At EthnoHerbalist, we are interested in the health benefits and cultural history of medicinal plants.
Much of modern medicine is derived from plant compounds. In fact, approximately 40% of drugs currently on the market are based on compounds first found in plants.
We are interested in the biological mechanisms by which plant compounds can impart a benefit to human health. What is the active compound in the plant? How does this compound interact on the cellular and genetic level in our bodies?
We’re also interested in the historical background of medicinal plant usage. Many of these beneficial plants were first discovered by early foragers. Indigenous people from all parts of the world used their local, native plants to treat illness and increase their chance of survival. This knowledge was passed on through generations. Often, the medicinal plant is still in use today.
A species of sage endemic to the Mojave Desert.
EthnoHerbalist
The EthnoHerbalist site was created in 2014 to educate a broad audience about medicinal plants.
For inquiries, please reach out with the contact form below. Thanks!
Kevin Curran featured in a 2019 PBS documentary on medicinal plants and the use of wild plants to fuel drug discovery.
KCET is the Los Angeles branch of PBS. This video is part of a broader video series they developed called Tending Nature (2019)
The EthnoHerbalist Blog
Checking garden beds for nutrient levels
As winter approaches, this is a perfect time to take stock and re-assess your home veggie garden. Since we are based in southern California, we often apply shade cloth above our raised garden beds. This [...]
The difference between isolated compounds and whole plant extracts
Within the world of medicinal plants, we find a lingering debate between isolated compounds vs. whole plant extracts. Which approach delivers more health benefits? What are the strengths and weakness of each approach? We know [...]
Decolonizing the Diet
KCET has put out a great video about eating native foods. This is the PBS channel associated with Los Angeles. I met the film crew for this TV series. They interviewed me about plants [...]
Excellent new series of indigenous videos on KCET!
Hello EthnoBotany fans, I wanted to share a great resource for anyone interested in California ethnobotany. "Tending Nature" is a new video series that is free to watch online on the KCET website. For those [...]
Update on our ethnobotanical research program at USD.
June 2017 research update: Bio-active compounds in southern California medicinal plants This project serves as a capstone senior project for Grant Johnson, a University of San Diego undergraduate student. The project is overseen by [...]