BIO
Cynthia’s interest in herbs began many years ago, when she was a young adult and her grandfather told her, “It isn’t an apple a day, but a garlic a day that keeps the doctor away.” The death of her maternal grandmother from an allergic reaction to penicillin and a family history of allergies to many prescription medications made learning the herbal world a necessity to treat common ailments within Cynthia’s own family.
Cynthia has always been interested in cultural anthropology and how people see their connection with the Divine. These interests naturally intersect in the herbal world of interconnection with all that is living. Her studies of how other cultures sought healing through use of plants and prayer gave her an historical perspective to fold into the modern usage of herbs and food.
With the crucial climate changes we are experiencing, Cynthia feels a sense of urgency to bring a sense of community to everyone. Technology has given us a false sense of security in our food supply and diminished our understanding of how connected our viability is to the world of flora and fauna. By remembering our vital link to the environment, we can begin to rediscover our connections. This awareness will inspire us to a lifestyle of respect for the needs of all things living. Only when we discover this very personal connection will the world be able to incorporate real change in daily living habits, which will then promote health for the environment, which includes ourselves.
Having used herbs for over 35 years to help herself, her children and grandchildren, her friends, and eventually her clients, Cynthia has studied the growth and use of herbs for their healing properties for many years. Cynthia and her husband have grown their own vegetables for over 35 years and their own culinary herbs for the last 15 years. They have grown tradition gardens in larger plots, as well as practicing square foot gardening in a small city lot for over 16 years.
Cynthia has canned and preserved food for over 35 years and understands how eating real food is the best way to achieve optimal health. She and her husband were organic gardeners from the beginning, understanding that chemicals may be a quick fix that ultimately creates a long range imbalance, not so quickly corrected. Hippocrates urged people to first use food, then medicine. Cynthia’s experience has verified this ancient wisdom as she has seen how eating habits directly influence a client’s wellbeing.
In 2008, she and her husband Joe expanded their experiential learning of ecosystems and how interconnected we all are, with the purchase of land located high in the Alleghenies in Virginia. There Cynthia grows and tends many of the herbs that she uses in her practice. Clients benefit from plant remedies that are grown in healthy soil and with sustainable methods. Being able to immerse herself in the plant world brings to her work a deep understanding of the gifts from the plant world to humanity. Joe continues to expand his understanding of growing practices, implementing Permaculture and other sustainable methods to steward the land, while growing food.
According to the World Health Organization, 80% of the world’s people still use botanical medicine. Cynthia has seen amazing progress in clients when herbs are combined with Western medicine to enhance positive results. Herbs can enhance balance and wellbeing for chronic issues, as well as treat acute conditions.
Her studies began at home years ago and expanded to include completing The Master Herbalist Certification program at Trinity College of Natural Health. She then traveled to Vermont to learn The Wise Woman Tradition of herbal use in Rosemary Gladstar’s apprentice program at Sage Mountain Herbal Center, E. Barre, Vermont. Cynthia went on to complete a two-year course of study in historical uses of herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Innuni-Tibb, the American Eclectic physicians, and the Cherokee Indian traditions at David Winston's Center for Herbal Studies in Washington, New Jersey. She rounded out her training at the Herbal Clinical Program at Sacred Plant Traditions, Charlottesville, Virginia. Her continuous exposure to other teachers like Phyllis Light, Matt Wood, Stephen Buhner, and James Duke at yearly conferences and weekend seminars enhance her work with clients.
She works closely with The Boonsboro Wellness Center in Boonsboro, Maryland.