Meet Mara Cherry | Nutritionist, Medicine Woman, & Yoga Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mara Cherry and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mara, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Jungle Mama was created to make natural wellness more accessible, culturally rooted, and community-centered. Our products and education are inspired by traditional herbal practices that have supported health for generations, especially within Black and Brown Indigenous healing traditions.

Beyond offering herbal teas and plant-based supplements, Jungle Mama focuses on helping people reconnect with plant medicine and everyday wellness practices. Education is a big part of our mission because when people understand how herbs, nutrition, and lifestyle support the body, they begin to feel more empowered in their own health.

Our mission is also about representation and empowerment. By building a wellness brand that centers ancestral knowledge and community care, we hope to make holistic health feel more approachable and inclusive. Community experiences are an important part of the brand. In October 2025, Jungle Mama sponsored the Happi Healing Wellness Retreat in Joshua Tree, where I hosted an herbal tea workshop to teach participants about herbs, how to blend teas, and how plant medicine can be incorporated into daily life based on what their body needs. Creating spaces like this allows people to reconnect to our ancient practice of herbal medicine. Jungle Mama aims to support healthier lifestyles while honoring the wisdom of traditional plant medicine.

At the heart of Jungle Mama is the belief that wellness knowledge should be shared. Seeing people become more confident using herbs and beginning to see themselves as active participants in their own healing is one of the most rewarding parts of the work.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Jungle Mama was birthed during the labor that was COVID. I was relying less on man and relied more on Mama Nature for my healing. I saw that man wanted profit and mama was simply here to love me. While the world was in fear, I wanted to lean into where the love was and I created Jungle Mama from the belief that people deserve access to natural tools that support their health. The brand focuses on herbal teas, plant-based supplements, and wellness experiences that help people reconnect with the healing power of plants. What sets Jungle Mama apart is that it blends traditional herbal wisdom with modern wellness education, making natural health feel accessible rather than intimidating.

My journey into this work started through my own curiosity about nutrition, herbs, and holistic health. I pursued formal education in clinical nutrition, but I was also deeply inspired by traditional plant medicine and ancestral healing practices. Jungle Mama grew out of the desire to bridge those worlds. Combining science, tradition, and community wellness.

Building the business has definitely not been easy. Like many entrepreneurs, I started small while balancing other jobs and responsibilities. There were moments of uncertainty, learning curves around business strategy, and times when growth felt slow. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of persistence and staying connected to your purpose. When your work is rooted in something meaningful, it becomes easier to keep going through the challenges.

What I’m most proud of is seeing people become their own healer. When someone begins to innerstand how herbs, nutrition, movement, and lifestyle can support their wellbeing, it shifts their relationship with their health. Instead of feeling powerless or disconnected, they start to feel empowered. Creating products and experiences that help people build that connection with their bodies and with nature is incredibly meaningful to me.

At its core, Jungle Mama is about empowerment and reconnection. Helping people rediscover the wisdom of plants and reminding them that healing doesn’t have to be complicated or exclusive. My hope is that the brand continues to grow in a way that inspires people to return home to mama. Come back to these ancestral rituals from the jungle.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting, for an active day, we’d start with a hike. Either at Runyon Canyon Park because the views of the city are amazing! Another favorite workout spot of mine is the Culver City Stairs or the Calabasas Stairs, which are great if you want a quick but challenging outdoor workout. After the Culver City stairs, we’d grab something to eat at Hey, Sunshine Kitchen.

A beach day is a must. If we want something quieter and more relaxed, we’d go to Will Rogers State Beach because it’s usually less crowded. If we’re feeling more social and want a lively beach day, then Malibu Beach is always a great option.

For brunch, I love taking friends to Cafe Gratitude. The food is amazing and it’s one of my favorite spots for plant-based meals.

I’d definitely include a yoga class somewhere during the trip since that’s a big part of my lifestyle. It’s one of the best ways to reset and experience the wellness culture that’s so strong in LA.

And because I love plants and herbal wellness, we’d probably stop by Vineland Nursery to look at plants and get inspired. It’s such a peaceful place to wander around and maybe take home a new plant baby.

What I love most about Los Angeles is that there’s always something new to explore.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d dedicate this shoutout to the generations of herbalists, healers, and elders who preserved plant medicine traditions long before it became popular in modern wellness spaces. Much of what inspires Jungle Mama comes from ancestral knowledge and community wisdom that was passed down through families and cultures.

I’m also deeply grateful for the teachers, mentors, and wellness practitioners who helped shape my understanding of holistic health. Studying clinical nutrition and working in the wellness space exposed me to so many perspectives about how food, herbs, movement, and lifestyle all work together to support health.

And of course, I have to recognize the friends, clients, and community members who believed in Jungle Mama early on. The people who tried the teas, shared the products with others, came to wellness events, and supported the vision from the beginning played a huge role in helping the brand grow. Their encouragement reminded me that this work matters and that building a wellness business can truly be about community care.

Website: https://www.junglemamastore.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junglemamahealth/

Twitter: @junglemamastore

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JungleMamaHealth

Youtube: @junglemama3783

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@junglemamahealth?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

TikTok: @JungleMamaHealth