About Health & Hearth

Hi, I’m Rivka.

I have loved plants and the outdoors since I was a child. If not outside, I could frequently be found cooking in the kitchen. The experience of watching out for the health of my family lead me to realize the importance of diet and how herbs can be used to promote health, not just when ill but to encourage everyday health and vitality.

I have been privileged to work as an herbalist for about 15 years and turned this into an herbal healthcare business about 4 years ago. In my practice, I care for the health and wellbeing of individuals: from prevention of disease to working with acute and chronic conditions. This is through compassionate, personalized care; education; and empowering individuals to develop skills for a healthy life.

I also love to teach community classes in healthy cooking, fermenting and herbal remedies. I own Health & Hearth in Nashua, New Hampshire; I also lead plant walks and teach at Beaver Brook Association. I studied herbal medicine here in New England and am certified as a wellness coach by the Mayo clinic. I use this knowledge and years of experience in my own home, where I keep a constant supply of homemade fermented vegetables, nutritious foods, and herbal remedies to help keep my family healthy.

About you

We’re a good fit if you are:

  • Curious about herbs & herbal remedies

  • Seeking practical, actionable steps to improve your health

  • Believe healthcare should be holistic and comprehensive

  • Looking to engage in in-depth health discussions and expand your knowledge

  • Interested in exploring nutrition and developing a personal menu that fits your lifestyle and personal preferences.

  • In need of support and herbs for an acute illness you are currently experiencing.

My procesS

As a clinical herbalist, I specialize in analyzing your health, looking for root causes and patterns, and helping you develop a realistic plan for better overall health. Not being a doctor, I can’t give a medical diagnosis or psychological therapy, but I can work with your doctor and your therapist as part of your wellness team. Here’s how I work:

  • Initial Consultation & Intake: We meet together and build a picture of your health, including your chief concerns & symptoms, goals for health, and the causes & patterns contributing to your current situation.

  • Personalized Health Plan: I analyze your information & draft the initial framework of a plan, then we sit together and design a final version. I specialize in helping you identify tiny habits as a starting point, and making all of your health goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, and Time-bound).

  • On-Going Support & Guidance: You won’t be left to implement the plan on your own. I check in over email after we set up your plan, answer any questions you have, and help tweak as needed. I also offer an hourly rate & on-going support packages for when you need more support.

 FAQs

  • Teas are wonderful remedies, but no, you don’t have to drink tea. Herbs come in many different forms such as extracts, syrups, topical applications, capsules and more. Sometimes a simple adjustment in what you eat might be the best answer. It all depends on you, your health, and your preferences.

  • We will design a health program out of small, actionable steps using SMART goals. If there is something that you aren’t “keeping up with,” it just means that it needs to be tweaked or redesigned. We can experiment with the “how” of accomplishing a goal until it fits your lifestyle. The only health program that works is the one that you do.

  • It depends. For an acute illness such as a cold or flu it may just be a few days or weeks. Alternatively, you may be looking to design a routine that helps keep you healthy into your older years, so a long-term nutrition plan and building movement into your daily life may be the thing. Some health concerns can be eliminated and some, like diabetes, may need to be managed for a lifetime.

  • The herbal/holisitic toolkit is large and well-suited to tailoring an approach to a person’s needs and personality. I have worked with clients to develop plans that include things like herbal formulas, zentagle, gardening, hiking, journaling, baking bread, seeing a therapist, praying, EMDR, reducing sleep apnea, and so on. We are so diverse and it is an honor to support people.

  • Herbs along with a holistic approach are well suited to helping with chronic illnesses. Together we will explore diet, sleep, movement, social connection, and possible herbal remedies, developing a holistic plan towards better health.

    This is an integrative practice, meaning I can work with people’s doctors and other healthcare providers as part of a team.