About the Herbalist

Hello and thanks for being here! I'm Emma Taylor, a community herbalist, clinical student, and West Virginian by birth and by choice. My herbal practice is guided by the values of mutual aid, the philosophy of vitalism, and, above all, my daily interactions with plants. I tend land in what is now known as Preston County just above the Cheat/Achsinhanac River, a place and calling I am deeply grateful for. When the spirit moves me, I create small batches of herbal medicines using plants I've grown, wildcrafted, or sourced from ethical small farms.

My work centers reconnecting Appalachians with the traditional medicineways that are our birthright and building health sovereignty as our communities navigate escalating structural challenges. I study integrative herbal medicine, physiology and pathophysiology, phytochemistry, bioregional ecology, and Appalachian folk medicine, growing both my understanding of the body and my skills in creating practical and effective herbal medicines. I am grateful to learn from teachers such as Janet Kent, Dave Meesters, Jen Stovall, Thomas Easley, and Mel Kasting, as well as from the plants, the people I serve, my ancestors, and my own lived experience.

I'm thankful for all of the ways my community helps carry this work and am honored to be a recipient of the WV Can't Wait Award (2025) and the Eclectic School of Herbalism's Excellence in Community Care Clinical Program Scholarship. I rely heavily on the insight and feedback of our neighbors and welcome collaboration, questions, and conversations. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you'd like to connect around the work we're doing together!