DOSE Botanicals is a multi-faceted business that was formed with the intention in helping those who wish to achieve a better quality of life and bring empowerment to self-governing practices through building relationships with ourselves, plants and the Earth in general. Our principles are rooted in mutual respect and collaboration with our clients and participants, facilitating a safe space for people to learn how to navigate their own bodies towards a state of good health, and providing tools of many forms along the way to assist them.
Jaynaya D’Esterre Atkins: Creator of DOSE Botanicals
Bachelor of Health Science (Western Herbal Medicine) | Cert IV Alcohol & Other Drugs | First Aid Level 2 + CPR | Working with Children check | Australian Bush Flower Essences Level I & II | Permaculture Design & Teacher Training | Cert IV Small Business | Annual Continued Professional Education (CPE)
Jaynaya has been cultivating a deep remembering and practical understanding of herbal medicine and Nature-based systems for the past decade whilst navigating her own health conditions and the inevitable turbulence of life. A creative visionary with intense compassion for all walks of life, Jaynaya has created and facilitated several workshops and educational seminars with a focus on merging traditional and evidence-based herbal applications, demystifying ‘Old’ and ‘New World’ herbalism, contextual understanding of the ancient West’s cultural roots, regenerative agriculture, energetic herbalism, and herbal manufacturing.
Jaynaya has designed and implemented many edible & medicinal landscapes and developed a community-based skill building program for (mostly) lower socioeconomic populations, including those who are neurodivergent and/or afflicted with mental health conditions.
As someone who has lived experience in navigating chronic illness, Jaynaya sought out other avenues to modern medicine, providing a myriad of insight and experience in combining conventional therapy with the versatility of plant communion and psychedelic medicines. These experiences have led Jaynaya to have a special interest on recalibrating the nervous system and the contribution of plants towards reconciliation with the Self especially in cases of chronic illness, disturbances of the psyche and the nature of addiction.
Overall, it is Jaynaya’s goal to provide holistic person-centred care, high quality herbal medicines, and thorough investigation towards identifying the root cause/s of the presenting condition/s – providing individualised care plans and education to work towards sustained good health.
Experience:
Degree qualified (registered) herbalist, incorporating both traditional grassroots & contemporary herbalism with a foundation in the Hermetic principles of the ancient West.
Regenerative farming practices and holistic management.
Herbal manufacturing and various extraction processes.
Drug & alcohol support working from a harm reduction perspective and supporting the body, mind and spirit through recovery with complementary medicines, including (but not limited to) food and lifestyle recommendations. Referrals for more specialised care and liaising with other practitioners involved in the client’s care plan is often necessary, depending on individual circumstance/s.
Professional member of Blue Knot Foundation
Continual trauma-informed training (e.g., CPTSD, PTSD, mood disorders, treatment-resistant depression & anxiety, mental health first aid).
Special interest in psychedelic/entheogenic therapies and mental health, with extensive lived experience and integration strategies.
Disclaimer: Herbalists are unable to directly provide this kind of specialised care in Australia, however Jaynaya has a strong knowledge base and can demystify and educate professionals & clients alike on the history, science, safety, ethics & principles, and the nature of these kinds of medicines (within reason).
1:1 Consultancy and group seminars with health professionals and the broader public on the pharmacodynamics and bio-psycho-social aspects of cannabis medicine and psychedelic therapies.
Workshop development & facilitation, including guest teaching/speaking spots.
Creation and facilitation of inner city, community initiatives focused on skill building around gardening & creative arts - building & decorating community gardens from soil to harvest.
Event management - intimate bushcraft and music festivals.
Jaynaya’s approach to treatment is mostly focused on connection, education, harm minimisation and empowerment of the individual, exploring together why it is that we are drawn to these substances, what addiction means to that individual, whether they even identify with that paradigm and what they would like to change in their life. Sessions work towards applying practical steps to identify & reach personalised goals, whilst supporting the body along the way.
Mental health, like general wellness, is not necessarily a destination but is rather the cultivation of tools and skill sets to navigate your individual journey and the personal challenges you face. Anyone who has experienced mental illness and/or disturbance of the psyche will know that trying to “fix” what is “wrong” with us is not a very helpful narrative to follow. This is not to say we have to live in a state of chronic distress and survival our whole lives. The intertwining physiological, emotional & spiritual manifestations holding us back from moving forward can very much be addressed with the appropriate support. It’s also vital to learn about ourselves including our underlying and predisposing factors, understanding our own boundaries, limitations and self-preservation methods so we can best utilise our energy in ways that work collaboratively with our constitution. But most of all, it's about acceptance of where we are at. We are living in a time of constant bombardment, so cultivating our own toolbox is imperative for maintaining good mental health as much as possible.
When it comes to addiction, Jaynaya works from the perspective that every substance has their own system of energetics and archetypes, whether that be alcohol, prescription-based and/or unregulated drugs, plant-based mind-altering medicines, or foods. This means they provide a person with a certain kind of energy or may attract people experiencing certain kinds of feelings or sensations. Determining a person’s substance of choice and their relationship to that substance can often provide insight into potential underlying factors affecting the individual.
Addiction is complex and the path to recovery can be drastically different for each person, but it is usually riddled with cracks or crevices that need repair along the way. Treatment and maintenance plans consider the underlying emotional and social aspects of someone’s journey, whilst keeping in mind the physiological mechanisms each individual substance can have on the body over-time (i.e., science of dependence) and the biological factors of the individual. Thereby considering the energetics of a substance of choice can indicate a path of treatment or appropriate support.
Jaynaya’s values and philosophies may differ from other drug and alcohol workers in the sense of relating substances to their origins and historical uses (whilst considering the impacts of modern society), looking at the complex relationship between mind-altering substances and people (as well as the broader animal kingdom) and why beings have sought out inebriation since what we can identify as the Neolithic Period.
Perspective on Mental Health & Healing from Addiction:
