneath. A person sits next to the sandwhich board sign writing on it. The sign says "Herbalista Free Clinic"
The Herb BUs is parked in a driveway with large green trees above. THe door is open revealing lots of gear inside the bus.
Lorna and four other crew members stand outside the Herb Bus, each holding herbal kits.
Lorna sits on a rug outside the Herb Bus teaching a class with a book before her and a white board behind her.
The Herb Bus Mobile Clinic is set up with the top of the van popped and the side tent open. Two people are seated under the side tent conducting an intake. There are other bins and signs around with a tea station.
A winter scene of the Herb Bus and a couple tents set up in a parking lot. The Herb Bus is set up for clinic with the top popped and the side tent and consult table laid out.
Two people holding festive balloons stand outside the Herb Bus. It is set up as a clinic with the top popped and the table outside.
The interior of the Herb Bus apothecary with all of the herbal kits lined up along the countertop. The table is set up with the tray and clipboard. There is a milk crate on its side with a library of books.
Interior of the Herb Bus apothecary. An herbalist sits at the table, pouring medicines. There are several kits beside them and a book collection next to them on the floor.
A black felt hat is set on top of a box that reads "Herbalista Free Clinic"
Two people are seated in the herb bus and one is holding a baby. Another person is leaning against the bus. They are smiling.
An herbalist sits in the front passenger seat of the bus holding a bag of herbs and smiles largely.
An herbalist sits at the table in the Herb Bus apothecary holding up a bag of herbs. In front of them on the table are lots of tincture bottles on a tray.
The side door of the herb bus is open and a black and white kitten is laying on the carpet.
The side door of the bus is open and an herbalist leans against the bus floor. THey are writing notes in a book and the apothecary is behind them.
The Herb Bus is parked in front of a colorful mural showing people walking.
A clinician stands in front of the herb bus smiling. A patient is seated facing her.
Aerial view of interior of Herb Bus apothecary showing hands pouring medicines.
Tincture bottles are set across a counter inside the Herb Bus dispensary. A hand is pouring from a measuring cup into one of the brown glass tincture bottles.
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