The field of medicine is ever-changing, and the use of herbal medicines may play a bigger role in health care as the value of natural remedies gain recognition in the Western world.
Students at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are delving into the field of medicinal remedies through the class “Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants.” Offered to undergraduate students through the Department of Horticulture, the class helps students develop a deeper understanding of the connection between nature and health, learning how they can complement modern healthcare.
Under the guidance of Noelle Joy, a doctoral candidate in horticulture, students explore how plants can be used in medicine. Specializing in herbalism and plant science, Joy is passionate about the relationship between the foods we consume and how they influence the body. Her fascination began during her undergraduate studies in nutrition science at CAES, when she first nurtured a garden at home and began volunteering at UGArden, the university’s organic student-teaching farm.
She is now considered a legacy leader at UGArden, where she started the UGArden herb program from a simple bed of plants into a unique brand with a multitude of exceptional products, like teas, now for sale at local businesses and in UGA dining halls.