About Alexis
About Alexis
Alexis (she/her) is a Registered Herbal Therapist (RHT) with the British Columbia Herbalists Association (BCHA) and a nature Photographer.
Having been raised in a very health-conscious and nature-loving family, using natural remedies for health concerns has always been second nature for her. She has always had a love for the outdoors and medicine-making, and as a small child she could often be found with her hands in the dirt helping her mother who was a horticulturalist. As she grew older, you could find her climbing trees, hiking in the Alberta mountains with her family, or in her greenhouse “Laboratory” making up various concoctions. In her teenage years she discovered her passion for photography, and ever since she has tried to capture and share the magic of the natural world through a lens.
Since becoming a herbalist, her love and respect for plants and nature has grown even more. Every day she is humbled and inspired by the power and wisdom of the Plant Nation, and how they can so profoundly affect our lives. It is her goal to share this beauty and magic through both her passion for medicine-making and through her photography.
Education
Alexis first started down a career path in natural health in 2008 when she received her certification in Aromatherapy from Mount Royal University in Calgary. Having an interest in therapeutic touch, she went on to train in both Lomi Lomi (Traditional Hawaiian Body Alignment Technique) and CranioSacral Therapy. As her understanding of health and wellness grew, she began to see the importance of addressing health concerns internally as well as externally.
Knowing she wanted to learn more about herbal medicine, she began searching for the most comprehensive program in North America and came across Pacific Rim College’s Phytotherapy Diploma Program. During this three-year, 2130 hour program, she learned extensively about biomedical sciences, Western herbal sciences, traditional herbal practices, medicine-making, nutrition, supplementation, and research. Being an integrative health college, she was able to study under various health care professionals including medical and traditional herbalists, naturopathic doctors, and TCM practitioners; this inspired a deeper understanding of how different health practices can complement one another. Throughout her program she had the privilege of learning from many influential herbalists including: Peter Conway, David Caudwell, Paul Bergner, Stephen Buhner, Chanchal Cabrera, Amanda Howe, Lisa Ganora, Margi Flint, Sean Donahue, and Matthew Wood.
After gaining over 500 hours of clinical experience and first-hand knowledge of close to 200 herbs, she graduated in 2014 with the highest of honors and as class valedictorian.
In addition to running her own private herbal medicine practice, she is a member of the teaching faculty at Pacific Rim College, and also manages their extensive Western herbal medicine dispensary. Alexis is so grateful to be a part of the PRC community, where she continues to learn and be inspired every day working with so many passionate and inquisitive minds.
Philosophy
Alexis’ training in both Lomi Lomi and CranioSacral Therapy has taught her about the profound effect that gentle touch and intention can have on the body, a philosophy that has carried over into her medicine-making. To Alexis, being a good herbalist isn’t about using the strongest or most potent herb in her dispensary, but about choosing the best herb for the situation; in many cases this can mean using a seemingly common or gentle plant. Living in such a fast-paced society that demands quick results has taught us to believe that stronger and faster is better. Alexis has found in her own practice, as well as in her life, that often it is the subtle shifts, the gentle nudges to the body, that have the most profound and long-term results.
Practice
In her practice, Alexis uses a blend of traditional and modern herbal medicine approaches, combining the wisdom of our ancestors and the research of modern medicine. She uses only high quality herbs for her practice, either harvested by herself or sourced from ethical suppliers. Alexis believes strongly in protecting the environment and our plant allies, and any endangered herbs used in her practice are obtained from sustainable and cultivated sources.
Alexis work with all types of health concerns, with a particular interest in the areas of grief support, emotional well-being, eczema relief, and digestive health. Above all, her goal is to meet you where you are, working together to develop a successful health plan that best suits your needs.
Alexis is so grateful for all of the amazing practitioners who have helped and supported her on her own journey to health, and she looks forward to the opportunity of being a part of yours.
TERRITORIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Alexis would like to respectfully acknowledge the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwugen - Songhee), SXIMEŁEŁ (Esquimalt), and W̱SANEĆ (Saanich) Peoples on whose traditional and unceeded territories she is privileged to live, work, and play.
She is committed to always asking permission from the Plants and the Land before harvesting, to do so in an ethical and respectful manner, and to protect this Land and these Waters to the best of her ability.
