Healing Energy Comes to Derry: Mother-Daughter Team Opens “Two Chikk’s Apothecary”

After a year of preparation, a Derry Township mother-daughter duo devoted to natural healing has officially opened the doors of their new business, Two Chikk’s Apothecary.

Owners Kym and Kaitlyn Daniels celebrated their grand opening last weekend, welcoming friends, neighbors, and curious visitors to their fresh space inside the historic Loyalhanna Elementary School building. Their shop features a variety of handcrafted items — from crystal jewelry and soaps to wax melts and candles — all designed to promote wellness and positive energy.

Kym, who is currently studying to become a certified herbalist, hopes to expand the shop’s offerings to include homemade ointments and balms.

“We’re always learning and growing,” she said. “Our goal is to help people heal naturally and feel connected to what they’re using.”

Before opening their brick-and-mortar store, the pair began their apothecary journey at home, crafting products and selling them at local vendor markets and charity fundraisers. As their creations multiplied, their dining room quickly transformed into a full-time workshop — prompting them to seek a dedicated location.

They found that opportunity thanks to State Rep. Leslie Rossi, who owns the former school building and leases space to small businesses. Kym called Rossi a “great landlord” who personally helped when bees were discovered outside their room. “She showed up with a hockey stick and mask like a superhero,” Kym recalled with a laugh.

Crystals play a central role in the Daniels’ philosophy. Each stone, Kym explained, carries its own energy: rose quartz fosters self-love, while black obsidian shields against negativity and bad dreams. Though skeptics might call it “hokey,” Kym said she’s seen the difference crystals can make in her own household, from warding off her son’s nightmares to helping Kaitlyn manage anxiety.

Kaitlyn’s interest in crystals deepened after experiencing personal loss and health challenges in 2020. “Amethyst and lavender aromatherapy helped calm my anxiety,” she shared. “It was a big part of my healing.”

By day, Kym works as a certified medication technician and fully values modern medicine, but she believes alternative healing practices have their place, too. “You can’t always see energy, but you can feel it if you’re open to it,” she said. “All it takes is one person at a time to believe.”

Kym’s affinity for crystals began in childhood, when she found herself inexplicably drawn to certain stones. Over the years, she came to understand that attraction as a kind of intuitive pull — a lesson she passed on to Kaitlyn: “You don’t pick a crystal; the crystal picks you.”

Kaitlyn said she often discovers the truth of that advice when she selects stones without knowing their meaning, only to find later that they align with her emotional needs, like boosting confidence or easing anxiety. Sometimes, she feels an instant energetic reaction — a crystal that seems too “hot to handle” becomes a clear sign her body is guiding her toward what it truly needs.

Their apothecary is a family affair, supported by Kym’s husband, Rick Daniels, and their son, Rick Daniels II, a senior at Derry Area High School and triathlete.

Currently, Two Chikk’s Apothecary is open Thursdays from 5:30–9:30 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. (closed on Easter). The shop is located in Suite 575 at 314 Loyalhanna School Road. Kym hopes to expand store hours in the future as their venture continues to grow — one crystal, candle, and handmade creation at a time.