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Meet Jamie

Jamie Menzel (she/her)

Functional Nutrition | Herbal Medicine | Mental Health

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Picture of Jamie Menzel, functional nutritionist, licensed dietitian, and clinical herbalist, during a large public speaking engagement at The 10th Annual Food As Medicine Symposium, hosted by the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon.

Hi, I'm Jamie.
 

My journey into nutrition began years ago, as a natural extension of my background in Western herbalism. I heard someone once say that the best herbalists start with food, and that sentiment greatly resonated with me. Through a combination of personal experience and a love of research, I’ve come to appreciate that thoughtful nutrition is foundational to both mental and physical health. Food not only represents culture, joy, identity, and survival; it also provides the nutritional building blocks that impact our biochemistry, influencing everything from our digestion to our mood.

While I primarily specialize in mental-health focused nutrition care, I love to work with clients to address a wide range of concerns. After all, the brain and the body are connected, and improving symptoms in one area often provides benefits elsewhere. As a clinician, my approach is warm, nonjudgmental, and personalized. I feel passionate about disentangling the field of nutrition from diet culture and perfectionism, and I love helping others discover ways to cultivate a healthier relationship to food and self. I taught myself to cook later in life, first on organic farms, then in punk houses, and then while living on a school bus, healing myself through a combination of the food, drinks, and conversations I shared along the way.

These days, in addition to my clinical work, I serve as Adjunct Faculty at the National University of Natural Medicine, where I teach a 3-credit graduate-level course, Nutrition for Mental Health. When I'm not talking about nutrition, you can find me in the woods, petting my cat, politely declining a party invitation, walking around town, or watering my houseplants.

Informal picture of Jamie Menzel, functional nutritionist, licensed dietitian, and clinical herbalist, smiling and lying with her head in a bed of sword fern fronds.
Business logo for Sword Fern Nutrition, which is a simple white line drawing of a sword fern frond on a circular black background.

 
Education

Master of Science in Nutrition

National University of Natural Medicine

Portland, Oregon

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The Evergreen State College

Olympia, Washington

Herbalism & Wildcrafting

1000+ hours of formal training

  • The Columbines School of Botanical Studies

  • The North American Institute of Medical Herbalism

  • The Arctos School of Herbal and Botanical Studies

Licenses & Board Certification

Licensed Dietitian

State of Oregon

Certified Nutritionist




Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist

State of Washington

State of Florida

Certified Nutrition Specialist®

Board for the Certification of Nutrition Specialists

What is a Certified Nutrition Specialist?

A Certified Nutrition Specialist® (CNS®) is a board-certified nutrition professional who has earned a graduate degree in the science of nutrition from an accredited university, fulfilled at least 1000 hours of supervised practice experience, and passed a rigorous board exam. This certification currently represents the highest standard for advanced personalized nutrition practitioners.

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(503) 894-6619

4110 SE Hawthorne Blvd, #103
Portland, OR 97214

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© Sword Fern Nutrition, LLC 2025

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