American Botanical Council hosts Medicinal Herb Fest April 26

American Botanical Council hosts Medicinal Herb Fest April 26

Austin, TX  - (April 2, 2003)

American Botanical Council (ABC), a world renowned authority on herbal medicine based in Austin, Texas, is hosting a Medicinal Herb Fest, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, April 26, at 6200 Manor Road, Austin, Texas. The event will provide information about medicinal plants, their uses and how to grow them.

Educational activities will include the latest information on herbal medicine from Mark Blumenthal, ABC’s founder and executive director, and herb walks with local herbalists through ABC’s medicinal plant demonstra-tion gardens to teach how to identify, grow and use medicinal herbs. The Medicinal Herb Fest also will offer classes and demonstrations on how to distill essential oils from herbs, how to make an herbal salt scrub, medici-nal/nutritional uses of native Texas plants, and more.

Vendors will offer product samples and information about herbs. Live plants and other products can be pur-chased at the event. The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs, which offers scientific research on 29 of the most popular herbs in the United States, has just been released by ABC and will be available at the Medicinal Herb Fest. The book’s senior editor, Mark Blumenthal, will sign copies during the festival.

The festival also will include children’s activities, food and beverages, and live music featuring the Slim Richey Band, Karen Mal and Darcie Deaville.

About ABC
The American Botanical Council is the leading nonprofit educational and research organization disseminating science-based information promoting the safe and effective use of medicinal plants and phytomedicines. This member-sponsored organization also publishes the peer-reviewed journal HerbalGram, and offers a variety of educational publications covering herb research and regulation for the benefit of the general public and ABC’s members. For more information about ABC and directions to the Medicinal Herb Fest, check out www.herbalgram.org.

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Interviews and photo opportunities
Mark Blumenthal and ABC gardeners are available for interviews before the Medicinal Herb Fest. Photo op-portunities abound in ABC’s herb gardens at the historic Case Mill Homestead where ABC has its offices. Re-porters are invited to attend the Medicinal Herb Fest and interview the gardening and herb experts who will present classes and demonstrations during the day.

Contact: Vicki Wolf or Cheryl Dipper
American Botanical Council
6200 Manor Road
Austin, TX 78723
Phone: 512-926-4900
Fax: 512-926-2345
Website: www.herbalgram.org