April 2008 Monthly Spotlight:
 
Laurie Nitschke

Essential Health Kneads
Website:  www.essentialhealthkneads.com 

Blog: http://lnitschke.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1175660860 
 

CHEO 2008 Vice-President
Membership Chair, Newsletter
www.4cheo.org

When my oldest son, now 27 years old, was born he was allergic to most foods and all prescriptions. I had to learn how to care for my son and keep him healthy through herbs.

In 1999, I adopted our youngest son, now 15 years old. He was, at the age of 7, failure to thrive, severely malnourished and was taking Prozac, Depakote, singular, Ritalin, and other prescriptions when I adopted him. He is now off of all prescriptions, is at normal weight and has grown tremendously.

In 2002, I was given one-year to live and through nutrition I reversed my health and now I am helping others. I am always searching and researching products and supplements that can help others and me, the more natural the product the more I am likely to promote the product.

● Tell us about yourself in 60 words or less:

My strengths are: I am reliable, a true listener, a true friend, very organized and truly love mankind. I want to be able to help everyone. My weakness is that I can be a perfectionist at times and that compels me to stumble.

● Where are you from?

I am from a town called Baldwinsville, NY, which is approximately 20 minutes from Syracuse, NY. I was born and raised there. In 1994, I moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico and was surrounded by essential oils and holistic health. In 2000, I moved back to my home town.

● How long in the Greater Chattanooga area?

I have been in the Chattanooga area since July 2007.

●  If you had three wishes, what would they be in order of importance?

If I had three wishes, my first wish would be all my family members be saved and have a great relationship with God; second wish: that my whole family, including myself, would have great health and the third wish: that we, the people of United States, would have the right to what type of health care we want to pursue and not to have problems with our government, exammple: FDA attacks on alternative care, vaccine-free children, etc.

●  What do you like to do in your spare time?

In my spare time I enjoy reading and doing crafts, mostly plastic canvas. I love to cook and bake.

●  What do you do for fun?

For fun I enjoy camping and hiking with my family and with friends just having a good time together.

●  Are you married, have you ever been married, etc? Kids? Pets?

I am married to wonderful man name Bill. We got married four days after 9/11 on September 15, 2001. Between the two of us we have five children, Charles, 27 years old; Jennifer, 26 years old; Jason, 25 years old; Ashlee, 18 years old and Bradley, 15 years old. We also have two grandsons, Macon, 3 yr; and Charles, 15 mos.

I love animals and right now we have two dogs, a miniature black lab, named Ivy; a Chihuahua/terrier mix, named Patches, a Russian Blue cat, named Amy and a Bearded Dragon, named Nala.

●  What are you most proud of in your life?

There are a couple of things that I am really proud of: my children and being able to obtain my higher education and being able to start my own business and to love my career.

●  Where do you see yourself in five years?

In five years I want to have obtained my Naturopathic Doctor degree and have a wellness center. I see in the center, chiropractors, acupuncture, massage, work-out room, nutritional counseling, raindrop therapy, lecture, retreats and more.

●  How would you describe your studio to someone?

My office is very relaxing, warm, homey feeling and welcoming. With the different essential oils being used, it always smells good. The office is originally a solarium with a lot of plants, natural light, hot tub, massage table and a couch. When we have group events we have a lot of fun and laughter.

●  What services do you offer?

I offer one-on-one counseling with my clients on wellness/health issues. As a Holistic Health Practitioner, I am your personal advocate for living an energized and passionate life. Whatever your concerns are, my job is to help you find which foods and lifestyle choices work best for the life you desire.

A true holistic approach to life incorporates things that nourish you other than food, including things like honest and open relationships, a spiritual practice you feel connected to, a career that inspires you, and physical activity that makes you want to move and feed your soul and your hunger for living.

I offer Raindrop Technique which combines the science of aroma Technique with the techniques of Vita flex, in the application of essential oils, which are applied on various areas of the body to bring structural and electrical alignment. It is designed to bring balance to the body with its relaxing, mild application. It will also help to align and clear the energy centers of the body without using force or excessive pressure. When you combine the electrical frequency and the intelligence of the body and the oil, a greater healing process begins.

I also offer ionic detox foot baths, I teach skin care, I give lectures on various wellness/health issues and I write nutritional articles monthly for a local magazine company.

●  What is the one thing you want the public to understand about your services that you feel they don't?

My philosophy is that alternative health care should be afforded by everyone.
I have discounts for CHEO members, senior citizens and for those that are financially burdened I work with them on a payment plan or reduce fee basis. True "health care" will keep you away from having to spend money on "sick care". It is a lot cheaper to stay healthy and to mask your illness with prescriptions and sick time from work and activities.

Q & A with Susan:


What brought you to Alternative Health and the field/product you’re involved with?

Throughout my life I have been faced with various illnesses, or family illnesses that have not been successfully treated solely by the medical profession. In many instances the illnesses or conditions could have been treated through preventative means and in most cases alternative therapies would have been far more beneficial as a preventative measure.

I personally have developed many allergies after a chemical exposure some 18 years ago.  Medical science could only detect and confirm the exposure but could not treat the condition. Frankly, they didn't  know what to do at that time to heal the damage other than treat the symptoms and further additional unneeded side-effects.  Consequently,  foods have become one of the main allergens, therefore, seeking pure foods that are not contaminated is of vital concern and should be a concern to us all. Added sulfates for shelf-life including altered gmo foods, drinks, even make-ups that contain genetically modified ingredients and chemicals will slowly break down our immune systems leaving us open for additional illness we all would do well to avoid.
 

Tell us about yourself in 60 words or less:

Being a Human Service Specialist, I care for the interests of society and seek to advocate and promote what would be beneficial for all humanity and human interests.

My interests are in various areas concerning rebuilding what is currently lost in our diets, the air we breath, our water, products and strive to promote physical wellness as well as environmental awareness to all peoples through the purest resource options available. I am incorporating links in my website to provide easily researched products and services to those who feel the same. My goal is to develop a natural newsletter in the near future.

Grapevine Review - Natural LifeStyles: www.grapevinereview.com

Where are you from? How long in the Greater Chattanooga area?

I was born in Ohio, but raised part of my life in Florida.  I have lived in the Chattanooga area for about 18 years where I chose to raise my children. They say hindsite is sometimes better than foresite. I am very pleased with outcome of raising my children here. The area has added great insight and provided a well-rounded view for child-rearing.

 
If you had three wishes, what would they be in order of importance?

First, I would love to see "universal peace" for all mankind, including natural harmony between the earth, animals and environment.

Second, it would have to be "motivation" of all peoples to bring the earth back to it's natural preserve so the harmony of the peace could continue on a renewed earth free of contamination.

Third, would have to be for all to have genuine, "love and appreciation" for the existence of earthly treasures, peoples and all living matters promoting a continual bond between the co-existence and acceptance of what life can offer each living organism in giving back to where the need prevails.

 
What is the one thing you would most like us to know about you?

My intentions in working with the advertising for Cheo are geared toward getting to know each an every member, what their specialties are and how their services can better others lifestyles. I have an advertising background and hope to better serve the members through the knowledge I obtain and my travels throughout the community. I would hope to become a good referral source for each and every one within the alternative health organization.

If you could have lunch with any person, living or deceased, who would it be and why?

Currently, it would have to be Gregg Braden.  I find his vast travels and ability to empathize with humanity astounding. He has an ability to spiritually relate to those around himself but is in total touch with his inner person and can relate his thoughts and relevance to the world through the art of communication. I appreciate his humility and grace for humanity and all humankind. I have posted his videos and links on my website for reference and inspirational/positive thought.

What do you like to do in your spare time? What do you do for fun?

My spare time is centered around my home and small herb garden.  I enjoy bread-making and creating new ideas.  When I go out of the home I like to combine my time, when the weather allows, with my appreciation of the Art World.  I enjoy art walks and appreciate the talents of those who invest their time in creativity and creation. This is where my love of wine and the finer pleasures in the purity of good foods can be measured and appreciated.  I hope to take a world cruise to further grasp the vast cultures and practices that stimulate our co-existence.  

Are you married, have you ever been married, etc? Kids? Pets?

I am single now. Having raised three children, I seem to have a new found contentment of where I am at in the stream of time.  I have been a foster parent, supervised foreign exchange students from Germany and had a small business assisting disabled Veterans as a human service contribution. One might say, I have been married to care-giving.

Animals are amazing and my life has been full of pets of every various degree. Life has toned down a little now and I am finding more time to appreciate the simple things around me and the God-given pleasures that are so profound. German Shepherds have always been my favorite breed of dogs, but I find animals that find their way to my home will always have a meal and eventually a good home.


If you’re not in alternative health full time, what kind of work do you do?

All my life as far back as I can remember, health awareness and issues regarding the environment seem to have been a preference and influenced my life. 

I became a medical assistance in my younger years and later graduated as a human service specialist. For about two years I spent working part-time with a newspaper as an advertising sales manager and sold/wrote ads for a newspaper in 1985 while living in Florida.  

I have found many health problems and allergies can be related to the area or environment where one was raised or lived for a period of years, so the world's conditions interest me greatly.  I hope to travel and widen my perspectives of the nature of things in relation to our environments. I hope to always seek solutions and assist in promoting new and alternative therapies or products for the publics knowledge to promote future wellness in our changing times.

CHEO offers some of the most natural, chemical free and healthy options and services available.  Currently I will be working with CHEO to promote advertising and awareness of these natural services, products and therapies .

This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know each and every member, their specialties share this vital information with other members seeking relief as well as the public seeking direction with an alternative approach in a contaminated world.

I am looking forward to the coming new year and talking with you soon!

 
What are you most proud of in your life?

I would have to say, my children.  Each one has blossomed to become their own individual self. They are level- headed, goal-oriented and successfully finding their own way and places in society. Although, I am not a grandmother yet, I am assured that the day will come and they too will know the time is right. I am thankful my children have put their priorities in order and seek to practice awareness in the world around them.

Aside from my own children, I enjoy making a difference when I see a need and have the ability to make things better.

 
Where do you see yourself in five years?

This is hard to determine with the worlds state of affairs.  I would hope and pray, healthy and happy.

 
How would you like to see this organization grow, change or expand? How would you like to see medical and alternative health in this country grow, change or etc.

Personally I would like to see more of the public have the opportunity to experience and see the benefits of what natural health, healing and alternative approaches can do for them personally.  There are so many wonderful services and products that can benefit each and every person in a natural healthful way.  The options available for restoring ones health safely without damaging chemicals are available as a preventative measure contributes to the natural approach.

I strongly believe awareness is essential to the knowledge of what the natural world offers vs. the conventional approach that most have perceived as a learned practice. We need to work together to support our rights of "choice" as a natural approach. I am truly concerned with the attacks from pharmaceutical companies and movements to eliminate alternative medicine. Medical practices in Europe strive to promote the natural approach as a preventative.

We should all have the option to choose our health care and preventive practices are only the beginning. I would hope to see the medical professionals working together with alternative health professionals to prevent disease and prolong life as the ideal solution in bettering health measures for all. It would be wonderful if they both could work together with the best interest of the humanity. I would hope that one day this could happen.

CHEO FEBRUARY SPOTLIGHT

Diane Minch, B.S.
(Health and Physical Education) 

Graduate Studies in Nutrition
 
Natural Wellness and Lifestyle  Consultant/Educator
 
Certified Skin Care Advisor and Instructor
 
Independent Business Owner
Sunrider Herbal Foods, Skin Care
and Healthy Lifestyle Products
  
Low Level (Cold) Laser Therapy
  

 Co-Director Loudon/Monroe Community Group
of Greater Knoxville Chapter of CHEO.

Contact Diane at: DianeMinch@hotmail.com  423-884-6031

 ● Tell us about yourself:

From the time I was 10 years old, I knew I wanted to be a teacher.  I have always loved the great outdoors, water, movement, dance, animals and people.  Helping people to improve their lives has always been important to me. In addition to teaching, Health and Physical Education for 30 years, I also coached a variety of sports and after school activities including interscholastic volleyball and basketball teams, cheerleading, intramural sports and dance clubs.  I am now in my second career as a Natural Wellness and Lifestyle Consultant.  I have owned my own home based business for the past 19 years exclusively using the Sunrider International product line.  I can’t think of anything that I would rather do.  Like teaching, I am still able to make a difference in peoples’ lives.  I also teach Water Aerobics 3 mornings a week during the summer at the community where I live.
 

 ● What brought you to Alternative Health and
   the field/product you’re involved with?

Looking back to my childhood, I think my Mom was the first person to make me aware of natural and healthy ways of doing things.  She was self taught and an avid reader. Mom would implement things into our household that she had learned from reading Adele Davis and Linus Pauling.

I really didn’t “get it” though until much later in my life.  After teaching for several years, I took graduate classes in Nutrition from Dr. Susan Marcus.  She is the one who truly opened my eyes to alternative and complementary health and making nutritional and lifestyle changes.  Dr. Marcus was the one who first introduced me to Sunrider, a world leader in herbal nutritional and regenerative whole food concentrates.  That was 19 years ago and it has been a wonderful journey and life changing experience ever since.
 

 ●  What led you to your business and opening your home office?

When I experienced the superior quality, powerful concentration and safety of the Sunrider foods, skin care, personal care and household products, and what it did for my health and wealth, I knew I couldn’t keep it a secret.  Since I decided to share these incredible products with others, I have achieved a level of financial freedom that I never thought possible and it keeps getting better. The income potential is unlimited and so are the wonderful health benefits.  I don’t think I would have decided to do this if I hadn’t attained the results I did.  I love the fact that one company has over 400 products that they manufacture with care and integrity that can meet almost all of my needs.  I am so passionate about these products that I would share them with everyone even if I didn’t make a cent.  The good news is that the marketing plan is as good as the products.  Distributors are able to enjoy a plan that pays out 58.5% of company Sales Volume with eleven different ways to make money.  Those who don’t want or need the financial freedom aspect of the marketing plan can still join and enjoy the health benefits and up to a 40% discount off the retail price of the products.
 

 ●  What services do you offer?

I offer a variety of services most of them free of charge.  I do Nutritional Analysis, Lifestyle Consulting, Skin Care and Cosmetic Classes, Personal Consultations, Group Presentations, Business Trainings, Financial Freedom Seminars and Health Education Seminars.  Popular topics for my Health Education seminars include “Understanding and Improving Digestion”, “Heart Health”, “Hormone Health”, “Regeneration and Acid/Alkaline Balance”, “Achieving a Healthy Lifestyle”, “How to Read a Label”, “Building Health with Whole Food Concentrates”, “Weight Management the Healthy Way”, etc.  I help people learn what they can do to achieve optimum health, increase their energy, support their body systems for improved digestion, immunity, heart health, hormonal balance, respiratory function, emotional balance, blood sugar balance, food sensitivity and allergy relief, joint support, acid alkaline balance, weight management, mental clarity, beautiful youthful skin and improved performance and the competitive edge in sports and fitness activities.   In addition, I offer Low Level Laser Therapy sessions.  This is a therapeutic cold laser that is particularly helpful with pain management, improving circulation and wound healing and assisting in improved function of the nervous system, plus much more.
 

 ●  If you could have lunch with any person, who would it be and why?

I would choose to have lunch with Dr. Tei Fu Chen, master herbalist, biochemist, pharmacist and agriculturalist, founder of Sunrider International and manufacturer of the best foods on the planet.  He is truly a visionary and a dreamer with a mission to bring health and wealth to the world.  I believe he is light years ahead of the rest of the industry.  He has given us a health care system based on the philosophy of regeneration.  The philosophy of regeneration is the exact opposite of the sick care system and the philosophy of substitution that we see prevalent in the world today. The philosophy of regeneration says that our body will always strive for harmony and balance and heal itself if it has the right tools.  The tools are the right combination of whole foods.  We must all take some responsibility for our own health.  This made total sense to me from the moment I heard it and that is what has led me to the path I am following.
 

●  What is it that you would like people to understand about your business or company that you feel they don’t know?

I would like people to know that the Sunrider regenerative herbal nutritionals are delicious concentrated food grade herbs, very easy to digest with live enzymes still in tact.  Sunrider never uses medicinal herbs that force the body and may have contraindications with medicines. Sunrider does ongoing research and development and manufactures all of their own products to pharmaceutical standards.  Sunrider has a pharmaceutical license, but they do not manufacture pharmaceuticals.  I have had the privilege of touring the Sunrider manufacturing plants in both the US and China to see this amazing process first hand.  Sunrider has developed a way to filter out heavy metals from raw materials.  Sunrider’s herbs are free of pesticides, herbicides and chemicals and are sterilized without fumigation or irradiation.  They go through an elaborate cleaning process and pass USDA inspection before they are ever shipped to the United States.  Nothing is ever sprayed. There are no additives, preservatives or chemicals in the foods. The basic Sunrider formulas have been tested on people for over 3,000 years.  Sunrider founder, Dr. Tei Fu Chen is in possession of ancient Chinese manuscripts where the formulas were meticulous recorded by Chinese physicians.  Dr. Chen has added modern technology and concentrated the herbs so that they are more powerful than ever.  These formulas are exclusive to Sunrider.  No one else has these special regenerative FOODS that Nourish, Balance and Cleanse the body for optimum health.  These foods are for EVERYONE –tiny babies, toddlers, youth, teenagers, adults, pregnant moms, athletes, couch potatoes, active people, the elderly, those with health challenges, those with optimum health and even pets of all kinds. 
 

  ●  Where are you from? How long in the Greater Knoxville area?

I was born and raised in Chicago.  I taught and coached in the elementary and junior high schools of two Chicago suburbs, namely Thornton and Park Ridge, for my entire public school teaching career.  We relocated to Eastern Tennessee seven years ago.  We are blessed to live on Tellico Lake in a wonderful community in Vonore where we built our dream home.
 

  ●  What do you like to do in your spare time? 
   What do you do for fun?

I have so many interests and of course, not enough time to do them all as often as I would like.   Since I love mountains and water, I thoroughly enjoy downhill skiing, scuba diving and snorkeling, swimming, water aerobics, and boating and hiking.  I also love to dance especially International and American Folk Dance and Ballroom Dance.  Yoga, Tai Chi, bicycle riding and gardening are also part of my activities.  I love to travel and have been blessed with wonderful opportunities to experience first hand many cultures of the world.  Last summer we had the privilege of experiencing a two week, all expenses paid, reward trip to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong to celebrate Sunrider’s 25th anniversary.  This month we will be off to Hawaii for a Sunrider leadership reward trip.  What a fun way to mix business with pleasure.
 

●  Are you married, have you ever been married?  Kids?  Pets?

I am married to my wonderful husband, Phil, with whom I share my life, dreams and many common interests.  We have been married for almost 14 years. This is my second marriage.  I lost my first husband to cancer.   We certainly never know what life has in store for us, but I have been blessed with two wonderful marriages.  That seems like a miracle in today’s world where so many people never really find happiness with the right person.

I don’t have any children of my own unless you can count the thousands of students that I taught and coached through the years.  I do, however, collect step children (total 5) and step grandchildren (total 9).

About four years ago, we added Amigo to our family.   He is a yellow lab mix that we rescued from the local animal shelter and he will most likely be the first one to greet you when you come to visit us at our home or office.  We named him Amigo because he is everybody’s friend.
 

●  How would you like to see this organization grow, change or expand? How would you like to see medical and alternative health in this country grow?

I see CHEO as an organization that will make a definite difference in how we see Healthcare.  Educating the community and public is the way to invoke changes in a society.  CHEO is doing that and will increase their efforts to do even more in the most beneficial way possible to get the message across to the general public.  Bridging the gap between traditional and complementary medicine is critical. I am excited about Knoxville’s new affiliation with CHEO Chattanooga.  Our collaborative efforts will accomplish even more wonderful things for complementary health education.  I envision a health care system that utilizes the best of traditional and complementary medicine in the same facility.  I dream of doctors and practitioners getting paid for keeping people well instead of getting paid to practice on the sick.  This was the ancient tradition for Chinese physicians.  Let’s adopt it in our country.  I envision a healthy society that seldom needs to utilize the existing healthcare system, pharmaceutical drugs or surgery. This will happen when and if people accept responsibility for their own physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health by tapping into their own internal pharmacy within the human body and regenerating their body on a daily basis with optimum foods and healthy lifestyles.
 

●  What do you think the public needs to know about holistic health, but doesn’t?

The public needs to know that holistic health is not snake oil or scams.  They need to know that optimum health and regeneration are possible without drugs and surgery.  They need to know that there are a variety of very safe, effective and non invasive therapies and modalities that can help without negative side effects.

January 2008
Greenlife Grocery CHEO MEMBERS

Blaire R. Newhard, RD, LD
Greenlife Nutrition Specialist

Heather Carnahan
Greenlife Herb / Supplements Manager

How did you get started in your work?

            It’s interesting because I actually got into this field because of Greenlife. I worked for the original Riverview store before when they opened in 1999.  I was a strict vegan at the time and wanted to work in a health food store that sold a lot of the specialty products that I consumed.  I worked with the company on and off over the years as I travelled and went to school, but when I started working in the Supplement and Body Care department I worked with a woman named Denise whose knowledge of nutrition really inspired me to learn more so I enrolled in the UTC Food and Nutrition program.  This started me on the path to an eventual internship with OHSU in Portland, OR and then national and state certification as a Registered Dietitian.  Although some see this as a much more conventional route, I was always integrating alternative medicines and nutritional therapies, as well as specialties diets like vegetarianism, veganism and raw foods into my research and projects.
 
            After school I began working on a project for an organic rice cake manufacturer in The Netherlands.  I worked in a test kitchen doing product development and research.  I was also moonlighting as a personal dinner chef several nights out of the week, highlighting organic, nutritious foods.  I have always been intrigued by the culinary aspect of nutrition because nutrition starts with a close, positive relationship with the food.  I spent several months in between jobs travelling and working on organic farms in France and Spain to learn the agricultural side of food and some different traditional European cuisine.  After returning to the states I was eager to work in a setting that was food-based but would also incorporate more nutrition counseling and community projects.  I am excited to be back with the company where I found my initial inspiration and offer my services free to the public.  
 

What do you like to do in your spare time?  What do you do for fun?

            I have recently become an avid swimmer, so I do that in the evenings after work several times a week.  Cooking  has become a pleasant routine for my days off.  I have a very strong love for many different forms of music, and get much enjoyment in finding new and interesting songs and artists. Right now I’m very interested in a lot of music that comes from India and Eastern Europe. 
 
    For fun?  I’m always up for new experiences and travel, and those close to me are often doing whatever we can to make one another laugh. 
 

Where are you from?  How long in the Greater Chattanooga area?

            I was born in Philadelphia, PA and lived in New Jersey the first years of my life.  My family likes to move around a lot so I lived up and down the east coast while growing up.  However, I have spent 14 total years here in Chattanooga, always leaving and coming back!
 

What service do you offer?

I offer complimentary consultations in the Greenlife store that run approximately 1 hour, and include: Health and Diet Analysis, Lifestyle Counseling, Recipes, Educational literature, and a 1 on 1 store walk-through tailored to the individual. I represent Greenlife at health fairs, and speaking events.
 
            I conduct health-themed tours that fall under the following categories:  General, Diabetes, Gluten-Free and other food allergies, Vegetarian/Vegan/Raw, Weight Loss, Label Reading, and Kids.
       
            I also work on a large variety of projects throughout the store that help to educate our customers on making more nutritious decisions.  Recently I have posted signs for some of my “Nutritionist’s Picks”, and labeled the tested Gluten-Free products in our store.
  
        Soon I will be conducting classes and talks out of the store on a regular basis once we get a little more settled in!   

                             My office hours are Mon & Wed-Sat 10-7.
 

What advice do you have for people looking to get into this field?

            In my experiences, those that create the greatest impact in this field (and thankfully this field is full of them!!) are those that our driven by a passion for healing and sharing knowledge.  With that conviction and dedication at the heart of your practice you should be able to overcome any obstacles.  
 
            I also stress paying attention to current research. There is a whole new wave of researchers looking at complementary and alternative medicine research, and it is important to stay on top of what the scientific community is looking at and coming up with. 
 

What is the one thing you want the public to understand about your services that you feel they don’t? 

            I am a free, educational resource for the community.  My counseling, touring, and speaking services are all complimentary on behalf of Greenlife Grocery.  I am also open to questions concerning nutrition and health from anybody and everybody via phone, email or in person.  
 

If you could have lunch with any person, living or deceased, who would it be and why? 

Alton Brown!  Host of the Food Network show Good Eats.  He is a culinary & food science know-it-all and I would love to pick his brain and have a few laughs over a good meal.  
 

What brought you to alternative health?

Fate. Destiny. The Universe. God. My soul's yearning for truth and beauty. My wonderful and loving partner, Pete Boubel. My dearest friends and mentors, Mary Ann, Aliess, Jerome, as well as many friends and teachers along the way.
 

Where are you from?

The Midwest. Born and raised in NW Indiana. Spent some years in Chicago, where Pete and I met and lived. Then on to southern California for a U turn, and now here for the past almost 9 years.


If you had three wishes, what would they be, in order of importance?

Fully manifest heaven on earth/world peace. That'd do it, I think. What else is there?


If you could have lunch with any person, living or deceased, who
would it be and why?

Christ. Talk about an avid interest in healing...


Are you married? 

Pete is my sweetheart of nearly 12 years, and who knows how many lifetimes. We have two cats, Selena 14, Jezebel 12, and our Daisy dog was a year in September.

How would you like to see medical and alternative health in this country grow and change?

I would like to see the people take back their/our personal power in every aspect. Herbs and food are the people's medicine, and these things are and through out much of 'civilized' history have been controlled by the ruling elite, effectively enslaving the 'masses'.  It's so controlled today by insurance, pharmaceuticals, the AMA, the FDA, which are in my view largely financially motivated--Big Business...

Health is not big business, it is not industry. It is our birth rite. So, yes, I am most definitely inspired to encourage people to take back their personal power instead of handing it over the the machinations of culture.

As our friend Terence McKenna said, "Culture is not your friend." I'm passionate about encouraging people to reclaim their personal authority and to enjoy the simple spiritual existence in daily living. This is revolutionary.


Tell us about yourself in 60 words or less/what is the one thing you'd most like us to know about you/what do you like to do in your spare time?

I'm a singer, a dreamer, an herb loving, spiritual growth seeking, laughing, loving, forward thinking, open minded, open hearted, rose colored glasses wearing, all natural, sustainable, fairly traded, biodynamically and locally grown, bicycle rider.

I'm a sincere, ever learning and sharing, herbal cordial and elixir drinking, salve and bath salt making, flower essence taking, aromatherapy and feng shui and astrology loving, procrastinatin