Meet Kay Meaney, Clinical Herbalist!
Hi, I’m Karen (Kay) Meaney
My journey into herbal medicine began in my 20’s when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Doctors told me there was no cure and even worse, that I would have trouble walking in the future. I felt hopeless so I started reading and researching to find a way to heal myself. In my own community, I came across a doctor who used food as medicine along with supplements, herbs and environmental medicine.
She opened my eyes to many avenues of healing. Slowly, over time, I stopped the progression of the disease.
This experience changed my life. Although I still had the diagnosis of MS, I went on to have a normal life raising my two beautiful girls, Elizabeth (EJ) and Caitlin with my supportive husband, Joe. We raised our girls with the same principles of health that stopped my MS, creating a passion for a life-long journey of wellness within the family.
In 2018, I furthered my education at the Mid-Atlantic School of Herbalism. This 2- year program involved herbal medicine, diseases processes, systems of the body, and how pharmaceutical drugs interact with herbs. I regularly saw clients at our school’s clinic and was able to see how their medical conditions improved with herbal medicine. Whether it is reducing asthma attacks, improving kidney disease or supporting stroke recovery, there isn’t a system in the body that herbal medicine cannot support. I went on to complete a one-year mentorship program with Camille Freeman where I gained additional herbal knowledge and clinical experience. In 2024, I completed a one-year course in herbalism and gardening at Forrest Green Farm, a regenerative farm in Louisa, VA. During this time, I furthered my studies of medicinal herbalism and became more knowledgeable in the process of making herbal medicines including growing, harvesting and processing herbs.
My goal in writing this blog is to share what I have learned so you can take it into your own hands and use it for your benefit. I have studied herbal medicine extensively, but when I use herbs in my everyday life, I am still amazed at the results I see. Whether it is staving off the flu, healing a wound or helping reduce pain, it is empowering to have the ability to treat yourself at home for a wide range of conditions and even grow your own medicine, especially in times of uncertainty. It is reassuring to know these herbs can be at your fingertips in time of need. The ability of herbs to strengthen and nourish different systems of the body and bring the body back in balance is invaluable preventative medicine.
Herbal medicine is the people’s medicine, and I look forward to sharing this vast wealth of information with you.
In Health, Kay
