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"Today it is clear that chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes and heart-failure are inextricably linked to the state of our neighborhoods, jobs and families."
-Dr. Sandeep Jauha "When Blood Pressure is Political"
Decolonizing "Dis-ease"
Decolonizing "Dis-ease"
In my practice I aim to come from a lens that is decolonized, and not just centered in the clinical or even just the spiritual components of the healing. I aim to also consider the systemic oppressions that cause some of the most common chronic and auto-immune diseases.
In my practice I aim to come from a lens that is decolonized, and not just centered in the clinical or even just the spiritual components of the healing. I aim to also consider the systemic oppressions that cause some of the most common chronic and auto-immune diseases.
Every fiber, organ, bone, system, and cell in our bodies has a story. A story that traces back to a memory, a place, a land, a portal. Whether it be a trauma, a pleasure, a pain, a wisdom---it is all there to help us. There are no parts of us that are here to shame. A hot exhausted liver, an imbalanced hormone, a displaced, trauma-filled, transitioning womb, and so on. Some of us may carry rage and anger in our gut and liver that may have been carried across the trans-atlantic oceans, and through generations of chattel slavery. Perhaps some of our bodies have suffered from violence which have brought on deeply embedded dis-ease to our bodies.
Every fiber, organ, bone, system, and cell in our bodies has a story. A story that traces back to a memory, a place, a land, a portal. Whether it be a trauma, a pleasure, a pain, a wisdom---it is all there to help us. There are no parts of us that are here to shame. A hot exhausted liver, an imbalanced hormone, a displaced, trauma-filled, transitioning womb, and so on. Some of us may carry rage and anger in our gut and liver that may have been carried across the trans-atlantic oceans, and through generations of chattel slavery. Perhaps some of our bodies have suffered from violence which have brought on deeply embedded dis-ease to our bodies.
I think it is silly to frame dis-ease as just an individual thang. Or perceive that there something suddenly wrong with a person because they didn't eat the "right thing", or stick to a certain "regimen". "Dis-eases" like hyper-tension, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes--or auto-immune dis-eases like type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and so on, are not sudden, or happen by coincidence. These dis-eases are also systemic and have been passed down through systemic oppression. Dis-ease can always be traced from something or somewhere. It can be passed through generations of traumas, & systemic oppressions such as chattel slavery, colonialism, racism, sexism, & all of the phobias you can think of. This dis-ease is not always brought on by our habits or lifestyles. Thus, this is a WE thang, not just a YOU thang. We are ALL facing and are subject to dis-ease because we live in a society that thrives off of the dis-ease of people, animals, plants, and all of nature.
I think it is silly to frame dis-ease as just an individual thang. Or perceive that there something suddenly wrong with a person because they didn't eat the "right thing", or stick to a certain "regimen". "Dis-eases" like hyper-tension, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes--or auto-immune dis-eases like type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and so on, are not sudden, or happen by coincidence. These dis-eases are also systemic and have been passed down through systemic oppression. Dis-ease can always be traced from something or somewhere. It can be passed through generations of traumas, & systemic oppressions such as chattel slavery, colonialism, racism, sexism, & all of the phobias you can think of. This dis-ease is not always brought on by our habits or lifestyles. Thus, this is a WE thang, not just a YOU thang. We are ALL facing and are subject to dis-ease because we live in a society that thrives off of the dis-ease of people, animals, plants, and all of nature.
Accessibility
Accessibility
A quote from When Blood Pressure is Political by Dr. Sandeep Jauhar:
A quote from When Blood Pressure is Political by Dr. Sandeep Jauhar:
"Today it is clear that chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes and heart-failure are inextricably linked to the state of our neighborhoods, jobs and families. We must use this information in the fight against rising income inequality, high imprisonment rates and other social problems."
"Today it is clear that chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes and heart-failure are inextricably linked to the state of our neighborhoods, jobs and families. We must use this information in the fight against rising income inequality, high imprisonment rates and other social problems."
As a practitioner, I know first hand how the wellness industrial complex will try to get us to "regiment" ourselves to "health" and "healing". A lot of times there are no social, political, racial, or especially economical analysis within these regimens. Maybe our sleeping schedule is off because we have to work a night shift in order to survive, or because night time is the only time we can get free time from the busy chaotic day. Perhaps some of us live in a neighborhoods that don't offer the food alternatives suggestions, or even some of the suggested herbs that are asked of the client to take (although sometimes a lot issues can be remedied with some of our kitchen herbs and lawn weeds right at home). These are all ways "holistic wellness" can be taken out of contexts, and placed onto us as if there are other social-political barriers keeping us from implementing some of these regimens in the first place. I find these approaches to be quite ableist.
As a practitioner, I know first hand how the wellness industrial complex will try to get us to "regiment" ourselves to "health" and "healing". A lot of times there are no social, political, racial, or especially economical analysis within these regimens. Maybe our sleeping schedule is off because we have to work a night shift in order to survive, or because night time is the only time we can get free time from the busy chaotic day. Perhaps some of us live in a neighborhoods that don't offer the food alternatives suggestions, or even some of the suggested herbs that are asked of the client to take (although sometimes a lot issues can be remedied with some of our kitchen herbs and lawn weeds right at home). These are all ways "holistic wellness" can be taken out of contexts, and placed onto us as if there are other social-political barriers keeping us from implementing some of these regimens in the first place. I find these approaches to be quite ableist.
In addition, when I think about how the wellness industrial complex, and how it has been built on ablist rhethoric, I also think about how fatphobia. Fatphobia can very easily find it's way in herbalism spaces. A lot of the reason why this is so, is because a lot of the regimens require strict diet changes and some herbal support spaces require one to do this cold turkey over night. This approach to me is very ableist and fatphobic.
In addition, when I think about how the wellness industrial complex, and how it has been built on ablist rhethoric, I also think about how fatphobia. Fatphobia can very easily find it's way in herbalism spaces. A lot of the reason why this is so, is because a lot of the regimens require strict diet changes and some herbal support spaces require one to do this cold turkey over night. This approach to me is very ableist and fatphobic.
adAs a folk herbalist, my approach is not to have clients quit habits, or ways of being cold turkey, or even constantly telling clients what they are not "allowed" to do. I do my best to aproach the sessions with a social anti-rascist lens so that the client can feel supported in their journey. For instance, I provide alternatives and substitutions (food alternatives, sleep schedule accomadations and modifications, herbal alternatives that are more accessible). I do my best to try to account for those very important factors that could be getting in the way of us moving through stages of healing.
adAs a folk herbalist, my approach is not to have clients quit habits, or ways of being cold turkey, or even constantly telling clients what they are not "allowed" to do. I do my best to aproach the sessions with a social anti-rascist lens so that the client can feel supported in their journey. For instance, I provide alternatives and substitutions (food alternatives, sleep schedule accomadations and modifications, herbal alternatives that are more accessible). I do my best to try to account for those very important factors that could be getting in the way of us moving through stages of healing.
The Plant Medicine Journey
The Plant Medicine Journey
Healing through plant medicine isn't a quick fix. I am not here to "fix" you. Embarking on a plant medicine journey is all about listening to your vessel and asking for support and guidance along the way. The plants cannot heal us if we do not look inside ourselves. No diet, regimen, or retreat will heal us if we do not pay attention to the path and the wisdom our bodies are always teaching us.
Healing through plant medicine isn't a quick fix. I am not here to "fix" you. Embarking on a plant medicine journey is all about listening to your vessel and asking for support and guidance along the way. The plants cannot heal us if we do not look inside ourselves. No diet, regimen, or retreat will heal us if we do not pay attention to the path and the wisdom our bodies are always teaching us.
9 years I have been on this journey, and if I have learned anything it is that the medicine and the "healing" starts within. I have learned that not everything is one size fits all---that the body will send me the plants that my body needs intuitively (the best moments of all). It's all about trial and (sometimes) error. This is how I get to know my body and its needs. No matter what "good", "healthy" thing I put into my body, it will not activate if I do not love on those parts of me that need it most.
9 years I have been on this journey, and if I have learned anything it is that the medicine and the "healing" starts within. I have learned that not everything is one size fits all---that the body will send me the plants that my body needs intuitively (the best moments of all). It's all about trial and (sometimes) error. This is how I get to know my body and its needs. No matter what "good", "healthy" thing I put into my body, it will not activate if I do not love on those parts of me that need it most.
Methods & Herbal Traditions
Methods & Herbal Traditions
My practice is rooted in Black Appalachian Folklore and tradition. Throughout my travels in Asia I have been able to learn and study Traditional Thai and Chinese medicine. I consider myself a "folk" herbalist because a lot of what has been taught to me has been passed down from my family members, my Thai aunties, and mentors throughout my lineage teachers. My studies are not strictly academic, in fact a lot of my studies have been mostly through sitting and learning from all the brilliant medicine people in my lineage of teachers--watching, observing, and kinestically learning from them. Most of all, the most wise mastered teacher of them all, have been the plants themselves. Throughout my studies, whether it be a class, a reading, or otherwise, the teachers I look to the most are the plants themselves.
My practice is rooted in Black Appalachian Folklore and tradition. Throughout my travels in Asia I have been able to learn and study Traditional Thai and Chinese medicine. I consider myself a "folk" herbalist because a lot of what has been taught to me has been passed down from my family members, my Thai aunties, and mentors throughout my lineage teachers. My studies are not strictly academic, in fact a lot of my studies have been mostly through sitting and learning from all the brilliant medicine people in my lineage of teachers--watching, observing, and kinestically learning from them. Most of all, the most wise mastered teacher of them all, have been the plants themselves. Throughout my studies, whether it be a class, a reading, or otherwise, the teachers I look to the most are the plants themselves.
Although I do not really believe that there is a such thing as "western herbalism", I have and do still study western herbalism. I also do have a background in clinical studies, and I continue to study and learn more as the herbalism community continues to create language that aims to help us better understand our plant kin and we should and should not be interacting with them.
Although I do not really believe that there is a such thing as "western herbalism", I have and do still study western herbalism. I also do have a background in clinical studies, and I continue to study and learn more as the herbalism community continues to create language that aims to help us better understand our plant kin and we should and should not be interacting with them.
Offerings & Reciprocity
Offerings & Reciprocity
Each session with me is tailored to your needs, your experience, and your time. These sessions with me are 1:1 starting with a 40-60 min consultation/intake session. Perhaps you have been suffering from PMDD or PMS symptoms, and would like support in working with balancing hormones. Maybe you are having a hard time speaking up for yourself--perhaps at your workplace, with your community or family members, or even with a partner. Perhaps you are dealing with suppressed rage, anger, grief, or resentment that is causing digestion issues and inflammation in the body. These are all areas I can help support you in. If your needs surpassed what I have just listed, still please schedule a consultation with me or contact me via email and we can discuss your specific needs in more detail. From here we can both decide on if we are a good fit or not.
Each session with me is tailored to your needs, your experience, and your time. These sessions with me are 1:1 starting with a 40-60 min consultation/intake session. Perhaps you have been suffering from PMDD or PMS symptoms, and would like support in working with balancing hormones. Maybe you are having a hard time speaking up for yourself--perhaps at your workplace, with your community or family members, or even with a partner. Perhaps you are dealing with suppressed rage, anger, grief, or resentment that is causing digestion issues and inflammation in the body. These are all areas I can help support you in. If your needs surpassed what I have just listed, still please schedule a consultation with me or contact me via email and we can discuss your specific needs in more detail. From here we can both decide on if we are a good fit or not.
My model of reciprocity is on a person to person bases. The reciprocity is based on the client's resources and capacity.
My model of reciprocity is on a person to person bases. The reciprocity is based on the client's resources and capacity.
Suggested Sliding Scale Rates:
Suggested Sliding Scale Rates:
- First 60 minute 1:1 consultation- $60-$150 sliding scale
- 30-40 minute follow up sessions- $45-$100 sliding scale
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