The owners of THE HERBALIST, Dr. Erin L. Taylor and her husband, Greg Taylor, have been married over 30 years and both have been herbalists for over 30 years each. They have a common love and knowledge of herbs. Both come from families who practiced and used herbs. This was an immediate bond between them when they met. Their number one goal is to help people get healthy and stay healthy.
Dr. Taylor received her degree as a Doctor of Naturopathy from the Trinity College of Natural Health. She was born in Chicago, Illinois but spent her teenage years in Southern Illinois where she was taught wildcrafting by her late Aunt Tamar.
Dr. Taylor experimented with different herbs and at the age of 13 developed her own herbal formula for menstrual cramps. Her paternal grandmother was part Cherokee also had knowledge of herbal remedies for all sorts of ailments.
When her aunt passed she vowed to not let all that she taught her die. Shortly thereafter the Taylors moved to Ft. Worth, Texas in 1985 where Dr. Taylor spent 8 years studying with an herbalist who taught her Iridology and Kinesiology. It was in Texas that she became certified as Master Herbalist. She is also a Reiki Practitioner.
Dr. Taylor currently consults and holds classes on Herbology, Nutrition, Colon Cleansing, Iridology, and Kinesiology or Muscle Response Testing.
Her husband, Greg is a Master Herbalist and has been taking herbs since the age of 2. Also born in Chicago, Illinois, he was raised by his grandparents who taught him his extensive knowledge of herbs.
He is a positive motivational speaker regarding health and herbs and the importance of drinking water and the benefits of herbs on the body. Although he was in the corporate world for many years, his passion for herbs and the concern of the health of others brought him back to the natural health field.
In 1989, the Taylors started Tentacles, Inc. as a vehicle to serve the community utilizing natural health modalities. They then moved from Ft. Worth, Texas to Cincinnati, Ohio to help care for a family member who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. While in Cincinnati the family met an Amish herbalist who trained Dr. Taylor for 2 ½ years before opening the herbal shoppe, THE HERBALIST, in the Mt. Healthy section of Cincinnati in October of 1995.
In June, 2001 THE HERBALIST RETREAT FOUNDATION, a non-profit natural health organization, was established to satisfy the need in the community to seek self-help plans to continue to improve their health using natural modalities. Part of this effort has been as a speaker and workshop leader in the “Living With Hope and Overcoming Autoimmune Disease” support group and the featured speaker for the “Just As Nature Intended” seminar and workshop series. Dr. Taylor is also the author of the newly released “Just As Nature Intended, The Layman's Guide to Natural Health”, an easy to understand natural health information book.
Dr. Taylor was a featured panelist at the 100 Black Men of America 19th Annual Conference in New Orleans in June, 2005. She also provided consultations at the Health & Wellness Exhibit Showcase, as well as being one of several well-known authors who presented their books at a book signing at the Literary Corner portion of the conference.
The Taylors have presented and/or given seminars at Procter & Gamble’s WIN organization, various women’s and men’s groups, SANKOKA – a Saturday school enrichment program in Cincinnati, Ohio, various high schools and universities, hospice centers, nursing homes, schools, private book clubs, salons and trade schools as well as seminars given in the homes of friends and family.
DR. ROBERTA T. McCLINON earned her Bachelor of Natural Health Studies and Doctor of Naturopath degress at Clayton College of Natural Health. She is also a Certified Reflexologist, Reiki II Practitioner, Iridologist, and Kinesiologist.
In addition to working with THE HERBALIST and THE HERBALIST RETREAT FOUNDATION, she is the President of Healthy Souls, a natural health enterprise. Her interest in natural health began over 30 years ago. However, this interest was intensified due to her own health problems. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis over 20 years ago. By doing her own research, she was able to utilize natural health methods that helped maintain stability with the illness.
Over the years she has drastically improved her health through natural means. Because of the success she has achieved, her mission has become to share and help as many people as possible to walk the road to better health. In June, 2001, Dr. McClinon began the Living With Hope and Overcoming Autoimmune Disease Support Group through THE HERBALIST RETREAT FOUNDATION to present a forum to show others how they can take control of their health through natural, preventative methods.
She is a speaker, seminar presenter and workshop leader for the “Just As Nature Intended” seminar and workshop series. She has also presented seminars and/or workshops at the University of Cincinnati Summer Enrichment Program, Procter & Gamble’s NOW organization and WIN organization, Xavier University Black Student Association, Sankofa Saturday School, Urban League of Greater Cincinnati’s Health, Mind, Body & Soul Health Fair, American Red Cross’ NOIZ Health Slam 2003, and other private groups and organizations as well in private homes.
TOSHA S. LONGMIRE is currently the Personal Assistant to Dr. Erin L. Taylor N.D. She has a degree in Criminal Justice from Cincinnati State Technical and Community College and is currently working on her Master Herbalist degree from Trinity College of Natural Health. After working in the field in which she has her degree, she felt such an affinity to natural health and helping others that she came to work at the Herbalist during the time Dr. Taylor was pregnant with her daughter Hannah as her personal assistant. After Hannah's passing, Tosha was so attached to Dr. Taylor and believed so much in her work that she continued to study under Dr. Taylor and decided to pursue a career in Herbology and is studying towards the Master Herbalist program. In the three years since she came to work there her interest in herbs and their affect on the body blossomed into something special. Tosha has come to be known in the shop as the "Candida Specialist." She instinctively knows the best route in treating those with Candida whether it has manifested itself as asthma, eczema or other skin irritations.
Tosha has a quiet and gentle spirit; she listens well and is very good at helping those with addictions that are too afraid to say. Her Criminal Justice background bridges the gap between those who are looking for a new beginning in eating and living a healthier lifestyle and those who have always been on a healthier path.
She also provides assistance to her grandmother who has benefited first hand from her newfound knowledge of herbs; she has enabled her to avoid taking medications for borderline diabetes by adjusting her diet and taking herbs.
