About me..

Credentials:

My name is Karlina (Novumile) and I'm a Registered Herbalist RH (Clinical Herbalist) and active member of the Ontario Herbalist Association (OHA). I'm also an initiate/graduate of the Mpondo Sangoma indigenous tradition of South Africa (Shaman or Dziednieks) and have been practicing traditional medicine since 2010. I continue to learn from others as I share this work with you.

Medicine journey:

As most healers, I've had my own medicine journey to move through. While struggling with mental health problems, (panic attacks/general anxiety, depression and diagnosis of PTSD and OCD), I divinely crossed paths with Sangomas (traditional healers) while in South Africa, and answered a spiritual calling through the path of "Ukuthwasa". My path is one of inter-generational healing and ancestor work which helped to unlock and solve my mental anguish. As a Sangoma, I now extend the wisdom of this path to clients seeking support.

Upon my return to Canada, it was clear I needed a better understanding of anatomy/physiology, pathophysiology, and science generally, to best serve my clients who often came with imbalances and ailments for which herbal therapy would have been beneficial. I became a Clinical Herbalist as well as Sangoma/Dziednieks.

I work with the wisdom of my Latvian/European roots as well as honoring the Sangoma path.

Philosophy

This "Traditional Medicine Speaks" site intentionally places attention on communication (rather than myself). Our bodies are communicating with us through our symptom picture (ex. pain, anxiety, a rash, etc.) And the medicine speaks too. "How?" It speaks through trance (Sangoma tool); it speaks through empirical evidence; and it speaks through our scientific understanding and ongoing research in botany, phytotherapy, pathophysiology, etc.

No, I am not a doctor, nor do I pretend to be one. But I can help support you in your health journey and health advocacy. There are many paths up a mountain and traditional wisdom and effective holistic adjunctives are valuable to our health.