On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
Alison Birks, MS, AHG, CNS
Alison Birks, Quick Facts
Main Areas: Nutrition, Herbal MedicineCareer Focus: Practitioner, Author, Speaker
Affiliation: New Morning Natural & Organic
Welcome to my expert page! I began my career many years ago as a lay herbalist. I had "a calling" to use natural medicines after having suffered from personal health problems in my teens. I spent my adolescence and early twenties gathering and using herbs with good success for my friends and family. I attended College of the Atlantic from 1988-1992 where I studied field ecology, botany and mycology. Here, I further increased my knowledge of plant identification , growing and using herbs. With the birth of my two children (both homebirths) I learned the art of using herbs during pregnancy, breastfeeding and childcare from my midwives. I continued my studies by completing several certification courses: Dominion Herbal College, Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy, CT School for Herbal Studies, David Hoffman's Therapeutic Herbalism, Dr. Low Dog's Foundations in Herbal Medicine. I also received a Master's Degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport. I recently earned my CNS credential from the American College of Nutrition.
Over the years I have done been involved in many projects. I taught herbal medicine for five years at NorthWestern CT Community College in Winsted CT. I helped develop and co-owned two herbal businesses. I worked at a structured weight loss program as a counselor. I have led weed walks and classes in wild plant identification and herbal remedy preparation. I have appeared on radio and public access television and was a featured expert on the Natural Princess cooking show. I am a published author and sought after speaker.
Currently I am working as a nutritionist in private practice at New Morning Natural & Organic store, where I maintain my own office. I have been counseling patients in various facilities since 1998. My approach to nutrition includes taking a thorough health history; weight / body fat assessment using a bio-impedance scale; review of supplement / herb/ medication interactions and addressing nutrient depletions; diet history analysis (3-day diet questionnaire) using Nutribase software or visual analysis; teaching patients about various topics in nutrition including weight loss, diabetes / pre-diabetes / heart disease / high cholesterol using food models, educational handouts, etc. I primarily use Designs for Health and Pharmax brand supplements in my practice. I have attended many seminars with Designs for Health, Moss Nutrition's Functional Medicine Series and Crayhon Research. I apply many of their nutritional supplement protocols. Because I have additional training as an herbalist (I am a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild) I also use herbs in the form of teas, capsules, tablets and liquid extracts in my practice. I review physician-ordered lab work, including functional medicine testing, as a way to help me address functional underlying contributing causes to illness / symptoms. I usually see each client 1-5 times or more, and I always do phone call follow up. My overall philosophy of nutrition is an emphasis on organic whole foods, supported by nutritional supplementation and lifestyle interventions.
Favorite Quotes & Thoughts from Alison Birks,
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page".-St Augustine
"Never once in my life did I ask God for success or wisdom or power or fame. I asked for wonder, and he gave it to me" - Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
"The Mind is Everything. What you think, you become" --Anonymous
