I am a mother of five incredible boys, wife to a brilliant and supportive husband, and someone who has always felt deeply connected to the natural world. I am a naturalist at heart, an herbalist, gardener, forager, avid reader, and lifelong student with an enduring curiosity for plants, history, science, and health.
My Path to Herbalism
My path into herbalism began through personal experience and a growing curiosity about how people have supported their health long before modern medicine. I am especially drawn to the traditional roots of Western herbal medicine and the ways these ancestral practices continue to align with modern scientific research. Over time, this connection between tradition and science has become a central part of how I study and work with plants. I find as much meaning in the historical use of herbs as I do in understanding their constituents and mechanisms.
Beyond my work and studies, time spent outdoors remains an important part of my life. Whether I am gardening, hiking, identifying plants, or ethically wildcrafting, I continue to deepen my relationship with the natural world. Sharing this with my children is especially important to me, encouraging curiosity, respect, and a sense of stewardship for the plants around us. This ongoing connection keeps me grounded in the living relationship between people and plants.
Education and Training
I completed both the Practical Herbalist and Master Herbalist diploma programs through Wild Rose College, graduating with highest honours. My training includes over 2500 hours of academic and clinical study, including a full plant monograph thesis, complex case studies, and supervised clinical work under the guidance of experienced herbal practitioners across Canada.
Alongside my formal education, I continue to deepen my studies through attendance at several herbal education conferences across North America, as well as specialized and continuing education coursework through Pacific Rim College, the American Herbalists Guild, Commonwealth Herbs, the Matthew Wood Institute of Herbalism, the Evolutionary School of Herbalism, the Eclectic School of Herbalism, and The Herbal Academy.
Phytochemistry and Formulation
My love of plant chemistry led me to pursue advanced phytochemistry education with renowned herbalist and educator Lisa Ganora including her in-depth, two semester Herbal Constituents program. I have also completed several additional courses and in person workshops through Lisa and other schools focused on plant chemistry, extraction methods, and formulation. This training has deeply shaped how I understand herbal medicine, not only from a traditional perspective, but through the lens of constituents, solubility, energetics, and therapeutic relevance.
While I am fascinated by the chemistry and science behind these processes, I am equally aware that many of these plants were used long before modern science could explain why they worked. Even now, plants remain complex and not fully understood, which makes traditional knowledge all the more important in guiding their use. Bringing together modern clinical research and phytochemical analysis with this perspective helps me better understand how and why they are used.
My Philosophy and Approach
My approach to herbalism is grounded in a holistic perspective, one that sees health as something that shifts and evolves rather than something fixed. I tend to look for patterns, ask questions, and explore why certain symptoms arise, rather than focusing only on the symptoms themselves.
From this foundation, my work is centred on community education, with a focus on practical, everyday herbalism. I am especially drawn to helping people reconnect with plants in a way that feels accessible and grounded. This includes learning how to grow herbs, forage in an ethical and sustainable way, and use what is available to us, whether from the garden, backyard, or kitchen cupboard, to support simple, day to day health for ourselves and our families.
Through study, writing, and teaching, I share herbal knowledge in a way that is clear, useful, and rooted in both tradition and current research. This is an ongoing process for me and one that continues to deepen as I continue to learn and grow. I consider myself a lifelong student of nature.
Lore & Lab Botanicals
Through Lore & Lab Botanicals, my intention is to honour both the wisdom of traditional herbal medicine and contemporary plant science, creating a space where education, curiosity, and respectful plant relationships come together.
Disclaimer
Herbalism in North America is currently unregulated. I do not diagnose medical conditions or provide medical treatment.
Cindy Szymandera
Community Herbalist (CH)
Master Herbalist (MH)