HerbDay is Set to be Celebrated this Saturday, May 5

AUSTIN, Texas, May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The seventh annual HerbDay, a coordinated series of independently produced, public, educational events that celebrate the importance of herbs and herbalism, is this Saturday, May 5. The HerbDay Coalition is comprised of the American Botanical Council, American Herbalists Guild, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, American Herbal Products Association, and United Plant Savers.

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HerbDay activities are held at retail stores, schools, farms, botanical gardens, garden centers, and public parks worldwide, on and during the weeks preceding and following May 5. Events include lectures and workshops, herb walks, in-store cooking demonstrations, presentations by herbal product companies, and herbal-themed children's activities. More events are being planned and added to the HerbDay website, www.herbday.org.

The Ozark Folk Center (OFC), located in Mountain Home, AZ, has a full day of activities planned to celebrate HerbDay. Herbal infusions will be served in the Craft Village by Patricia French, a wild foods expert and artistic designer. French is chairman of the Folk Cultural Committee for the OFC and the Committee of 100 Herb Garden Chairman.

"The Heritage Herb Garden at the Ozark Folk Center graces the park with visual colors and textures, sweet and pungent aromas, and helps us to interpret the history of the human use of plants," said Tina Marie Wilcox, OFC's head gardener and herbalist.

While HerbDay is on Saturday, the Bastyr University Botanical Medicine Department (BUBMD), in Kenmore, WA, has been celebrating herbs all week, kicking off activities on May 1 with a presentation on Nicholas Culpeper by Jenn Dazey, ND, RH (AHG). Culpeper was a 17th century English botanist, herbalist, physician, and astrologer.

On May 2, the BUBMD hosted "The Evolution of Appalachian Herbalism." This session was presented by Sheila Kingsbury, ND, RH (AHG), and looked at the early days of the formation of America as a country and the plants that influenced the culture of Appalachia as well as the practice of Western Herbalism. Native Appalachian plants were discussed, including how they were used in the 1700-1800s and how they are used today.

For the main event on Saturday, Bastyr Medicinal Herb Garden's assistant supervisor, Michele Milligan, will lead an herb walk through the Bastyr Herb Garden. Milligan, who is passionate about the historical usages of medicinal plants, will explore a variety of old world plants used by mystic herbalist Hildegard von Bingen.

HerbDay was conceived of in 2006 by the HerbDay Coalition, five nonprofit organizations that have interest in these areas, to raise awareness of the significance of herbs and the many ways they can be used safely and creatively for health, beauty, and culinary enjoyment.

All are invited to participate actively in HerbDay 2012, either by attending or hosting an event.

For more information about HerbDay activities, resources, and sponsorship opportunities; to find teachers and experts; and to register and promote events, visit www.herbday.org. Follow HerbDay on Twitter @HerbDay2012 and "like" HerbDay on Facebook to share your ideas and keep current on the latest news and announcements.

About the American Botanical Council
Founded in 1988, the American Botanical Council is a leading international nonprofit organization addressing research and educational issues regarding herbs and medicinal plants. ABC's members include academic researchers and educators; libraries; health professionals and medical institutions; government agencies; members of the herb, dietary supplement, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries; journalists; consumers; and others in more than 80 countries. The organization occupies a historic 2.5-acre site in Austin, Texas, where it publishes the quarterly journal HerbalGram, the monthly e-publication HerbalEGram, HerbClips (summaries of scientific and clinical publications), reference books, and other educational materials. ABC also hosts HerbMedPro, a powerful herbal database, covering scientific and clinical publications on more than 240 herbs. ABC also co-produces the "Herbal Insights" segment for Healing Quest, a television series on PBS.

ABC is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. Information: Contact ABC at P.O. Box 144345, Austin, TX 78714-4345, Phone: 512-926-4900. Website: www.herbalgram.org.

Contact: Lucy Bruno [email protected]

SOURCE American Botanical Council