If we surrendered to earth's intelligence we could rise up rooted, like trees. ~Rainer Maria Rilke
Herbs: Nature's Gift of Healing to Us
Dances For The Herbs
A series of dances with and for the herbs and plants that I am continually getting to know in my process of becoming a registered herbalist.These dances come from many experiences with the plants, both physical and emotional and perhaps from that even deeper core place within us humans that we call "spirit."
Wearing my nettles handmade necklace, I feel the love this plant has given me. From the beginnings of my journey with healing my Lyme disease and co-infections, nettles has been there. Recommended to me year ago by a lovely new friend who worked for a TCM doctor, I made large, pitcher-full overnight infusions of nettles and drank whole pitchers of it in a day or two days. Drinking the green remedy helped balance me, gave me much-needed minerals, helped ease my muscle spasms, and so much more, I truly felt "uplifted" after drinking in this magical herb.
Ha Dias, "These Days." Since being pregnant, these days pass in unusual ways, within my body and without. Carrying a living being has its definite magical ups and its laborious physical downs, literally feeling weighted down and the ups and downs of nausea. Ginger and I have had a new relationship since me being pregnant. Candied, it's been a lifesaver on planes, in cars, and when I need to stay composed. It's been soothing, but also stimulating. I never associated ginger so much with medicine-something I love to eat in scones and cakes and Chai Tea, is a medicine I reach for to curb my stomach's turns. Vibrant and soothing.
Graduate of Sky House Herb School & Apothecary's Two Year Program.
Worked at Smile Herb Shop as an Herbalist
Continuing my education, ever learning, ever grateful to these teachers (and more):
Ashley Litecky Elenbaas -- Sky House Herbs
Camille Freeman -- Boom and Grow
Margi Flint -- Earthsong Herbals
My Path to Herbal Medicine
After completing my degree in Holistic Health and Creative Arts Therapy, I went deeper into my health studies and became a certified Health coach through The Institute of Integrative Nutrition. During my studies, herbs came up quite a bit and I began to experiment with herbal remedies and aids for my own health. My own health was suffering quite a bit and I ended up at a Naturopathic Doctor's office where I discovered I had Lyme Disease and other co-infections. The journey to true wellness, from the roots, and not just un-knowledgeable attempts to patch up symptoms, began. I had been to doctors since childhood, and though many were kind-hearted and informed in their own right, none offered me true lifestyle changes that would transform what was going on inside my body....and none offered me the power of herbal medicine. My first herbal ally that I began to include in my daily diet was Nettles. Since then there have been so many learning curves, food changes and eye-opening moments, and the herbs have been there for me on the whole journey. I am now so much further into my expression of whole, abundant health than I was when I couldn't even work, due to the debilitating symptoms I was experiencing in my health. My body is strong, able, less prone to sickness, it dances and supports me in my life's pursuits. I am daily nourished through my herbal teas and a lifestyle that embraces nature's healing power. In May 2021 I graduated from the year two program at Sky House Herb School & Apothecary. The plants are spiritual allies as well as physical. The plants bring things full circle for me--as a yoga and mindful movement teacher, helping people heal and become empowered with the help of plants is another piece of the magical puzzle to vibrant health and abundant healing. I am continuing to learn and find great resource in the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine and other forms of ancient medicine. My herbal journey is also greatly inspired by my yoga journey.
I am committed to sourcing herbs from places that practice respectful and safe herb cultivation and harvesting and protect the earth. I look to be conscious of my herbal path as one that occurs on indigenous lands, with ancestral herbal knowledge. I follow in the path of many wise herbalists. I seek to be a part of food justice initiatives, including supporting urban farms (I currently volunteer at an urban farm here--check them out!).
Turmeric ~ What I call "The Golden Sunshine Herb"
Ayurvedic, unani, siddha and traditional chinese medicine advocates the use of turmeric

Turmeric's most active ingredient, curcumin, has antioxidant properties that help ease inflammatory ailments

I enjoyed the book "The Blue Zones, 9 Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest" by Dan Buettner. As Dan's group observes the practices of the centenarians of Okinawa, they see these healthy, older people commonly use and grow turmeric. Says one of the scientists in the expedition to un-lock the secrets of longevity, "Turmeric is one-fifth as powerful as cisplatin, which is one of the most powerful drugs in chemotherapy." Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer! Many age-related diseases are caused by an immune system that is out of balance and inflamed. Click here for a nourishing non-dairy milk, honey, turmeric drink! Combining milk&honey also has healing benefits and adding in spices can enhance the nutrition of your drink.
As the content of this page grows, see my "Wellness Tips" HERE. :)