Team

Ann Armbrecht, Director and Co-Producer

Ann ArmbrechtAnn is a writer and anthropologist (PhD, Harvard 1995) whose work explores the relationships between humans and the earth, most recently through her work with plants and plant medicine.

She is author of The Business of Botanicals: Exploring the Healing Promise of Plant Medicine in a Global Industry, published by Chelsea Green Books in 2021. She is also the co-producer of the documentary Numen: the Nature of Plants, and the author of the award winning ethnographic memoir, Thin Places: A Pilgrimage Homebased on her research in Nepal. She is a student of herbal medicine and was a 2017 Fulbright-Nehru Scholar documenting the supply chain of medicinal plants in India. She lives with her family in central Vermont.

Mark Blumenthal, Partner

Mark has been a leader in the concern for more rational regulations of herbal and natural product manufacturing, and education on plant-based medicines for over 40 years. He is the Founder and Executive Director of the American Botanical Council (ABC) and the Director of the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program, an international consortium of industry, analytical labs, non-profit research societies et al. dedicated to educating the industry about the problems associated with the adulteration of botanicals, extracts, and essential oils.

Mark is the Editor/Publisher of ABC acclaimed journal HerbalGram, Senior Editor of the English translation of The Complete German Commission E Monographs–Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines (1998), Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs (2000), The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs (2003), and co-author of Rational Phytotherapy, 5th edition (2004).

 In 2008, Mark was awarded the “Natural Legacy” award from Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine and he has also been named to Natural Health Magazine’s Hall of Fame Award for “…opening America’s eye to the healing powers of herbs.” See more.

Terrence Youk, Co-Producer

Sustainable Herbs Project TeamTerrence Youk began work in film and television in 1985, first as a composer and later writing, producing, directing and editing independent documentaries.

He has produced nationally acclaimed programs for PBS, A&E and the Wisdom Channel as well as educational and presentation films crafted for nonprofit institutions including the National Hospice Foundation. Award-winning films include: Thich Nhat Hanh: Roots of Peace, Pioneers of Hospice & The Birth of Modern Hospice, and Numen: The Nature of Plants.