Resume - Chanchal Cabrera

Qualifications

Master of Science degree in Herbal Medicine from the University of Wales (2003)
Member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (UK) (since 1987) Made a Fellow in 2009
Professional member of the American Herbalists Guild (since 1993)
Professional member of the BC Herbalists Association (since 1992)
Diploma in Botanical Garden Management (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) (2013)
Diploma in Botanical Garden Education (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) (2014)
Certified Master Gardener (1999)
Certified Horticulture Therapist (2005)

July 1999 – The Ella Birznek award for outstanding contribution to the furtherance of professional herbalism.
August 1999 – The American Herbalists Guild esteemed colleague honor roll
September 2009 – Fellowship in the National Institute of Medical Herbalists
June 2015 – recognized as an Elder in the Herbal Community by the Canadian Council of Herbalist Associations

Faculty member at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine, BC.
Faculty member of Heartwood Institute (UK)
Faculty member of Bloom Institute (Nova Scotia)
Faculty member of the Association for the Advancement of Restorative Medicine (AARM)
Guest Lecturer at Pacific Rim College (BC)
Director of Gardens without Borders since 2005
BC representative at the Canadian Council of Herbalists Associations

Faculty chair in Botanical Medicine at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine 2004 – 2016
Council member of American Herbalists Guild (1994 – 1998)
Member of the board of advisors of the Journal of the American Herbalists Guild
Member of the Education Committee of the American Herbalists Guild
Member of the admissions review committee of the American Herbalists Guild
Delegate to Health Canada Natural Health Products directorate (1996 – 2001)
Director of the Comox Valley Land Trust (2008 – 2022)
Member of the board of advisors to A.Vogel Institute (Bioforce), Canada
Contributing editor to ‘Medical Herbalism’ newsletter
Technical consultant for Rodale Press, Reader’s Digest and Storey Publishing
Professional Educator for Vogel / BioForce (Switzerland)
Technical consultant for Art of Naturalsolution (USA) and Garden of Naturalsolution (Korea)

In continuous clinical practice since 1987, seeing 10 – 12 patients per week, practicing as a medical herbalist, nutritionist and aromatherapist. Individual consultations and customized prescribing of herbal and nutritional protocols for optimal wellness.
Management (1993 – 2004) of a multi-disciplinary holistic medical clinic with a variety of practitioners offering different services.
Approved as a clinical preceptor by the National College of Naturopathic Medicine (Portland, Oregon), Bastyr University (Seattle) and the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (UK) to teach clinical skills to naturopathic and herbal medicine students.
Participated in grand rounds with the doctors of BC Women’s Hospital and have lectured on alternative approaches to treating HIV and AIDS at St. Paul’s Hospital, on herb/drug interactions at U. Victoria School of Pharmacy and on natural medicines for cancer at UBC.

Lived and worked for 2 ½ years on a 150 acre organic herb farm 1998 – 2001
Certified Master Gardener certificate 1999
Certified Horticulture Therapist 2005
Trained in Good Agriculture and Harvesting practices (Canadian dept of Agriculture course)
Manager of a 7 acre Botanic Garden since 2013
Consulted with industry and federal government on the market impacts of the Good Agricultural Practices for herb growers

Faculty chair and senior lecturer in Botanical Medicine at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine, New Westminster, BC. 2004 to 2016.
Visiting faculty at Middlesex University (London UK), The School of Phytotherapy (UK), Bastyr University (Seattle), Dominion Herbal College (Vancouver) and National College of Naturopathic Medicine (Portland)
Currently recognized as a mentor by the American Herbalists Guild and the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (UK).
Guest lecturer in Holistic Medicine at North Island College (BC) in the Nursing Degree program

Employed from 1993 – 1996 by the Coastal Mountain College of Healing Arts (formerly Wild Rose College of Natural Healing) in the position of Director of Herbal Studies. My responsibilities included the design, development and implementation of a three month Wildcrafting intensive, a one year training in the business of herbs and a three year full time Clinical Herbalist training program. I handled all the administrative protocol and coordinated the needs and schedules of 38 instructors and almost 100 students annually.
Employed by Dominion Herbal College, Vancouver from 1990 – 1993 as Dean of Academic Studies. During this time I created and delivered a three year, part time program in clinical herbal therapy.
Employed 2004 – 2016 as Faculty Chair in Botanical Medicine at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine, New Westminster, BC. Responsible for curriculum design delivery and development for 180 natural medicine students a year.

Over 250 papers presented at conferences and symposiums since 1991, in Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Over 250 papers presented at conferences and symposiums since 1991, in Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Founder of the Gaia Garden Herbal Dispensary, a full service herbal dispensary (1993 – 2004)
Wrote the book ‘Fibromyalgia – the Journey Toward Healing’ published by Contemporary Books (2003)
Wrote the book ‘Holistic Cancer Care’ published by Storey Books (2023)

References available upon request

Innisfree Farm and Botanic Garden
3636 Trent Road
Courtenay BC
V9N 9R4

1 250 336 8767 (office)