When Allison McCune Davis turned 60, she wasn’t ready to slow down. She was ready to start over.
A certified traditional naturopath, author and educator, Allison has dedicated her later years to helping people rediscover vitality and purpose through natural health. Her journey is proof that midlife can be the beginning of something powerful.
“I’ve always believed our bodies know how to heal themselves when we give them what they need,” Allison said. “Herbs, nutrition and small lifestyle changes can make an enormous difference.”
Discovering a different path
Allison grew up in a medical household. Her father was a doctor and, like most Americans, she grew up believing every health problem could be solved with a pill. But when she was 30 and living in Los Angeles, a persistent health issue pushed her to look elsewhere for help.
“A friend told me to see her traditional Chinese medicine doctor,” Allison recalled. “It took six weeks to get in because he was so busy, but it completely changed my life.”
Through muscle testing and herbal treatments, the practitioner discovered that dairy was the root of her problem. He told her to eliminate it for a year, and the issue never returned.
“It was my first introduction to anything natural,” she said. “It did not require a prescription or something from a drugstore, rather just herbs and food grown from the ground.”
That single experience started a 30-year journey into natural wellness. When her health declined in her 40s, Allison again turned to natural solutions. A naturopath diagnosed her with adrenal fatigue, thyroid imbalance and poor gut health.
“Through herbs, supplements and changes to my diet, I got my energy back,” she said. “I’ve been seeing him ever since.”
Finding purpose through teaching
By the time Allison turned 50, she was homeschooling her five children and feeling restless. She began teaching small classes to women about natural health and sharing what she had learned over the years.
“I needed an outlet and adult connection,” she said.
Those gatherings often felt like underground meetings for people hungry for better health.
“So many people said they didn’t even know information like this existed,” she explained. “We laughed about being the underground. But, we were just a bunch of women talking about natural ways to heal.”
In 2018, Allison earned her certification in traditional naturopathy through the Trinity School of Natural Health. The program took three years to complete and required more than 50 courses, a final exam and a dissertation.
“I loved every minute,” she said. “It was challenging, but deeply rewarding.”
Her dissertation eventually became the foundation for her book “Sixty is a Good Start.”
Embracing challenges and growth
Turning 60 was another pivotal moment. With her older children grown and her younger ones becoming increasingly independent, Allison began asking herself, “What’s next?” That question led her to write her book and develop a program she calls the Sixty-Day Dare.
The idea was inspired by a Japanese concept known as “misogi,” meaning a life-changing event.
“I joined an online group where people encouraged each other to do one big thing every year. It had to be something that pushes you outside your comfort zone,” Allison explained.
For her, it was completing the “75 Hard” challenge, which is a 75-day commitment to physical and mental discipline involving daily workouts, clean eating and personal growth.
“Nothing changed in those four months except my mindset,” she explained. “It taught me how powerful our thoughts and environment are. We become like the people we spend time with.”
That insight became central to her Sixty-Day Dare program, which helps people over 50 to create lasting wellness habits. The framework focuses on what she calls the “three pillars of health”—body work, brain work and world work.
The three pillars of wellness
Allison organizes her program around three core areas:
First, body work focuses on physical habits such as:
- Eating whole foods and staying hydrated
- Getting regular movement and quality sleep
- Practicing deep breathing and mindfulness
Second, brain work addresses mental, emotional and spiritual health:
- Journaling to release thoughts and emotions
- Reading personal development or faith-based books
- Decluttering and detoxing the home from harmful chemicals
- Meditating or praying daily
- Engaging in creative, relaxing activities
Third, world work helps participants connect their health to purpose and community:
- Reflecting on personal purpose through guided “dream” questions
- Reconnecting with family and friends
- Participating in spiritual communities
- Volunteering in ways that bring joy
- Taking daily action toward meaningful goals
“Health is more than just what we eat or how we exercise,” Allison said. “It’s about our relationships, our purpose, and how we spend our days.”
Living with energy and intention
Allison’s motivation to pursue natural health was rooted in her desire for energy.
“When you have five kids, you need all the energy you can get,” she said. “That’s still my goal. I want to have the vitality to live fully.”
Even with a high schooler at home at age 64, Allison stays active and positive. She believes her commitment to a natural lifestyle has kept her strong and healthy.
“My kids keep me young,” she said. “And I want to be the kind of person who can keep up with them.”
Her book and online community encourage others to adopt the same approach. Participants can join her Sixty-Day Dare through her website, where she offers accountability groups, Zoom calls and a mobile app to track progress.
“Accountability is key,” she said. “Most people abandon their New Year’s resolutions because they don’t have support. We make sure you’re not doing it alone.”
Lessons from experience
Allison’s approach to wellness hasn’t always been easy. Coming from a family of physicians, her decision to embrace natural methods sometimes caused tension.
“My dad was a surgeon, and my mother-in-law was an OB-GYN,” she explained. “They were skeptical when I chose home births for my second and third children. But. I knew it was right for me.”
She believes much of modern medicine has become overly dependent on pharmaceuticals.
“We’ve medicalized so many natural processes, including birth,” she said. “But, people did this for thousands of years. Our bodies are designed for it.”
Through her journey, Allison has learned to trust her intuition.
“If you’re doing something that drains your energy, it’s probably not what you’re meant to do,” she explained. “Say no to the things that don’t excite you and space will open up for what really matters.”
A message for people over 50
Allison hopes her story inspires others to embrace midlife as a season of renewal.
“You are not too old to start something new,” she said. “This is an incredible time in life because we finally have the wisdom and experience to know what matters.”
She encourages people to pay attention to how their bodies and emotions respond to their daily activities.
“When you think about something you do regularly, ask yourself: ‘Does it make you feel expanded or restricted?’” she said. “If it energizes you, that’s where you need to focus your time.”
Allison’s message to others is simple. Take small steps, make them consistent and never underestimate the body’s ability to heal.
“Start where you are,” she said. “You don’t need to change everything overnight. Just make one good choice today and keep doing that. Over time, it becomes your new lifestyle.”
Continuing her purpose
Today, Allison finds meaning in helping others pursue healthier, more intentional lives.
“What gives me purpose now is watching people reclaim their energy,” she said. “They start smiling more and feel hopeful again. That’s what keeps me going.”
Her work combines science, spirituality and intuition into a holistic vision for life after 50 that’s focused not just on longevity, but on joy.
“I tell people all the time, 60 isn’t the end,” Allison said. “It’s a good start.”
For more information
- Website = www.allisonmccunedavis.com
- Facebook = www.facebook.com/allisonmccunedavis
- Instagram = www.instagram.com/allison.mccune.davis
- YouTube – www.youtube.com/user/allisonmdavis
Allison’s book, “Sixty is a Good Start” is available on Amazon and at other bookstores.
If you order Allison’s book from a link above, Forward From 50 may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
