TRADITIONAL FOODS + PLANT MEDICINE

ABOUT

Hello! I’m Elaine, a Clinical Herbalist, Iridologist, Detox Specialist, and Fermentation Revivalist based in Alberta, Canada.

My path to holistic health began early - back in my teen years, when my dad practiced yoga, brought home raw goat milk from local farms, and refused to let sugary cereals or margarine near the table. I was known as the local hippy chick in high school, crafting hemp necklaces and aromatherapy perfumes, already deeply curious about the connection between nature, wellness, and the human spirit.

That spark never left. In 1999, after moving to Edmonton from BC, I began working as a Health Consultant at Optimum Health, where my passion for herbs, real food, and holistic living truly took root.

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 Education & Herbalist Foundations

In 2008, I graduated from the Northern Star College of Mystical Studies in Edmonton as a Herbalist and after 1000 hours in practice as a Clinical Herbalist I became a proud member of the American Herbalist Guild (AHG).

In 2010, when my first baby was born, so was The Herbal Mama - a heart-centered business dedicated to traditional foods, herbal remedies, and natural living. Since then, I’ve helped hundreds of people through herbal consultations, iridology insights, and my long-running “8 Weeks to Gut Wellness” group cleanse, supporting others in finding balance and vitality through traditional food as medicine.

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 Fermentation & Food Medicine

By 2016, I was fermenting around Alberta, sharing small-batch probiotic foods, herbal blends, and teaching traditional food preservation at local events and farmers’ markets.

In 2018, I became the Farmers' Market Manager and co-founder of the Ottewell Artisan Farmers’ Market with the Waldorf Independent School of Edmonton. I wrote and received a grant to host an Alberta Open Farm Days event and was invited to speak at the AFMA Conference about our success story and community impact. As a vendor, I sold fermented food medicine and herbal remedies, until the market paused in 2020. 

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 Market Leadership & Community Work

2020 - 2022: Served as Farmers’ Market Manager and Communications Manager at Bountiful Market, supporting vendors, growing community engagement and their social media page..

2023 - 2024: Became Market Manager for the Edmonton Downtown Farmers’ Market, featured in the news during the Board of Directors’ announcement of the market’s closure, marking a significant chapter in Alberta’s local food movement.

2024 - 2025: Worked full-time as Communications Coordinator at the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market, Alberta’s longest-running indoor market, continuing my work in connecting people with local food and producers.

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 Returning to My Roots

Today, I’ve come full circle - focusing on homeschooling, homesteading, and The Herbal Mama full time. I continue to teach, consult, and create ways for others to reconnect with traditional food, herbs, and the natural wisdom of the body.

Here’s what I currently offer through The Herbal Mama:

 Fermented Food & Drink Products - Local YEG pick-up and Alberta markets.

 Fermentation Classes Online & Local Events - Hands-on, traditional probiotic food-making for gut health and immunity. Recipe books and more...

 Herbal Q&A Consultations - Personalized herbal guidance from a seasoned clinical herbalist.

 Online Iridology Assessments - Mini-assessments revealing your body’s strengths, sensitivities, and healing potential.

 Handcrafted Herbal Detox Kits & Cleanse Support - Practical strategies for everyday detox and long-term wellness.

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 “Our bodies already know how to heal - sometimes they just need the right nudge.”

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Through herbs, ferments, and traditional nourishment, I help others restore balance, vitality, and joy in daily life. My work is about reviving ancestral wisdom and honoring food as medicine, one bubbling brew and handcrafted herbal remedy at a time.

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With Love,

Elaine - The Herbal Mama

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