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http://www.healinghouseherbal.com/

Healing House Natural Wellness, 907 12th Street, New Westminster, BC (2026)

12/22/2025

Panax ginseng (Korean ginseng) — where tradition meets clinical research 🌱

Panax ginseng has been used for thousands of years as a powerful adaptogen—supporting the body’s ability to respond to physical, mental, and emotional stress. Traditionally, it’s been used to enhance vitality, stamina, cognitive function, immune resilience, and overall longevity.

Modern clinical research continues to validate what traditional systems have long known. Panax ginseng has been studied for:
• Stress modulation and adrenal support
• Cognitive performance, focus, and mental fatigue
• Immune system regulation
• Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity
• Metabolic and blood sugar support
• Support for physical endurance and recovery

The active constituents, ginsenosides, are responsible for many of these effects, influencing immune signaling, inflammatory pathways, and neuroendocrine function—making Panax ginseng a truly dynamic and intelligent plant ally.

I’ve just received a fresh, vibrant Panax ginseng root, and it will be crafted into a fresh 1:2 liquid extract—a potent way to capture the full spectrum of constituents that fresh plant medicine offers. I honestly can’t wait to give this one a try.

As always, everything I do is handmade. When raw herbs arrive, they’re immediately respected and transformed—either turned into fresh medicine or carefully dried so they can be used with intention and precision for my clients in the future.

This is slow medicine. This is plant intelligence. And this is how healing is made. ✨

12/16/2025

🌿 I Am Like Many of My Clients 🌿

I don’t approach this work from a distance.
I live it.

An inflammatory illness changed my life—
how I moved through the world, how I listened to my body, and how intentional I had to become with my health.

I learned quickly that healing isn’t a one-time event.
It’s an ongoing relationship.

To this day, I continue to support myself through:
• Herbal medicine
• Targeted supplementation
• Nourishing, anti-inflammatory nutrition
• Stress and nervous system regulation
• Thoughtful lifestyle modifications

Not because I am broken—but because my body deserves consistent care.

This lived experience shapes how I support my clients. I understand the frustration of “normal labs,” the exhaustion of trial and error, and the courage it takes to advocate for yourself when something feels off.

Herbal medicine gave me tools.
Science gave me clarity.
Commitment gave me my life back.

This is why I do this work.
And why I will always meet my clients with empathy, precision, and respect for the journey they are on.

12/15/2025

Today in the apothecary, I’m making one of my healing creams from start to finish — by hand — beginning with my beautiful chickweed base.

Chickweed (Stellaria media) is gentle, cooling, and profoundly soothing to inflamed, irritated tissue. It has long been a plant ally for conditions marked by heat, itching, and chronic discomfort — which is why I reach for it so often in sensitive formulations.

One of the conditions this cream may be supportive for is lichen sclerosus — a chronic inflammatory skin condition that most commonly affects delicate tissue. While its exact cause is still being explored, current theories suggest links to immune dysregulation, autoimmune processes, and possible viral triggers in susceptible individuals. As with many chronic inflammatory conditions, there is rarely just one root cause — the body is speaking through layers.

To support this formula, I incorporate blue chamomile essential oil, rich in the deeply anti-inflammatory constituent azulene, alongside lavender for its calming and tissue-supportive properties, and frankincense for its long-respected role in soothing inflammation and supporting cellular repair.

Every step — from infusing herbs to blending oils — is done by my own two hands. This is not mass production. This is intentional medicine. Creating each formula by hand allows me to hold space for the person it is made for, honoring the relationship between plant, practitioner, and client.

This is how I practice herbal medicine:
🌿 slow
🌿 intentional
🌿 deeply connected

Because healing is not just about ingredients — it’s about care.

— Petra Sovcov
Clinical Herbal Therapist | Doctorate of Natural Medicine
Healing House Natural Wellness

12/15/2025

Today in the apothecary, I’m making one of my healing creams from start to finish — by hand — beginning with my beautiful chickweed base.

Chickweed (Stellaria media) is gentle, cooling, and profoundly soothing to inflamed, irritated tissue. It has long been a plant ally for conditions marked by heat, itching, and chronic discomfort — which is why I reach for it so often in sensitive formulations.

One of the conditions this cream may be supportive for is lichen sclerosus — a chronic inflammatory skin condition that most commonly affects delicate tissue. While its exact cause is still being explored, current theories suggest links to immune dysregulation, autoimmune processes, and possible viral triggers in susceptible individuals. As with many chronic inflammatory conditions, there is rarely just one root cause — the body is speaking through layers.

To support this formula, I incorporate blue chamomile essential oil, rich in the deeply anti-inflammatory constituent azulene, alongside lavender for its calming and tissue-supportive properties, and frankincense for its long-respected role in soothing inflammation and supporting cellular repair.

Every step — from infusing herbs to blending oils — is done by my own two hands. This is not mass production. This is intentional medicine. Creating each formula by hand allows me to hold space for the person it is made for, honoring the relationship between plant, practitioner, and client.

This is how I practice herbal medicine:
🌿 slow
🌿 intentional
🌿 deeply connected

Because healing is not just about ingredients — it’s about care.

With love from the plant world,

— Petra

12/15/2025

🌿 Why herbs don’t always “perform” in clinical trials 🌿

Herbal medicine is often judged by the same clinical testing models used for pharmaceuticals—but herbs don’t behave like single, isolated chemicals.

A whole plant contains hundreds of compounds working together:
• modulating inflammation
• supporting immune balance
• influencing the microbiome
• strengthening detoxification pathways

Clinical trials are designed to isolate one variable, one mechanism, one outcome.
Herbal medicine works by supporting the terrain—and terrain is complex, individualized, and slow to shift.

Many studies use:
▫️ overly standardized extracts
▫️ non-traditional preparations
▫️ short timelines
▫️ uniform dosing across diverse bodies

This doesn’t mean herbs don’t work.
It means we are often asking the wrong research questions.

In clinical herbal practice, the right herb for the right person—prepared properly and used long enough—can create profound, measurable change, even when labs look “normal.”

Evidence-based herbalism doesn’t reject science.
It asks science to evolve enough to study living systems, not just isolated molecules.

🌱 With love from the plant world,
Petra

12/14/2025

🌿 SLOW MEDICINE SATURDAY 🌿

There's a fundamental difference between how herbal medicine and pharmaceuticals work—and understanding this can transform how you approach your health.

**THE PHARMACEUTICAL TIMELINE**
Pharmaceuticals are designed for speed. They target symptoms quickly, often providing relief within hours or days. This is invaluable in acute situations—when you need immediate help, they're there. But here's the trade-off: they typically address the symptom, not the root cause. You take the medication, the symptom quiets, but the underlying imbalance often remains.

**THE HERBAL MEDICINE TIMELINE**
Herbal medicine works differently. It takes time—usually 30 to 90 days to see meaningful shifts—because it's working at the root level. Herbs gently support your body's own healing intelligence, addressing issues such as regulating hormones, balancing the nervous system, assisting in proper digestion and elimination. This deeper work takes patience, but the results are lasting.

**THE REAL DIFFERENCE**
✓ Pharmaceuticals = Fast symptom relief (but often temporary)
✓ Herbal medicine = Slower, deeper healing (but sustainable)

Neither is "wrong"—they serve different purposes. Sometimes you need both. The key is knowing when you're treating a symptom versus addressing the cause.

True healing happens when we get curious about *why* your body is struggling, not just how to make it stop struggling.

With love from the plant world,
Petra 🌱

12/12/2025

🌿 Hand-Crafted Medicine, Rooted in the Whole Plant 🌿

One of the things I cherish most about this work is that every single tincture I make for my clients is created by hand, from raw plant materials. No shortcuts. No pre-made extracts. No bulk-manufactured bases.

In a world where so much of herbal medicine has moved toward convenience and speed, I still believe deeply in the importance of working with the plants in their whole form. There’s something sacred in meeting each plant as it is — its scent, its colour, its texture, its story — and transforming it into medicine with intention and respect.

Every jar I macerate, every pressing, every bottle poured… it’s all done in my apothecary by my own two hands. And I believe you can feel that difference — the integrity, the vibrational quality, the connection — when you take your formula.

✨ This is slow medicine. Whole medicine. Plant medicine as it has always been.

Thank you to each of my clients for trusting in this process and in the power of true, hand-crafted herbalism. It is an honour to make your medicine. 🌿

12/11/2025

🌿 Tincture Thursday: Understanding Herbal Extracts & Ratios

What is a tincture? A tincture is a concentrated liquid extract made by soaking herbs in alcohol (or glycerin) to pull out the plant's active compounds. It's one of the most effective ways to preserve and deliver herbal medicine.

But here's where it gets interesting—not all tinctures are created equal. The ratio matters.

**Understanding Tincture Ratios:**

A tincture ratio tells you the relationship between the herb and the liquid used. You'll see them written like 1:5 or 1:3.

🌱 **1:5 Ratio** (herb to liquid)
- 1 part dried herb to 5 parts liquid
- More dilute, gentler extraction
- Great for everyday wellness support
- Easier on the digestive system

🌱 **1:3 Ratio**
- 1 part dried herb to 3 parts liquid
- More concentrated than 1:5
- Stronger therapeutic effect
- Better for acute or chronic conditions

🌱 **1:2 Ratio**
- 1 part dried herb to 2 parts liquid
- Highly concentrated
- Potent medicine for specific health challenges
- Often used in clinical herbalism

**Why Does This Matter?**

The ratio affects potency, absorption, and how your body responds. A 1:5 tincture is perfect for daily maintenance, while a 1:2 might be what you need during an acute flare-up or chronic health challenge.

At Healing House, every custom tincture is formulated specifically for YOUR needs—including the perfect ratio for your unique wellness goals.

That being said, different plants will require different ratios and different alcohol percentages as well - I will visit this in another post, but in the meantime, I hope you've found some value in this information.

With love from the plant world,
Petra 🌿

12/10/2025

🌿 THE ROLE OF PHYTOESTROGENS IN ESTROGEN-DOMINANT ILLNESS

Estrogen dominance is one of the most common hormonal patterns I see in clinic—heavy periods, bloating, breast tenderness, PMS, fibroids, endometriosis, stubborn weight changes, mood shifts… the list goes on.

But one of the most misunderstood supports for estrogen-dominant conditions?
Phytoestrogens.

Phytoestrogens aren’t “more estrogen.”
They are plant-derived compounds that can bind to estrogen receptors with a much gentler, weaker action than our own endogenous estrogen or xenoestrogens from plastics, pesticides, or cosmetics.

This means that in cases of estrogen dominance, phytoestrogens can actually help by:
🌱 Blocking stronger estrogens (including environmental endocrine disruptors)
🌱 Supporting balanced receptor activity
🌱 Encouraging healthier estrogen metabolism pathways
🌱 Reducing the inflammatory cascade linked to estrogen overload

Herbs such as red clover, licorice, flaxseed, hops, and alfalfa contain these gentle plant constituents. They don’t “push estrogen higher”—they help modulate and balance what’s already there.

When we support the body with whole-plant medicines, we work with the wisdom of nature—not against it. Phytoestrogens offer one of the most elegant examples of how plants can normalize hormone function rather than forcing it in one direction.

For anyone navigating estrogen dominance, perimenopause, fibroids, endometriosis, or PMS:
✨ Plant allies can be a powerful part of the picture.
✨ Whole-body assessment matters.
✨ And balancing hormones is never just about hormones—it’s about inflammation, detoxification pathways, stress, gut health, and environmental load.

If you’re struggling with these symptoms or want a tailored herbal protocol, my door (and my apothecary shelves!) are always open. 💚

12/10/2025

What if your DNA holds the key?

Chronic inflammation isn’t just about symptoms. It can be rooted deep in your body’s unique genetic code, impacting how your immune system responds and how you heal. Most people don’t realize that small variations in your DNA can influence everything from detox pathways to nutrient absorption.

Curious about how your genes shape your health journey? At Healing House, we combine clinical herbalism, holistic nutrition, and DNA insights to create truly personalized plans for chronic inflammatory issues.

Ready to discover your body’s blueprint for wellness? Visit the link in my bio to learn more or book your first session.

With love from the plant world, Petra 🌱

12/09/2025

Haha! This is my first time trying one of these “pointing out the obvious” videos and it shows!
But on a more serious note…
🌿 “My labs are normal… so why do I still feel awful?”
If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, you are not alone. Many of my clients come to me feeling chronically tired, inflamed, foggy, or simply unwell—yet their standard labs look “perfectly normal.”

But here’s the truth: normal labs don’t always equal optimal wellness.
And they certainly don’t always reflect the root causes of chronic fatigue or chronic illness.

Sometimes we have to think outside the traditional assessment box and look deeper into areas that aren’t routinely screened for, such as:

✨ Genetic markers for detoxification
Some of us simply don’t move toxins, hormones, or inflammatory byproducts efficiently. When your detox pathways are sluggish, even everyday exposures can overwhelm your system.

✨ Chronic low-grade heavy metal exposure
From personal care items, cosmetics, cookware, or even drinking water—these micro-exposures add up and can quietly contribute to fatigue, headaches, and immune dysregulation.

✨ Candida or parasitic load
These are far more common than people think. When the microbiome is imbalanced, everything from digestion to mood to immunity can take a hit.

✨ Glyphosate and environmental chemicals
Even the most “healthy” produce can carry residues that burden the liver, disrupt the microbiome, and fuel chronic inflammation.

✨ Hormonal imbalances
Stress, perimenopause, endocrine disruptors, and nutrient deficiencies can shift our hormone landscape in ways that profoundly affect energy and wellbeing.

When labs are normal but you don’t feel normal, it’s not “in your head.”
It’s a sign that something deeper is asking to be understood—and herbal medicine offers a powerful, gentle, and comprehensive lens for finding those answers. 🌱

Your body is always communicating. Your symptoms are not a nuisance—they are a compass.

✨ If you’re ready to explore why you’ve been feeling chronically tired or unwell, we can walk this path together. There are answers, and your body deserves to be heard. ✨

12/08/2025

✨ Connecting with Your Body Through Mindfulness

Your body holds wisdom. It speaks through sensations, energy, and subtle signals—but we often miss these messages in our busy lives. Today, I'm inviting you to pause and listen.

Meditation and mindfulness have been trusted healing practices across cultures for thousands of years. From Buddhist traditions to Indigenous healing practices, from Ayurvedic medicine to Traditional Chinese Medicine, these practices recognize what modern science now confirms: our mind and body are deeply connected.

🧘 Try This 3-Step Body Check-In (5 minutes)

**Step 1: Ground Yourself**
Sit comfortably. Feel your feet on the ground or your body in your chair. Take 3 deep breaths, breathing in for 4 counts, holding for 4, releasing for 4.

**Step 2: Scan & Notice**
Starting at the top of your head, slowly move your awareness down through your body. Notice without judgment—tension, warmth, coolness, tingling, or ease. Spend 30 seconds in each area.

**Step 3: Listen & Acknowledge**
Ask your body: "What do you need right now?" Listen quietly. This might be rest, movement, nourishment, or simply acknowledgment.

💚 Why This Matters

Regular mindfulness practice supports:
• Reduced inflammation and stress response
• Better nervous system regulation
• Improved digestion and nutrient absorption
• Enhanced immune function
• Deeper self-awareness for healing

Your body isn't separate from your wellness journey—it's central to it. When we pause to truly listen, we unlock the body's natural ability to heal and restore balance.

Try this check-in today. Notice what shifts. 🌿

With love from the plant world,
Petra

Healing House Natural Wellness

12/22/2025

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Monday	9am - 6pm
Tuesday	9am - 6pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm
Saturday	9am - 6pm