Medicinal plant knowledge presents a timely opportunity to create healthier and more bio-diverse world from the ground up. What can YOU do in your backyard? What information can we trust to make informed choices in our own healthcare? What might be some collective strategies for systemic change (allowing access to info on what works)?

Want to expand green medicine (beyond cannabis)? Join this conversation!

Of the roughly 5,000 languages now spoken on Earth, only 150 or so are expected to survive to the year 2100. With these languages, knowledge of healing plants are lost forever. Today, roughly 80% of the world relies on some form of medicinal plants also known as community health care.

A panel of diverse health, cultural, and community leaders will explore impact and opportunity of local medicine – Past, Present & Future, from California to Zimbabwe to the Amazon of Suriname. Join Melanie St. James and other practitioners, and advocates in a community dialogue to learn, share and elevate solutions!

Learn more about: Melanie St. James & Alison Wood

Recently returned from medicine exploration in Zimbabwe, Melanie St. James was first inspired in 1999 by the culturally rich animist tribe in Senegal West Africa to use their rich cultural knowledge of medicinal plants to create livelihoods and conserve biodiversity. She’s since worked to bridge indigenous healers, health innovators and leading edge medical research centers to bring the best to life. This year, after meeting Mayan healers in Guatemala, Melanie was called to search for medicine to help people facing cancer, and has revamped the social enterprise, BioNova Health, whose mission is “to Optimize the Global Health Potential of Medicinal Plants, and Equitably Share the Benefits thereof with the Natural Heritage and Communities of Source.” Melanie founded asset based community development organization, Empowerment WORKS and co-produces the biennial forum, The Global Summit, advancing broader systemic change.

2015 Convergence Panel: Plant Medicine & Community Health – Past, Present & Future