The Herbal FNP

09/04/2025

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06/25/2025

Coming Jan 2026 👁️

Join the wait list at www.earthstrongcenter.com

03/13/2024

12/16/2023

Did you know only 30% of folks who are infected with Lyme also get a bulls-eye rash? Did you know most cant remember being bitten by a tick?

I diagnosed more Lyme in my practice this past year than I diagnosed the flu, and there’s a reason for that: Lyme is becoming endemic in New York State and across the Eastern seaboard, as climate change and human population growth patterns alter the breeding and feeding abilities of local tick populations. What does that mean?

You need to know about Lyme.

And you need to know the reality of Lyme disease, which is its not suspected often enough by both patients and their providers, and if not diagnosed and treated correctly, it can be a debilitating, life-long illness. Its also important to be aware of the treatments that are out there, including holistic modalities that can compliment antibiotics.

Did you know lyme can also worsen and create mental health disorders? True story. But they don’t tell you that.

If you want to learn more about how you be on the lookout for difficult to diagnose, difficult to treat conditions like Lyme, please join us for January’s class in the Integrative Health Empowerment Series. Yes, we’ll be looking at Lyme in this one, and yes, you can join from anywhere using the livestream option, or just buy a copy of the recording. You can buy tickets directly using the link below, or check out the classes tab on my site!

www.vagaro.com/SECHI/classes

And if you or someone you love has had a weird Lyme presentation, drop a comment below! Help spread the word about what this disease really looks like!

12/11/2023

Thanks to my daughter, who is rounding the corner on two and goes to daycare, I have been sick the last few days. COVID free thank goodness, and I think over the worst of it, but I still have that nagging, dry, spasmodic cough that so many of us get on the tail end of illness and just seems to linger forever. You know the one I’m talking about - the coughing spasms come so strong you feel like you might start dry heaving.

Luckily, there’s herbs for that.

Black cherry bark is my go-to for dry, hacking coughs when there is inflammation or irritation in the airway. As a rose-family plant, it is by nature both astringent and relaxant, supporting the integrity of the airway mucosa while also helping to relax the tissue. I love adding black cherry to mullein leaf and plantain leaf to give some moisture regulation as well - plantain and mullein alike will add moisture or hold it back, depending on what is needed.

My favorite way to take these herbs is by way of a “frozen lozenge”, a fancy way of saying tea frozen into ice cubes. I make a tea of mullein and plantain, add in my black cherry bark syrup and pour the mixture into ice cub trays! The result is a delicious, soothing blend of herbs to soothe your tired throat and your overstimulated lungs. What are some of your favorite herbs for the sick season? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

And dont forget to follow my blog for more herbal musings, ideas and protocols!

12/10/2023

I find this happens to patients with rare/under diagnosed conditions allll the time. EDS anyone?? Lyme?? Mold toxicity?! The list goes on and on.

More often than not these folks come to me without a unifying diagnosis for their symptoms and are seeing a ton of specialists, all treating different aspects of the problem, but not really getting to the root cause. Don’t get me wrong, not everyone’s symptoms are related and sometimes back pain really is just back pain - but red flags get raised for me when “weird” stuff is happening to someone in an atypical demographic, when symptoms are not responding to standard conventional and/or holistic therapies or that person has never really found a logical explanation for why these things are happening for them.

This is why my new class series focusing on these “odd” afflictions is so important - these are times we as patients have to be our doctors’ educators, and if that is true, we need to be better educated about what some of the lesser known possibilities out there are. This series will covers a wide array of conditions, but our first one will cover Lyme.

Don’t have Lyme? Perfect! This class is for you, so you’ll know when to raise your own red flags if you ever happen to catch the wrong tick.

Want to sign up? You can join us anywhere in the world through the livestream, just get yourself a copy of the recording or tag along with us in person if you live in the Upstate NY area (or feel like a trip to Syracuse in January - my favorite time of year here but not generally a popular opinion).

Copy/paste the link below for tickets and to learn more! You and also use the classes tab on my site 👍

Www.vagaro.com/SECHI/classes

12/30/2022

Just in time for the end of the month! Come learn about the benefits of stinky plants with cramp bark, December's feature in our Materia Medica Monthly series :)

Interested in signing up? Learn more about this monthly subscription using the link below!

https://www.earthstrongcenter.com/challenges

11/28/2022

Its that time again! This month's materia medica recording is UP!

Its a fine time for white pine :) I love talking about herbs that are still around in the winter and can help us through winter infections the way that white pine can. This month we will talk about ways you can access this plant through the winter months (fresh!) and create a medicine making relationship with a new friend when the other plants are sleeping. Join us by clicking the link below!

https://www.earthstrongcenter.com/challenges

10/29/2022

Elder has been released! Clink on the link below to subscribe!

https://www.earthstrongcenter.com/challenges

09/18/2022

HI everyone and welcome back!

This month we discuss purple loosestrife, a controversial plant to say the least, but one of my favorite allies for inflammation of the nose, throat and eyes whether its allergies or infection. Join us as we not only discuss medicinal uses and botany, but this month's class comes with a medicine making demo with me and a special guest :)

Click the link below to subscribe! Join us anytime, cancel anytime, and as always, membership comes with full instructor support

09/01/2022

Wild Cherry!

Join us this month for Materia Medica Monthly as we get into the uses, formulations and energetics of this yummy and delicious ally, so helpful this time of year.

Not a member? Click the link below to sign up for our monthly subscription!

https://www.earthstrongcenter.com/challenges

08/18/2022

It is with bittersweet feelings that I announce I will be temporarily closing my herbal practice. While seeing clients and assisting with their health goals is one of my great joys, right now my priorities are at home while my daughter continues to grow and I move into a supportive role as husband returns to school this Fall. I will continue teaching regularly, as classes do not demand as much of my home time, and I will continue to be available for networking and events in the community. I will continue to be available to all my current clients for the issues we currently have open, but will not be available for any new concerns. I will still be available for refills on current formulas and of course for any questions or concerns about herbs from my clients. For my internal medicine patients, we will continue to utilize herbal therapies in our care plans as we always have, and potential clients who are interested in seeing me for primary care are welcome to make an appointment. I will be sure to send updates if/when things change, and I appreciate all your understanding and patience.

-Lauren