As a young girl, Naturopathic Doctor Jeannie Peck, owner of Health By Design Natural Clinic, enjoyed watching her grandmother use organically grown plants and herbs to heal people. With her Native American heritage, a fascination with herbs and the natural environment seemed to come naturally.

While she was helping her daughter make decisions about her future after high school graduation, Peck, who had a degree in business, was inspired to follow her true calling to herbology and nutrition. She first pursued a degree in holistic nutrition from Clayton College of Natural Health and then obtained a Doctorate of Natural Medicine degree from the Pan American University of Natural Medicine. The doctorate program included certification in both herbology and functional diagnostic nutrition.

As Peck completed her degree, she mentored under a naturopathic doctor that worked at her clinic until his retirement, when Peck seamlessly took over the client load. At Health By Design Natural Clinic, Peck’s practice offers nutritional consultations for children and adults, professional natural supplements, and healthy eating, healthy weight-loss and fitness plans for all levels. Classes include t’ai chi/qigong fusion, interval fitness classes and morning yoga.

Peck’s combined knowledge of holistic nutrition and functional diagnostic nutrition assists her in making recommendations for clients about the use of therapeutic herbs and natural vitamin and mineral supplements.

Peck arrives at the clinic each day ready to share the results that are possible when the body is supported by therapeutic herbs, the medicine that comes directly from the Earth. Her mission to educate others about the benefits of natural health informs her services, as well as the free educational community seminars that she provides.

These educational seminars, she says, are her way of “paying it forward to others seeking natural health in Lancaster County.” They include children’s nutrition seminars on such topics as healthy school lunches and liver detoxification. Peck feels that connecting with parents that are looking for options beyond traditional medicine is one of the most important ways that she and her team can teach the benefits of natural healing that will become permanent lifestyle changes.

Within the practice, the Health By Design team treats all ages, from children to adults, by taking a complete health history, employing functional evaluations and lab tests as needed, educating them about how the body functions and the root causes of illness and disease, and designing personal nutritional plans.

The team’s assessments look at the whole person, considering the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of wellness. All assessment tools including lab work and other medical evaluations are considered collectively before making nutritional and wellness recommendations.

The local community’s appreciation and celebration of natural healing is evidenced by the steady growth of Health By Design over the years. Each year, the company holds an open house. Forty people attended in 2009, and more than 200 came in 2012. This year’s open house will be held from noon to 3 p.m., November 9, in the Leola office. Entertainment and education will include lectures, product vendors with samples, music and refreshments.

Event location: 12 Keystone Ct., Leola; additional clinic at 215 W. 4th St., Quarryville. For appointments or more information, call 717-556-8103 or visit HBDClinic.com. 

Gisele Siebold, who lives in Lancaster, is a