Ever since I was a child, I’ve been obsessed with tea and incense. My Christmas stocking was always filled with “Celestial Seasonings” tea boxes, and my mother and I would frequently get into disputes over me “smelling up the house” with my incense. I grew up a little on the chubby side, and it wasn’t until high school that I began to pay attention to my health. I became really interested in cooking, and began to exercise regularly. By my junior year of high school I was working at Whole Foods and knew that I wanted to major in Nutrition and Dietetics in college, which is precisely what I did. During undergrad, I worked as a personal trainer and was a counselor at a weight loss camp for kids in Missouri during the summers. I found myself inspired by all of my “kids” who showed up at camp with zero confidence, minimal knowledge about healthy eating, and left with a positive outlook on life and increased sense of wellness. I knew I was destined to motivate and educate people about healthy living.

I moved to Charleston from my hometown of Chicago in 2012 to complete my dietetic internship with the Medical University of South Carolina. During that year, I found myself very concerned that I had gone into the wrong field. Helping people make lifestyle changes was why I had majored in nutrition in undergrad, and I found myself feeling very lost in the clinical scene.

 I was disturbed by the heavy influence pharmaceuticals play in the medical model, and I felt that my job as a dietitian would be extremely limited if I chose the clinical route. During the internship I worked at Earth Fare–a natural health-foods store in the Southeast region. The “wellness” department of the store inspired me to start using all-natural body care products, and my interest in herbs blossomed. Naturally, I began to seek out a way to learn more about herbs, and I stumbled across the “South Carolina Herbal Society,” which offered an herbal apprenticeship program in Charleston. After attending a few meetings, I decided to complete the apprenticeship and immerse myself deeper into the world of herbal medicine.

In the spring of 2015, I graduated from the Gaiananda School of Herbal Studies and felt compelled to spread awareness about all of the amazing natural options Mother Nature provides us! I knew Charleston was lacking an herb shop/apothecary, and I found myself day-dreaming about opening one up. In November of 2015, I completed my Birth Doula training and found myself at a crossroads regarding my career. Still working at Earth Fare, I knew it was time for a change. In December, I stumbled upon a space in Avondale that was up for rent and decided to take a risk, and make my dream a reality. And so Herbal Passion was born. Cheers!