Interview
Brenda VanNatta is a licensed massage therapist (LMT) and a state certified bodywork therapist (ACBT) in PA and a graduate of Herbal Therapeutics School of Botanical Medicine. She has been in practice since 1997.
How did you first become interested in herbal medicine?
My 7th grade teacher, Mr. Young, provoked my interest in plants. I liked spending time outside with plants I was growing. I found this to be nurturing, so this was a natural transition. I found some books on herbal medicine and started my own education, after the birth of my first child, almost 30 years ago. He seemed to be sick often and visits to the pediatrician were unproductive; the prescribed medicines harmed instead of helping. My family thought I was crazy, but I knew I needed more information. I’d had personal experience with the ineffectiveness of conventional medicine since my childhood.
How did you find David’s herbal training program, and how has that impacted your career path?
I heard from our family chiropractor, Dr. John Murray, that David Winston was teaching herbal medicine. I called him the day before his next class started and was accepted. I think it was 1992, or 1993 in Broadway, NJ. I felt so blessed to be there, and amazed how I had survived without all this information! A whole new world (and career path) unfolded for me. I learned about Chinese medicine and sought out other holistic healing. I had my first shiatsu with Kerry Adams. WOW! I felt blessed again for meeting her through the herbal study group. I visited several schools and began my shiatsu training at the International School of Shiatsu. From the very first beginners weekend at ISS, which I believe was in 1993, I began practicing. I used my dining room with small children underfoot! In 1999 I opened Shiatsu For You, my home office, in the lower level of my raised ranch in Raubsville, PA. I still feel blessed to be on this journey. It changed my life!