Understory Herbalism

Miranda Resnick, Clinical Herbalist

 

Hi, I’m Miranda.

I am a clinical herbalist living and tending a small plot of earth at the edge of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont (Ndakinna, the settler occupied, unceded lands of the Abenaki people). 

I offer support to those experiencing insomnia, anxiety, depression, chronic stress, burnout, grief, and trauma, so that you can fully show up in your life as your best self. Herbal medicine offers us powerful and supportive allies in times of mental, emotional and physical distress. It is my deep honor to play the roles of educator, collaborator, and matchmaker, introducing you to the plants most suited to your own unique body, spirit, experiences, and needs. I offer compassionate, client-focused, trauma-aware care for all bodies, life stages, and genders. 

The herbalist smiles at the camera in a wooded area in early spring.

 When going through times of increased stress, traumatic experiences, emotional dysregulation, or grief, it can feel like something within us has been severed. It can be isolating, this feeling of disconnection from our loved ones, community, and even ourselves. Awakening a connection to nature through working with plant medicine can help tether us, weave us back into a sense of deep belonging and being held. 

What Clients are Saying

  • “Miranda is a kind and compassionate practitioner. From the time of our first meeting, it was evident that she had my best interests in mind. She listened carefully and took detailed notes to provide formulas that were nothing short of life changing for me. I had several severe struggles that were impacting my daily life. She was able to provide me herbal support to mitigate these symptoms, help me find the root of the problem, and allow me to be the best version of myself. While I still have a long road ahead, seeing the growth over the last two years has given me the inspiration to continue with my self care routine. I’m genuinely thankful for the care and support she has provided and it has greatly improved my quality of life.”

    -KT

  • “I've dealt with anxiety and depression for most of my life. Between the bouts of depression, anxiety keeps me in a state of mild but constant worry. After a month or two of taking the formulas that Miranda composed for me, my partner said: "This is the most I've seen you smile in ages!" I've been calmer and more clear headed, and I've noticed improvements in my sleep and energy levels. Ultimately, I began feeling more present and more like myself than I had in a very long time.

    And then there's Miranda herself. Working with her has been an absolute pleasure. She tailors every recommendation to the whole person, and considers their physical, mental, and emotional health. Miranda combines her personal sense of compassion and empathy with a thorough understanding of the clinical science behind herbalism, and in the end produces something that's absolutely magical.”

    -JC

  • “My dad had a terminal diagnosis of ALS. It is, in some ways, a gift, to not have any hope for a cure. There is nothing else to do but accept the inevitability of his death and make the most of the last amount of time I had with him. Miranda helped support me in this journey towards the end of my dad's time on earth with a blend of herbs for helping me connect to my grief and not be overwhelmed by it. During our first meeting she asked me something along the lines of "do you want to protect your heart from grief or open to it?". I wanted to open. I wanted to feel, share, and receive all of the love I could from my dad before he died. The formulas Miranda crafted for me helped me stay grounded yet open through all the waves of grief, like a warm towel after a cold swim, the first hug after a 2-week quarantine (thanks, COVID), a supportive hand on my back when I didn't know if I could continue to show up fully.

    When I was visiting my dad in August, his condition declined rapidly. In the span of a couple of days, he went from fairly mobile to needing full support. It was hard. But every morning I would take my tincture. The tea and tincture formulas that Miranda crafted for me supported me in my sorrow and opened my heart to share many incredibly beautiful moments with my dad.

    …

  • I found myself easily finding smiles and laughter, even as I was aware of how swollen with emotion my heart was. I was able to nurture a depth of emotional intimacy with my dad that I didn't get (and wanted) when I was growing up. There was true and honest forgiveness, and I felt so much love pass between us.

    On the few days I forgot to take it, I felt a difference - on those days I was more anxious, more scared of losing him, I wasn't as present. I had a hard time just sitting with him, I had a harder time looking at him in his failing body, I felt more frustrated with his wife's emotions, I felt more angry. But if I took the time to make myself some tea, all of that was lessened, softened. There were a few days in particular where I think if I hadn't had my herbal supports to keep me grounded & open in my grief, and empathetic to the expressions of grief of those around me... relationships could have become broken or rifted. And yet they didn't... and as we are navigating my dad's will and all that must be done after his death, I am so aware of the ways that my openness allowed us (my sister, my dad's wife) to form a kind and caring relationship beyond my father's presence. I'm so grateful.”

    -RW