What Is the Wholehearted Harmony® Phytosomatic Integration Method™?
The Wholehearted Harmony® Phytosomatic Integration Method™ (PIM) is a biology-first methodology I developed after years of working with hundreds of horses, studying advanced herbal medicine, and asking one simple question: Why did the horse choose that herb?
While many approaches focus primarily on which plants a horse shows interest in, as an Advanced Master Herbalist I found myself continually asking deeper questions. Over time, I realized the real answers were not revealed by the individual herbs themselves, but by understanding the biological patterns those herbs represented and the body systems they consistently pointed toward.
Every selection, every hesitation, every moment of curiosity, every sign of relaxation, and every subtle change in body language became part of a much larger story. The herbs were never simply the answer—they became the beginning of a conversation that revealed how the body's systems work together rather than in isolation.
Over many years, this observation evolved into something far greater than herb testing alone. It became a structured methodology that combines carefully selected botanicals, detailed behavioral observation, and an in-depth evaluation of the biological patterns revealed through each botanical choice. Rather than matching herbs to symptoms—or even simply assigning them to individual body systems—I evaluate how those botanical selections work together to reveal the relationships between systems, where biological priorities may exist, and what the body may be communicating through those patterns to find the root cause.
This methodology recognizes something I have found to be true throughout my work and education: no biological system functions independently. Every system continuously influences every other system, and those relationships often begin changing long before obvious dysfunction appears. Understanding those relationships—not simply identifying herbs—is what makes the Wholehearted Harmony® Phytosomatic Integration Method™ unique.
The Scientific Foundation
The inspiration for this methodology begins with the science of zoopharmacognosy, the study of how non-human mammals instinctively select plants and other naturally occurring substances to support their own health. Researchers studying wildlife observed that many species—including horses—do far more than simply graze. They investigate plants through smell, taste, and careful exploration before deciding whether to consume them, often selecting very specific plants while ignoring dozens of others growing nearby.These observations demonstrated that animals possess remarkable sensory abilities and sophisticated biological feedback systems. Through highly developed olfactory and gustatory senses, post-ingestive feedback, and millions of years of evolutionary adaptation, horses are capable of recognizing plants that may support changing physiological needs.
This scientific understanding provides the biological foundation for why self-selection exists. The Wholehearted Harmony® Phytosomatic Integration Method™ builds upon that foundation—but it does not stop there. Rather than viewing botanical selection as the destination, I view it as the beginning of a much deeper assessment. The carefully selected botanicals used throughout this methodology are not presented simply to discover which herbs a horse prefers. They function as biological cues, providing another layer of observable information that helps reveal patterns within the body. The true purpose of the assessment is not to ask, "Which herbs did the horse choose?" It is to ask, "Why would the body respond to these particular botanical cues, and what patterns do those responses collectively reveal?" That single question changed everything.
The Body Speaks Through Patterns
One of the greatest lessons horses have taught me is that the body rarely communicates through isolated symptoms Instead, it communicates through patterns. A horse may repeatedly respond to herbs that support circulation, lymphatic movement, mineral replenishment, digestive function, connective tissue, and nervous system regulation all at the same time. Looking at those herbs individually provides only small pieces of information. Looking at them collectively often reveals relationships between systems that deserve much deeper exploration.
This is where my work as an Advanced Master Herbalist becomes central to the methodology. I don't simply look at what each herb is traditionally used for. I evaluate nutritional composition, traditional herbal actions, biological systems influenced, overlapping functions, herbal synergy, and the recurring relationships that begin to emerge when viewed together. Those relationships become the foundation for understanding the horse as a whole rather than chasing individual symptoms.
How the Wholehearted Harmony® Phytosomatic Integration Method™ Works
The Wholehearted Harmony® Phytosomatic Integration Method™ is available in two ways, depending on your location and your horse's individual needs.
Equine Phytosomatic Integration Assessment
Investment: $95 Initial Assessment
Follow-Up Assessments: $85
For horses within my travel area, I perform the assessment in person using a carefully selected Customized Botanical Cue Collection and years of experience observing the subtle biological responses that make every horse unique.
Following the assessment, I complete an in-depth pattern evaluation before developing individualized recommendations, including a custom 60-Day Master Herbal Formulation when appropriate. Because biology is constantly changing, I generally recommend a minimum of three assessments, approximately 60 days apart, allowing each formulation to evolve alongside the horse's changing biological priorities.
(For travel requirements click here)
Through an Herbal Consultation
For clients outside my travel area, the Wholehearted Harmony® Phytosomatic Integration Method™ may still become part of your horse's wellness plan following a consultation.
If we determine the methodology would provide valuable additional information, I prepare a Customized Botanical Cue Collection specifically for your horse. Using the provided instructions, you complete the guided observation at home and return your observations to me for interpretation.
From there, I perform the same pattern evaluation and formulation process used during in-person assessments, allowing horses across the country to benefit from the methodology without requiring travel.
Why Foundation Still Matters
The Wholehearted Harmony® Phytosomatic Integration Method™ was never designed to work independently from the rest of biology.
Nutrition matters.
Environment matters.
Stress matters.
The nervous system matters.
A species-appropriate foundation remains one of the most important influences on how the body responds to any herbal support. For that reason, recommendations developed through this methodology are always considered alongside nutrition, management, environmental influences, and the whole horse—not simply the assessment itself. The goal has never been to create dependence on custom formulations. The goal is to help the body regain function, resilience, and biological balance so that long-term wellness can ultimately be supported through an appropriate foundation. To read more about the Equine Species Appropriate Foundation, visit the Educational Library.
Every horse has a story.
The Wholehearted Harmony® Phytosomatic Integration Method™ was developed from a belief that the body is constantly communicating through biology. By learning to observe those patterns with curiosity, respect, and a whole-system perspective, we gain another opportunity to support the remarkable intelligence already present within the horse.
The methodology continues to evolve because every horse teaches something new. Every assessment deepens understanding. Every reassessment reveals another layer. The questions continue, the learning never stops, and the horse remains our greatest teacher.
When we learn how to thoughtfully observe, interpret, and respect those biological patterns, we gain another opportunity to support the horse as a whole—with curiosity, with science, with experience, and with the remarkable intelligence that horses have been demonstrating all along.