Thomas Avery Garran

Thomas Avery Garran has been studying plant medicine for over 30 years. He lived in China from 2007 to 2023 and received his PhD in Materia Medica Studies and Plant Pharmacy from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in Beijing—becoming the first non‑Chinese recipient of this degree. He also holds a master’s degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine and a certificate in herbal medicine from the American School of Herbalism.

Dr. Garran is the author of two books on the use of Western herbs in Chinese medicine (2008, 2014). He is the translator and annotator of the first book on growing and processing daodi Chinese herbs (2019), and the translator of the first men’s health text published in Chinese medicine (mid‑17th century), forthcoming. He is also the co‑translator of a free e‑book documenting the Chinese medicine community’s initial response to the COVID outbreak in China.

Dr. Garran serves as the executive director of the East West School of Herbology and is president of Herb Whisperer, Inc., an organization dedicated to medicinal plant agriculture and education.

He now resides in Western Massachusetts, where he and his wife are building an herbal sanctuary and educational center.