An Introduction & Some News
Welcome to our newest members of the Nature's Pharmacy community!
Welcome, welcome!! Wow, what an exciting month it’s been for the Nature’s Pharmacy newsletter! Our community has grown to over 13,500 readers—with 3,500 of you joining just this month alone! I’m absolutely thrilled and humbled to have each of you here. I’d love to hear from you—what are your hopes for being part of this community? Are you curious about traditional medicine systems or eager to dive into the details of specific herbs? Maybe you’re fascinated by the science behind how medicinal plants work? Share your thoughts and introduce yourself to the group! We’d love to meet the newcomers! I’ve opened up the comments in this post to all subscribers.
An Introduction
For our newest readers, I’d love to share a bit about myself and what inspired me to create this newsletter. My academic background is in biology and anthropology, and I’ve had the privilege of leading scientific expeditions across four continents in my search for nature’s next medicines! Currently, I’m a tenured and endowed professor at the Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA, where I also serve as the Herbarium Director and Assistant Dean of Research Cores. In 2021, I published my first book—a memoir of my journey in science, The Plant Hunter: A Scientist’s Quest for Nature’s Next Medicines. The book is now available in hardback, paperback, audio, digital and in additional languages sold in Taiwan and Japan! Have you gotten your copy yet?
I’m deeply passionate about science and science communication. To me, science belongs to everyone and impacts us all. It brings me immense joy to share the discoveries made by my research team, along with broader scientific insights, with you all.
This year is particularly exciting, as I have the opportunity of taking my first sabbatical, made possible by the generous support of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. During this time, I’m focusing on writing my next book (as well as this newsletter) and developing new research projects in the Quave Lab!
I launched this newsletter on Substack two years ago, and it has been an incredible journey! It’s provided a platform to dive deeper into my research and share the fascinating world of medicinal plants with all of you. Thank you for being part of this growing community!
Some Exciting News!
I’m thrilled to announce that I am now represented by Authors Unbound, a full-service author event agency dedicated to creating powerful literary experiences for authors and hosts alike. I’m so excited to be represented by this agency, joining other environmental and nature-minded authors like Robin Wall-Kimmerer, Emma Marris, and Zoë Schlanger, plus more!
To begin, I’ll be offering three lecture topics for events, though I’m happy to expand and tailor these to hosts’ needs:
The Plant Hunter. Is nature the key to combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria and diseases? Dr. Cassandra Quave—an ethnobotanist, author, and professor—believes that plants possess greater potential than we often realize. Join Dr. Quave as she shares a compelling story of world travel, groundbreaking research, and holistic healing, all rooted in her personal mission to safeguard humanity from the post-antibiotic era.
Nature’s Pharmacy. Plants serve as the foundation for countless lifesaving and health-enhancing medicines that many of us now take for granted. Ever taken an aspirin? You can thank the willow tree for that. Medicines for malaria? Some of those are derived from plants like cinchona and wormwood. In today’s era of modern medicine, however, many have lost their connection to the natural world. By overlooking the potential of medicinal plants, we risk missing critical opportunities to discover new treatments for the pressing medical challenges of the 21st century. Explore the incredible healing power of nature with insights from one of the world’s foremost experts on medicinal plants.
Perseverance over Limitations. Did you know that only 3% of the STEM workforce identifies as having a disability? Born with multiple congenital defects of her skeletal system, Cassandra’s parents were told their daughter would never walk. But the doctors were wrong. In this talk, Dr. Cassandra Quave shares her inspiring journey of perseverance, scientific discovery, and global exploration, all while navigating life as a mother and amputee.
I’ll be offering virtual and in person events. All booking inquiries should go directly through the agency, and the query form is available on my speaker landing page. I’d love to speak with your university, company, or organization!
P.S. Exciting news for fans of the Foodie Pharmacology podcast—we’ve officially begun recording episodes for Season 7! Our first episode of the new season drops next week on February 3rd! The topic next week is metabolic psychiatry, and I’ll be speaking with an expert psychiatrist who’s using the ketogenic diet as a tool to improve mental health in his patients. Stay tuned! Subscribe and listen to the show anywhere you stream podcasts🎙️✨
Yours in health, Dr. Quave
Cassandra L. Quave, Ph.D. is a Guggenheim Fellow, CNN Champion for Change, Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, recipient of The National Academies Award for Excellence in Science Communication, and award-winning author of The Plant Hunter. Her day job is as professor and herbarium curator at Emory University School of Medicine, where she leads a group of research scientists studying medicinal plants to find new life-saving drugs from nature. She hosts the Foodie Pharmacology podcast and writes the Nature’s Pharmacy newsletter to share the science behind natural medicines. To support her effort, consider a paid or founding subscription to Nature’s Pharmacy or donation to her lab research.
Available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and e-book formats!
Yes! “Traditional medicine systems”, as you say. Medical anthropology, to whatever extent that’s your jam. I am a patient advocate and - now that I am unable to hold a regular job due to disability - aspiring fantasy author. I want to include varied perspectives on health that reflect the cultural diversity of the world I am developing. I had a friend studying Chinese herbal medicines who said the first rule was “the worse it tastes, the better it works”; whereas Indian ayurvedic tradition is quite yummy. What’s your take?
Hello Dr. Quave! I have been a pharmacist for over 25 years. My traditional pharmacy school education was heavily focused on modern Western medicine and chemical development of medications, with a passing nod given here and there to the plants making those discoveries possible. I have always been curious to learn more about plant medicine, Eastern medicine traditions, and holistic health practices. Your posts are a wonderful educational tool and I am really enjoying being here. There is a relocation to Atlanta in my future and I hope I’ll have the opportunity to attend one of your speaking engagements!