Meet Chanchal

Photo of Chanchal CabreraChanchal lives with her husband Thierry Vrain in Courtenay on Vancouver Island in BC where they cultivate vegetables and herbs on 7 acres and are building a healing garden retreat center. Visit Innisfreefarm.ca to read more about this.

Chanchal has been a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists since 1987 and obtained her MSc in herbal medicine at the University of Wales in 2003. She has an extensive background in orthomolecular nutrition and allergy therapy as well as clinical aromatherapy.

Chanchal has held the faculty chair in Botanical Medicine at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in New Westminster since 2004 and she serves on the board of advisors of Dominion Herbal College in Burnaby. She publishes widely in professional journals and lectures internationally on medical herbalism, nutrition and health.

Consulting Services

Chanchal Cabrera is available for consulting services in the following areas:

Natural Medicine News

Eating Soil Is Good For You

A recent study published online in Neuroscience indicates that treatment with a common soil micro-bacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae, has the potential to alleviate depression in much the same way that Prozac does, by activating serotonin-releasing neurons in the brain. The implication is that simply by inhaling M. vaccae while digging in the garden or eating lettuce or carrots, could induce mental and physical health benefits. Read More

Chanchal's Blog

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Gardens Without Borders Article – InFocus Magazine

Hello and welcome to my first blog posting – even luddites like me are waking up to cool new technology that allows a conversation between us hundreds if not thousands of miles away. Or maybe I should get with the … Read More

Help Chanchal go to school this summer

Classes, Workshops & Events

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The Herbal Apothecary – Make Your Own Herbal First Aid Kit

Make and take home your own Herbal First Aid Kit. Plant a living, growing ‘kit’, make infused oils, liniment, salves, medicinal teas, and more in this all day, interactive and fun hands-on medicine making workshop. Read More

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The Spice Pharmacy – Food as Medicine Series

Enjoy the conviviality of new friends and truly nourish yourself with foods prepared over the course of the evening as Chanchal and Joseph share cooking techniques, tips, and state-of-the-art scientific facts about the healing properties of spices from all corners of the world.
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Community Herbalist Program – Level 1

10 month program designed for people with basic training in human health or herbalism who would like to deepen their skills in clinical herbalism. Covering anatomy and physiology, wellness and disease, herbalism and other natural healing approaches, CHP provides a comprehensive and solid foundation in clinical herbalism, and the practical tools and skills to use herbs safely and effectively. Read More