I always loved plants, as a little girl I craved to taste the sweetness of honeysuckle and play along with the soft sleeping grass.
I first began my pathway to herbalism by working at Hawaiian Moons Natural Foods, assisting customers in the supplements department. This was my first exposure to herbal medicine and I was absolutely fascinated. I’d go home and study about supplements and health issues that customers would come in for.
A few years later, I moved to the countryside of Maui and began working at an apothecary called The Dragon’s Den Herb Shop. At the same time, a friend gifted me Lesley Tierra’s book ‘Healing with the Herbs of Life’ and I realized that herbs have different energetic qualities, forever changing the way I look at herbal medicine. I quickly dove into the realm of Chinese and Western herbalism. For the last 6 years I have been studying with and assisting Malik Cotter, a doctor of Oriental medicine and owner of the Dragon’s Den Herb Shop. Working with Dr. Cotter has opened my eyes to the importance in learning the healing arts to be able to help others.
In 2018, I furthered my herbal studies through Dr. Christopher’s School of Natural Medicine, obtaining certification as a Family Herbalist. However, I realized I wanted more of an integrated outlook on herbs and so began studying with the East West School of Planetary Herbology in 2019, with the intention of becoming a registered Herbalist with the American Herbalist’s Guild. In 2021, I decided to pursue a masters degree in Oriental Medicine and began studying at the Institute of Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine on the island of O’ahu. Every step forward feels like I’m headed in the right direction, and I’m grateful to be walking this path with fellow herbalists and practitioners.
My dream is to grow many of the herbs I use in practice, as well as utilize the herbs here in Hawai’i that the Hawaiians traditionally used. Another goal is to work alongside my brother, a doctor of Chiropractic medicine, and run an collaborative practice together.
When I’m not working, I’m probably nose-deep in textbooks, meditating in the garden, venturing out in nature, or surfing.
IG: @Maui.Meg
Mahalo for reading!