About
Our Approach to Herbal Care
HERBS ARE FOURTH
When people learn that I am an herbalist, they often start to ask what herbs are good for… fill in the blank-- for headaches, for inflammation, for stomachaches, for memory, for focus, for sleep and the list goes on!
They are usually surprised when I respond back with a list of my own questions. Who are you asking for? When did it start? What else was going on when it started? How long has it been going on? Are you getting exercise? Eating well? How are your relationships? Are you sleeping? Are you stressed? How are your bowel movements? How is your relationship with God and faith? They may seem very unrelated to their question— but they matter! In fact, they often matter more than the herbs themselves.
People often want an external thing to fix whatever problem they have, when often the thing that causing discomfort is just a sign of deeper imbalance or misalignment.
And for this reason, herbs are fourth.
Herbs are not my foundation of wellbeing. They are a tool and support, but they are not healers. God is. In all things. Whether He heals through miracle, medicine or plants.
For this reason, God is the foundation of all well-being.
Right standing with God creates a peace that is outside of shifting earthly circumstances. It solidifies our identity and worth beyond worldly relationships, roles and resources. It connects us to the Spirit of Truth that allows us to bear the good fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And these qualities directly influence the health and peace of our relationships with others, ourselves and the way we think and feel in our emotions -- which has great influence over our physical health!
King Solomon tells us in the book of Proverbs that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10) and wisdom brings life to all who find it and health to all their flesh! (Proverbs 4:22)
The Flourish Framework™
1. Seek God – The true source of wisdom, peace, and healing.
2. Understand the Whole Person – By listening to everyone’s unique story.
3. Strengthen the Foundations – Sleep, nourishment, movement, relationships, stress, and daily rhythms.
4. Support with Herbs – Personalized herbal teas and plant-based guidance that complement healthy living.
5. Flourish – Grow in confidence as a faithful steward of the body God has entrusted to you.
Folks of all walks of life are welcome to seek herbal care through Flourish Plant Cafe. While my personal philosophies of health are rooted in biblical faith in Jesus Christ as the foundation of well-being, I believe the gifts of God through the plants He created are for EVERYONE. Wisdom principles such as forgiveness, gratitude, stewardship, rest, sunlight, these can be applied to those of any faith or orientation. If you are curious to know more about my faith and the reason for my hope, you can always ask—but no faith is required to be nourished!
Katie Taormina trained under American Herbalist Guild herbalists Lupo Passero and David Winston in traditional herbalism and clinical herbal medicine. Her personal journey with plants as medicine started while working as trail staff for a primitive wilderness-based drug and alcohol rehab in southern Utah, learning about the abundance of useful and medicinal plants in such a stark environment. But it wasn’t until her formal study, years later, that she fell in love with the beauty of plants and the process of creating as a part of medicine and wellness. Katie is convinced that good healthcare should start with education, and she loves helping others get started on their journey of investing in their own health and making medicine for themselves.
EDUCATION
Foundations of Herbal Medicine - Lupo Passero
Practices and Protocols - Lupo Passero
2 Year Clinical Program - David Winston
Graduate Program - David Winston
Herbal First Aid - 7Song
Herb Farm Apprenticeship - Mayernick Kitchen