About the Herbalist
Green Medicine. Naturally Good.
My passion is, simply put, plants. Plants in all their wonderful forms, shapes and diversity, and in their ability to help us heal, on all levels – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
As a clinical herbalist, I combine a knowledge of herbal medicine with time-honoured traditional wisdom. My therapeutic approach reflects a synthesis of western (North American, European) and eastern (Ayurveda, TCM) herbal traditions, along with a thorough understanding of medical science and the chemical composition of plants (pharmacognosy). I believe in an integrated approach to healthcare and that herbal medicine and conventional medicine are complementary to one another.
Growing up in a rural setting, my backyard was 40 acres of verdant wilderness. Each day, I walked beneath towering cedars, majestic maples, firs, birch and larch, and was touched by their timeless wisdom. These lush and abundant natural surroundings provided me with the foundation for an abiding love and respect for Nature and the bounty of medicine that she holds.
During my training as a clinical herbalist, I was privileged to apprentice with several of North America’s most renowned herbalists and benefit from their collective experience and wisdom. Their insights, as well as their generosity in sharing of their knowledge, enriched my understanding and respect for the healing power of plants. Ultimately, it is the plants themselves which are our greatest teachers, and which generously facilitate our healing.
My professional career in healthcare began along a more conventional route, as a medical laboratory technologist (Magna cum laude). This background provided me with an appreciation of both the benefits and shortcomings of modern medicine, as well as a comprehensive understanding of the body’s processes during illness. It also instilled a deeper desire to better understand the body’s innate wisdom and its profound intelligence to heal, and prompted my return to the ‘green roots’ of my upbringing.
I have been in clinical practice in Vancouver, BC, since 1997. Alongside my work as a practitioner, I have developed and taught programs in herbal medicine at several colleges and at Hollyhock Retreat Centre, and my articles on natural health have appeared in numerous publications. I also provide consulting services to the natural products industry including product development (formulating), copy writing, and educational and marketing support.
To ensure that what is good for you is also good for our planet, Supreme Tonics™ is committed to sourcing and using only certified organic, fair trade, and ethically harvested botanical sources.
Yours in Health,
Paulina
Registered Professional Member:
- American Herbalists Guild
- Canadian Herbalists Association of BC
This site is dedicated to my father, who inspired me with his love for all that grows from “the good earth” – and, whose onion poultices were possibly my first introduction to herbal medicine!
