Nature's Pharmacy: One year later
I launched this newsletter on Substack one year ago! Read on to learn about how our community has grown 🌎
Hello dear readers! It is hard to believe that one year has passed since Nature’s Pharmacy was launched on Substack! My pledge was to bring you regular content on:
The process of studying medicinal plants.
In-depth information about the science behind herbal remedies, including safety, efficacy, and cultural history.
Scientific breakthroughs in the field, including work from my own lab.
Fact versus fiction in popular natural remedy fads.
Behind the scenes looks at field expeditions.
How have I done so far?
How have we grown as a community?
One of my favorite things about Substack is that it fosters a sense of community among my readers. Unlike publishing in other standard venues (magazines, science journals, etc.) in which my work is sent out into a world of readers with whom I don’t have many opportunities to interact with—this platform encourages interactions both among readers and between the readers and authors!
Since launch one year ago today, we have grown to a community of 5,000+ readers!
What were the top reads of the year?
Another feature I love about this platform is the ability to click a ❤️ to indicate the articles you enjoy the most! Here are the top three most loved pieces for this year.
What’s Next?
I have a long list of medicinal plants that I am planning to write about, and I am always keeping an eye open for health fads emerging on social media or in the popular press. If you have specific questions or topics you would like me to cover, please let me know in the comments below! Remember, to fully access this great community and engage with not only me but also other readers who share your passion for this knowledge, consider upgrading to a paid or founding subscription 💚
Yours in health, Dr. Quave
Cassandra L. Quave, Ph.D. is a scientist, author, speaker, podcast host, wife, mother, explorer, and professor at Emory University School of Medicine. She teaches college courses and 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, with founding members receiving an autographed 1st edition hardcover copy of her book, The Plant Hunter.
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Nice work. I'd love to see your viewpoint on paw paw (Asimina triloba) and related species in the Annonaceae. It's been studied for decades, sometimes with largely positive results and other times with worries about neurotoxicity.
I’d love to learn more about how to grow some of these plants!