Meet Nikki Dorn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Dorn.

Hi Nikki, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Three years into bedside nursing on a critical care unit, I was feeling the exhaustion and despair similar to what many nurses would describe as burnout. Yes, nursing is exhausting, physically and emotionally, but really, what was leading me to question my career choice was the story that repeated itself, again and again. An alcoholic patient that had been to the ER twenty plus times in six months. A patient that admits to not wanting to quit drinking alcohol but continues to come to the ER for one complaint or another. Desperate spouse, who also drinks… both living in a car. Hurriedly discharged so she does not begin to withdraw from alcohol. Hurriedly discharged back to the bottle.

A different patient with a sick heart and sick kidneys because of life choices to continue his addiction to processed and fried foods. A man that we “patched up” and sent out with no proper nutritional guidance, a handful of prescriptions, with the expectation that he will return to the hospital, more than likely within a few months. The kind of medicine that I was participating in was missing something. Often it is a band-aid fix, never really getting to the root of why these patients ended up in the hospital in the first place. It was discouraging to realize that all the love and care I shared with my patients would result in more prescription medications and little to no education about how to truly care for their precious bodies. I knew I needed to participate in healing in an entirely different way. I wanted to get to the root. I desired to practice in a more holistic way. I wasn’t exactly sure the path I would take, but I knew it would illuminate itself when the time was right.

The more experience I had with chronic illness, the more motivation I had to take extra care of my body. I began to eliminate as many chemicals as I could in my daily living, anywhere from plastic Tupperware to non-organic food. I began looking at the ingredients of my toiletries and realized much of the chemicals we put into our bodies come from stuff we put on our skin. I was on a mission to start learning how to make my own toiletries, that way I knew exactly what was in them. So I bought books… so many books! My first herbal ally was Calendula officinalis, also known as Pot Marigold. Talk about flower power! With its golden yellow color and sweet aroma, it makes for a gorgeous infused oil. My first concoction was a hand lotion to heal my dry, cracked hands from the ridiculous use of sanitizer in the hospital. Calendula’s ability to heal skin was unmatched. That’s it! I was hooked. The path was illuminated. The plant medicine world is vast and I was thirsty to learn. I enrolled in the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism and upon completion started my own practice.

While working to grow my practice, I continue to make organic botanical products for purchase. My experience as a critical care nurse has proven to be invaluable and I am so grateful for having chosen that career path, for I would not be where I am today. Because of this experience, I have the understanding that in an emergency, or acute illness, modern medicine is extraordinary. It saves lives, but perhaps it should be considered the alternative medicine. Herbal medicine is our birthright, and I am elated to be guiding my clients back to emotional, physical, and spiritual health by reconnecting them to the Earth’s healing through the alchemy of plant medicine.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest struggle was believing I could do it. There’s this voice that would whisper, “who are you to do that?” “You’re not smart enough. You don’t know enough… blah blah blah.” I had to do some deep wound healing around my belief that I was not good enough to start my own business. The next struggle has been learning how to be my own everything. My own graphic designer, my own website builder, my own shipping person, my own accountant. I imagine at some point I will become more efficient and perhaps be able to hire out, but for now, I am a multi-talented woman!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I practice herbalism in the vitalist tradition. Vitalism is based on the principle that all life contains a vital force, an intelligence beyond what the eye can see. By reviewing all states of the human experience – mind, body, and spirit – I attempt to identify and gently remove “obstacles to cure” so that the body’s innate wisdom can heal itself. I employ clinical strategies and methods that encourage nourishment, movement, healthy digestion, connection with nature, and of course, plant medicines that are personally formulated for each unique body.

I practice with the understanding that we all have a unique health journey and I will meet you where you are with complete acceptance. I have a reasonable sliding scale as I want this kind of healing to be accessible to all. I just love making medicine. I get a little witchy when I create healing potions. I formulate my herbal products with the health of the person AND the Earth in mind. I only use organic and consciously grown or harvested herbs and use as little packaging and plastic as possible. I’m passionate about making chemical-free products available at an affordable price. Why me? Because I’m Nurse Nikki! I have had over a decade of experience with thousands of patients. I understand when herbal medicines shine and help to increase our vitality, and conversely, the limitations and understanding of when it’s time to seek care from a medical doctor.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Oh yes! Some really beautiful little nuggets. I would say the most important was how life’s distractions make it easy to ignore unhealed wounds. This concert, that dinner party traveling…all distractions from sitting with myself and healing. With slowed down life, I was able to identify and truly bring awareness to where I was limiting my growth subconsciously. I was able to be more in tune with nature’s cycles, especially during the strict quarantine. Every day I would walk out to my little garden and watch how the flowers began to bud and grow. There’s magic happening all around us, you just have to open your eyes and your heart! I will say though, I am so ready to boogie down with a large group of beautiful humans with live music.

Pricing:

• Client intake session – $50-$100/hour
• Botanical products $11-$35

Contact Info:

• Email: nikki@nursenikkis.com
• Website: www.nursenikkis.com
• Instagram: @nursenikkis_plantmedicine
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nursenikkisplantmedicine/