Who We Are...
Faith and Rachel met some odd years ago in a small, private, Christian school in Northern Virginia. Both of us possess B.A. degrees in public policy with past accomplishments in public speaking, legal research, and internships with the Department of Labor, U.S. Senate and even the White House. So how did we end up here, creating a website on wholesome living and alternative medicine?
Here's a clue: Our resumes currently list us as obtaining culinary certifications and degrees in early childhood education. That's right. We're stay-at-home moms. And, as so many other mothers can relate, the birth of a child is all it takes to make you sit up and take stock of the amazing capabilities of your body... and also get serious about how you care for it. After a while, we found ourselves lacking in vigor, aware that there had to be more to wellness if our otherwise "healthy" bodies were tired, cranky and prone to illness. Now we know there is something better, and we hope you'll join us on our journey to true health! Faith is the COO of la casa Midwest, follower of Jesus Christ, wife to Matt, and mommy to 4 little ones... ages 5, 3, 2 and 1 years old. It's not hard to guess why she desires vitality. Chasing around little ones always reflects the health of the true you.
Here's her story: Always interested in natural living, I pursued an obstetrician-attended natural birth experience with my first child that opened my eyes to the true beauty of getting back to the basics in healthcare. However, disgruntled with my following two birth experiences (both midwife-attended hospital births, with supposed shoulder dystocia complications), my husband and I felt compelled to try for a home birth. It was a beautiful and complication-free delivery. The best yet! My recovery was ten times better (even though all my other births were likewise non-medicated, natural, birth experiences) and the peace we experienced as a family was addicting. Our midwives' skill and expertise astounded me and the experience was empowering! They played a huge role in bolstering my interest in alternative medicine. *Allow me to insert here that I do respect the work of the medical community. In times of emergency or surgery we are truly blessed to have such skilled professionals offering their life-saving services. My pursuit of alternative medicine is in no way a disregard for the medical profession. It is, however, a wise choice to pursue a holistically-minded approach to health. There is no better form of medicine or healing than what is found directly in nature and those tools available are all you need to take charge of your own health -- a theme we discuss often.* After the birth of my fourth child I became passionate about natural healthcare for myself and my family. I soaked up every piece of information I could find. Through a series of events I found myself, quite by accident, in a class of a renown homeopath where my passion for natural living underwent dramatic growth. I am now completing my first year of course study to become a certified clinical homeopath and am loving the benefits of health and vitality I'm witnessing in my family and friends through the combined use of herbalism, aromatherapy and homeopathy! When I can look back through a rough cold and flu season and see my family of six pass through with mere sniffles, I believe I've found the pathway to health I've been searching for. And what a wonderful journey it is! Rachel is the COO of la casa South, follower of Jesus Christ, wife to Bruce, and mommy to their 9-month-old son. Here's her story:
My journey into holistic health and natural medicine started with the birth of my son. The day he decided he was ready to make his appearance was the same day I was informed that I had developed preeclampsia. During the months that followed his natural birth, I began to read more on preeclampsia and to dive deeper into the role nutrition played before, during, and after pregnancy. Although I had always served whole nutritious meals and unprocessed foods, I dug further and discovered new ways to improve my family's diet. Pretty soon I was drinking raw milk, grinding my own wheat, and raising sourdough and kefir starters in my kitchen. And as I looked for ways to increase my milk supply while nursing my newborn, I was introduced to fenugreek, nettle, blessed thistle, and other herbs that I knew almost nothing about. Intrigued by the nutritive and healing properties of herbs, I was compelled to learn more. If herbs, essential oils, and homeopathic remedies (along with the wholesome nutrient-dense foods I was feeding my family) could offer the energy and vitality I lacked following the birth of my son, then I wanted to know more in order to unlock their full potential. My quest led me here to the Nourishing Herbalist where I now function as a co-owner, contributing writer, and herbal enthusiast. |
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