Hello, I’m Amanda

Helleborea has come from multiple facets of myself. One is to express my own creations of herbalism through a creative and sensorial lens. I am an artist and animist, I feel called to the visionary messages that plants and landscapes emit. Herbalism allows me to express and create essences of this experience.

Another facet is due to seeing a crisis in healthcare. I saw that many people are suffering due to mainstream healthcare and I have strived to find a different way and different understanding that truly helps people. I initially came to herbalism through my own healing path and a desire to seek a deeper understanding of my body and my own chronic health issues. I was throughly dissatisfied with modern medical care and frustrations with its lack of seeing the whole person and the whole story of an individual. I was frustrated with the symptom = pharmaceutical approach. I knew there was something missing with this model. Herbalism opened the door to a new way of healing that truly benefited me. However, herbalism as a healing modality is only one part of the picture — this is where my training as a Vitalist has come into play.

I am through and through a vitalist at heart. I have learned so many important things as a clinical herbalist by understanding vitalism. A big part of this understanding the bodies natural ability to heal itself and utilizing herbs to assist in this process, rather than using herbs to suppress symptoms. Another part is striving towards self mastery.

A problem with mainstream herbalism is that many tend to go from an allopathic model of pharmaceuticals, to an allopathic use of herbal medicine, which is why people don’t have great results with herbs. Herbalism can only be beneficial when we engage in vitalist practices.

Herbs can be used in an allopathic way (symptom suppression), but that’s not how herbs have been traditionally used, nor is it a good use if we’re seeking real benefit and a real cure.

When engaging in a vitalist view of herbal medicine, we start to engage in an understanding our own self. When we start observing obstacles to a cure — self destructive patterns, addictions, environmental factors, emotional or spiritual blocks, ect.

This is where my practice takes place - understanding your story. Who are you. What obstacles are causing you to be ill? What can we do to overcome this?

Healing is a spiritual journey. As someone who continues on this journey, I’m here to help others on theirs as well.

I believe that integration is key to the flawed system that’s in place. We need modern medical care just as much as we need the wise women. My goal is to bridge that gap with the wisdom and training that I’ve gained on my own journey.