Restoration Herbs

01/27/2026

Hey everyone ... I'm pleased to say that my website demons are being tamed and that my public 2026 teaching schedule is pretty much up through June. Of course there will be changes. (Right?!)

Nonetheless: Two big announcements relating to May:

~ On the 2nd, I'll be hosting an in-person workshop with New Zealand herbalist Rixt Botello of Rixt's Herbals. Spaces are limited in what will be an amazing day focused on the "Person Specific Dose".

~ On the 30th, Dr Minji Lee will be coming to Erie from Montclair State College to share her work on Hildegard of Bingen. She'll be drawing from her new book, "The Medieval Womb: Hildegard of Bingen's Views on the Female Reproductive Body". Minji will be offering an afternoon presentation entitled, "Hildegard of Bingen, Herbs, and the Greening Power: Women's Bodies and Balance with the Natural World."

As an FYI, as these are in-person workshops, Erie is about 90 minutes east of Cleveland, west of Buffalo and north of Pittsburgh. It's served by buses, trains and air ... and the roads are potholed but not too too bad!

Here's a link to find out more about each of these workshops, and my own work:
https://leslie-alexander.net/2026-workshops

Any questions, or to reserve a space - please reach out. (oh - and please share!)

2026 workshopsI invite you to join me Number Games Let’s be real … it’s hard to avoid numbers as an herbalist! […more here] The Art of turmeric We’ll mark time with turmeric. Literally. [… more here] An Introduction to “Finding the Sweet Spot” with Herbal Low/Drop Dosing [read more ....

01/24/2026

01/05/2026

gotta love HCR

Secretary of State Marco Rubio took the administration’s message about its strikes on Venezuela to the Sunday talk shows this morning.

01/04/2026

oh, Woody!

Every single soldier.

12/30/2025

link to my free 2026 herbal calendar in comments

10/16/2025

Not *just a scrubby 'ol twig!
I thought I needed a little lightness - so I decorated my toothbrush(AKA licorice root) 🤣

08/27/2025

There’s been a lot of talk about the American Herbalists Guild, the AHG. What follows is my own opinion. I am not here representing the AHG, the Council of Elders, other members or indeed nonmembers.

The Guild is in a precarious position. It is in a state of crisis. Its survival matters to me.

** The Guild isn’t perfect.

In all the years I have served as a volunteer, from organizing and overseeing the free weekly webinar series (who knows how many years!), to my service on the Board of Directors (6y) and the Educational Committee (8+y), in addition to my introduction of poster sessions at Symposia, I have believed that “service” is a member responsibility.

While I have had, and continue to have, a very rich and varied experience, much got under my skin.

Probably number one on my list was the lack of transparency. Second was the lack of member involvement. People far removed from the workings of the Guild often had a lot to say, even though their participation was nominal at best.

**It’s now election time.

https://americanherbalistsguild.com/ahg-board-of-directors-2025-nominees/

Many have made comment that those running for seats on the Board are, “the same old faces”. Few have said, ‘hey thanks for standing up again [when others do not]’.

When seats on the Board are due to become vacant (every 2 years), there’s a call for candidates. Each of us might run, and throwing our names into the ring is certainly one way to ensure that our points of view are considered. Another is to be vocal and attend General Meetings.

I’ve heard it said that the Guild is too white, too tight and steeped in a singular tradition of herbalism. Is that because your voice is lacking? The founders of the Guild embraced a suite of traditions, practice and modes of herbal study. That the focus is perceived to have narrowed cannot be fairly placed on the shoulders of those that serve, past and present. Maybe it’s time to become more involved.

** Committees

Some people believe that their point of view, or the tradition in which they practice, has not been represented. In part perhaps because the word “committee” has been/can be used as a euphemism for decision-making behind closed doors. The current slate running to sit on the Board are advocates of transparency, as is the Council of Elders.

So what to do?

Volunteer, get on a committee. Let’s use our voices … after all, it’s never too late to open those doors and jump out of the closet!
Perhaps the Guild needs to take a new direction. If this is the case, then this new direction can be the result of active community involvement. Let’s get involved. It is neither fair nor responsible to place our lack of involvement on the shoulders of volunteers already giving a great deal of both time and energy.
Let’s see what happens when people stand up for change and ask to participate and be counted.

** What about RH, or Registered Herbalist?

I’ve heard talk too that the application is a nightmare, the process slow and that the designation of RH (also called RH(AHG)) is pretentious and an example of gatekeeping.

** The designation.

Herbalists abound. And abound. Some call themselves an herbalist after taking a two-hour course while others have decades of solid experience. But experience doing what? Growing? Medicine making? Teaching? Working with others and seeing clients?

Personally, I find the moniker “herbalist” alone to be insufficient. It does not distinguish between the grower, the practitioner and the medicine maker, for example, it also does not reflect experience, or indeed interest. The designation RH does just that.
Not only does RH rest upon suggested educational objectives, RH(AHG) also serves to reflect hundreds of hours of clinical experience. Further, by virtue of the process of peer review, it ensures that more experienced herbalists view an applicant as, if nothing else, safe. Safe and ready to move on, to continue to grow and learn. It isn’t an end, but rather in many ways, a new beginning.

I for one do want people to understand how much experience an herbalist has accumulated.

Personally, I call myself a Clinical Herbalist and Educator. At the very least, it let’s people know my areas of interest.

** Is the application process a hassle?

Well, yes.

Additionally, it can be viewed as a demonstration of competence. Not only is it tedious, and at times frustrating, but hey ~ so is practice.

Practice is a verb. I think that amongst other things, the submission of an RH application demonstrates a particular level of herbal competence. It also demonstrates perseverance. Perseverance is important, whether or not we’re attempting to successfully cultivate a new herb, expand a crop, or work side by side with a client over the longer term.

** Does the public know, understand or appreciate what RH stands for or why it can have value to a prospective client?

Well, no.

However, this is not the fault of the public. Education is a large part of what we do as herbalists. Whenever possible we can take the opportunity to draw a distinction between a well-educated and experienced herbalist and the person who calls themselves an herbalist after their Saturday afternoon plant walk.
I hope that a national educational campaign will one day take root so that people can make informed choices. It’s important to remember that one manifestation of inexperience is not knowing what questions to ask. We can help by offering clarity. RH can be seen in this regard.

Of course there are people who have a wealth of experienced as herbalists and who are not RH. And that’s great. There’s no reason we cannot all come together. Still, an important question is how can an inexperienced prospective student or clinical client assess experience? Again one aspect of inexperience is not knowing what questions to ask.

A national herbal directory might benefit us all. But who will maintain it? Update it as we grow and change? And who will host it on their website and work through a list of common listing criteria? The Guild? Only with our support.

** What about the RH Admissions Review Advisory Committee?

I’ve also heard complaints about the RH Admissions Review Advisory Committee and the “ridiculous” need for 10 or more years of clinical experience.

I’ve heard people suggest five years of experience would be sufficient.

While I have not sat on the Admissions Review Advisory Committee, my vote is 10+. This is not elitist. Rather, to draw a parallel:
in the UK allopathic medical community, there’s a position called a Senior Medical Officer. This senior doc [ by virtue of years of practice] serves a wide region and amongst their other responsibilities, they are a resource for complex patient cases.
The very same folks who apply for RH often remark that they have difficulty accumulating 80 individual cases over two years. If there’s difficulty with 80 individual cases over two years, what number of cases might five years hold? What breadth of experience?

The volunteers who form the Admissions Review Advisory Committee bring a wealth of volunteer time and experience to the table, not the least of which is the breadth and scope of their years of practice. They have seen rarer constellations of health concerns than someone with fewer years of experience. Given the very broad range of traditions that the application for RH can and does embrace, this wealth of assessment experience is immeasurably important.

** I said the Guild is important to me. But why?

It offers community, educational opportunities, professional development, opportunities to come together and it has the potential to represent herbalists nationally.

If we come from differing traditions of practice, then it’s important that these traditions are reflected amongst members and active volunteers. If more debate is wanted, indeed needed, then we need to show up for these debates and honor the many many years of tradition that the Guild embraces. If we want change, then we need to be the change and not carp on about it. Some will say that they have tried. No one listened.
Well, it’s time we try again.

** The collapse of the AHG is avoidable: SupportAHG.org

There has been a call for truth, integrity and accountability of the Guild. You can read about it https://supportahg.org/

Please note, the document is five pages long and can be easily reviewed by scrolling to the bottom of each page.
On this site, offered by the Council of Elders, there are also links to current and proposed bylaws. The Council of Elders can be contacted from the site as well as by email directly at AHGCouncilofElders@gmail.com

Please remember that the site is a holding space erected to show our commitment to the continuation of the Guild, of informing members and nonmembers alike, and to transparency.
The proposed new bylaws are a step in this direction as is our participation.

** Finally.

If we took a poll of herbalists living and working in North America and asked what we would like to see from a national organization, many would say training and educational opportunities as well as community, vibrancy, responsiveness, inclusivity and an eye towards our future. We have an opportunity to share in the future of the Guild.

Its survival matters to me.
I hope it matters to you too.
Thanks for listening

Leslie
Leslie Alexander, PhD, RH(AHG)
Clinical Herbalist and Educator

Welcome to the Support the AHG informational website. We’re grateful you’re here! Informational Hub for Supporting the AHG Welcome to our short-term informational site, designed to provide essential documents with a simple layout and no distractions. Dedicated to transparency Get Your Questions ...

03/15/2025

VoA was a touchstone for me living abroad for many years, from news to the arts.

As someone who continues to work with people who are practicing English this is too a great loss

Slash and burn … maybe it’s a helpful approach to fire fighting but this seems to be another act of violence

Several employees of the United States' funded international news broadcast service were placed on administrative leave this week. In an executive order sig...

03/14/2025

as many as you can and then some … and still more!🎈

Plant wildflowers, as many as you can.

03/10/2025

Shop with a heart to support diversity, equity and inclusion

rships, or public endorsements. These businesses often align with the party’s pro-market policies, lower taxes, and deregulation stance.though many businesses today are increasingly cautious about publicpolitical affiliations due to changing consumer expectations and political climates. TikToker HEAR ME OUT ON THIS made a list of companies that made large donations to Project 2025.
Source: Goods unite Us and Open Secrets Donor Look Up.
The List:
COMPANIES THAT DONATED TO TRUMP AND PROJECT 2025
Auto Zone, ACE Hardware, Allegiant Air, Arby's, ArmorAll, Ashley
Furniture, Bali Underwear, Bausch + Lomb, Big Heart Pet Brands, Bike
Athletics, Molson Beer, Coors Beer, Brooks shoes, Buffalo Bills, Buffalo
Wild Wings, Buick Cadilac, Carls Jr., Champ Clothing, Hanes,
Cheverolet, Cinnabon Cincinatti Financial, Conair, Cuisinart, Dairy
Queen, Dirt Devil, Discount Tire, Dole Foods, Exxon Dudley Sports,
Farberware, Florist.com, Folgers, Fruit of the Loom, Fruit Bouquets.com,
Frys Electronics, Geico, George Forman Grill, GMC, Hardee's, Helzberg
Diamonds, Home Goods, Hendrick Motorsports, Hobby Lobby, Hoover
Vacuum, Horizon Bank, Keller Williams Realty, Leggs Pantyhose, Las
Vegas Sands, L.L Bean, Maidenform underwear, Marshalls, Martins
Famous Pastry Shoppes, McDonalds, Miller Beer, Milwaukee's Best
Beer, Molson, Mobile, My Pillow, NAPA Auto Parts, New Orlean Saints,
NY Yankees, Norwegian Cruise, Old Dutch Foods, Oreck Vacuums,
Purdue Farms, Playtex, Public Storage, Rail Vac, Schlotzsky's, Shell Oil,
Sierra Trading Post, Slumber Land, Soma Intimates, Spalding, Stanley
Black and Decker Hardware, Star Furniture, Stiletto Tools, Tampa Bay
Buccaneers, The Popcorn Factory, Toast Master, Tractor Supply,
Wendy's, Wynn Resorts, 1800Flowers.com, Smucker's Products, Publix,
Act Floride, Procter & Gamble, Baskin and Robins, Charmin, Omni
Hotels, Wow Cable, Arizona Diamond Backs, Chiquita Brands, Jimmy
Deans, Land o Lakes, Boost Mobile, Vanity Fair Paper Products, GNC,
Grey Goose, Los Angeles Angels, Sonoco, Tito's Vodka, Turtle Wax,
Wonder Bread, Urban Outfitters-Free People, Enterprise Rental Car,
Motorola, Papa Johns, Walmart, Young Brands, Garmin Sports Products,
Alamo Rental Cars, Hershey Products, Anthropologie, Bacardi, Blue Bell,
Chobani Yogurt, Dean Foods..

Source

https://youtu.be/e5ApF-hBy1Y?si=Bx70JUgEbcObiVoG

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