Claudette A. Bailey Nolan – 50Plus Rebirth & Bush Medicine
Hello there, and welcome to my blog! I’m delighted to have you here and share a little bit about myself. My name is Claudette, and I am a Jamaican. I’ve recently returned to my island home after living in Merida, Mexico for a few years. Why did I start this blog? How much time do you have…
Jamaican Bush Medicine
If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be back in Jamaica, barefoot in the soil, sipping bush tea while writing about the very herbs my mother and grandmother used to brew, I might’ve laughed. Life has a way of bringing us full circle — sometimes through fire, sometimes through grace — and for me, it’s been both.
My name is Claudette A. Bailey Nolan, and I am the voice, heart, and hands behind 50Plus Rebirth and the evolving platform that has now birthed my Jamaican Bush Medicine blog series and upcoming eBook. I’m a Jamaican woman, a mother, a fighter, a believer in new beginnings, and a storyteller by blood.
But this wasn’t always my story.
Starting Over After 50
My journey back to the roots began unexpectedly. I was 59 years old, starting over from scratch. After more than two decades in fashion design, creating vibrant swimwear and carnival costumes, life threw me curveballs I didn’t see coming. I left everything behind and moved to Mexico, chasing peace, purpose, and a fresh chapter. And for a while, it felt like I had found it.
I had to return to yJamaica when my time was up and I spent a year in Jamaica. The business had recovered at that time but I was getting older and tired of the hassle involved with traveling the island on pubic transport sometimes in the wee hours of the morning.
My daughter suggested I return to Mexico, gain my temporary residency off hers and try to kickstart my YouTube channel. so I hopped on a plane to the Dominican Republic and then from there I would head to Cancun to start over. I had sold everything I owned including my machines. I gave away most of my clothing and headed out for a new life in Merida , Mexico.
But then I was turned back in Cancun.
In a moment, my plans unraveled to. I landed back in Jamaica with no home, no money, no equipment to restart my business, and nowhere to lay my head but the floor of my ex’s house. Some days I had nothing but two cushions, a little hope, and a spirit that refused to quit. It felt like rock bottom — but also like the beginning of something sacred.
From Breakdown to Breakthrough
I started leaning into what I knew: storytelling, community, and tradition. I took to social media and began sharing my truth — raw, unfiltered, full of scars and strength. And to my surprise, people responded. Not with pity, but with love. They saw themselves in my struggle. Older women, especially, started following my story, reaching out to say, “You’re giving me courage to begin again.”
That’s when 50Plus Rebirth truly came to life. What began as a personal journey became a movement. It became — a safe space for women (and men) starting over in the second half of life, finding joy in reinvention, and reclaiming their worth.
From Hair to Healing – A Journey That Found Me
With no income and no direction, I turned to a simple idea: create an affordable, all-natural hair care product to enhance my natural curls without irritating my scalp. So many store-bought products left me itching, broke, and disappointed . I knew I had to find another way.
I started researching herbs and roots that were good for the scalp, for shine, for growth — and that’s when the real journey began. As I explored plants like **rosemary, peppermint, aloe vera, and soursop**, memories came rushing back of my mother in the kitchen, brewing teas and rubbing oils into our heads.
Suddenly, I wasn’t just looking for hair ingredients. I was standing at the doorstep of my new beginning;
What began as a DIY hair experiment blossomed into something far greater — a full reconnection with the healing plants of Jamaica. I started writing them down. Then I started blogging and sharing on YouTube and TikTok. And soon, I found myself creating what would become the Jamaican Bush Medicine Series.
The Jamaican Bush Medicine Series
This blog series is my way of honoring the knowledge of our ancestors, while bridging it with modern understanding. Each herb I write about is more than a plant — it’s a story, a healer, a symbol of survival.
From the bitter detox of Cerasee, to the womb-toning magic of dog blood bush. The cooling calm of peppermint, and the revival strength of Chaney root. Every entry is layered with:
- cultural context,
- scientific research,
- personal memory,
- Jamaican wisdom.
What started as a few blog posts quickly grew into a movement. People around the world began tuning in. This included:
- Jamaicans in the diaspora,
- herbalists,
- curious readers,
- cultural lovers.
They were all hungry for knowledge that feels real, personal, and grounded.
The Upcoming eBook – A Legacy in Pages
Now, I’m preparing to publish my first book , Jamaican Bush Medicine, 61 Herbs for Healing, Strength, and Reconnection.
It’s not just a guide — it’s a legacy. It gathers every herb I’ve covered on the blog and packages them into a beautifully written, culturally rooted, easy-to-follow reference that blends storytelling with herbal wisdom.
This eBook will be available on Amazon and through my blog, offering readers worldwide a chance to reconnect with the healing heritage of Jamaica — whether for health, tradition, or ancestral remembrance.
Why I Do This Work
Because I know what it feels like to lose everything — and find yourself in the soil.
Because I believe that our healing is in our heritage. That every woman over 50 still has power left in her. That bush medicine isn’t outdated — it’s divine. And because I want my daughter, my grandchildren, and every person who reads my words to know that there is always a way back to yourself.
Even if it means starting barefoot, with two cushions and a bush cup in hand.
Let’s Walk Together
- If you’re starting over…
- If you want to reconnect with the land…
- If you feel the call of your ancestors
- Simply want to heal naturally…
You’re in the right place.
This blog, my YouTube channel, and my eBook are all offerings — from my journey to yours.
Follow me on:
TikTok
YouTube
Blog
Let’s sip, share, and rise — together.