06/27/2026
⨠Itâs RAWnniversary time! â¨
Join me as we celebrate 15 years of private practice and 11 years of Raw products!
To celebrate, I thought Iâd take a little walk down memory lane of all the moments and miracles that brought us to where we are now.
People often ask me, âWhat IS it that makes your products so different? Like seriously⌠how is Heal sooo good?â I usually laugh and say, âMagic.â
And honestly⌠maybe it is a little magic.
But the truth is, what makes Raw so special is the culmination of 25 years of unique experiences, relentless curiosity, and hard work.
I knowâitâs hard to believe itâs been that long. But it was 25 years ago that I started the first leg of this journey by pursuing a degree in biomedical science, learning everything from chemistry and biology to pathophysiology and how the body truly works.
I even spent some time studying in Australia, where I was first introduced to the world of naturopathic medicine (thanks to my roommate who was studying herbal medicine). I remember thinking, âIâve got to remember this somedayâŚâ before heading off into the outback for adventure.
After graduating, I set my sights on becoming a pharmacist. I was fascinated by how medications work in the body to manage disease. I completed a pharmacy internship, worked as a tech, and also spent time caring for patients in their homes with mental health conditions.
But the more I worked in pharmacy, the more I realized I wanted to help people differently. I wanted to guide people in understanding how their nutrition, herbs, lifestyle, emotional, and spiritual health could support their healingânot just manage disease.
So I pivoted and went to medical school in Oregon, where I learned the foundations of conventional medicineâlabs, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and minor surgeryâbut also received specialized training in botanical medicine, nutrition, energy medicine, chiropractic, massage, and more.
I dove deeper into advanced botanical medicine and started creating custom herbal formulas for patients. I even memorized every single page of my dermatology book and began experimenting with making creams, salves, and oils to address skin conditions⌠not knowing that this would one day become one of my greatest passions.
After med school, I completed my clinical training in gastroenterology, nutrition, and herbal therapy while also spending two years working at a homeless clinic in Portland, which remains one of the most rewarding chapters of my life.
Eventually, I returned to Minnesota, completed a residency with a brilliant doctor, and studied functional medicine across the country with top experts. For a season, I also served as a country doctor to the Amish community, practicing out of a small farmhouseâan experience that grounded me in simplicity, trust, and the power of natural medicine.
Fifteen years ago, I opened my private practice, Midwest Natural Medicine, and loved treating complex conditions by digging for the root cause. I like to say my specialty is thinking outside the box for complex cases. Itâs very common for people to come to me as their âlast resortâ after not finding relief elsewhere.
In practice, I kept seeing dermatology cases that didnât respond to conventional care, so I started crafting products from herbs and flowers in my kitchen. I gave them to patients in Mason jarsâand the results were beyond what I imagined. Before long, I had a recipe book full of creations.
Eleven years ago, Raw was born.
I started selling small batches of my handcrafted skincare, and things quickly took off. I bought a building downtown, renovated it, and created a storefront, private practice space, and apothecaryâall under one roof. Thatâs when Midwest Natural Medicine and Raw merged to become Raw and Co.
As I saw the power of targeted nutrition with my patients, I also launched a professional-grade supplement line because I believe everyone deserves access to medical-quality nutrition, not just patients in my office.
From there, we expanded to an online store and even a mobile boutique truck (aka Roxy) so we could serve more people wherever they are. My greatest joy is connecting with new clients, loving on them, and walking with them toward greater health and joy.
To this day, I still work in the storefront, see patients, and make every single product by hand. Every batch is made with prayer, intention, and love because I truly believe you can feel it when you use the products.
Along the way, I also developed a unique approach to healing called Nutritional Loadingâa method that focuses on strategically nourishing the body to heal from within, rather than simply removing the bad. That concept became the foundation for the Raw 40 program: a 10-day detox followed by 30 days of nutritional support, intentional living, and whole-body healing. Itâs since grown into a full lifestyle movement and continues to evolve as we help more people live fully and feel their best.
And because I believe education is empowerment, Iâve been expanding into retreats, workshops, and online classes to help people not just access holistic wellness, but truly understand it. Whether itâs in person or through digital experiences, my mission is to make healing approachable, personalized, and meaningful.
So there you have itâjust a little peek into the journey behind the magic of Raw. Twenty-five years of learning, growing, creating, and listening to the heart of the people I serve. I love a challenge almost as much as I love an adventure, so who knows where weâll go next.
Some of you have followed my adventures around the world through my stories. Maybe one day youâll stumble across a Heal Stick in a special little corner of the world. Now wouldnât that be fun?
But one thing I know for sure: I could not do any of this without YOU.
To every person who has supported Raw in any wayâthank you. From the bottom of my heart. Iâve been blessed with the most incredible people whoâve supported every wild dream Iâve dared to chase. And to my beautiful clients and patientsâit is the absolute honor of my life to walk alongside you.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU.
You are simply the best.
With love and so much gratitude,
Kristen
