Herbal medicine and inner alchemy for root cause healing and vibrant wellness

Meet Jules

Julie (Jules) Benefico is a Certified Clinical Herbalist with a passion to help others uncover the mysteries of their soul and heal naturally. Jules focuses on allyship, forgiveness, gratitude, shadow work, pleasure, and solidarity as tools to aid her herbal work. She believes that herbal medicine is an accessible earth based healthcare system that digs deep to get to the root of ailments not cover up symptoms. She states "Herbalism is like a mycelial network that brings people in communion with nature and can be a tool to rise up in action consciously and productively."

Jules started her path to healing in 2013 when she moved to Esalen institute in Big Sur, CA from the east coast. At Esalen she delved deep into personal growth and took an array of courses in mindfulness, meditation, leadership, Gestalt therapy, and more. While at Esalen she was connecting to the beauty and magic of nature and found herbalism.

From there, Jules moved to the San Francisco Bay area to study clinical herbalism at Berkeley Herbal Center for 3 years. Jules has done multiple programs continuing her studies in medical astrology, herbalism, nutrition, and first aid since then and continues her clinical practice in Oakland and virtually today.

Qualifications & Specialties

Areas of focus for herbal & nutritional practice

  • Anxiety, depression, bi-polar disorder, or other mental/ emotional difficulties

  • Injuries past or present that is still causing pain & discomfort 

  • Allergies, Asthma, or other respiratory issues

  • Kidney infections, Urinary tract infections, incontinence, etc.

  • Hormonal imbalances, PMS, PCOS, Fibroids, Yeast infections etc.

  • Adrenal fatigue, possible or known thyroid issues, Autoimmune conditions

  • Arthritis or other muscle and joint conditions

  • Digestive issues such as IBS, SIBO, Leaky gut, GERD, chronic bloating & gas, rapid digestion, constipation, etc.

  • Help with diet & nutrition

  • Self care, shadow work, informed trauma work

  • Eating disorders such as bulimia, anorexia, and binging

  • Insomnia and sleep difficulties

Trainings & Courses

  • Berkeley Herbal Center Intensive 9 month Western Herbal Apprenticeship Program 2015

  • Clinical Western Herbalism 2 year Internship Berkeley Herbal Center 2016-2017

  • 100 hour Gestalt Facilitator Training at Esalen Institute 2013-2014

  • Evolutionary Herbalism Vitalist Herbalism Program 2017

  • Leadership Coaching intensive with Coby Kozlowski 2014

  • Medical Astrology Mentorship with William Morris 2019

  • Pulse Diagnostics Mentorship with William Morris 2021

  • Nonviolent communication training 2015

  • Full Body Presence with Suzanne Scurlock 2013

  • Permaculture and group facilitation with Starhawk 2014

  • Influence with Carolyn Elliott 2018

  • Medical Astrology course with Judith Hill 2019

  • Muse mastermind aligned service council with Luna Love 2021

  • Many more week long and month long courses on a variety of health and wellness subjects

Work, Teaching & Volunteer Experience

  • North Bay fire relief in Santa Rosa and beyond in 2017 - Set up herbal first aid clinics across Sonoma county to support evacuees with respiratory aid, sleep, anxiety, etc

  • MASHH collective volunteering 2017-2019- Medicine for all Seeking Health and Healing in a non-profit that sets up herbal clinics at festivals, protests, rallies, and for disaster relief

  • Lead with Envision festival Herbal First Aid clinic 2020 - Trained and supported students in learning herbal medicine, first aid techniques, and setting up a clinic and tending to attendees of the festival

  • Farmacopia 2016- 2019 - Herbal Apothecary and Nutritional Supplements store in Santa Rosa, CA. I assisted customers and clients by custom formulating herbal tinctures and recommending herbs, nutrients, and dietary considerations.

  • Five Flavors Herbs 2019-2021 - Herbal pharmacy that dispensing herbal formulations for practitioners and manufactures herbal tinctures. I was the buyer and retail manager and lead herbalist on staff assisting customers with any health questions and training staff with continuing education.

  • Berkeley Herbal Center Faculty Teacher 2020-present- I teach an array of classes on body systems, formulation, and clinical practice to the students of BHC

  • Cob on wood 2021 - Volunteer at herbal wellness clinic

  • Gill Tract Farm 2021 - Volunteer as medicinal herb gardener

  • Led over 100+ workshops, courses, and retreats on herbalism, alchemy, ritual, and herbal magick from 2014-2021

  • Has seen over 140 herbal clients since 2015 with a high success rate of supporting bringing vital equilibrium back to the body, mind, and spirit