
About Deborah Lee Ph.D.
Working as a wilderness trip leader and a recreation director in the mid 1970’s through the early 80’s, I realized that a clean, healthy global environment must begin with one’s personal health (mental, physical, and spiritual).
In the late 1980’s while living in Northern Virginia, I faced a life-threatening health problem. Allopathic doctors said I needed a liver transplant to stay alive. Prayer and Inner Wisdom, however, led me to choose a Holistic path instead. The first step began with a Chinese Acupuncturist. Soon the path became a life-long journey involving numerous natural health practitioners and teachers. Extensive help came from medicinal herbs (including many wild edible plants); also, a Macrobiotic, plant-based diet; daily yoga; meditation; regular hiking or cycling outdoors; and much more. And, one very special Naturopath in Arkansas for 30 years and counting! This winding trek led me to refine my career goals. I combined my psychology education and counseling background, with a passion for environmental health and nutrition. Life has been a wonderful, healthy adventure.
Since that early diagnosis (and before) I have studied mind/body health extensively. I worked with the Macrobiotic community for 10 years and went on to specialize in herbs: medicinal, culinary, and wild edible. My healthy lifestyle still features a 90% vegan diet, flower essence remedies, essential oils and many herbs (culinary and medicinal) as a daily habit.
As the owner of Four Winds Farm and the Holistic Health Center, I often lead classes and events, see clients, or force myself to work at the computer. Otherwise, you will probably find me gleefully working in the gardens at the farm, hiking, cycling, or enjoying life with people I love.

Qualifications and Associations
Deborah has a Ph.D. in Nutrition, MS in Environmental Education and, a Bachelor’s in Psychology. She is a licensed, Ordained Minister; an advanced-certified Flower Essence Practitioner with the Flower Essences Society and a certified Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), a form of cognitive re-patterning. Deborah was initially trained in the Macrobiotic diet and lifestyle in Kansas (1980), then moved to both eastern Pennsylvania (1983) and Louisiana (1990) to coach in this capacity. She has been active in numerous organizations and clubs. Deborah moved to IL in 1999. She is a 20-year U of I Master Gardener, active in both state and local herb associations.