As one of North America’s most respected herbalists and botanical researchers, Richard “Ric” Scalzo has more than 25 years of clinical and practical experience with herbal medicines. As an innovator and pioneer in the herbal products industry, he is a leading authority on the cultivation of herbs, extraction processes, whole plant standardization, and traditional herbal therapies. In addition, Ric is a lifelong student of Vedic philosophy and spiritual practices. He regularly teaches herbal classes, interfaces with the media, and lectures nationally on herbal topics. Ric Scalzo is the co-author of Herbal Solutions for Healthy Living, a groundbreaking herbal repertory and therapeutic dispensatory guide to the safe and effective use of medicinal herbs that has sold more than a quarter of a million copies. He also co-authored Traditional Medicines from the Earth, a compendium of formulations that are effective herbal solutions for healthy living, and is the publisher and contributing author of the Protocol Journal of Botanical Medicine. After studying herbal medicine at the School of Natural Healing under Dr. John Christopher, Ric practiced as a clinical herbalist in a New England medical center. In 1987, he founded Gaia Herbs, a nationally-branded grower and manufacturer of herbal wellness solutions that reinforce the inherent connections between healthy bodies, communities, and ecosystems, where he currently serves as President and CEO. The company is vertically integrated from organic seed to finished product, offering therapeutic-quality herbal extracts to health-conscious consumers. Under his leadership and vision, the company has set industry standards for its organic commitment, sustainable methods, educational curriculum, and quality assurance program. Soon after Gaia Herbs’ inception, Ric also founded Gaia Herbal Research Institute, which, along with its publishing arm Herbal Research Publications, has contributed extensively to the quality and proliferation of herbal literacy in the United States. Ric Scalzo holds an honorary Doctorate in Naturopathy from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona, and received a Master Herbalist degree in 1982 from the School of Natural Healing.