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“It’s all about wanting to to grow, wanting to change, wanting to improve yourself and wanting to live at your fullest potential. Take these little steps and we will help you.” ~Dr. Heather Hunt
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Dr. Heather Hunt DC:
I was born in the birthplace of Chiropractic: Davenport, Iowa. I grew up in beautiful Nevada County as the eldest of four loved children. My parents helped found what is now the Yuba River Charter School and I was Waldorf educated from kindergarten through 8th grade. I then went to Nevada Union High School. Every summer since I was 12 years old I taught swim lessons and worked with kids. From this early age, I knew that I wanted to work with children and families, to provide resources and empowerment. I graduated from Mills College in 2002 with a Bachelors degree in Women’s Studies and Ethnic Studies. I travelled to England and India for my thesis work, which examined a woman’s place in distinct power structures: in family, community, and in global society. I saw first-hand how empowering women in their own lives could be the seed for sowing positive change from the every beginnings of life. In addition, since I was 18 years old I have travelled internationally quite extensively. I started at fifteen by spending a summer as an exchange student Switzerland and then after high school traversed Europe for 6 months. In later years I studied with Tibetan Buddhists, trained as a yoga teacher in India, studied Spanish in Mexico, trekked all over Nepal, sailed for two weeks in Greece/Turkey for my honeymoon, and sailed in the British Virgin Islands.Myfather, Dale Jacobson, was finishing his chiropractic doctorate. When I was four months old, my parents and I moved to Belgium so my father could study with Dr. Gillet, the famous chiropractor. Dr. Gillet took Chiropractic from the static “bone out of place” paradigm to the more dynamic system of functional evaluation via joint motion analysis. By the time I turned two years old our family moved back to my dad’s hometown area of Nevada City/Grass Valley and he opened private practice nearly 35 years ago. From my earliest days, I have watched my dad treat patients, teach seminars throughout the country, and heal people. The power, simplicity, and sensitivity of “to practice with hands” (the meaning of chiropractic) have drawn my deepest interest for as long as I can remember.
In the spring of 2003 I met Luke Hunt, now my husband. He is a scientist and avid outdoorsman from the Big Trees/Hwy 4 area of California. He was working on his PhD in biology at Stanford’s Hopkins Marine Station and living on a sailboat in the Monterey Harbor. What can I say? When you know it is right, you know. We were married in the fall of 2004 and I moved aboard his cozy 31-foot sailboat until we moved to Portland, Oregon, where I attended chiropractic college.
I graduated from the University of Western States Chiropractic College in December 2008. While there, I immersed myself in my studies and also pursued advanced training in Craniosacral Therapy with the Upledger Institute and with Carol Gray. Portland is unique in that health practitioners from across the spectrum cross-pollinate. Midwives work closely with medical doctors, and chiropractors and naturopaths write NIH (National Institute of Health) grants together. This cooperation aligns with my core belief that an interdisciplinary approach to healthcare is truly the gold standard. While in Portland, I also studied with three well-known chiropractors that specialize in pediatrics and women’s health care. However, what cemented my goal for a specialized practice was becoming pregnant with our first son, Jacob. It was then that I realized just how compromised this country is in its practices regarding healthy pregnancy, birth, postpartum care, and infant care. It became my goal to create an empowering and wholesome compliment to what is currently available.
Two weeks after my graduation, Jacob was born alert, peaceful, and happy at home in Portland. I was fortunate enough to also be born at home, as were my three younger siblings. As I watched Jake thrive in his first months, I realized that one of the greatest gifts you can give your child is the gift of health. I strive to be healthy myself, to breastfeed, to eat organically, to rest, to play, to have him treated with chiropractic and craniosacral therapy, and to take him outdoors with his beloved and super-fun dad.
Luke, Jake and I moved to Nevada County in the beginning of 2009 so that I could enter practice with my father at Jacobson Chiropractic (a lifelong dream!). A year later we bought my grandfather’s property in Nevada City, the homestead where my dad was raised. In July 2011, we had another delightful son, Giles, also born at home. We have a large garden, beautiful trees and rocks to climb, a budding fruit orchard and lots of projects! We feel so blessed to raise our family in such a rich environment and community.
Due to my clear interests and life-long passions, I am specializing in maternity, pediatric, women’s and infant care. I combine gentle chiropractic methods with Craniosacral Therapy. Chiropractic assesses the joints that are not moving properly and restores mobility through precise manual adjustments. I evaluate the muscles and treat them as needed, for many times people’s pain arises from muscle imbalances. Craniosacral Therapy is an extremely safe, light touch method for working with the cranium (head), spine and sacrum (bottom of the spine). Combining cranial and chiropractic techniques allows the nervous system freedom to function properly, thus allowing the body to pursue its natural path of health.
Maternity Care/Infant Care: With pregnant moms, I mix gentle chiropractic, muscle work (a combination of therapeutic massage techniques), and craniosacral work. With infants I use craniosacral work almost exclusively. The birthing process is traumatic for baby’s little body and I believe all newborns can greatly benefit from at least one treatment, which is why I offer a free craniosacral treatment to all babies up to age one, as well as to all pregnant moms.
Women’s Health: I put special emphasis on getting a full picture of your health as a woman, realizing that neck or back pain can be just the symptom of deeper more chronic patterns. Pelvic imbalances, gut health, emotional stress, past traumas, anxiety, hormonal changes and/or daily routines can greatly influence health. Chiropractic, craniosacral, muscle therapy, stretching exercises, nutritional advice, adrenal and hormonal balancing are usually what I find most helpful.
Pediatric: Being a kid can be rough on the body. Growing up is hard work and joint injuries are frequent. Often, kids have health issues that we would not know about without taking them to a chiropractor, issues that may negatively affect their later life. Falls and bonks, growth spurts, repetitive stress injuries (soccer, dance, etc.), chronic ear infections, learning difficulties, sleep difficulties, stress, ADD, headaches, orthodontic/dentist work, digestive problems, sensory integration disorders and failure to thrive can all affect the long-term health of children.
General Chiropractic: My general chiropractic work includes spinal and extremity adjustments, muscle therapy, physical rehabilitation, stretching exercises, massage and nutritional counseling. These are powerful techniques for sciatica, whiplash, TMJ, neck and back pain, accidents, slip-and-falls, shoulder/arm/wrist pains, knee/ankle pain, balance problems, dizziness, headaches, and the list goes on! For testimonials, visit my website.
I am excited to offer such safe and effective methods of healing. I am humbled to work alongside so many skilled practitioners locally, and I am thrilled to be a part of building communities around healthy images of women, birth, family, and care for our children. What could be better? I look forward to working with you!
