Wendy Hasenkamp, PhD
Herbalist, scientist,
knowledge-sharer
The short story
I’m on a continual learning journey about holistic health, interconnectedness, and ways to live that move towards healing and wholeness. My studies have taken me from biology and neuroscience to psychology, to meditation, and now to herbalism. As this path unfolds, I’m passionate about sharing insights through writing, teaching, and clinical practice.
The long(er) story
I’ve always been fascinated our human capacity for transformation. Originally drawn to understanding the mind and brain, I have a PhD in Neuroscience and 15+ years of experience at the intersection of meditation, cognitive science, and Buddhist philosophy. Through these lenses, my perspective has broadened and become more integrative—I now view the roots of our experience as not only emerging from the brain, but also the body, and even our social and physical environments. We are deeply interconnected beings, and I believe that states of health and paths of healing (for humans, societies, and the planet) emerge out of this web of connectedness. I was honored to be able to host and produce a podcast with leading thinkers on these topics for five years through my work at the Mind & Life Institute.
In 2020, I began to hear the call of the plants when I started taking classes with herbalist Kat Maier. Fairly quickly, I could tell this would somehow become the next chapter of my learning and my life. I completed the Foundations program with Kat at Sacred Plant Traditions, and am currently enrolled in community and clinical programs at Commonwealth Holistic Herbalism. I’ve also been strongly influenced by the work of Paul Bergner, and am undertaking clinical observation and continuing education with herbalist and nutritionist Camille Freeman. Currently, my main interests include issues around systemic inflammation, the central role of gut health in physical, mental, and emotional wellness, and working with food and herbs to heal the gut-brain axis.
Approach
My approach is grounded in the vitalist tradition, which honors and relies on the natural intelligence of your body. Whether you’re struggling with an acute symptom or chronic condition, my recommendations aim to support the body’s innate ability to heal itself when it has what it needs. We’ll work with herbal preparations—as well as helpful shifts in lifestyle factors such as nurtition, sleep, stress management, and movement—to remove what may be blocking your vitality, ushering in a more vibrant state of health.
I view our work together as a collaboration. Unlike how it can sometimes feel with conventional medicine, my role is not to tell you what to do to improve your health, and your role is not to blindly follow my advice. Rather, after hearing from you about your experiences and health concerns, I’ll share information from a holistic perspective about how bodies and minds work, and how various lifestyle factors contribute to well-being. I’ll also draw on my knowledge of plant medicine to recommend specific herbs that will support your individual needs. We’ll discuss what feels accessible and achievable to you, and come up with a plan together.
Every body is different. We are each shaped by our unique genetics, history, and context, which gives us specific strengths, weaknesses, tendencies, and needs. Herbal approaches are perfectly suited for this reality, since plants are as diverse as we are! Based on our work together, I’ll create a customized protocol that will leverage the strengths of various plants, matched to your individual constitution and situation.
You are the expert on your body and your experience. For any recommendations I make, it’s always your choice whether to implement them. And any changes you decide to make will be a kind of experiment—we’ll check back in on how things are going, see what we’ve learned, and make adjustments as needed. Overall, my goal is to provide you with the knowledge and skills to improve your health, and for you to feel empowered to do just that.