Chavon Ford grew up knowing her career would involve medicine because she has always been drawn to helping people. Watching relatives struggle with chronic conditions moved her to pursue a career focused on healing ailments with herbs. She began researching herbs online and found the Maryland University of Integrative Health. Chavon graduated from MUIH with a Masters of Science in Clinical Herbal Medicine, which gave her the herbal knowledge to start Fords Herbal and Doula Services in 2017.
Fords Herbal and Doula Services is an herbal skincare and doula service company based in Nashville. The shop carries herbal products that are formulated and handmade by Chavon. When planning what kind of products to make for the online shop, she started with what her family uses everyday. The Fords herb shop features a 3 in 1 shampoo, acne and body wash, beard oil, eczema ointment, hand sanitizer and their version of Neosporin – to name a few. The shop is also well stocked with products specifically meant to address common pregnancy and postpartum ailments.
Especially passionate about working with women and kids, Chavon is a doula and training to be a midwife. “Doula” is the Greek word for ‘women’s servant’. Chavon guides women through pregnancy and birth, providing support, guidance and advocating for the expecting family’s wishes.
Her herbal education and doula training allow her to combine two passions in one business. In addition to providing doula services to expecting mothers, Chavon tailors handmade herbal products based on the mothers needs. From the first meeting, Chavon provides support for women through each stage of pregnancy.
Fords Herbal and Doula Services is a family endeavor featuring their own YouTube channel, Fords Herbal Medicine Diaries. Tune in to see the whole family in videos that focus on natural health insights. For instance Chavon addresses the skin as the immune systems first line of defense and how to nurture it with Fords healing body butters. Her talks also provide context to the ingredients she chooses for her products. Her in-depth knowledge and the lovable Ford family, will keep you coming back to see what’s new.
The mission of Fords Herbal and Doula Services is to use evidence based medicine and traditional knowledge to help people heal from chronic ailments. The joy of seeing how her products help people is what drives Chavon forward. Stop by the Fords booth at the weekend Nashville Farmers Market for an in person dose of herbal education and browse their delightful smelling skincare line.
A version of this article was written by Jennifer Liepis for Edible Nashville.
