Jessica Shifrin  "Jess"

This speaker’s work as a clinical herbalist is rooted in lived experience, generational knowledge, and years of dedicated study. Her family’s story is both unique and deeply relatable, shaping how she approaches healing, community education, and holistic health.

Like many others, she manages chronic conditions including fibromyalgia, PTSD, anxiety, ADHD, and depression. Years ago, she found herself prescribed more than two dozen medications, yet still struggling to feel well. Seeking alternatives—for herself and her family—she turned toward herbal and natural remedies, eventually transitioning entirely away from pharmaceutical dependency. That journey, combined with her husband’s health challenges, set her firmly on a new path.

Her interest in herbalism also connects to her heritage. Her paternal great-grandfather served as a town medicine man, while her maternal great-grandparents were shamans within the Cherokee Nation. Although she was not raised with traditional herbal knowledge and instead grew up within a Western medical framework, she felt drawn back to these roots when conventional options failed to bring meaningful healing.

Raised in Southern California, she grew up harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables directly from her yard. After relocating to Florida, she spent more than a decade learning how to grow food successfully in challenging conditions, including sugar sand soils. Her studies expanded into permaculture, food forests, aquaponics, and hydroponics, eventually earning her recognition as a master gardener.

This dedication to growing healthier food systems led her to formal training as a clinical herbalist. She holds a Master of Science in Clinical Herbalism from the Maryland University of Integrative Health and has been a practicing herbalist for over three years. Today, she teaches classes on herbalism, permaculture, food forests, aquaponics, and related subjects, helping others reconnect with natural systems that support long-term health and resilience.

At the heart of her work is a love of learning, teaching, and watching both people and plants thrive.