Celebrating Rosemary Gladstar
Known as the godmother of modern herbalism in the United States, Rosemary Gladstar is an influential herbalist, best-selling author, and educator who has captivated people worldwide for more than 50 years. She offers a wealth of knowledge on medicinal plants and her passion for natural healing is an inspiration to join her on the herbal path.
Rosemary Gladstar. Photo from Traditional Medicinals.
Rosemary’s influence on herbal medicine in the United States is immeasurable. Her vision, creativity, and generous spirit are embedded in the fabric of American herbalism, which she helped revitalize more than 50 years ago during a time when herbal medicine had faded from mainstream living.
During her extraordinary herbal journey, Rosemary has been deeply involved in numerous endeavors that have become cornerstone resources for herbalists, botanists, and scientists. Most significantly, these achievements include serving as founder of United Plant Savers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the research, education, and conservation of native medicinal plants, fungi, and their habitats, and as founder of the International Herb Symposium, a biennial event that brings together herbalists from across the globe to exchange information about the healing power of plants. Rosemary also founded or co-founded companies that have become popular suppliers of quality herbs and herbal products in the United States, including Mountain Rose Herbs and Traditional Medicinals.
“It seems that as one begins to study herbs, the plant’s essence infuses one’s entire life with joy. People become happier, healthier, more in balance and in tune with their inner dreams. The beauty of the herbs work their gentle magic on the heart of the user.”
Expectably, Rosemary has left an indelible mark on herbal education. She is the author and inspiration behind the foundational online course, The Science and Art of Herbalism, which has taught thousands of students worldwide over the past four decades. She is the author of many herbal books, including her most recent publication, Fire Cider!: 101 Zesty Recipes for Health-Boosting Remedies Made with Apple Cider Vinegar (2019), which was published after a successful legal case against a company that wanted to trademark '“Fire Cider,” despite the remedy’s long-term use in the herbal community. The success of this Tradition Not Trademarks movement demonstrated the dedication and strength of the herbal community in the face of people over profits.
Rosemary’s collection of popular herbal books also includes (with abbreviated titles): Herbal Healing for Men; Herbs for Children's Health; Herbs for Long-Lasting Health; Herbs for Natural Beauty; Herbs for Common Ailments; Herbs for Stress & Anxiety; Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide; Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health; and A Family Herbal: A Guide to Living Life with Energy, Health, and Vitality.
In 2018, Rosemary was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the National University of Naturopathic Medicine for her lifetime of work with teaching and promoting herbal medicine. Rosemary’s achievements in the field of herbalism are countless and her work is a testament to her unwavering dedication to the bounty of nature’s healing gifts.
Visiting Greece
On June 21, 2024, Rosemary Gladstar will be visiting Athens, Greece to meet with local herbalists and to share her extensive experiences as a world-renowned herbalist. Several special events will provide the rare opportunity to meet Rosemary in Greece and learn about her herbal journey. The first event will be Tea Time with Rosemary Gladstar at Zappeion from 3-4:30pm. This event will be an open discussion with Rosemary for participants to ask questions and learn about Rosemary’s lifetime of experiences with medicinal plants. Immediately following tea time, a Myths & Medicine Plant Walk will take place from 5-7pm in the National Garden, which is located adjacent to Zappeion. Both events are centrally located in Syntagma and are easily accessibly by metro, bus, tram, and trolley.
Both events are open to the public with paid registration and offer a special opportunity for herbalists and the general public in Greece to meet with a celebrated figure in the field of herbal medicine.
Following her visit to Athens, Rosemary will be a special guest at the Herbal Medicine Tour on Kythera honoring Juliette de Bairacli Levy. Juliette (1912-2009) was an influential herbalist who lived on the island of Kythera for more than a decade and had been one of Rosemary’s herbal teachers. During the tour, Rosemary will share memories she had with Juliette and the impact her teacher had on her herbal career.
Rosemary’s visit to Athens and Kythera marks an important moment for herbal medicine in Greece. It is also an exciting reminder that the plants around us can inspire us for a lifetime.