The American Herbalists Guild was founded in 1989 as a non-profit, educational organization to represent the goals and voices of herbalists specializing in the medicinal use of plants. Our primary goal is to promote a high level of professionalism and education in the study and practice of therapeutic herbalism.

The shared vision of an herbalist guild was first verbalized in the mountains of Breitenbush, Oregon, where each year a large group of professional herbalists from all parts of the nation gathered to teach, walk together in ancient forests, soak in mineral-rich hot springs and discuss issues important to herbalism. Discussions at the Breitenbush retreats always included the vision of creating a guild for dedicated herbalists and serious herbal students. A 1989 letter from Michael Tierra invited herbalists from all regions of the country to come and exchange ideas about what this guild might become. On the weekend of February 17, twenty herbalists gathered at the Santa Cruz mountain home of Christopher Hobbs and Beth Baugh to initiate the organization of the guild, and the long hours of discussion that followed proved productive.

The first order of business was to adopt a name, and The American Herbalists Guild was born. As we continue our journey as a guild, we have sorted out and crystallized many of the details of our initial enthusiasm. We have learned much, not only about herbalists, but also about herbalists working together within the framework of an organization.

We go on with our work heartened by the belief that we are contributing to the evolution of herbalism in our country and in the world. We hope that all herbalists, regardless of their affiliation or non-affiliation with the AHG, will work together as peers toward this end.