279: Chatting about Medicinal Chemistry with Mark “Merriwether” Vorderbruggen, Ph.D

An internationally recognized expert on edible & medicinal wild plants, Mark “Merriwether” Vorderbruggen, Ph.D. half-jokingly describes himself as a “scientist raised by wolves.” Merriwether’s brain earned him a master’s in medicinal chemistry and a Ph.D. in physical organic chemistry, but his heart has always driven him to learn and share the secrets of nature to anyone ready to hear them. His love of nature was instilled in him by his parents and grandparents, who used nature’s gifts to feed and care for the family. Endless hours of his childhood were spent in the wild…and this continues on to today, where he leads plant walkabouts across Texas, teaching people the ethical way to gather food and medicine. This deep study of plants and their properties caused people to call him “Merriwether,” after the famed botanist/explorer Meriwether Lewis. His professional chemistry career was that of a healer of the Earth, developing ways to safely and cleanly interact with its gifts. Among the results of that time are fifteen patents using natural plants, microorganisms, and oyster chemistry to make the world safer. Because of his past, he was chosen to be the medicine man for Medicine Man Plant Co., a 3-person company devoted to bringing back the medicinal plants, mushrooms, and movements our ancestors evolved using. Merriwether’s study of early people, combined with his scientific understanding of the human body, has led him to believe many modern health issues are because we no longer interact with nature the way we evolved. Just as our diet needs critical vitamins and minerals for proper health, we also need certain physical, mental, and social actions to avoid “lifestyle” health problems. Helpful Links  Website www.medicinemanplantco.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/medicinemanplantco Instagram: www.instagram.com/mmplantco TikTok: @dr.merriwether Book Mentioned   Peterson Field Guide To Medicinal Plants & Herbs Of Eastern & Central N. America: Third Edition https://amzn.to/3zczyLj {affiliate link}