A fourth generation Herbalist and Healer, Phyllis D. Light has studied and worked with herbs, foods and other healing techniques for over 30 years. Her studies in Traditional Southern Appalachian Folk Medicine began in the deep woods of North Alabama with lessons from her grandmother, whose herbal and healing knowledge had its roots in her Creek/Cherokee heritage. Phyllis’ studies continued as an apprentice with the late Tommie Bass, a nationally renowned folk herbalist from Sand Rock, Alabama, as well as other herbal Elders throughout the Appalachians and the Deep South.

Her well-established reputation and knowledgeable expertise has allowed Phyllis to travel far afield of her Southern Appalachian home, lecturing and teaching about herbs, integrative and complementary healthcare and traditional folk healing techniques. Consequently, she has taught and lectured at herb schools, universities, medical schools, hospitals and health conferences.

As a Practitioner, she has experience in both clinical and private settings including working in an integrative medical clinic. As a Consultant, Phyllis manages her own herbal consulting business advising businesses, schools, physicians and manufacturers.

In addition to Traditional Folk studies, Phyllis has studied Traditional Western Herbalism, Nutrition, Exercise Science, Body Work and Energy Medicine. She continues to maintain an active herbal practice.

Phyllis is an American Herbalist Guild professional member.  She lectures nurses and other allied healthcare professionals as a Registered Healthcare Educator and CEU instructor. Phyllis is the Director of Herbal Studies at Clayton College of Natural Health and a contributing writer to several consumer magazines. She has co-authored a paper for a medical journal and is currently working on her book The Geography of Health: Southern and Appalachian Folk Medicine which explores the historical origins, principles and practices of Appalachian Folk Medicine. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Health Studies from the University of Alabama.

Philosophy

As a Health Educator, Phyllis believes that preventive health practices include the maintenance of healthy weight; a diet high in fruits, vegetables and lean, organic meats; regular exercise; stress reduction; use of botanical compounds; clean water; adequate sleep; refraining from excessive drinking; and never smoking. She also believes that our health is tied to the health of the planet. If the planet isn’t healthy, humans suffer. An upstream approach to healthcare that eliminates the source of disease is preferable to complicated downstream measures that offer unsatisfactory consequences.

Above all, Phyllis devotes herself to a building a bridge between traditional knowledge and modern-day science; to hold sacred the traditional herbal and healing knowledge that has been handed down from generation to generation while embracing the scientific knowledge of today.