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Monday 9am - 6pm Tuesday 9am - 6pm Wednesday 9am - 6pm Thursday 9am - 6pm Friday 9am - 6pm Saturday 9am - 6pm

http://www.healinghouseherbal.com/

Healing House Natural Wellness, 907 12th Street, New Westminster, BC (2025)

10/13/2025

🌿 MONOGRAPH MONDAY: Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) 🌿

Deep in the Amazon rainforest grows one of my absolute favorite anti-inflammatory allies - Cat's Claw, or "Uña de Gato" as it's known throughout South America.

For over 2,000 years, indigenous cultures including the Asháninka, Shipibo, and other Amazonian peoples have revered this powerful climbing vine as sacred medicine. Traditional healers have used Cat's Claw to support immune function, reduce inflammation, and promote overall vitality - wisdom that has been passed down through countless generations.

What makes this herb so special for chronic inflammatory illness? Cat's Claw contains unique alkaloids and compounds that work synergistically to:

🔹 Modulate immune system function
🔹 Reduce systemic inflammation
🔹 Support cellular repair and regeneration
🔹 Provide potent antioxidant protection

Modern research has validated much of this traditional wisdom, showing Cat's Claw's remarkable ability to support inflammatory conditions, immune dysfunction, and even DNA repair mechanisms - making it invaluable for addressing the root causes we see in chronic illness.

In my practice, I often incorporate Cat's Claw into custom formulations for clients dealing with autoimmune conditions and chronic inflammation. It's gentle yet powerful, working harmoniously with the body's natural healing processes.

The indigenous peoples of the Amazon have gifted us this incredible plant ally. As we use it in our healing work, we honor their wisdom and the sacred relationship between plants and people.

Have you worked with Cat's Claw before? I'd love to hear about your experiences with this amazing herb! 💚

With love from the plant world,
Petra

10/12/2025

🌿 Self Care Sunday: The Mindful Path to Immune Balance

Did you know that chronic stress can shift your immune system toward Th2 dominance? This imbalance often underlies inflammatory conditions like allergies, asthma, and autoimmune responses.

When we're constantly in fight-or-flight mode, our nervous system signals the immune system to stay on high alert. Mindfulness practices help activate our parasympathetic nervous system, creating space for healing and immune rebalancing.

✨ Try This Calming Mindfulness Practice:

Find a quiet space and sit comfortably. Close your eyes and take three deep breaths, letting each exhale be longer than the inhale.

Place one hand on your heart, one on your belly. Feel the gentle rhythm of your breath moving through your body.

Now, silently repeat: "With each breath, I invite peace into my cells. With each exhale, I release what no longer serves me."

Continue for 5-10 minutes, returning to this phrase whenever your mind wanders.

This simple practice helps shift your nervous system from stress response to rest and digest mode, supporting your body's natural healing processes.

Your immune system thrives when you give it permission to rest. 💚

What's your favorite mindfulness practice? Share below!

With love from the plant world, Petra

10/11/2025

🌿 SUPPLEMENT SATURDAY 🌿

One of my absolute favorite multi-vitamins! In fact, I love it so much, I use as part of my daily protocol.

Pure Encapsulations Women's Nutrients are thoughtfully formulated to address the unique nutritional needs of women.

In our fast-paced, stress-filled modern world, even the most mindful eating habits can leave nutritional gaps. Between demanding schedules, processed foods, depleted soils, and chronic stress that burns through our B vitamins and magnesium stores, our bodies are working overtime just to keep up.

This is where a high-quality daily multi becomes essential. Pure Encapsulations delivers:

✨ Bioavailable forms of nutrients your body can actually use
✨ Gender-specific formulations addressing unique needs
✨ Clean ingredients without unnecessary fillers or additives
✨ Support for energy production, immune function, and stress resilience

The Women's formula includes extra iron and folate, with optimal ratios of B vitamins, vitamin D3, and essential minerals to help bridge those nutritional gaps that modern life creates.

Remember: supplements work best alongside whole foods nutrition and lifestyle management practices. Think of a quality multi as your daily insurance policy - filling in the blanks so your body can focus on healing and thriving rather than just surviving.

Want to Try this Multi for Yourself? Click the Shop link on healinghouseherbal.com and select "Vitamins and Minerals".

With love from the plant world,
Petra 💚

10/10/2025

🌿 EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT: The Herbalist's Quick Guide to Practice Success is now FREE to download! 🌿

When I graduated from my herbal medicine program, I felt lost. There was minimal guidance on how to actually set up a successful herbal practice, and honestly, most established herbalists kept their business wisdom close to their chest.

As someone deeply committed to supporting our herbal community and as an herbal educator, I believe it's vital to point new graduates in the right direction. You shouldn't have to figure it all out alone like I did.

What sets this guide apart? My nearly 15 years of experience as a senior executive assistant working for top companies across North America. I learned invaluable lessons watching CEOs, VPs, and Marketing executives drive their businesses to success - and I've scaled those insights into something uniquely powerful for herbal medicine.

✨ Download your FREE copy now in the downloads section of the online shop at healinghouseherbal.com

For graduates needing additional support during those crucial first years after certification, I also offer:
🌱 Group mentorship programs
🌱 1:1 personalized guidance

Let's build a thriving herbal community together, where knowledge flows freely and new practitioners have the support they deserve.

With love from the plant world,
Petra

10/09/2025

🌿 THE FORGOTTEN REVOLUTION: Eclectic Physicians & the Path Not Taken

Did you know that from the 1850s to 1930s, there was a powerful movement of physicians who bridged traditional plant medicine with scientific rigor? The Eclectic Physicians were revolutionary healers who refused to abandon nature's pharmacy.

✨ WHAT MADE THEM SPECIAL:
• Combined indigenous plant knowledge with modern medical training
• Developed standardized herbal preparations and precise dosing protocols
• Published extensive research on botanical medicines
• Treated patients with both plants AND conventional methods when needed

The Eclectic Medical Institute in Cincinnati graduated thousands of doctors who practiced this integrative approach. They created detailed monographs on medicinal plants that are still referenced today.

💔 THE GREAT SHIFT:
In the early 1900s, the Flexner Report and rising pharmaceutical interests systematically dismantled botanical medicine education. Medical schools that taught plant medicine lost funding and accreditation.

What followed was the complete separation of "medicine" from "plants" - something that would have seemed absurd to healers throughout human history.

🔬 WHY THIS MATTERS TODAY:
The Eclectic Physicians proved that rigorous science and plant medicine aren't opposites - they're partners. Their legacy lives on in practitioners like myself who combine clinical herbalism with modern understanding of genetics, biochemistry, and evidence-based protocols.

We're not going backward - we're reclaiming a more complete path forward.

What aspects of integrative medicine resonate most with your healing journey? Share your thoughts below! 👇

With love from the plant world,
Petra

10/08/2025

🌿 The Healing Power of Gentle Movement 🌿

Your body is designed to heal through movement. When we understand the science behind this connection, we can use gentle movement as powerful medicine for chronic inflammation and trauma recovery.

THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM: YOUR BODY'S DETOX HIGHWAY
Unlike your cardiovascular system, your lymphatic system has no central pump. Instead, it relies entirely on the contraction of your large skeletal muscles to move lymph fluid throughout your body. This means:

• Walking, yoga, and swimming create the muscle contractions needed for lymphatic drainage
• Gentle stretching helps open lymphatic pathways
• Even simple arm circles and leg movements support detoxification
• Sedentary lifestyles lead to lymphatic stagnation and increased inflammation

SOMATIC HEALING: RELEASING CELLULAR MEMORY
Our bodies store trauma and chronic stress at the cellular level. Gentle movement helps:

• Release trapped emotions and stress patterns held in muscle tissue
• Activate the parasympathetic nervous system for healing
• Break the cycle of chronic stress that fuels inflammation
• Restore natural movement patterns disrupted by trauma responses

GENTLE MOVEMENT FOR HEALING:
🚶‍♀️ Nature walks (grounding + lymphatic support)
🧘‍♀️ Restorative yoga (nervous system regulation)
🏊‍♀️ Swimming (full-body lymphatic massage)
💆‍♀️ Self-massage and stretching (targeted lymphatic drainage)

Remember: Healing happens when we move with intention, not intensity. Your body knows how to heal when given the right conditions.

What gentle movement brings you the most peace and healing? Share below! 👇

With love from the plant world,
Petra

10/07/2025

From frustration to flourishing: a real journey 🌱

Have you ever felt like your symptoms were a puzzle no one could solve? One of my clients came to me after years of searching for answers—tired, achy, and feeling invisible in the traditional system. Together, we explored her story through the lens of the 9 pillars of inflammation, personalized herbal formulas, and a deep dive into her genetic blueprint.

Within three months, she noticed more energy, steadier moods, and a new sense of hope. This wasn’t a miracle—just the power of listening deeply, honoring the body’s wisdom, and crafting a plan as unique as she is.

If you’re longing for a holistic, evidence-based approach to chronic inflammation or autoimmune challenges, I invite you to connect. Book a free discovery call (link in bio) to see if this path is right for you.

With love from the plant world,
Petra

10/06/2025

For those who might be interested, I am doing a talk for the Institute of Holistic Nutrition on the use of Toxic Botanicals in Inflammatory Illness

Wednesday, October 15th at 3pm EST/12pm PST (replay will be made available)

IHN has been very kind to open this to the general public. Registration is below, click the link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_x6W8lFiaRsu8GT7QP2byIA #/registration

10/06/2025

🌱 MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY: Hope & Healing 🌱

Your body is absolutely incredible. Every single day, it performs millions of miraculous functions - healing cuts, fighting off pathogens, regenerating cells, and working tirelessly to maintain balance. Our natural state IS health.

Many of the chronic conditions we see today - from autoimmune diseases to digestive issues, from chronic fatigue to mood disorders - fall under the umbrella of inflammatory disease. When inflammation becomes chronic, it can feel overwhelming and hopeless.

But here's what I want you to remember: healing is possible, one step at a time.

Think of chronic inflammation like a tangled ball of yarn. You don't have to unravel the entire thing at once. You simply find one loose thread and gently begin to work with it. Maybe today that's choosing an anti-inflammatory meal. Maybe it's taking five deep breaths. Maybe it's drinking an extra glass of water or going to bed 30 minutes earlier.

Each small action gives your body the building blocks it needs to remember its natural state of health and begin the journey back to balance.

Your body wants to heal. It's designed to heal. And as Hippocrates wisely said: "The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well."

Trust that force. Trust your body. And trust that every small step matters.

What's one gentle step you can take today to support your body's natural healing wisdom?

With love from the plant world,
Petra 💚

10/05/2025

🍂 Self-Care Sunday: October's Gift of Root Medicine 🍂

As we settle deeper into autumn, nature offers us her most grounding gifts - the powerful root medicines that have been quietly gathering strength beneath the earth all season long.

October is the perfect time to embrace the wisdom of roots like burdock, dandelion, and ginger. These earth-anchored allies remind us that true healing happens when we slow down, just as they do, drawing nourishment from deep within.

When we honor our need for rest and restoration, something beautiful happens in our nervous system. The constant state of "fight or flight" begins to soften. Our parasympathetic nervous system - our body's natural healing mode - can finally take the lead.

This shift is profound. In this restful state, our bodies can:
✨ Repair tissues more effectively
✨ Process emotions and trauma
✨ Restore depleted energy reserves
✨ Strengthen our immune response
✨ Improve digestion and nutrient absorption

Root medicines support this process beautifully. They ground us, nourish us deeply, and remind us that healing isn't always about doing more - sometimes it's about slowing down enough to let our bodies remember how to heal themselves.

This Sunday, consider brewing a cup of burdock root tea, taking a warm bath with ginger, or simply sitting quietly with your feet on the earth. Your nervous system will thank you.

What does self-care look like for you this season? I'd love to hear how you're honoring your need for rest and restoration.

With love from the plant world,
Petra 🌿

10/04/2025

🌿 MYTH vs FACT: Isolated Compounds vs Whole Plant Medicine 🌿

MYTH: "Taking berberine or curcumin supplements gives you the same benefits as the whole plant."

FACT: Isolated compounds work differently than whole plant extracts - and here's why this matters for your healing journey.

When we isolate single compounds like berberine from goldenseal or curcumin from turmeric, we're missing the plant's complete therapeutic symphony. Whole plants contain hundreds of compounds that work together synergistically - what we call the "entourage effect."

Here's what happens:

🔬 ISOLATED COMPOUNDS:
• Work in isolation without supporting compounds
• May require higher doses to achieve effects
• Can sometimes cause side effects when used alone
• Often have shorter duration of action

🌱 WHOLE PLANT EXTRACTS:
• Contain naturally occurring co-factors that enhance absorption
• Include compounds that buffer potential side effects
• Provide sustained, gentler therapeutic action
• Work with your body's natural processes more harmoniously

For example, turmeric contains not just curcumin, but also turmerones, other curcuminoids, and volatile oils that all contribute to its anti-inflammatory effects. These compounds help curcumin absorb better and work more effectively than curcumin alone.

This is why clinical herbalism focuses on whole plant preparations - we're working with nature's complete formula, not just one piece of the puzzle.

Your body recognizes and processes whole plants differently than isolated compounds. It's the difference between listening to a single instrument versus hearing the entire orchestra.

What questions do you have about whole plant medicine? I'd love to hear your thoughts below! 👇

With love from the plant world,
Petra 🌿

10/03/2025

🌿 HERBALIST IN HISTORY: Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) 🌿

Meet the remarkable Benedictine abbess who became the first published female physician and herbalist in Western history!

Hildegard of Bingen was centuries ahead of her time, documenting over 300 plants and their medicinal properties in her groundbreaking works "Physica" and "Causae et Curae." What's truly extraordinary is how she understood the intricate connections within the human body WITHOUT modern scientific tools.

✨ Her Revolutionary Insights:
• Recognized the body as an interconnected system
• Documented plant medicines with precise therapeutic applications
• Understood that physical ailments often had emotional and spiritual roots
• Developed holistic treatment approaches combining herbs, diet, and lifestyle

🔍 A Fascinating Connection:
Hildegard wrote extensively about 35 vices and virtues that she believed directly influenced physical health. Modern research reveals these correlate remarkably with our body's dermatomes - the nerve pathways that connect our spine to specific body regions!

Her understanding that emotional states manifest physically through these pathways was revolutionary for the 12th century, yet aligns beautifully with what we know today about the mind-body connection.

This brilliant woman laid the foundation for integrative medicine, proving that true healing addresses the whole person - body, mind, and spirit.

Her legacy reminds us that the wisdom of plants and the art of healing have been intertwined for centuries, long before we had the science to explain why it works.

With love from the plant world,
Petra 🌱

Healing House Natural Wellness

10/13/2025

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Monday	9am - 6pm
Tuesday	9am - 6pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm
Saturday	9am - 6pm