Can you tell us a little bit about how your work began? 

I am a family doctor. About two years ago I created a new kind of medical practice -- to rethink how we are caring for mothers and babies during the fourth trimester. As a mother of 3 and as a doctor trained in pediatrics and women’s health, I have had many experiences showing me that there should be a better way to support new families during this incredibly intense and essential life moment. So I created a home based medical model that provides care for both the newborn and the mother in an integrated way. 


What challenges did you face when you first started your practice? 

Overcoming fear mostly-- taking that first leap of trying something new is hard. Also, I wanted to create a model of care that was accessible to everyone and to be in network with insurance plans.  I was stubborn about figuring out how to make that work. With time, determination, and an amazing operations manager, Davin Eurich, we have been able to create an accessible and sustainable model.


If you could go back in time to meet yourself when you were just starting on this path, what would you say? 

Hang tight because there will be lots of twists and turns! It is sometimes hard to know if you have picked the right path. Looking back, I am amazed that some of my least inspired and hardest moments have since grown into some of my best ideas and directions. 

Can you share a favorite go-to herbal book of yours? 

Healthy at Home by Tieroana Low Dog MD is a great book filled with recipes for natural home remedies and useful evidence-based information on herbal treatments for common household issues. 


Are there any non-herbal hobbies or interests that you love doing? 

I studied visual arts at Barnard as an undergraduate. Art has always been a true and intense form of expression for me. When I am able to capture the right creative moment (which is sometimes fleeting and transient!), it can take me to a deep place of meditation and honesty. 


Given your background as a health care provider where do you see the future of herbalism going in the next few years? 

As a physician, it is always exciting to find out about new studies being done to establish evidence based data on herbal treatments. I hope that in the future, as the research expands, we can more easily incorporate herbs into the standard western medicine treatments. ​

Can you share some of your go-to herbal books or favorite herbalists/teachers that you look to for inspiration?

Puedes compartir algunos libros o yerbateros/maestros favoritos que te inspiran?

Attending the School of Gaia in Vermont and learning with Sage Maurer was a life changing experience for me.  Sage is a master herbalist whose wisdom I try to channel when I teach, speak, harvest and make plant medicine. Sage taught me among many things, the bonds and relationships we develop with the plant spirit world when we open our hearts and minds to receive their medicine. I cannot thank her enough for the sacred teachings and inspiring me in so many ways, always.

Susun Weed is another consistent source of inspiration for me. I absolutely adore her wild, fiery, passionate spirit and I can only hope to be half as cool and plant-nourished when I am her age! I highly recommend all of her books.

My go-to book for information and specific health problems has been The Complete Herbal Tutor by Anne McIntyre.  It is a great resource to have handy, written simply and straightforward by an amazing herbalist with 30+ years of experience. Whenever I’m in doubt this has been a great resource for me.

~~~

Una experiencia que me cambió la vida fue haber asistido a la Escuela de Gaia en Vermont y aprender con Sage Maurer.  Sage es una maestra de una sabiduría imponente, y trato de canalizar su energía cada vez que enseño, hablo, cosecho o hago medicina.  Sage me enseño, dentro de muchas cosas, la conexión y relación que creamos con el mundo espiritual de las plantas cuando abrimos nuestra mente y corazón para recibir su medicina. Estoy eternamente agradecida por las enseñanzas sagradas que me brindó y por inspirarme de tantas maneras, hoy y siempre.

Susun Weed es otro ser de constante inspiración para mi.  Adoro su espíritu salvaje y apasionado, y espero algun dia ser la mitad de lo sabia que es ella.  Recomiendo todos sus libros.

Un libro que utilizo cada vez que necesito informacion especifica es The Complete Herbal Tutor de Anne McIntyre.  Es un muy buen recurso para tener a mano, escrito de forma simple y clara por una maestra yerbatera con más de 30 años de experiencia.  Cada vez que tengo alguna duda, este libro me ayuda muchísimo.


Do you have any advice that would like to share with budding herbalists?

Qué consejo le darías a yerbateras(os) que están recién comenzando?

Go deep with one plant at a time! And don’t overwhelm yourself memorizing dozens of properties for hundreds of plants. I believe we truly get to know a plant ally when we invest time experiencing their medicine in many forms, bonding and seeking to understand the energetics.

​The best advice I ever got was that it is best to know ten plants really well, than it is to know a hundred just on the surface.

~~~

Mi consejo es, ¡profundiza con una planta a la vez! y no te compliques memorizando propiedades de cientos de plantas. En mi opinión siento que creamos una gran conexión con cada planta cuando le dedicamos tiempo a su medicina, tomándola de diferentes maneras, profundizando con su energía, familiarizándonos con ella.
​
El mejor consejo que yo alguna vez recibí fue, es mejor saber diez plantas en profundidad, en vez de saber cien plantas por encimita.

Thank you so much for sharing some of your beautiful story with us, Constanza!

You can learn more about her inspired work by following her Instagram account @SomosJardinSecreto. Her Herbstalk class "La Rueda Medicinal: La Luna y Las Plantas"  will be offered on Sunday, June 3rd. View the complete class schedule here.

To start things off, can you share some of your go-to herbal books or favorite herbalists that you look to for inspiration?

All of my teachers have been amazing, but the few who have inspired me the most are: Madelon Hope, Rosemary Gladstar, Tieraona Low Dog and Trishuwa.

Given your background and close ties with the herbal community, where do you see the future of herbalism going in the next few years?​

There has been a major shift in the community of herbalism over the past decade.  There are many younger people getting involved, teaching, making products, and growing.  They bring with them a fiery energy that is both vibrant and infectious.  I think Jeff Carpenter captured it perfectly when he said: “We have come to the end of the herbal renaissance, this is the herbal revolution!”  It’s been beautiful watching the transformation! 

Do you have a favorite plant or two at the moment?

I love them all, but I think Nettle and Dandelion are invaluable.

If you could go back in time to meet yourself when you were just starting on the herbal path, what would you say?

Don’t rush so much.  I was in Rosemary Gladstar’s certification course in VT while taking Gale Ulrich’s yearlong apprenticeship at the same time.  I wanted all the knowledge at once, but it doesn’t work like that.  I have no regrets; I was where I was supposed to be when I was supposed to be there.  I feel honored to have studied with both of these amazing woman.

What advice would you give to budding herbalists?

Spend time with the plants -- they can teach you more than anyone.

Are there any non-herbal hobbies or interests that you love doing as well?

I love the old ways.  I play the harp, spin wool, and had a crane installed in my fireplace so that I can learn and practice hearthside cooking.

Any guilty pleasures you’d like to share?

I tend to never refuse myself anything.  It’s all about moderation!  I do have a weakness for all the regulars, coffee, chocolate, wine…

Can you tell us more about your passion for teaching?

As far as my teaching goes, I have always been a gypsy teacher.  I will go where the students are.  For my certification courses in Aromatherapy I often teach for the Boston School of Herbal Studies, Alternatives for Health and I also teach on Cape Cod.  I co-teach herbalism for the Boston School of Herbal studies as well as offer my own herbal certification course on Cape Cod.  I also teach workshops in soap making, palmistry and flower essence making.  Traveling to teach has its challenges, but it has allowed me to meet some amazing people!  I often say “it’s not the average person who studies herbs.”

What’s one fun thing that most people don’t know about you?

I ride a Harley-Davidson (without a helmet, when possible.) (Don’t tell my children.)

Today we are honored to share an interview that took place at last year's Herbstalk event in June 2014. North Carolina herbalist Juliet Blankespoor filmed Vermont herbalist Larken Bunce talking about her herbal path. We thank both of these inspiring teachers & leaders for sharing this wonderful footage with us. To learn more about their work please visit their websites:

Juliet Blankespoor: 
Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine
Blog Castanea

Larken Bunce:
www.larkenbunce.com
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism