How Herbs Fit Life Was Born

It all started with pain—the kind that takes everything from you.

Heather Fay was running her own fitness studio and working full-time as an instructor when she woke up one morning unable to move. What began as discomfort the previous day quickly escalated into right-side paralysis, leaving her unable to work, move freely, or live without constant, debilitating pain.

After a series of MRIs and tests, she was diagnosed with three severely herniated discs in her cervical spine, severe nerve damage, and degenerative disc disease. Surgery felt extreme. Natural remedies, including CBD and every holistic pain reliever she could find, didn’t touch the pain. Eventually, steroids became her only option—but they came with a cost: her immune system was weakened and depression soon followed.

That’s when Heather made a choice:
If true relief didn’t exist, she would attempt to create it herself.

21 Formulations Later… Relief

Heather’s roots run deep. As someone of Cherokee descent, she grew up being introduced to herbal wisdom and sacred traditions of her ancestors. That connection to nature and spirit fueled her determination to reclaim her body—on her own terms.

She immersed herself in plant medicine, herbalism, cellular biology, energetic healing, and quantum physics, studying why so many “natural” remedies failed to address deep, chronic nerve pain. She started formulating her own—and didn’t stop until it worked.

After 6 different formulations, she finally created a powerful herbal balm using a triple extraction process with potent, organic herbs and barks. The results were unlike anything she’d experienced—true, long-lasting relief from pain and inflammation.

But there was still more work to be done to tackle her nerve pain. So she went back to the process, and after an additional 15 formulations, the balm allowed her to stop using steroids completely and remain pharmaceutical-free to this day. Formulation 21 was the finished product!

From the Studio to a Small-Batch Movement

Heather began leaving the extra balm she accumulated during the formulation process in the restrooms at her studio—anyone members who struggled with pain, tension, or stiffness were welcomed to use it. The response was immediate and powerful:
“This works.”
Word spread. Demand grew. Herbs Fit Life was born.

What started as personal survival evolved into a purpose-driven business, rooted in Native wisdom, herbal alchemy, and a deep respect for nature. Every product is still handmade by Heather, in small batches, using only organic, vegan, and wildcrafted ingredients—most of which she grows, forages, or sources from sustainable, like-minded farms.

She carefully curates her processes to honor the Earth, the spirit, and the body.

Heather also holds certifications in herbal science and plant medicine, is a NYS-certified EMT, and continues studying in the field of medicine—bridging ancestral knowledge with modern understanding.