About Amanda
I'm so happy you are here
I grew up in Eastern Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley area. I grew up as any other child did in the 80's.....on pop-tarts, cartoons and lots of time in the neighborhood on a bike, in cornfields and with friends. It was definitely a different time because I'm sure my parents had no idea where I was at any given moment.
In my teens and early adulthood I was vegetarian and then a vegan (even dabbled in raw veganism) because I wanted better for the animals. I was always against factory farming even though I didn't know all that much about it. I was pro-health, and always have been since.
But my version of health and what that means to me has absolutely changed throughout the years. I decided to take off the rose colored glasses and really dig into what was in our food, and what we should be putting in (and on) our bodies. I decided to no longer just trust that a product or food item was ok just because it was in a store (even a health store), despite the clever marketing and labeling that was used.
Over the last 13 years, I immersed myself into books, lectures, conferences and ultimately into herbal medicine. I am no longer a vegetarian or vegan, because I believe there is true healing power in REAL food like raw dairy, pastured eggs and meat, sustainable naturally occurring fats and fermented foods.
I believe in the power of being outside, grounding in nature, sunlight, working in the dirt, regular physical exercise, restorative sleep, deep breathing, meditation and finding connection to the earth and to He who created us. As a Christian, I believe God gave us all we need on this earth to thrive and make our time count until He calls us home.
I am extremely thankful for the huge leaps forward in modern medicine. There are some truly amazing things that happen every day in medicine to extend and enrich lives.
But I also believe that as a society, we have become complacent in our health and are often accepting of ailments that occur as we age and we don't take full responsibility for the state of our well being.
We have the power to nurture ourselves and live a fulfilling life, even as we age. Healing with herbal preparations is a journey and not a destination. I believe in supporting the whole person and the whole body, rather than symptoms and isolated components.
I incorporate a true holistic approach with my clients to promote wellness, balance and ultimately happiness.
I am an Associate Member of the American Herbalists Guild, which means that I have accumulated over 500 study hours through self study and through formal education over a 2 year period.
I am currently working towards Registered Herbalist status, which is considered the highest standard in clinical herbalism in the United States.
I'm also a member of the United Plant Savers Organization, which focuses on the research, education and conservation of native medicinal plants, fungi and their habitats.