Beyond Pharmaceuticals: Dr. Amanda Tracy's Dedication to Holistic Health Solutions

Dr. Amanda Tracy is a licensed naturopathic doctor and hormone expert, dedicated to guiding women over 40 toward reclaiming their body, mind, and vitality. 

After working through a personal health transformation from irregular periods to achieving hormonal balance using natural methods, Amanda uncovered her passion for holistic health. Her mission is to empower women during perimenopause and menopause, addressing symptoms that impact personal and professional lives, such as concentration, sleep quality, and mood changes. Ultimately, Amanda’s vision is to create a world where women thrive, maintaining balance, energy, and joy throughout life’s transitions.

We asked Amanda about how she got started as a naturopathic doctor, what she would tell her younger self if she were to start her entrepreneurial journey all over again, and what’s next for her and her company.

Q: Tell us the story behind your company’s founding. How and why did you start working as a naturopathic doctor?

While I was studying biochemistry on the conventional pre-med path in college, I became more interested in nutrition, health, and how the body actually works to maintain wellness than focusing on disease and pharmaceuticals. This was in the late 1990s when the pharmaceutical industry was beginning to boom. Something about this approach to “health” didn’t sit right with me. When I learned about the field of naturopathic medicine, everything sort of clicked. It was a way to foster health by addressing the true causes of illness, have a holistic approach, and use natural therapies. 

I have enjoyed being a licensed Naturopathic Doctor (ND) since 2005 and, after building an award-winning wellness center in Massachusetts, I had an opportunity to relocate to Northern California wine country and transition my practice online in 2021. This opportunity gave me the chance to re-envision my practice in the middle of my career, take stock of what was working for me, my patients, and my lifestyle, as well as what wasn’t working.

I love helping patients with various health challenges; however, my unique knowledge and passion flourishes working with women who feel their bodies are in chaos because of hormone imbalances, sleep issues, stress, or anxiety. My current practice is focused in these areas, serving women in their 40s and 50s so they can navigate hormone changes with ease.

The symptoms women experience in both perimenopause and menopause dramatically affect the quality of their personal and professional lives. About one in three women report difficulties functioning at work due to hormonal symptoms such as trouble sleeping, hot flashes, difficulty concentrating, or mood changes. The mood changes, energy shifts, trouble sleeping, and other symptoms of hormonal changes can affect the quality of personal relationships as well. It’s my mission to support women throughout this time of transition and promote their hormone balance for better concentration, higher quality sleep, and more energy so they can function at an optimal level and enjoy how they look and feel while doing it.

Q: In what ways has your upbringing or past experiences contributed to how you operate as an entrepreneur?

A: My personal health journey has influenced my choice of speciality, for sure. In my teens and 20s I had irregular periods that would be on time for months in a row and then disappear for months on end, only to return monthly for no apparent reason. I saw medical doctors, had blood tests and ultrasounds—nothing was found and I was told, “Everything looked normal.” Naturally, when I started naturopathic medical school, female hormones and menstrual cycles were of personal interest. I created a regimen for myself using herbs and nutrition to support my hormones. But it wasn’t until I fully embraced a 100-percent plant-based diet, got serious about stress management, and made sleep a priority in my life that I was able to have regular, monthly periods in my 30s and 40s. 

I am grateful to be able to combine my medical training and experience with what I’ve learned on my evolving healing journey to help women be more in control of their health and feel more balanced and energetic in their 40s and 50s than they did in their 20s and 30s. 

Luckily, I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs and had the opportunity from a young age to see how small businesses operate day to day. I became experienced in customer service from working reception at my grandfather’s tennis club and scooping ice cream in my dad’s ice cream parlor. I didn’t necessarily always think of myself as an entrepreneur but wasn’t hesitant when it came time to start my own practice either.

Q: What were the most difficult and most impactful lessons you’ve learned starting and running a company?

A: On the eve of my 40th birthday, I was driving home from my office late at night. I was excited because my boyfriend, Joe, was taking me on a surprise trip but so exhausted that all I could think was, “When we get back from this trip I am going to plan a sabbatical. I need a break.” Alas, this thought was too late!

My trip was followed by months of recurrent infections, hair loss, insomnia, and eventually my hormones started to get wonky. This experience of burnout was a wake up call for me that forced me to re-evaluate my lifestyle and work/life balance as well as my nutrition and supplement regimen. 

It was an impactful lesson. Up until that point, my motto was, “more is always better”—more patients, work more hours, more workshops, etc. My experience of burnout not only taught me that in a lot of instances “less is more.” When you do less and do it well, it is more impactful in a deeper way. 

This was the turning point for me. I am especially grateful to have my personal and professional support networks in place now, especially since I have moved so far away from most of my family and friends. 

Q: We dare you to brag: What achievements are you most proud of?

A: I am proud of having the type of practice that changes women’s lives and being the kind of doctor who has deeper, longterm relationships with patients. This is a natural by-product of practicing integrative and holistic medicine—I’m treating the whole person, not just their hormones. Most people don’t invite their doctor to their weddings, birthday parties, and other life celebrations, but I’m honored that a lot of my patients do.

Q: What would you tell your younger self if you were to start your entrepreneurial journey all over again?

A: Have more fun in college. Looking back, I had more fun in my teen years than the college years. I went to a great school and made the best of friends, but I could have avoided a lot of stress and drama if I just “chilled out” more and didn’t take things so seriously. The work and dedication I put in during that time led me to where I am today. That said, I would be here even if I had more fun in those days, too. It's one of the few times in your life that you have a lot of free time and I spent too much of it in a lab, studying, or working. 

Q: What’s next for you and your company?

A: In 2024, I am looking forward to balancing my telemedicine practice with in-person experiences. I have retreats and workshops in the works for the San Francisco Bay area, Mexico, Chicago, and Boston. I am also looking to expand the corporate wellness side of my business as a way to help women struggling with hormonal changes affecting them in the workplace.

Amanda is a member of Dreamers & Doers, an award-winning community that amplifies extraordinary women entrepreneurs and leaders by securing PR, forging authentic connections, and curating high-impact resources. Learn more about Dreamers & Doers and get involved here.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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