Founder of Apotheka, Michelle is a Medical Herbalist and Holistic Nutritionist.
She explores the broader context and whole person, involving the patient's community support and other practitioners.
Michelle has 20 years of experience in researching digestive imbalances and autoimmune conditions. Personal triumph over these issues, helps her connect with people who are experiencing similar health challenges.
Michelle completed her 5-year program of Phytotherapy and Holistic Nutrition at Pacific Rim College, which included over:
She has nutritional knowledge in Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, and modern dietary therapies. This complex and extensive training in ancient medicine and modern medical sciences has given Michelle a deep, intimate understanding of the human body, health conditions, and medicinal therapies. She continues to learn and grow as a practitioner to ensure her patients receive the best and most up-to-date treatments and care.
Michelle enjoys working with:
Leah was born and raised in beautiful Vancouver, B.C. and chose to embrace the slower pace of island living after her interest in holistic health care and herbal medicine was sparked. She relocated to Victoria, B.C. where she trained in both Western Herbal Medicine and Holistic Nutrition at Pacific Rim College. These comprehensive programs integrated traditional knowledge of herbs and diet therapy with extensive training in biomedical sciences.
In 2020 Leah completed an apprenticeship in Powell River working alongside local herbalist Amber Friedman making a wide range of herbal products from scratch and was responsible for many of the formulations in the Wild Spirit Apothecary product line. Leah also completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2015 from the University of Calgary where she focused on clinical aspects of psychology including mental health conditions.
Leah enjoys working with individuals of all ages and genders in a variety of health conditions including digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, and mental health conditions. Leah's approach to health and wellness is on supporting the foundational aspects of health including sleep, digestion, blood sugar regulation, ensuring proper nutrition, and stress management.
In her free time, Leah enjoys spending time in the garden, camping, baking sourdough bread, and playing with her two rambunctious kitties.
Megan (she/they) is a clinical herbal practitioner who explores the interconnected factors influencing health and the whole person, considering each client's lived experience, community support, and wider care team. Their approach is collaborative and thoughtful, recognizing that meaningful change often happens when the body, mind, and environment are all included in the treatment plan, and that care is most effective when clients feel genuinely heard and involved in the process.
Megan has completed over 500 hours of supervised clinical practice, more than 400 hours of biomedical science training, and 750+ hours of Western herbal science education, cultivating a strong foundation in both herbal therapeutics and biomedical understanding. This training has supported the development of detailed assessment skills, nuanced formulation strategies, and an ability to bridge traditional knowledge with contemporary research in a clinical setting. They are currently enrolled in the Master Gardener Program and have studied with internationally renowned herbalist Chanchal Cabrera, further enriching their knowledge of plants from seed to medicine and deepening their appreciation of the relationships between ecology, land, and health.
Megan's own journey through chronic pain, mental health concerns, and digestive issues inspired her to explore Western herbal medicine and supports her in connecting with people who are experiencing similar health challenges. This lived experience informs a compassionate clinical style that centres client safety, validation, and empowerment, with an emphasis on realistic, sustainable shifts that honour each person's capacity, resources, and pace of change. Megan is particularly interested in working collaboratively alongside other practitioners in a client's life to help build a more cohesive and consistent circle of care when possible.
Megan's primary areas of focus include:
Megan welcomes people of all ages and identities into the clinic. In their free time, they enjoy reading, cooking, spending time with their two kittens, and tending to the small daily rituals that help sustain connection, rest, and a sense of home.