ABOUT ME

Richard McDonald from Silver City, New Mexico was trained as a Clinical Herbalist in 1991 at the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine, and has been a practicing herbalist and health consultant since then.  In the 22 years of his experience as an herbalist, he, has opened and run herb store for over 9 years, consulted with hundreds of clients about their health and has created an extensive product line, which includes about 250 single plant extracts, several salves, soaps, glycerides, infused oils, special medicinal crèmes, and a line of many medicinal teas. 

Richard has set up an acre of herb gardens, which surround his home, where he gives tours and grows many of the plants he uses as medicines. He also developed an extensive apprenticeship program, and has successfully trained many herbalists in his years.  

Richard has been active in protecting plant populations and their habitats, and has been involved on the political end of things as well, helping to write and establish a law in New Mexico to protect alternative and traditional medicine practices there.

It is one of Richard's dreams to see people all over the world have a direct healing experience with herbs, so that they understand that the real healing of their body comes from our Mother Earth. From this understanding, he hopes that all humans begin to treat our Earth as the sacred Mother she is to us and begin to take better care of her, and dance with the plants which provide our food, air, medicines, and beauty.

Richard conducts field trips to the Sonoran desert each year, for the early Spring Desert Bloom there.