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Amanda Adams has been with Herbalist & Alchemist since 2021. A graduate of David Winston's Center for Herbal Studies 2 year program, she started in the production department and seamlessly transitioned to Quality Control Assistant where she ensures products meet H&A's rigorous standards and are in compliance with FDA regulations.
How did you first become interested in plants?
I've always been very interested in all the natural wonders of our amazing planet and the preservation, conservation, and stewardship of our home Mother Earth. I have fond childhood memories of playing by the creek while the scent of honeysuckle drifts on the breeze and decorating mud pies with purple poke berries. It was a long path to get back to immersing myself in the feelings plants create in me.
I attended the Baltimore School of Massage for Aesthetics in 2008 and then went on to apprentice as a cosmetologist. I worked in the health and beauty industry for the better part of ten years, which actually felt pretty hollow. I watched a lot of my colleagues struggle with alcoholism and other addictions as well as seeing them not really feeling fulfilled with their stations in life. Nor was I.
I looked for something deeper and was drawn to Reiki and other energy healing modalities, working with plant essences, the chakra system, and other holistic modalities. I am a Certified Usui Reiki Master and Certified Crystal Practitioner.
After that I took a position at a family-owned garden center and nursery where I floated between departments seasonally. My most cherished time of year was from mid-February to Mother's day when I was stationed at our cultivation green house. I loved caring for these small plants and watching everything grow; to this day I get homesick for the smell of wet soil around this time of year. In the summertime I spent my days in the perennial department caring for the plants and helping customers find the perfect specimens for their gardening needs. Wintertime was spent in the Christmas shop where I had my own section of merchandise; I was responsible for keeping inventory flowing in a way that was pleasing to the eye.
What led you to take David's class?
My journey to Herbalist & Alchemist and David Winston started when I relocated to New Jersey in the late summer of 2019. I took a job as a manager at a local Starbucks to be able to sustain myself after the move. I knew this wasn't my forever job as it wasn't fulfilling my soul's longing to genuinely help humanity. Then the Covid pandemic struck and let me just tell you that working retail in an "essential" job that didn't feel especially essential was exceptionally draining for my soul. It also gave me a very interesting snapshot of humanity and further deepened my reserves to find employment that would better sustain myself and our planet. So, I looked for a job/career path that more closely resembled what I was craving.
That search took me approximately 2 years; I joined the H&A team in 2021. I started in the production department, creating the extracts. I really loved it, handling all the different botanicals every day and making something that can really benefit humanity felt like a breath of fresh air. I fell in love with the mission statement of H & A immediately, I knew I had found something truly unique and special, something I wanted to be a part of!
It was this chance encounter that introduced me to David Winston’s Center for Herbal Studies. Naturally, I was over-joyed at the opportunity to deepen my relationship with these plant allies by taking David's course!
What is your job at H&A and how does the knowledge you gained from the Center for Herbal Studies support your work?
About halfway through David's course, the opportunity arose for me to transfer to the Quality Control department within H&A. I was both humbled and ecstatic at the prospect of being able to use my existing knowledge and practical skills as a springboard for my professional career.
As most people know, H&A has a very strict quality control program for testing every lot of every product before it can be released for sale to the public. I am personally responsible for receiving and sampling every single lot of every product we make. I perform numerous in-house testing procedures, as well as send samples to other laboratories for further scientific analysis. This ensures that all of the products meet both our rigorous standards and are in compliance with FDA regulations.
Being exposed daily to botanical ingredients and extracts, as well as having the opportunity for hands-on experiences where I get to work with, evaluate, and actively participate in the development of new products and testing methods is both challenging and very rewarding. I learn new things every day and I am so grateful! I genuinely love what I do and am filled with a sense of pride that I get to help bring these things into the world.
Taking David's course has supported my personal growth as well as my professional career. My knowledge of plants, and their properties and uses, and my confidence in being able to apply that knowledge has been bolstered, and my life as a whole has been enriched by this program.
What are your favorite H&A products and why?
Two products from H&A I would never want to be without are:
David Winston's Grief Relief™- Hawthorn, Rose Petals and Mimosa Bark, what's not to love? Like many people, my life is filled with stress and anxieties. This formula has really helped give me a boost when I'm feeling down.
David Winston's Full Moon™ Women's Anti-Spasmodic Compound. As we age one would think our menstrual cycles would get easier, but sadly, I've found this is not the case. Finding a product that really works to help support you during this time is essential.
