Thanks for being here. I’m River - a devoted student of life, nature, spirit, health, consciousness and medicine. It’s an honor to share about the work I do.

I have felt a deep connection to the earth and have been a medicine maker as long as I can remember. I started creating potions and “medicines” when I was a child and my desire to do so only grew with time.

I have studied natural health extensively over the last 15 years. I have lived on permaculture farms where I was able to grow food and herbs and utilize them for health and medicine making. I studied formally at the California School of Herbal Studies and after graduating, I founded Mountain and Moon Apothecary, where I continue to formulate and create herbal medicine, aromatherapy and natural body care products.

I first experienced Kambo in 2017 and felt an immediate, profound connection to the medicine. During a life-changing series of ceremonies in Peru’s Sacred Valley the following year, I realized Kambo would significantly shape my life’s path.

I spent the next year working with Kambo monthly, experiencing deep healing, trauma release and balance on many levels. This intense period of personal transformation guided me into knowing that it was time to begin the journey into serving the medicine with integrity.

The western trainings I have completed laid the foundation for my understanding of the science behind Kambo, what is happening in the body and safety precautions and protocols. I have additionally studied using Kambo to address autoimmune conditions, Lyme disease and chronic illness and can apply specialized protocols for those with these considerations. I have spent time with the indigenous Matses tribe in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest where I’ve been able to connect to the source of the medicine, to meet the frogs, help harvest the secretion and learn from the Matses directly. I maintain a relationship with the villages I studied with and source the medicine that I use directly from them, ensuring that it is ethically collected. I also donate a percentage of each session to these groups to assist in projects they have requested support with to improve their quality of life.

I have been privileged to receive the blessing of my indigenous teachers to serve Kambo and it is a responsibility I do not take lightly.

My approach with Kambo, and all of my work, is gentle, nurturing and feminine. I work with what’s called “minimum effective dose” and use a “low and slow” method. I have learned that gentle healing can be very powerful and that alternatively, taking too harsh or aggressive of an approach can have negative impacts. I am a trauma-informed practitioner - your comfort and emotional safety are of utmost importance to me.

Over the last few years, I have deepened my studies of holistic health. I have formally studied mineral balancing, gut health and heavy metal detoxification to be able to apply these modalities to address health at the root-cause level.

I now utilize functional lab testing along with my background as an herbalist and holistic health care practitioner to create fully custom protocols and programs to help guide my clients to comprehensive and sustainable health.

“River has all the qualities of a superior wellness practitioner, the type of person you feel grateful to have found and hope to work with indefinitely. She is humble, hungry to solve her clients’ health challenges, intelligent, passionate about the medicine she works with, gentle, and above all, compassionate.

I first connected with River two years ago, and immediately felt at ease with her. After entrusting her with some ongoing health matters (COVID, migraines, hormone imbalance and skin issues) I saw how deep her knowledge runs in applying natural and holistic solutions to a variety of imbalances. She has crafted custom herbal tea blends for me that have knocked out persistent cough due to COVID. She has patiently educated me on applications and preparations of other recommended herbs. As a Kambo practitioner, River made me feel safe in the most vulnerable moments of medicine. She built trust, offered communication, and shared compassion which is required to facilitate safety in experiences like this.

I attribute my current pregnancy to our work together, which was the greatest gift anyone could have given me! Since, she has suggested gentle herbal remedies for healthy pregnancy and lactation.

As a practitioner, she works with “minimum effective dose” which is a testament to her gentle yet effective approach, using the least amount of medicine necessary for healing.

I would recommend River to any of my friends and family, for a kind and well-rounded practitioner they can trust.”

-Amanda R.

Have questions? Feel free to reach out for more information or to schedule a consultation call.