When Michelle Wallace opened The Little Healer in September 2024, she set out to provide Owensboro with a space that promotes wellness through natural products and sustainable practices. A year later, she’s committed to creating a growing hub for those seeking chemical-free alternatives for everyday living.
Located alongside Black Lotus Yoga — a business run by her daughter, Erica — Wallace said the two spaces complement one another.
“I have all-natural products. Everything is chemical-free, toxin-free, plant-based essential oils,” she said. “Yoga is a healing space, and this is a healing space as well. We have a lot of good things that are not going to cause cancer and are going to be better for people’s bodies.”
Inside the shop, shelves are lined with items Wallace crafts herself, including magnesium spray, calendula salve, fine line serum, whipped tallow, and dishwasher tabs. She also partners with local makers who supply goat milk soap, candles, incense, plants, and honey.
The refillery is one of the shop’s key features. Customers are encouraged to bring reusable jars or use donated ones available in the store to fill with soaps, detergents, or shampoos. Prices are calculated by weight, and Wallace said the system reduces both cost and plastic waste.
“We’re just trying to reduce putting plastics — anything that’s not glass that’s harmful for the environment — into the earth,” she said. “Our shampoo bars are one of our best-selling products. They last two to three months, and people love them.”
The inspiration for The Little Healer is deeply personal. Wallace said her late Aunt Theresa first introduced her to essential oils and natural living, and she began experimenting with making her own products after several loved ones died of cancer within a short period of time.
“Then I had grandbabies, and I noticed everything we were putting on their bodies was bad,” she said. “So I just started making things. That’s how this concept came to life.”
Wallace taught herself through research, books, and trial-and-error. Today, she serves as the store’s sole employee and handles everything from product creation to customer service.
Looking ahead, she hopes to expand into a larger store in the next few years and introduce more offerings such as dry herbs, tea blends, and kombucha. She also hosts monthly vendor markets in the yoga studio to help other small businesses build their customer base.
Wallace said the community response so far has been encouraging.
“Everybody that comes in is so excited — they can’t believe something like this is in Owensboro now,” she said.
The Little Healer is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit thelittlehealer.com.
