Medicinal Plants of the Blue Ridge: The Wild Wisdom that Surrounds Us

Discover the healing heritage of the Appalachian Mountains in “Wild Wisdom: Medicinal Plants of the Blue Ridge,” a visually rich presentation from Rose River Apothecary exploring the connections among plants, people, history, and medicine. Learn how Indigenous ecological knowledge shaped regional herbal traditions, meet native medicinal plants such as American ginseng, elderberry, black cohosh, goldenseal, willow, and echinacea, and explore their roles in traditional and modern medicine. The program also highlights threats facing treasured forest botanicals and the importance of conservation, responsible harvesting, and safe herbal use. Presented by an herbalist and health advocate with training in medicinal botany through Cornell University and advanced herbal studies with Rosemary Gladstar, Wild Wisdom is ideal for gardeners, nature lovers, history enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the powerful relationship between people and plants.

Presenter Bio

Samantha Guerry is an herbalist and health advocate with more than 30 years of experience researching autoimmune disease, particularly multiple sclerosis. She brings a unique perspective that bridges patient advocacy, science, and plant medicine. She founded an early online patient education and care resource that became part of Georgetown University Medical Center’s Department of Neurology, where she has also been a lecturer. Her training includes certifications in Medicinal Botany from Cornell University and Nutritional Science from Stanford University, along with extensive study in herbalism, anatomy and physiology, neurology, nutrition, and plant medicine. A member of the American Herbalists Guild, she leads the Rose River Apothocary in Madison, VA. She is also a Master Naturalist, Master Gardener, and beekeeper.