I work with clients who might be searching for support with:

• perinatal care, with a focus on postpartum and high risk pregnancy concerns

• Chronic illness and AUtoimmune conditions (with historic focus on Multiple sclerosis and long covid)

• adrenal issues from Burnout and chronic stress

• Hormonal/endocrine regulation 

• mood, Anxiety & depression

• gut issues, such as digestive dysregulation, dysbiosis, PAIN, etc.

…and more

Why Grey Peony?

 In some ways, peonies gave me inspiration to try for a clinical herbal practice, working with plants and people in conversation and relationship to expand and find ways to connect. I find peony holds the kind of expansion I aspire to but which is a struggle to embody. It contains a kind of magical lusciousness that makes me think of somatic practice and rooting into soil; of striving to be the most vibrant self possible.

After my own traumatic pregnancy and birth experience, and chronic health issues in the aftermath, I’m hoping to work especially with folks who are navigating these conditions and other chronic health concerns. Chronic illness is a pervasive issue in our world and one which can often feel neglected or dismissed in medical practice. While medical teams saved my life in crisis, I also needed my plant relationships to help find my way back into my body and through my experience. I believe there can be ways for all systems to work more holistically and I strive to find that in-between space through my work as a clinical herbalist and community connector.

It was my own personal experiences that brought me to the work, especially navigating chronic illness of loved ones in medical spaces, where I found there was a deep need for models of empowerment based in partnered learning. I chose the name Grey Peony for this practice because my focus is on finding pathways with clients into and through the grey zones of health, especially in chronic conditions. My work is not a replacement for appropriate medical care, but is focused on centering client goals and experience to find a way to navigate this beautiful, terrifying and flawed world with plants and people.

What is Herbalism?

Herbalism, or botanical medicine, is a varied and diverse healing modality that uses whole plants to support human systems balance and health. The approach of working with herbal medicine is to support the innate healing capacities of the body and aims to get to the root cause of imbalance, rather than focusing exclusively on symptom relief.  

Plants have played a role in human health since time immemorial and can shift both acute and chronic conditions. They work on nutritional and phytochemical levels, but also on larger systemic tissue states, supporting in how our bodies terrain can sustain itself. We take into consideration our energetic systems as well as physiological concerns, considering mental, physical, emotional and mental experiences of the client and which plants resonate on each of these levels of support.

Finally, in a world where health can be both systemically and financially inaccessible, Herbal medicine in a way to connect with healing and our own bodies in a communally and spiritually supported framework. The various barriers to healing, from systemic oppression, to personal and collective trauma, to the environmental crises make herbal medicine a vital part of our path forward and through these challenging times. Herbalism gives us greater agency and sovereignty over our bodies and care, and more ways to connect with the earth, one another and ourselves.

Who is Grey Peony?

My name is Chesley Walsh. In addition to being a clinical herbalist, I’m a trained doula, musician, new parent and community mental health researcher. My practice is based in Tiohtià:ke/Montréal and my primary herbal training was through the clinical program at the Vermont Center of Integrative Herbalism in Montpelier, where I graduated in 2022. I have learned from many amazing teachers and from a few different disciplines.

I’ve done training in reproductive justice work and trauma-informed care practice.  Some of my specific trainings have included a 2-year doula course and practicum with the Montreal Birth Companions with Rivka Cymbalist, DONA certification training with Debra Pascali-Bonaro, and specialized trauma-informed care coursework through TIPI (Trauma Informed Practice Institute) and CPMHT (Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Training). I also took Ember Peters Advanced Clinical Herbalist Mentorship program.

I have a lot of love for plant work and for working towards body and health autonomy for all folks. It was my own personal experience that brought me to the work- navigating chronic illness of loved ones in medical spaces, where I found there was a deep need for models of empowerment based in partnered learning. I chose the name Grey Peony for this practice because my focus is on finding pathways with clients in the grey zones of health, especially in chronic conditions. My work is not a replacement for appropriate medical care, but is focused on centering client goals and experience to find a way to navigate this beautiful, terrifying and flawed world with plants and people.