Today we’d like to introduce you to Kirsten Dehmlow.
Hi Kirsten, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Looking back, I think I have always been an herbalist at heart. As a little girl, I loved being in the garden, gathering flowers and making “potions” from petals and leaves. I didn’t know then that those early moments were planting the seeds for the work I do today.
More than thirty years ago, when I was pregnant with my first child, I became passionate about raising my family from a holistic perspective. I wanted to understand how food, herbs and nature could support our health. I began collecting herbal books, attending classes whenever I could and making simple remedies for my family. I dreamed of becoming an herbalist, but life was full as I raised five children while also working as a childbirth educator, lactation educator and labor doula, supporting families through pregnancy, birth and the postpartum years.
In 2020, many of the herbal certification programs I had been following became available online and I knew it was finally my time. I studied with Shelley Torgove, whose teachings weave together Western herbalism and Maya healing traditions and with Tonja Reichley, whose work is rooted in the plants and traditions of Northern Europe. Their mentorship deepened not only my knowledge of herbal medicine but also my understanding of our relationship with the natural world.
My studies have taken me to Mexico, where I continued learning with Shelley and trained in Maya Abdominal Therapy. This ancestral work has transformed the way I care for women, helping them reconnect not only with their bodies but also with the emotions, experiences and inner wisdom they carry, while supporting reproductive and digestive health. I have also traveled to Ireland several times to study with Tonja, exploring the medicinal plants, folklore and traditions that continue to inspire my work. This fall, I will have the joy of leading my own small group retreat there.
Today, through Under the Linden Tree, I help women reconnect with themselves and with the healing power of plants. I offer personalized herbal consultations, Maya Abdominal Therapy, Reiki, herbal education, women’s circles, and hands-on workshops that empower women to care for themselves and their families with confidence. Whether someone is navigating fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, menopause, or simply longing to live more connected to the rhythms of nature, my hope is to create a space where they feel seen, supported, and reminded that healing often begins by slowing down and returning to the wisdom that has been with us all along.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like most small business owners, it definitely hasn’t been a perfectly smooth road. One of the practical challenges was finding spaces that felt aligned with my work. Over the years I’ve been grateful to create community in a variety of places, including Hudson Gardens, SOSU Artist Collective and perhaps my favorite classroom of all – my own garden.
One of my biggest struggles was wondering if I was starting too late. I had spent decades raising five children while building a career as a childbirth educator, lactation educator and labor doula. Although becoming an herbalist had been a dream for many years, I questioned whether I had missed my opportunity. Looking back, I’m so grateful I didn’t let those fears stop me. I hope my story encourages other women who have quietly carried a dream for years. It’s never too late to begin.
Once I took that first step, a different kind of self-doubt crept in. I wondered if I knew enough to truly help others. It was easy to believe I needed one more class, one more certification or one more credential before I was “ready.”
Over time, I’ve realized that while continuing to learn is important – and I hope to always be a student – what matters most is showing up with curiosity, compassion and the ability to truly listen. The plants have been some of my greatest teachers and so have the women who have trusted me with their stories. I’ve learned that healing isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating a space where women feel safe, seen and supported as they reconnect with themselves.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Under the Linden Tree was created from my belief that women deserve to be deeply heard and supported. I guide women through life’s thresholds – from the menstrual years and fertility to pregnancy, postpartum, hysterectomy, perimenopause, and menopause – using herbs, Maya Abdominal Therapy, Reiki, education and community.
I offer one-on-one herbal consultations with personalized herbal remedies, Maya Abdominal Therapy, Reiki, women’s circles, hands-on herbal workshops and my six-month Essential Herbalism Foundations program, which combines my monthly hands-on herbal medicine circles with Shelley Torgove’s online herbal training. Whether someone is seeking support for a specific health concern or simply longing to reconnect with themselves and the natural world, my goal is to provide practical tools while creating a space where women feel heard, seen and supported.
What makes my work different is that I don’t see healing as simply treating symptoms. I believe healing happens in relationship with the plants, with our bodies, with one another and with the natural rhythms that surround us. My classes aren’t just about learning herbs; they’re about touching, tasting, harvesting and making medicine together. My consultations aren’t just about creating a custom tea or tincture – they’re about listening deeply and understanding the whole person.
If there is one thing I’m most proud of, it’s the community that has grown around Under the Linden Tree. Many women come because they want to learn about herbs, but they leave with something even more valuable: confidence in their own intuition, meaningful connections with other women and a deeper trust in their bodies and the wisdom of the plants.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
As I answer these questions, I’m sitting with my family at the beach in South Carolina. Time with my husband, my five children and my grandchildren fills my heart in a way that nothing else can.
As an herbalist, I find so much joy in being in the garden or out in nature. I love observing the plants through the seasons – their beauty, their resilience and the quiet lessons they offer if we take the time to notice. Being with the plants always brings me back to myself.
I also love watching my students discover herbalism. Seeing someone fall in love with the plants, gain confidence in making their own remedies and realize that they can care for themselves and their families is incredibly rewarding.
And then there are the moments with my clients. Hearing that someone is sleeping better, feeling calmer, experiencing easier menstrual cycles, or receiving the long-awaited news that they are pregnant – those moments never get old. Walking alongside women through these important transitions is a privilege and I never take their trust for granted.
Pricing:
- Initial Consult: $225 (Includes complete intake and if indicted Maya Abdominal Therapy and/or energy session, customized tea blend, and three additional remedies (such as tinctures or aromatherapy blends)
- Follow up consults: 1-1.5 hours: $135 or $475 for a 4 pack
- Workshop pricing varies
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.underthelindentreeco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram/kdehmlow/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566351832246
- Email: underthelindentreeco@gmail.com
