ACHS Maintains Leadership in Herbal Medicine Through AHG Symposium Presence
Faculty members from ACHS imparted knowledge in herbal medicine, instruction, and scientific inquiry during the 2026 American Herbalists Guild Symposium.
Remaining connected to the larger herbal community enables us to reinforce our curricula and provide greater assistance to our learners and alumni.”— Dr. Judith Thompson, ACHS Dean of Herbal Medicine PORTLAND, OR, UNITED STATES, September 25, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Officials from the American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) recently participated alongside herbalists, teachers, learners, clinicians, and plant medicine enthusiasts from around the nation at the American Herbalists Guild (AHG) 36th Annual Symposium, which took place August 14–16, 2026, in Black Mountain, North Carolina.
The botanical industry continues to see notable expansion spanning raw materials to dietary supplements, as reflected by rising U.S. retail figures. Sales of herbal supplements in the United States hit an all-time high of $13.23 billion in 2024, a 5.4% increase over 2023, according to the American Botanical Council’s HerbalGram market report. Key growth areas include personalized supplement regimens, women’s wellness (hormonal health), and healthy aging and longevity.
For ACHS, this industry expansion underscores the necessity of equipping learners to assess botanical strategies using an evidence-informed approach while considering safety, ethical practices, sustainability, and suitable professional boundaries. The AHG plays a vital role in bolstering the discipline and vocation of clinical herbalism via its practice standards for achieving Registered Herbalist status, along with its educational and professional tools.
The 2026 AHG annual Symposium united members of the herbal medicine community for talks, hands-on sessions, clinical deep dives, plant identification walks, panel conversations, networking, and community involvement. This year’s theme, Facilitating Regulation: The Role of Clinical Herbalism in Autoimmunity & Chronic Conditions, examined modern clinical viewpoints alongside conventional plant wisdom, concentrating on leading growth segments within the herbal medicine sector.
Representing ACHS were Dr. Judith Thompson, Dean of Herbal Medicine, and Dr. Lorraine Young, Assistant Professor of Herbal Studies.
Turning Professional Involvement into Student Enrichment
For ACHS, taking part in professional events like the AHG Symposium offers a chance to stay current with advancements in herbal medicine, interact directly with clinicians and educators, and introduce fresh field perspectives back to the institution and its academic offerings. Takeaways from the symposium guide student preparation in topics such as herb safety, evidence assessment, chronic disease management, professional ethics, and the careful fusion of traditional knowledge with modern research.
“Being at the AHG Symposium provided a key occasion for ACHS to engage with the herbal medicine community we serve,” said Dr. Thompson. “We held substantive discussions with herbalists, students, alumni, and prospective students, while also learning what the profession seeks in education and career growth. Remaining connected to the larger herbal community enables us to reinforce our curricula and provide greater assistance to our learners and alumni.”
ACHS joined peers, including fellow Sustainable Herbs Initiative collaborators Mountain Rose Herbs, as sponsors, distributing information about our joint efforts to move the herbal medicine field forward. Faculty connected with existing students, graduates, clinicians, teachers, and prospective students throughout the symposium. ACHS was pleased to be the sole accredited herbal medicine school represented at the gathering.
ACHS at AHG Symposium
Pictured left to right: Judith Thompson & symposium speaker Betsy Miller, Judith Thompson & Lorraine Young with Ethnobotanist Marc Williams, the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly
Advancing ACHS’s Strategic Objectives
ACHS’s involvement in the AHG Symposium supports the initiatives outlined in the institution’s 2024–2027 Strategic Plan, by fostering professional growth and improving alumni success through broader career avenues and workforce preparedness.
Professional involvement also furthers ACHS’s aims regarding the creation and growth of strategic brand alliances and enhancing ACHS’s international footprint by deepening ties and visibility within the herbal medicine field.
Through ongoing engagement with professional organizations, ACHS reinforces its dedication to evidence-informed instruction and its pledge to equip graduates for impactful careers in integrative health and herbal medicine.
ACHS at AHG Symposium
Pictured left to right: Judith Thompson & Lorraine Young with AHG Executive Director Erika Galentin, with Herbalist Author Mimi Prunella Hernandez, and with Herbalist, Author, Researcher and Herbal Historian David Winston
About American College of Healthcare Sciences
Established in 1978, American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) is an accredited online institution specializing in integrative health and wellness instruction. ACHS delivers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in fields such as integrative health, herbal medicine, holistic nutrition, aromatherapy, and related health and wellness disciplines.
ACHS holds accreditation from the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). As a Certified B Corporation® and People and Planet First Verified, ACHS is committed to advancing sustainable and ethical practices while equipping graduates for achievement in the changing wellness workforce.
For inquiries regarding this press release or to arrange an interview, please contact Tracey Abell at president@achs.edu.
About the American Herbalists Guild
The American Herbalists Guild (AHG) is a membership-driven organization focused on supporting the discipline and vocation of clinical herbalism. AHG links the public with qualified clinical herbalists and reputable herb schools while assisting herbalists via continuing education, clinical and business tools, peer-reviewed publications, advocacy, regional chapters, events, and a dynamic professional network.
Tracey Abell
American College of Healthcare Sciences
+1 971-703-5070
email us here
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Bluesky
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
TikTok
X
