Laura Ash

Laura Ash is a wellness business executive, Clinical Herbalist, feminist, mother, and social entrepreneur dedicated to preserving cultural knowledge and biodiversity. With over 22 years in the herbal medicine industry, Laura has built a reputation for leading purpose-driven teams and fostering meaningful cross-cultural relationships. Her work bridges traditional healing arts and modern business strategies, guided by her commitment to equity, sustainability, and the earth as a primary stakeholder.

Laura became a Clinical Herbalist in 2005, studying under medical herbalists at the California School of Herbal Studies and Ayurveda at the Ayurvedic Institute, and many folk and Indigenous herbalists. Her time living in the UK and East Africa ignited her passion for health sovereignty and cultural preservation. In 2011, she founded the Herbal Anthropology Project, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting Traditional Knowledge, including the Maasai Traditional Medicine practices in Tanzania through frameworks like the Traditional Knowledge Division of the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Laura was the owner of the legacy business The Scarlet Sage Herb Co. in San Francisco; a retail intersection of commerce and access to healing plant medicine products and education. To further amplify the voices of healers and herbalists, Laura founded Land of Verse. This online wellness education platform serves as a "Masterclass for healers," bringing trusted experts in the healing arts to a global audience, from beginners to advanced practitioners.

Currently, Laura is focused on building BPRA to support biodiversity conservation, Traditional Knowledge preservation, and develop equity in plant research. Her professional expertise includes operations optimization, strategic growth, design thinking, DEI initiatives, and fostering equitable partnerships across cultures—all while achieving a triple-bottom-line impact.

To learn more about Laura’s current project, go to landofverse.com