Famous Herbalists: Influential Figures in Herbal Medicine

Ancient and Historical Herbalists

Hippocrates (c. 460–370 BCE)

• Greek physician known as the “Father of Medicine.”

• Advocated diet, herbs, and lifestyle as primary healing tools.

• Believed plants supported the body’s natural healing power.

  
  

Dioscorides (c. 40–90 CE)

• Greek physician, author of De Materia Medica.

• Catalogued over 600 medicinal plants.

• His texts were foundational in Europe and the Middle East for centuries.

  
  

Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179)

• German abbess, writer, and herbalist.

• Integrated spiritual vision with practical plant medicine.

• Writings on herbs influenced medieval European healing traditions.

  
  

Nicholas Culpeper (1616–1654)

• English herbalist and physician.

• Authored The Complete Herbal, linking plants to astrology and folk use.

• Advocated accessible healthcare for the poor through herbs.

  
  

Samuel Thomson (1769–1843)

• American herbalist who founded “Thomsonian Medicine.”

• Promoted herbs like lobelia, cayenne, and steam baths.

• Advanced populist, self-care approach to healing.

Pioneering Women in Herbalism

Harriet Tubman (1822–1913)

• Renowned abolitionist and Underground Railroad leader.

• Practiced herbal healing, using plants for first aid and care.

• Knowledge of local herbs helped her and others survive harsh conditions.

  
  

Emma Dupree (1897–1996)

• African American herbalist from North Carolina.

• Known as the “Little Medicine Thing.”

• Gathered wild herbs, shared remedies freely in her community.

  
  

Juliette de Bairacli Levy (1912–2009)

• English herbalist, writer, and traveler.

• Advocated natural rearing of children and animals with herbs.

• Inspired the modern herbal revival with accessible guides.

  
  

Rosemary Gladstar (1948– )

• Often called the “Godmother of American Herbalism.”

• Founder of United Plant Savers, promoting sustainable herb use.

• Author and teacher, trained thousands of herbalists worldwide.

  
  

Susun Weed (1948– )

• American herbalist emphasizing “Wise Woman Tradition.”

• Focuses on nourishing herbs, empowerment, and women’s health.

• Prolific author and teacher, controversial but influential.

Influential Modern Herbalists

James Green (1935–2017)

• Author of The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook.

• Founder of the California School of Herbal Studies.

• Advocate of grassroots herbalism, DIY plant medicine.

  
  

David Winston (1956– )

• Clinical herbalist with over 40 years of practice.

• Founder of Herbal Therapeutics Research Library.

• Blends traditional knowledge with modern clinical applications.

  
  

Matthew Wood (1954– )

• Author of The Book of Herbal Wisdom.

• Known for eclectic, intuitive approach to plant energetics.

• Influences many students through writing and lectures.

  
  

Michael Tierra (1937– )

• Founder of the American Herbalists Guild.

• Integrates Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, and Western herbalism.

• Author of The Way of Herbs.

  
  

Kathi Keville (1949– )

• Specialist in aromatherapy and medicinal plants.

• Author of Herbs for Health and Healing.

• Promoter of herbal beauty, wellness, and education.

Famous Herbalists from Around the World

Li Shizhen (1518–1593, China)

• Author of Compendium of Materia Medica.

• Documented over 1,800 substances, including herbs, minerals, and animals.

• His encyclopedia remains a cornerstone of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Avicenna (980–1037, Persia)

• Persian physician and philosopher.

• Authored The Canon of Medicine, used in Europe and the Middle East for centuries.

• Integrated Greek, Persian, and Islamic medical knowledge with herbal remedies.

Shennong (mythical, China)

• Legendary emperor said to have tested hundreds of herbs.

• Credited with writing the Shennong Bencao Jing, foundational to Chinese herbalism.

  
  

Paracelsus (1493–1541, Switzerland)

• Physician and alchemist.

• Advanced the idea of “like cures like” and dosage principles.

• Influenced later naturopathy and homeopathy.

Ayurveda’s Rishis (India)

• Ancient sages who developed Ayurvedic medicine.

• Described herbs like ashwagandha, triphala, and turmeric.

• Ayurveda continues as a living system of herbal healing.

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Herbalists Recognized

• Harriet Tubman and Emma Dupree: resilience, community healing, survival.

• Maria Treben (1907–1991, Austria): author of Health Through God’s Pharmacy, popularized European folk remedies.

• Lise Wolff (contemporary, U.S.): practitioner, teacher, advocate of ecological herbalism.

• Indigenous elders worldwide: keepers of oral herbal traditions.

Common Themes Among Famous Herbalists

• Connection with Nature: herbs as teachers and allies.

• Accessibility: making plant medicine available to common people.

• Integration: blending tradition with evolving science.

• Sustainability: protecting plant species and ecosystems.

• Education: writing, teaching, mentoring to pass down herbal knowledge.