Interview with Kerry H. Adams, RH(AHG) Dipl, ABT NCCAOM
Holistic Health, Clinical Herbalist

Kerry Adams is a clinical herbalist and educator with over 30 years of experience, is a graduate of David Winston’s Center for Herbal Studies and currently an instructor for his two-year program.   Kerry also graduated as a Charter Herbalist from Dominion Herbal College, Burnaby B.C. and is Nationally Certified by the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Commission.  Kerry founded Herbally Yours Inc. in 1979 in Changewater, NJ where she currently has an herbal practice and also practices at the Acupuncture Holistic Health Care Center in Lebanon, NJ. 

 “My grandmother, Minnie Adams, who was an Herbalist, introduced me to herbs at a very young age. My happiest moments of my childhood were in her gardens.  I enjoyed the mystery of her making medicines and all the interesting smells.  I was also fortunate to have another practicing herbalist nearby, Henrietta A. Rau.  I always knew I was always going to be an "Herbalist."   My first formal education was Dominion Herbal College, graduating in 1979.

I started David's program in 1990.  This was a new beginning of a new journey in understanding plants in a very special way that changed me as an herbalist.  Respecting plants for the gifts that the give us, their energetics and personalities, brought my ability to serve to a whole new level.

In 1974 when I first started Herbally Yours, there was little interest in medicinal herbs.  I turned to mail order and expanded to culinary, teas, aromatics and dying yarn with plants.  Interests changed in the late 80’s and early 90’s and, thankfully, for the last 15 years I have had a wonderful practice as a "Family Herbalist," working with men, women, children & elders.   It has been a special gift to be able to share the healing plants.

I began teaching in David's herbal program in 2003, I believe.   I enjoy sharing clinical experiences with the students, seeing their enthusiasm and watching them grow as herbalists.

In 1993, the Herbal Exchange Guild was created by a group of graduate students from David's program.  For the last 18 years, we have been meeting the 3rd Wednesday of each month to share herbal knowledge and support each other as Herbalists.  We are now an official Chapter of the American Herbalists Guild (AHG).   

As an outgrowth of the guild, an herbal clinic, Changewater Wellness Center, was founded by several of its members: David Harder, Pat Rudolph, Jennifer O’Hagan and myself.   Our passion to spread herbalism for health & healing lead us to create the clinic to make accessible herbal guidance for those less fortunate and at the same time provide continued mentorship training for practitioners & students who wanted to pursue herbalism as a profession.”