Today we’d like to introduce you to Kacie Hill.
Hi Kacie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Since I was in 8th grade, I dreamed of becoming a dermatologist. I’m from Wisconsin originally and moved to California two weeks after I graduated high school. Knowing med school would keep me busy until I was at least 30, I wanted to have a mini-career. I went to Esthetician school, got my license, and started working at an organic spa in Santa Monica. That is where I learned the importance of reading labels, using organic products, and looking at the skin from the inside out.
At the spa, I saw tons of clients have side effects after being on Accutane or antibiotics and was shocked that their doctors never talked to them about washing off their Mac makeup before bed or how fast food /diet can have a huge effect on your skin. I felt like the basics weren’t being covered before they were thrown on medications that can have serious repercussions.
While I was finishing my undergrad, I took a plant medicine course where I became fascinated with the idea that I could learn how to heal people with herbs. This prompted me to start researching Chinese Medical schools and the next thing I knew I was enrolling in Emperor’s College in Santa Monica.
During school, I was studying hard, working hard and playing hard. I started having severe gut issues after a trip to Thailand, and that’s when my own personal healing journey really began. I tried all of the elimination diets, supplements, and therapies to heal myself naturally. It may have been miserable to experience, but having gone through this myself ignited a passion within me to help others with the same issues I struggled with.
After I finished the 4.5-year Master’s program, I moved to Costa Mesa and began my acupuncture practice. I started by renting a single room from one of my old schoolmates and soon grew my business to where I needed three rooms. At this point, I knew that I wanted a space of my own and one that I could grow into.
It took me two years to find the right space and finally, in the height of COVID (March 2021), I signed the lease on my new space. I did a full build-out/remodel and created my dream space. I’ve been in this location now for 2.5 years and absolutely love it.
Over the years, I also fell in love with functional medicine, which uses specialized bloodwork, stool, urine, and hair testing to help dive deeper into finding the root of health issues. It’s the perfect adjunct to acupuncture/Eastern medicine and gives us quantifiable data and insight to track progress and create targeted and effective treatment plans.
In my practice, I specialize in gut health, anxiety, and pain and offer a variety of services like acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, functional medicine, and cold laser. My mantra is “It’s the little things that add up to make a big difference,” and I work with my patients to fine-tune their habits and lifestyles to become healthier. Most people’s health issues are a result of their habits, and I fiercely believe that by teaching people to adopt healthier habits, we can set them on a path to lifelong wellness.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Running your own business has its fair share of challenges. Aside from taking care of patients, I’m also juggling the whole gamut of business tasks—marketing, advertising, buying products, handling sales, Instagram, finances, and all the other exciting things that come with growing a business.
I’m a recovering perfectionist and over-achiever. It’s been a process to shift my mindset from always thinking, “I could have done better” to reminding myself of how far I’ve actually come.
I often find myself stuck in analysis paralysis because I tend to dive deep into research before making decisions. Sure, there have been things that might be labeled as “mistakes,” but I prefer to see them as valuable learning lessons. Opening my own space was like stepping into the big leagues of business, and naturally, not everything turned out as planned. But, hey, that’s the reality of doing things for the first time, and it’s how you learn and grow.
Playing it safe might keep you comfortable, but it also means missing out on a bunch of opportunities. You’ll never know what you’re capable of unless you take chances and embrace a bit of risk. Sometimes, you’ve just got to dive in and see where the journey takes you.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My goal at Flora Fauna is to provide the most relaxing healthcare experience you have ever had. I pride myself in being a good listener and giving practical advice, tips, and treatment plans to help my patients get better.
In addition to acupuncture, I often give my patients “homework” to help kick their healing into high gear. Sure, acupuncture, cupping, and the other hands-on modalities can absolutely help you feel better, but it’s those tiny decisions you make every day that dictate how you feel.
Do you wake up early and go to the gym? Or do you hit the snooze button, promising yourself a workout later that never happens? Do you grab the fast “convenient” Starbucks egg sando on the way to work or do you take the time to make yourself breakfast in the morning? These are common things we work through and find solutions that make sense for each individual’s lifestyle.
Many patients have shared that I’m the first healthcare provider who took the time to truly listen to them. Some even wonder, “Why didn’t my doctor tell me that?”
Functional Medicine helps us dig deep into what is truly going on in your body. I love it because it’s like a complex puzzle to figure out and makes me feel like a health detective. So often, patients wind up seeing me after being told that all their labs are normal, and often times the problem is that they are either not being tested for the right things OR that their lab results may be “normal,” but they are not optimal or healthy.
Nothing feels better than helping people not only get the answers to the health issues they are experiencing but to get them feeling better again.
What makes you happy?
There isn’t anything much more fulfilling than helping people feel better again. Time and health are two things that you don’t cherish until they’re gone, and being able to help people get back to a place where they are able to do the things they love (hiking, biking, pickleball, chasing around the grandkids, etc.) is the ultimate fulfillment.
I love cooking and creating healthy and delicious meals for my friends. I take food very seriously and love trying new restaurants to explore different cuisines and flavors. I’m a big fan of prosecco, mezcal, trumpet mushrooms, crispy sage, truffle-anything and burrata.
I’m happiest when I’m traveling with friends and specifically to warm, tropical places. I had enough cold in my life after experiencing 16+ Wisconsin winters so now I’m officially a sun-worshipping lizard. Costa Rica is one of my favorite places on earth and I try to get back there every year.
Pricing:
- Acupuncture $175/$125 (first visit/returning)
- Cupping or Gua Sha $75
- Functional Med Initial Consult $199 (virtual 1st visit)
- Functional Med Case Review $333 (virtual 2nd visit)
- Functional Med 3 Month Follow Up $199 (virtual 3rd visit)
Contact Info:
- Website: florafaunawellness.com
- Instagram: @florafauna.wellness
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/florafauna.wellness/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/flora-fauna-wellness-costa-mesa-2
Image Credits
Studio Alani
