Mark Blumenthal is the Founder and Executive Director of the American Botanical Council (ABC), an independent, nonprofit organization, ABC is dedicated to disseminating accurate, reliable, and responsible information on herbs and medicinal plants. Mark is the Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of HerbalGram, an international peer-reviewed quarterly journal, the contents of which reflect the educational goals of ABC.

He is also Founder and Director of the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program, a consortium of nonprofit organizations that researches and educates industry members and other stakeholders on the adulteration of botanical raw materials, extracts, and essential oils in the global supply network. ABC is partnered with the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and the University of Mississippi’s National Center for Natural Product Research, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center of Excellence in botanical laboratory analysis.

With more than 43 years of diverse experience as an herbal advocate, consultant, educator, researcher, writer, and advisor, Mark has an extensive comprehensive background in the area of herbs and medicinal plants. A popular speaker on herbal issues, Mark has made hundreds of presentations to universities, professional and trade associations, and numerous consumer, pharmacy, nursing, medical, regulatory, agricultural, nonprofit, and industry groups. Mark is also the recipient of numerous awards in the fields of medicinal plants, natural foods, and natural health.