The Symposium features an exciting variety of topics offered for every level of interest and experience as well as Herb Walks, Demonstrations, and Herbal Intensives. Complete descriptions of the Workshops will be included in your registration pack. Workshops are 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours long. Most likely, your hardest decision during the entire weekend will be in determining which workshops to attend!
After years of a busy herbal practice in Beverly Hills and Ojai, Ca, Amanda ran a student clinic in New Zealand. She has studied healing with nature around the world, learning from plants, ayahuasqueros, and curanderas, as well as physicians. She teaches in hospitals, medical schools, and in open meadows. The author of two popular books on women’s health, The Herbal Menopause Book and Herbal Remedies for Women, Amanda’s most recent adventure has been as the host of "What a Relief," a TV series dedicated to herbs.
A practicing medical herbalist for over 25 years, Anne is the author of 10 popular books on herbal medicine including The Complete Women’s Herbal and The Herbal for Mother and Child. She was the director of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists in England for four years and maintains a busy practice in Cotswolds.
A nutritional consultant who has been working with Natural Medicine for over 35 years, Brigitte teaches Herbal Medicine throughout the country, has a weekly radio show and a busy private practice. Brigitte is the author of twelve books, including The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine, Beauty by Nature, and Addiction Free Naturally. She is a frequent contributor to many magazines and was featured on NBC Dateline discussing herbal alternatives to Viagra.
Chris is a medicine hunter, and conducts medicinal research worldwide. Chris teaches ethnobotany at University Of Massachusetts, where he is Explorer In Residence. He is the author of 14 books including Tales From The Medicine Trail and Psyche Delicacies, (Rodale). Chris has appeared on hundreds of TV and radio programs around the world. CNN calls Chris "The Indiana Jones of Natural Medicine." He lives in Massachusetts with his wife Zoe and their dog boo, and is an avid body surfer.
Crotalo is the director of the Olami Damanhur University and has lived and worked at the Federation of Damanhur, a conscious community in Northern Italy, as a Spiritual Researcher for 16 years. He specializes and teaches courses in the fields of Spiritual Healing and Ancient Civilizations and the development of human potential at the University and has travelled and taught throughout the world.
A Fellow of Britain’s National Institute of Medical Herbalists, David has been a phytotherapist for 25 years. He is a founding member and past president of the American Herbalist Guild, and serves on the Advisory Board of the American Botanical Council. David teaches phytotherapy throughout the English speaking world, is the author of 15 books includ-ing his latest textbook, Medical Herbalism, and has been a long time activist in the environmental and peace movements.
A well-known and respected member of the Meso-American Zapotecan indiguse people located in Oaxaca, Dona Enriqueta is a descendant from a long line of Zapoeteca shamans that date back to 500 B.C. Dona Enriqueta owns and operates a health clinic for her community, as well as for international visitors, in the small town of San Francisco Tutla. Her history as a practicing midwife of more than fifty years has yielded her a flawless career with no mother or child ever lost during the birth process... an extraordinary feat, even by western standards. She travels the world disseminating her wisdom and knowledge.
Whether he's pointing out poison ivy, pontificating on poke sallet, jiving about ginseng, or extolling the virtues of dandelions, herbalist, author and storyteller, Doug Elliott is known for his lively presentations as well as his broad, scientific and cultural knowledge of wild plants. He has authored four books and produced a number of award winning recordings of stories and songs. His first book, WILD ROOTS, an Underground Botany and Forager's Guide, has been around for thirty years and is considered an "underground" classic.
Former Dean of the Honduran National College of Medicine, Dr. Almendares is a professor of medicine and the founder of the Honduras Health Exchange, and the Committee for Peace and the Prevention of Torture in Honduras. He runs a free clinic in Tegucigalpa specializing in homeopathic and natural treatment of physical and psychological trauma. He is the co-author of the herbal handbook Teirra, Vida, y Esperanza (Earth, Life and Hope, 1994).
Dr. Mary Louise Bove is an herbalist, naturopathic physician, and educator who maintains a busy family practice in Brattleboro, VT. She obtained her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine and Midwifery Certification from Bastyr University, WA and a Diploma of Phytotherapy at the School of Phytotherapy in Great Britain. Mary is the author of the Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children and Infants and co-author of Herbs for Women's Health.
Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo was born in Tibet. She graduated from Tibetan University Medical School in 1988, taught at the University until 1995, and then worked as a practicing physician in the remote areas of Eastern Tibet. In 2001 Dr. Phuntsog opened a practice in Conway, Mass where she practices traditional Tibetan medicine. She is also an instructor at the Shang Shung Institute where she teaches Tibetan Medicine and Culture.
Dr. Van Nguyen is the son of one of South Vietnam’s most beloved spiritual masters, Thau Van Nguyen. Thau adopted Quang as an infant to be the heir to his medical and spiritual knowledge. At the young age of 25, Quang became a Buddhist abbot and assumed responsibility for the health care of thousands of villagers during the war. He depended upon the local plants for medicine in treating everything from rabid dog bites to appendicitis. He now practices herbal medicine at his home in Vermont and is the author of Fourth Uncle on the Mountain; A Memoir of a Barefoot Doctor in Vietnam.
Robin is a naturopathic physician, herbalist, and homeopath. She served as the chair of the botanical medicine department at Bastyr University for eight years. Dr. DiPasquale is currently an associate professor at the University of Washington School of Nursing and an adjunct faculty for Bastyr University. She is published nationally and internationally on works related to herbs and herbal medicine. Robin is an aspiring Anusara yoga teacher, and has a naturopathic clinical practice in Madison, Wisconsin
A practicing community-supported medical herbalist, herbal educator, and medicinal herb wildcrafter, Ryan lives on a small remote island in a little cabin he built 30 years ago. Prior to focusing on herbs and the therapeutic uses of seaweed, he was a Botany Professor and research scientist and has a BSc in Chemical Technology and a PHD in Psychology.
Appointed by President Clinton to the White house Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy, Dr. Low Dog is one of the country’s leading experts on botanical medicine and integrative approaches to health. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor for the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of NM School Of Medicine. Named by Time magazine as an “Innovator in Alterative Medicine for 2001”. In 1998 Tieraona was the recipient of the Martina de la Cruz Medal for her work with indigenous people and remedies.
Herbal Ed has been actively involved in the herbal community for over 25 years as a teacher, lecturer, and advocate of quality herbs and herbal products. He is founder of Herb Pharm & co-founded The Foundation for Natural Living Institute. Ed is actively involved in the preservation of native medicinal plants.
James has been passionately involved in herbs and herbalism since the early 60’s. His experiences range from founding and managing herb stores and to successful herbal medicine making businesses to owning and directing herb schools in Canada and the U.S. He was a founding member of the American Herbal Guild and was an early board member of United Plant Savers. James is the author of several excellent herb books and is forever passionately applauding plants and the herbal life.
A highly respected herbalist and wild plant expert, Janice is author of Discovering Wild Plants, Alaska's Wild Plants, and Nettles. She's taught classes on edible and medicinal plants of the Far North for more than twenty years. Originally a New Englander, she lived in the Alaska wilds for over 20 years and presently resides in New Zealand, where she's discovering southern hemisphere herbs.
Mark is Founder and Ex. Director of the American Botanical Council and Editor/Publisher of HerbalGram, an international peer-reviewed journal. He served for six years as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Texas, Austin, College of Pharmacy. A well known personality, Mark has appeared on over 400 radio and television shows and has written innumerable articles, reviews and book chapters as well as being the Senior Editor of The Complete German Commission E Monographs.
A professional member of the American Herbalist Guild, Matthew has been a practicing herbalist for twenty three years. He lives and works from his home in Minnesota and travels and teache internationally. He is the author of four excellent books on herbal healing. He recently graduated from the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine with a MSc in Herbalism.
Mindy is Clinical Aromatherapist for the Aveda Corp. and has more than 30 years experience in the natural products and health care industries. She recently served as program specialist for the Integrative Resource Center at the University of Colorado Hospital and has served as Director of Education and Research at the Herb Research Foundation. She is co-author of Aromatherapy, a Complete Guide to the Healing Art.
Paul is Director of the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism in Boulder, Colorado, where he offers classroom and clinical training in medical herbalism and clinical nutrition in a two-year program. Paul has studied and practiced natural medicine since 1973. He has edited and published the Medical Herbalism journal since 1989 and has authored seven books on medical herbalism, clinical nutrition, ethnobotany, and naturopathic medicine.
Raylene is one of the most well known and beloved teachers of Hula and Hawaiian culture and is incredibly respected for her gentle powerful teachings. Living in Kapa`au, on the island of Hawai`i, she works for the Queen Lili’uokalani Children’s Center, which works with Hawaiian orphaned and destitute children and has been sharing her understanding of her Hawaiian heritage and cultural practices and teaching hula since 1976.
Rhiannon is an experienced aromatherapist and author of Becoming an Aromatherapist and editor of the International Journal of Clinical Aromatherapy. Rhiannon lives with her husband in the mountains of Provence, France. Together they run Essential Oil Resource Consultants, providing education, information and research in the field of essential oils. They travel widely to teach about clinical aromatherapy as well as welcoming groups of students to their study centre in France each summer.
A truly remarkable woman, Rocio is an ethnobotanist, healer and herbalist who received her teachings from her mother, grandmother and shamans of the Rainforest and Andes. She is a founding member of EcoCiencia, Ecuador’s leading ecological organization. She has worked for over 20 years in the tropical forests of Ecuador and is highly respected by her fellow country people for her outstanding fieldwork. Rocio currently resides in England where she’s obtained her diploma in Holistic Therapy.
Rosemary has been practicing, living, learning, teaching and writing about herbs for over 30 years. Along with creating community and loving people, it is her passion and joy in life. She is the author of nine books including the popular Herbal Healing for Women and The Family Herbal. She is the founder/director of Sage Mountain Herbal Retreat Center, founder of United Plant Savers, The International Herb Symposium and director of The Women’s Herbal Conference.
Stephen is an Earth poet and the award-winning author of twelve books on nature, indigenous cultures, the environment, and herbal medicine. His work has appeared or been profiled in publications throughout North America and Europe. He travels throughout the United States and Europe teaching about herbal medicine, the sacredness of plants, and the intelligence of Nature.
A prolific writer and renowned photographer, Steven is the author of 16 books, including National Geographic’s A Desk Reference to Nature’s Medicine (2006, with R. Johnson), a 2007 New York Public Library “Best of Reference.” Steven’s 101 Medicinal Herbs (Interweave Press) won the 1999 Independent Publishers Book Awards as the year’s best title in Health and Medicine. He is senior author of three Peterson Field Guides, including A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs (with Dr. James A. Duke).
Susun Weed, green witch and wise woman, is an extraordinary teacher with a joyous spirit, a powerful presence, and an encyclopedic knowledge of herbs and health. As the voice of the Wise Woman Way, she has opened hearts and minds to the magic and medicine of the green nations for more than thirty years. Her four books, the Wise Woman Herbal Series, are used by millions of women, and have been translated into German, French, Spanish, Dutch, and Japanese.
Tim has been working with medicinal plants from the late 70’s when he was land manager, teacher and eventually co-owner of the California School of Herbal Studies. He went on to help create both Frontier’s and Herb Pharm’s Botanical Garden and Farm, and later became the founding manager of the National Center for the Preservation of Medicinal Herbs. Tim is the co-author of Medicinal Herbs in the Garden, Field and Marketplace. His main focus today is Aromatherapy and he travels the world sourcing essential oils and teaching classes for Frontier/Aura Cacia.
It is our custom at these Symposiums to especially honor the teachings of our Elders. They speak with their hearts, offering us the wisdom ~ and often the wit ~ of their years, and inspire us as much through their presence as through the teachings they offer. We have several elders who will be joining us. Each has had a strong voice in the herbal community and are powerful role models for those that follow in their footsteps.
Several Herbal Elders Have Been Invited to Join Us
We have invited several other outstanding herbalists to lead herb walks and offer hands-on demonstrations and classes: