About Phytoveda

 

Gia von Karl, Formulator of PhytoVeda products is a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and Registered Herbalist in Portland, Oregon, and has worked as an herbalist since 1990.  She is currently an instructor for the Australasian College of Health Sciences, a fully accredited herbal college in Portland, and was formerly employed as a tea formulator and herbal consultant for the Golden Temple, Inc., Sunshine Products and Yogi Tea. 

 

Gia studied Ayurveda at the California College of Ayurveda, in Grass Valley, CA, where she has completed her academic training and clinical internship and holds the title of Vaidya (Ayurvedic Physician) and certified Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist.  The school is recognized and selected by the prestigious Gujarat Ayurveda University, being the largest in India, as well as Ayurved/Shikshan Mandal, a government-authorized agency in India and the American Institute of Vedic Studies founded by Dr. David Frawley, who is on the board of advisors for the California College of Ayurveda.  

 

In addition to her studies in Ayurveda, she has also formally studied Traditional Chinese Medicine at Samra University in Los Angeles in 1992 - 1994.  Her herbal background includes having studied under Dr. Vasant Ladd, the principle instructor and founder of the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico, as well as Native and Western Ecclectic medicine uner Michael Tierra, founder of the American Herbalist Guild, where she holds the title of registered herbalist (AHG).    Her main focus in her private practice is; Ayurvedic constitutional analysis, customized herbal formulas, diet, nutrition and lifestyle counseling, pancha karma, stress management and breathing techniques, hatha and mantra yoga, and aromatherapy.

 

Gia's diverse background includes Vedic Astrology, where she has studied at the Southern California School of Vedic Astrology under eminent teachers such as, Chakrapani Ullal, Bill Levacy, Phyllis Kneip and Drew Lawrence, as well as having studied in Calcutta, India, under teacher and author Shivaji Battacharjie.  She is the personal astrologer of many well-known personalities and among them is  the late Yogi Bhajan, the Siri Singh Sahib of the Sikh Dharma in the Western hemisphere, and Kundalini Yoga teacher.  She is an Ayurvedic Yoga instructor and has practiced Vipassana meditation and other meditation techniques for over 15 years. She is currently practicing Trika (Kundalini) Yoga meditation under teacher Swami Chetananda at the Nityananda Institute in Portland, OR. and is a disciple of Srila Prabhupad Swami and Srila Narayan Maharaja in the Krishna Consciousness Movement. Gia has traveled the world as a secular professional vocalist since 1985, and is presently utilizing her gift of voice to chant the Sanskrit mantras.  She has performed with the late and esteemed sitarist, Rahul Sariputra, on the tambura, playing Traditional Indian Classical Music and singing kirtan or spiritual vocal music.  Gia is also an artist and enjoys oil painting and writing poetry.