Andie Inscoe, MSc, WHC
Hello!
I’m Andie Inscoe – clinical herbalist, whole health coach, supporter, woman, and human-being behind Vitalist Roots. I grew up near the Chesapeake Bay and am now nested in the hills of the Endless Mountains in NEPA.
I started Vitalist Roots in 2018, and like most good things, it’s grown slowly and steadily into a space where I support people who want to tune into their bodies, make manageable changes, and feel more connected to their health story.
Herbalism: My love for herbs began in 2017, when I wandered into an apothecary in Boulder, Colorado. I can still feel the energy of that place – grounded, light, hopeful, and crossing the line of what it is to be of nature and human. I fell in love with herbs that day: their personalities, the way they work with the body’s natural rhythms, and how, with your hands, you can blend plants together to experience their ability to nourish, support, and protect. I bought my first herb book and a few months later enrolled in my first Community Herbalist program. By 2021, I’d earned my Master’s in Therapeutic Herbalism from the Maryland University of Integrative Health.
Health Coaching: Customizing herbal formulas and sharing holistic, health-positive habits is one thing – but actually having the capacity and space to make lasting changes is another. I wanted to understand the how – how do people feel empowered to shift their behavior and see real change in their health? To better support my clients in weaving recommendations into their lives, navigating obstacles, and staying connected to their purpose when times are hard, I completed certifications in Women’s Health Coaching and Functional Nutrition for Women’s Health Professionals through the Integrative Women’s Health Institute in 2024.
Human Connection: My background in Sociology shapes the way I approach herbalism, health coaching, and the whole idea of well-being. It taught me to always pay attention to the deep and complex ways our identities, income, social systems, and everyday lives shape both the choices we can make and the energy we have to make them – especially when it comes to health. It’s never as simple as “just do this” or “try that.” Health isn’t one-size-fits-all – it’s personal, lived, and deeply intertwined with the world around us. I believe real support starts with meeting you exactly where you are – honoring your story, your values, and your capacity – and helping you weave health into the reality of your life – not the other way around.
When i’m not working…I like to sing, read, listen to music, ride my bike, do yoga, watch movies, bake. I’m a partner, I have a soul-dog, i’m a daughter, a sister, cousin, granddaughter and friend to some (pretty incredible) people.
What Guides Me
Core Values
- Every story matters. I meet people with curiosity, not judgment – honoring the full context of who you are and where you’re coming from.
- There’s no one-size-fits-all. I believe in care that’s deeply personal and shaped around you – your goals, your patterns, your life.
- Knowledge is power. I blend the wisdom of herbal tradition with evidence-based tools to support informed, self-honoring choices.
- Change should feel human. Health shifts take time, courage, and support. My approach is rooted in partnership – never pressure or shame.
- The body is wise. Symptoms aren’t failures – they’re messages. I help you listen inward and respond with care and compassion.
- Our health is personal and political. “Health” is shaped by systems – from race, income, and identity; to clean water and safe environments; to healthcare, food access, and community support . I hold this truth with care and work to create a space where all bodies and all stories are honored.
- Health isn’t a moral achievement. Health is not a reflection of your worth, willpower, or ability to “do all the right things.” You don’t have to earn rest, care, or support. Your value isn’t tied to how “healthy” you are.
- This is a safe and affirming space. I do not tolerate racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or discrimination of any kind. Everyone deserves care that is respectful, inclusive, and rooted in dignity.
Vitalist Roots is a space where all identities are honored and all people are treated with compassion and respect.
My Health Story
I know what it’s like to feel unwell – to spin in circles looking for answers, and god forbid, actual solutions. And at the same time, to feel frozen by the immenseness of it all, not even knowing where to start. You know, that experience, where every road you go down offers a little glimmer of hope, only to dead-end in disappointment, leaving you right back where you started: confused, frustrated, and still without a clue.
My health has always felt… off. From weird, unexplained symptoms popping up out of nowhere, to struggling with extremely long cycles. In moments i’ve felt my experience of being in a body never quite matched the people around me, always wondering why my energy was so up and down. The list could go on. It took seven years, many doctors, and two states before I finally got a PCOS diagnosis. And even then, having a name for what I was experiencing didn’t come with a manual – I still had no f*cking clue what to do about it.
If you rewind a bit to 2015, I had a heart procedure for a newly diagnosed heart condition. The life-saving medications that followed triggered chronic digestive issues – constant bloating, pain, not being able to eat the foods I was used to, and going days without pooping (I know, super cute). I saw a gastroenterologist, and while they told me structurally everything was “fine”, I wanted to know more of the story. That’s when I met my first holistic-minded practitioner. Together, we got to the root. That was the moment I really saw how much power we have to impact our health through food, herbs, supplements, and simple lifestyle choices.
Even after all of that – the heart surgery, the PCOS, the hard-earned belief in the power of plants and food – I still struggled to make changes. Life, work, school, family, budgets, finding practitioners… it all got in the way. And honestly? I was exhausted just thinking about dealing with it. I didn’t really want to deal with it. I would try something for a while, not really see results, and drop it a few weeks later.
Things really started to click when I got honest with myself about my health, what I actually liked, and what mattered most to me in the long run. I stopped trying to force myself into a box by making big, unsustainable changes that never stuck, and doing things only because they worked for other people. Instead, I asked myself: “What’s realistic for me, right here, right now? What sounds doable?” And I started there. Slowly – but powerfully – it began to grow. The more I felt the change, the more it motivated me to keep going. And… I never thought I’d say it, but now I actually enjoy “dealing with it”. AND I feel proud of myself (which is huge).
What I’ve come to understand is that health isn’t a destination, a solo journey, or a moral achievement. It’s an ongoing process shaped by our changing bodies, identities, environments, and the quality of the larger systems around us — like healthcare, food access, and community support. Obstacles are inevitable, so we aim for understanding and balance, not perfection. We support each other in making more intentional choices where we can, and we advocate for better systems in the places we can’t.
These days, I eat vegetables, try to get a good variety of whole foods, move my body a few times a week, and rest when I can. For me, it didn’t come naturally — it took time, effort, and a lot of support. Yes, some days I still struggle. Some days it’s not possible. Some days I still feel like sh*t. But I’ve learned to offer myself care and compassion anyway. And honestly? That makes all the difference.
Wondering if herbs & health coaching can support your health journey?
Schedule a free Connection Call to chat!
Education & Experience
Maryland University of Integrative Health
(now the School of Integrative Health at Notre Dame of Maryland University)
Master of Science in Therapeutic Herbalism with a concentration in Clinical Herbal Medicine with 30-hour Supervised Herbal Practicum
Integrative Women’s Health Institute
Women’s Health Coach Certification
Functional Nutrition for Women’s Health Professional Training Program
University of Colorado, Boulder
Bachelor of the Arts in Sociology with a minor in Ethnic Studies
Member of the American Herbalists Guild
Mel Kastings, RH(AHG) of Forestedge Herbals
Clinical Herbal Mentorship
Rebecca Snow Nutrition & Herbs
Herbal Dispensary Manager
Matthew Wood Institute of Herbalism
Pulse, Tongue & Facial Assessment for the Herbalist Certification
American Herbalist’s Guild 30th Symposium with Rebecca Snow
Clinical & Laboratory Assessment for the Herbalist
Shelley Torgove of Artemisia & Rue
500-hour Community Herbalist Certification
Women’s Herbal & Ethnobotanical Studies Certification
Spiritual & Herbal Practices of the Yucatán – Abdominal Massage (Xocén, Yucatán, Mexico)
Advanced Herbalism Certification
United Plant Savers Botanical Sanctuary
Nature Field Intensive in Rutland, Ohio
Vitalist Roots 