Women in Leadership: Sage LaPena

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Sage LaPena

Medical herbalist, Sacramento Native American Well being Middle

From echinacea to valerian root, human beings have lengthy relied on
herbs as a supply of wellness. “We’ve had a continued and
unending relationship with botany and the plant world since
the beginnings of us,” says Sage LaPena, licensed medical
herbalist with the Sacramento Native American Well being Middle. As
the practitioner for the group’s Therapeutic Methods Program for
the final three years, LaPena helps sufferers battling diabetes and
different well being woes get management of their situations by means of a
holistic method that features natural supplementation, well being
schooling and typically a little bit mild prodding.

“We’ve had a continued and unending relationship with
botany and the plant world for the reason that beginnings of us.” 

Sage LaPena, Medical herbalist, Sacramento
Native American Well being Middle

She serves a primarily Native American inhabitants, a few of whom
are housing challenged, and lots of of whom are diabetic. One in six
Native Individuals undergo from the illness, she says,
compared to a little over one in 10 within the common American
inhabitants. “It’s a large drawback in Indian Nation,” she
explains. “In order that’s an enormous aspect of the work I do right here.” 

LaPena is Nomtipom Wintu of Northern California and says she
began studying about plant medication “as a baby working with a
conventional one who was a California tribal ancestor and a
well-known Indian physician.” She grew up within the Sacramento space,
attended El Camino Excessive Faculty and Sacramento Metropolis Faculty, and
went on to review on the California Faculty of Natural Research in
Sonoma County, the place she is at the moment a rotating visitor employees
member. “I believed all people had this data that was half
of our tradition,” she says. “I didn’t understand how a lot had been
stripped away from so many individuals.” 

Sometimes, people who go to SNAHC are first seen by a
major care doctor, after which referred to LaPena for her
companies as an choice. “Somebody with diabetes, for instance, may
probably be given a compound of bitter melon, gymnema and
cinnamon,” she says — herbs that may assist decrease blood sugar and
scale back carbohydrate cravings. However everyone seems to be completely different relying
on their wants.

The sufferers she sees take care of a spread of points from anxiousness
and despair to homelessness, so getting them to take the herbs
usually can typically be an uphill battle. “Somebody dealing
with housing challenges wouldn’t discover it as simple to brew tea
from bulk tea,” she says. She’s developed a system that features
automated follow-up appointments and cellphone calls to verify in and
be sure that sufferers are staying on monitor.

Entry to wholesome meals can be a serious problem for the individuals
she serves. “When persons are residing in group housing or going to
soup kitchens, a lot of the meals obtainable is filler meals like
pasta. And naturally, starches are an enormous consider diabetes,”
she says. Studying to develop your personal meals is one reply. “Even when
you could have a small porch, you possibly can develop meals in a five-gallon
bucket,” she says. “Meals sovereignty is on the forefront of
Indian Nation.”

By city plant walks in downtown and Midtown Sacramento,
LaPena teaches individuals about native native and non-native
plant species, a lot of that are medicinal. “A number of the
so-called weeds are a few of the greatest plant medicines,” says
LaPena. “Some necessary natives one can discover downtown or in
adjoining areas embrace black walnut, elderberry, willow, magnolia
and mugwort.”

“Now we have set the bar excessive for different (Indian Well being Service)
clinics. I’m glad to set priority of a better normal of
care within the scientific setting for all, however notably for
Native Individuals.”

Sage LaPena, Medical herbalist, Sacramento
Native American Well being Middle

The Therapeutic Methods Program additionally holds neighborhood meals all through
the Sacramento space in the course of the yr. “We attempt to make the most of our
(memorandums of understanding) with our neighborhood companions and
make the neighborhood meals as accessible as potential,” she
says. 

Her go-to plant? “Stinging nettles! They’re within the mint household.
It’s very excessive in minerals, iron, calcium,” she explains. “It’s
superb as an antihistamine, so you possibly can take it in capsules or
tea to your allergic reactions. Nettle soup — so yummy.” 

LaPena is happy as SNAHC prepares to open a new location in
November 2022 in South Sacramento, and she or he prepares to rent
an apprentice. “Now we have set the bar excessive for different (Indian Well being
Service) clinics. I’m glad to set priority of a better normal
of care within the scientific setting for all, however notably for
Native Individuals.” 

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