Administrative Structure and Council Members

• Our Council is basically a board of directors.
• As a council we operate by a consensus rather than majority rule policy.
• Important concerns and voices of the minority are equally represented as those of the majority.
• The Council consists of 5 positions. There is also a president and vice president, executive officers who facilitate the meetings, but do not vote.

To download a copy of the AHG By-Laws, click here. 

 Karta Purkh (“K.P.”) Singh Khalsa, Yogaraj, DN-C, RH,  
AHG President
president@americanherbalistsguild.com
KP mentored in Ayurveda with Yogi Bhajan for 32 years. Along the way, he incorporated deep studies in Western and TCM herbalism. His school has been training professional herbalists for over 30 years. Karta Purkh has presented over 150 times at professional conferences, has written over 3,000 articles on health topics and is the author or editor of 30 books on health, including his latest, The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs. He is curriculum director and lead instructor in the Portland Community College Nutritional Therapy Program and heads the herbal education department of the Northwest Institute of Ayurveda. He lives in the Northwest with his family.

Bevin Clare, M.S., R.H., CNS
AHG Vice - President
vice-president@americanherbalistsguild.com
Director of Education
Symposium Committee Chair
Bevin Clare is a clinical herbalist and nutritionist with a deep love of plants. She is the Clinical Division Chair of the Masters of Science in Herbal Medicine Program at Tai Sophia Institute in Laurel, MD.  Bevin has studied herbal medicine around the world and blends her knowledge of traditional uses of plants with modern science and contemporary healthcare strategies. Her clinical practice focuses on wellness, nutrition, infection, and women’s health. She holds a MSc in Infectious Disease, serves on the faculty of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and the New York Chiropractic College and lectures nationally. Bevin is the director of the Herbal Clinic for All program, a program offering cost free clinical services to the population in need in DC, Baltimore, and Laurel, MD. She is a board member of the United Plant Savers, a group working to protect at-risk medicinal plants in North America. Bevin has been a professional member of the AHG for nearly a decade, on the governing council for 7 years and the vice president since 2010. She is grateful to be of service to the herbal community, both within and beyond the AHG.

David N. Harder, RH (AHG)
AHG Treasurer
david.harder1@gmail.com
David practices Clinical Herbalism at 143 Northampton Street in Easton, Pennsylvania. He is active as an educator in his community, a co-founder of “Herbal Exchange” the NJ AHG Chapter and “Changewater Wellness Center”, a clinic that provides clinical experience to advanced herbal students, while serving individuals needing low cost counsel and herbs. David has been a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild since 1999. He and his wife, Linda has owned and operated Nature’s Way a natural foods store in Easton since 1975.  On play days with mild weather, gardening, herbal wild crafting and cycling, take him out doors. Inclement weather allows time for research, woodworking and music. 

Phyllis D. Light, RH(AHG), LMT, MA
AHG Secretary
 phyllisdlight@hotmail.com
Phyllis Light is an herbalist and healer with almost 30 years of clinical experience. She is traditionally trained in Appalachian Folk Medicine and began her studies with her Cherokee/Creek grandmother, and later with Tommie Bass, in the deep woods of North Alabama. Phyllis maintains a private practice in Arab, AL where she supports an integrative approach to well-being and a preventive health model based on healthy lifestyle choices. She teaches at symposium, clinics and herb schools around the country. Phyllis offers herbal and natural health classes and a practitioner program for herbalists at the Appalachian Center for Herbal Studies in Arab, AL. She is a member of the Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama, on the board of directors of Herbs for Orphans in Haiti, involved in the Common Ground Clinic in New Orleans, and is a consultant for the Alabama Medicinal Plant Grower’s Association. She also teaches classes on Energy work and Shamanic techniques.

Mimi Hernandez, RH (AHG)
AHG Executive Director
mimi@americanherbalistsguild.com
Mimi Hernandez is a clinical herbalist and herbal educator whose courses balance traditional reverence with scientific understanding and intuitive awareness. She has served as the Director of the Appalachian Center for Ethnobotanical Studies at Frostburg State University in Maryland where she taught undergraduate Ethnobotany. With roots in Asheville, NC, Mimi is a founder of the One World Healing Arts Institute and continues to mentor community herbalists through One World Community Healing Webinars. Mimi also developed the herbal formulations at Mortar & Pestle Apothecary.  Mimi holds a Master of Science Degree in Herbal Medicine and some of her favorite mentors have included James Duke, Simon Mills, and Rocio Alarcon.  As an herbalist, Mimi draws upon her rich ethnic background & the Granny healers and Shamans in her life and believes that the handing down of plant wisdom is essential. She enjoys nature time, especially waterfalls, creeks, and oceans and is a mom of two cool and unique kids, Anais and Evan.

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Richard Mandelbaum RH (AHG), Council Member
richardmandelbaum@hotmail.com
Richard is a clinical herbalist in New York and has studied primarily with David Winston and William LeSassier. In addition to his practice he teaches classes and mentors students in herbal medicine, medicine making, and botany. Richard teaches primarily in Brooklyn and is a guest instructor at David Winston’s Center for Herbal Studies. Richard’s herbalism is part of a larger approach to reestablishing a healthy relationship with our planet, and he is also active in the areas of fair trade and human rights, and food justice. He is the former chair of the Domestic Fair Trade Association and currently serves on the board of the Brooklyn Food Coalition. Richard migrates throughout the year with his wife Gabrielle and daughter Rose between Brooklyn and their straw bale home in Forestburgh, NY.

 Patricia Kyritsi Howell, RH (AHG), Council Member
pkh@wildhealingherbs.com
Annual Symposium Committee
Chapters Liaison
Mentoring Committee Chair
Patricia has more than nineteen years’ experience as a clinical herbalist and teacher. Her book, Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians (2006) is one of the foremost resources on the topic of regional native plant medicines. She is founder and director of BotanoLogos School of Herbal Studies, (www.wildhealingherbs.com) located in the mountains of north Georgia.  A third generation chef, Patricia is passionate about cooking, and specializes in wild foods and the traditional cuisine of Crete, Greece. She is co-owner of Wild Crete, a small tour operator that specializes in unique custom travel experiences on the Greek island of Crete that emphasize the connections between art, culture, history, cuisine, archaeology and native herbs.  Patricia is currently serving her second term on the Governing Council.

Sheila Kingsbury, ND, RH (AHG), Council Member
skingsbu@bastyr.edu
Council of Students Advisor
Herb School Outreach
Symposium committee
Liaison to the Admissions Committee
Sheila Kingsbury is a Naturopathic physician and Associate Professor of Botanical Medicine and Pediatrics at Bastyr University, where she has taught for the last 9 years. She has trained and mentored a variety of clinical herbalists in her private practice, where she focuses mostly on pediatrics.  Her background includes work in Anthropology and Ethnobotany and American History.  She is a mother of 4 young children and enjoys gardening, hiking and knitting.  

Robert Linde, AP, RH, Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Council Member
acuherbals@att.net
Bob Linde is an Acupuncture Physician and Registered Herbalist with a masters degree in Oriental Medicine and BS in Education. Bob began studying herbs and alternative medicine in 1975 and has practiced Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 10 years. He is the owner of Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies, a multi-practitioner practice in St. Petersburg Florida. Bob is also the director of the Professional Herbalists Training Program, a two year clinical herbal program in St. Pete. He consults as a product developer for a national herbal product company. He serves on the board of directors for the Florida State Oriental Medicine Association (FSOMA) and Dog Tag Hero's (a veterans support organization) and has presented at state and national alternative medicine conferences and frequently lectures at colleges and organizations in the US. He has worked as a wilderness counselor for teenagers, treasure hunter and is a Desert Storm veteran as an infantryman during his 5 years in the army. Bob volunteers for Acupuncturists Without Borders, Homeless Connect and Free Community Acupuncture for Senior’s as well and other community focused organizations. Bob specializes in Gastrointestinal/digestive issues, Dermatology/skin issues and working with children. 

Anne de Courtenay
Editor, JAHG
editor@americanherbalists 

A born and bred Chicago native, Anne de Courtenay has been studying herbalism in the Western and Chinese traditions for over a decade with Althea Northage-Orr. She is a graduate of the Chicago College of Healing Arts, from whom she has earned certificates in Herbalism and bodywork. She is also a graduate of the East West School of Planetary Herbology headed by Michael and Lesley Tierra in California, whose curriculum encompasses Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic materia medica and diagnostic systems. She holds a diploma in Asian Body Therapy from the NCCAOM. Her original professional venture began with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from the the prestigious Medill School at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.; she now uses these skills to support her dedication to botanical medicine. Currently, Anne teaches herbal classes at the Chicago Center for Psychophysical Healing and at the East West School’s annual herbal seminar. She also works as an editor for Michael and Lesley Tierra. Anne practices herbal therapy and bodywork at her clinic, Imagine Health, in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood. She has been happily married to the singer/songwriter Martin McCormack for seven musical years.

Alexis Durham
2012 Symposium Coordinator
symposium@americanherbalistsguild.com
Alexis' interest in plants began with the cultivation of a container garden on the patio of her apartment inAustin, Texas. This little garden brought such joy and abundance, and she realized that this was, in fact, our oldest form of medicine. Curiosity piqued, she moved to Seattle and enrolled in Bastyr University's Herbal Sciences program.  After graduating, she further developed her skills in a clinical internship and in the dispensary at the Bastyr Center for Natural Health. Alexis discovered her love for teaching while working for the American Botanical Council, educating university pharmacy and dietetic students about herbal medicine and speaking to various gardening groups and local organizations.  Her heart stayed in the Northwest, though, and she returned to Southern Oregon to work for Horizon Herbs, where she spent the happiest part of each day with her hands in the dirt. She is currently teaching a series of medicine making and body systems classes for Herb Pharm's Herbaculture Residential Study Program and coordinating the 2012 Symposium for the American Herbalists Guild.

Deserie Valloreo
Volunteer Coordinator
volunteer@americanherbalistsguild.com
Deserie is a Natural Health Advisor and Certified Clinical Herbalist. She completed the Professional Herbalist Program at Acupuncture & Herbal Therapies where she studied Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese herbs with Robert “Bob” Linde, AP, RH. Deserie also studied western herbs through the Science and Art of Herbalism program offered by Rosemary Gladstar. She is the President of the West Coast Florida Regional Chapter of the American Herbalist Guild and also operates her own company, HerbalWise, whose mission is to empower people to take control of their health naturally. She works toward this goal by offering educational workshops, private consultations, and her own line of herbal remedies.

AHG Board of Advisors

Amanda McQuade Crawford
Victoria Fortner
Charlene Muhammad
James Snow
Lesley Tierra
Michael Tierra
Roy Upton
Christopher Hobbs
David Winston
Susan Wynn