Kara Timmins, Clinical Herbalist, has a deep history and love of working with herbs. First introduced to wild herbs in the meadows of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New Mexico over 20 years ago, she began eating wild foods, identifying, and gathering medicinal herbs. From these initial experiences, a lifelong herbalist was born! She has studied with several herbalists including Tina Finneyfrock and Chanchal Cabrera, She apprenticed with organic and biodynamic growers across the US and Canada including The National Center for Preservation of Native Medicinal Herbs (now a part of United Plant Savers) in Rutland, Ohio where she studied endangered (at risk) native medicinal herbs.

       She completed a 4-year Clinical Herbal Therapy program at Dominion Herbal College, in Vancouver, Canada with over 500 clinic hours working in herbal consultation clinics in both Vancouver and Toronto. Following a desire to truly understand human physiology and then pathology, she continued her studies, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, both at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY. Since graduating in 2007, she has worked at hospitals in Syracuse, Cortland, and Montour Falls with multiple physicians and surgeons covering Internal Medicine, Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, and Emergency Medicine. Currently, she works as a health care provider at Cornell University and created an herbal pharmacy for students at Cornell’s Ithaca campus pharmacy in collaboration with a local herb farm, Healing Spirits Herb Farm, and the lead pharmacist. She previously worked part-time with Dr. Nasri Ghaly at an integrative psychiatric practice in Syracuse, NY specializing in herbal therapeutics, vitamin deficiencies, and lifestyle changes as an integrative approach to mental health.
        In October 2011 she created ApotheKara, an herbal apothecary and integrative health clinic in Ithaca, NY. Then in 2020, she created this online platform and podcast, Herb-Therapy and Herbal Care Rap. She specializes in herbal health education and consultation. She utilizes her knowledge in medical and herbal pharmacology, herbal therapeutics, and nutrition to support each client with a unique approach specific to their needs and health goals. She has a solid understanding of both western medicine and herbal therapy. 

       She currently collaborates with Root To Rise  Wellness Center in Corning, NY.  

Please contact Kara if you would prefer an in-person consultation.

       She is a lifelong learner of plant medicine and herbal abundance. Currently studying with Dr. Aviva Romm in the Herbal Medicine for Women Program and traveling to Costa Rica to learn from a Bri Bri family of herbalists.  She also is the co-organizer of the annual Spirit of the Kindred Women's Medicine Gathering in the Finger Lakes Region of NY.