A holistic approach: Wellspring Herbs & Vitamins offers naturopathic choices for healthy living

Sandra Shrader

Special to the Village News

Whether you want to know about biomarkers or biotin, iridology or iodine, eucalyptus oil or epsom salts, or any other A-to-Z subject about natural/alternative health care, Wellspring Herbs & Vitamins is the place to go.

Stocked with an impressive inventory of vitamins, herbal supplements, essential oils, teas and naturopathic books, the business, located at 1223 S. Mission Road, has operated in Fallbrook for more than 25 years, according to owner Kathy Richer.

Richer, who laughs about being “one of the flower child hippie generation,” became seriously interested in the natural/alternative health care lifestyle in the 1970s when she began raising a family and growing “a huge garden in my backyard to feed everybody,” she said.

From then on, Richer, a naturopath who has lived in Fallbrook for 36 years, began to learn all that she could about the holistic approach to wellness, eventually opening Wellspring Herbs & Vitamins. Richer said that because new information about natural health care is always coming out, the subject is just as intriguing as it was when she started.

"There is always something new being discovered about how vitamins and herbal remedies can positively affect health," said Richer, adding that one of the latest additions to the store is a natural supplement called Berberine, which helps manage Type II diabetes by reducing glucose levels.

Other new products include a naturally-occurring cannabinoid component derived from cannabis (but without the psychoactive effects) that helps manage pain and alleviates inflammation, nausea and sleep issues. Richer said the cannabinoid product is legal in all 50 states.

And when it comes to advice, sharing is healing, said Richer.

“A customer will come in the store with a question about which vitamins and supplements to take for a health issue, and we pride ourselves on sharing what we know and recommending what would have beneficial results,” said Richer. “And that is even if, for some reason, we don’t have that product and the customer ends leaving without buying anything from us,” she said with a laugh.

“But that’s okay,” continued Richer. “We know that the customer really appreciates us taking the time with him or her to share information about natural health care.”

Wellspring Herbs & Vitamins also offers nutritional consultation services using iridology (the study of the iris of the eye for indications of bodily health and disease) and live-cell analysis, which proponents believe provides information about the state of the immune system, pH and mineral imbalances, any vitamin and nutrient deficiencies, and other health issues.

Another consultation service at the store includes a full-body scan – free of charge – which is done by placing a hand on a ZYTO biocommunication scanner instrument for as little as three minutes. During the scan, the instrument sends out subtle and very low energetic pulses to which the customer’s body naturally responds. Each response is recorded, and the customer is then provided with a report which evaluates possible heath imbalances or illnesses and recommends nutritional supplements to re-balance the customer’s overall health.

“There is so much going on today in natural and alternative health care,” said Richer. “Not only is there the traditional knowledge of the ages, but also there is new technology and new findings. It’s exciting to be a part of it.”

Wellspring Herbs & Vitamins is located at 1223 S. Mission Rd., Fallbrook. Store hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call (760) 728-1244.