Robyn Klein

Robyn is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild (AHG) and has been educating student herbalists and the general public since 1991 in both the American and Canadian community; and since 2000, in the Montana University system. As a herbalist and medical botanist, Robyn applies plant science to the study of medicinal plants and their bioactivity.

COURSES OFFERED

Courses are offered through the Burns Telecom Center (BTC) and the Masters of Science in Science Education (MSSE) at Montana State University. These courses can be added to the Program of Study as electives. All courses are fully accredited and included on the MSU Transcript (Registrar’s Office). The prerequisite for these courses is a background in science or permission of the instructor.

COURSES TAUGHT

• PS 280 Herbal Medicine (Fall semester: BTC)
• PS 280 Herbal Medicine Laboratory (Spring Semester: BTC)
• PS 280 Medicinal Plants of Montana: Prairie & Plains (Summer semester: BTC)
• PS 280 Medicinal Plants of Montana: Mountains (Summer semester: BTC)
• PS 280 Medical Botany (Spring semester: BTC)
• PS 580 Flowering Plants of the Northern Rocky Mountains (MSSE)
• PS 580 Plants, People & Health (MSSE)
• MSU Extended Studies (Burns Telecom Center)

For more information, contact the Burns Center for Continuing Education at: http://eu.montana.edu 204 Culbertson Hall, PO Box 172200, MSU, Bozeman, MT 59717-2200. 406/994-6683.

PS 280: Herbal Medicine 3 cr. LEC

Course provides a basis for understanding the approach and strategy of herbal medicine as a commonly practiced model of healing throughout the United States, Europe and Australia. Lectures include the history of herbal medicine in the United States, the political and regulatory situation of herbal products, the herbal monograph system, herbal therapeutic models, plant constituents, posology, therapeutics, materia medica, toxicology and herb-drug interactions.

PS 280: Herbal Medicine Laboratory 1 cr. LAB 2 sections

Demonstration and hands-on experience making products such as: infusions, syrups, salve, and alcohol extracts from a variety of dried herbs (leaves, roots, barks, flowers, resin). Including mathematical ratio calculations, solvent qualities, measurements and tools needed to accomplish the formulas.

 PS 280: Medicinal Plants of Montana 1 cr. LEC

Four separate field trips to trailheads in the vicinity of Bozeman to introduce students to the local flora: botany, history and medicinal, edible and poisonous properties.

 PS 280: Medical Botany (Fall 2004) 3 cr. LEC

Suggested prerequisite: PS 250 (Identification of Seed Plants) or PS 251 (Botany).

This course introduces the diversity of plants that affect human culture and health. Topics include plants that cause human ailments, plants that are used to treat human ailments, and plants used for magico-religious purposes. Concepts introduced will include evolution of chemical communication, biosynthetic pathways of plant compounds, plant anatomy, plant defense, and benefits of plants to human health. Emphasis will be placed on botany (family and species), classes of secondary plant compounds, and the bioactivity of plants related to disease.

MSSE Program (Masters of Science in Science Education)

The following courses are intended for science teachers enrolled in the Masters of Science and Science Education degree program and other teachers with a minimum of 2-years teaching experience.

PS 580: Flowering Plants of the Northern Rocky Mountains 2 cr. LEC/Field Trip

A field oriented study of the flowering plants of Montana with an emphasis on plant keying skills. Objectives are 1) to identify the parts of flowering plants and become familiar with botanical terms, 2) to learn morphological characteristics of common plant families, 3) to learn how to use a plant key to successfully identify flowering plants, 4) to apply plant identification skills to the classroom. Discussion will emphasize application of these skills and botanical texts to the classroom.

Discussion will emphasize application of these skills and botanical texts to the classroom.

http://www.montana.edu/msse/

 PS 580: Plants, People, and Health 2 cr. LEC/LAB

This interdisciplinary course investigates how plants and people intersect, with a focus on the current popular and scientific interest in using plants and their compounds for health and medicine. The subject will be applied to ethnobotany, botany, and phytochemistry. Enhancing the links between the natural world and the classroom can bring meaning to all the sciences and instill an interest in the investigation of plants and their uses.

http://www.montana.edu/msse/

Offered most summers: WILD EDIBLE PLANTS & MEDICINAL HERBS

1 credit is available from Colorado State University

The blue camas meadows, ponds, aspen groves, and coniferous forests in the Bechler area between Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks were an important food and medicine gathering area for early Americans. This is an exceptional area to study the edible and medicinal properties of many native plants of the West. Field identification of wild plants, major poisonous plants of the area, and gentle-harvesting techniques will be emphasized. Participants will learn to develop their own wild food meals and herbal preparations. Our headquarters will be a Forest Service cabin at Squirrel Meadows, on the road between Ashton, Idaho, and Flagg Ranch, near the South Entrance to the park. Be prepared for short, leisurely walks of 1 to 3 miles with an elevation gain/loss of 300 feet. Participants should come prepared to camp out at the cabin, or stay in a motel in Ashton, which is less than an hour away.

EDUCATION

• B.S. Psychology/Sociology Central Michigan University 1975
• Non-degree (residential) Clinical Herbalist Southwest School of Botanical Medicine 1995
• M.S. Plant Sciences Montana State University  2004

MEMBERSHIPS IN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• American Herbalists Guild, professional member (peer-reviewed; CEUs required)
• Montana Native Plant Society
• Society for Economic Botany

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Visiting Lecturer, School of Integrated Health, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. February-April 2005.

AWARDS

Montana Native Plant Society, June 1999; Award for bringing to attention of the Montana State Legislature the problems of wildcrafting plants in Montana and in assisting the passage of Senate Bill 178, a moratorium on harvesting wild Echinacea and six other herbs.

GRADUATE COMMITTEES

Fall 1997-Fall 1998     

• M.S. thesis committee for Monique Kolster, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, “The Echinacea Craze - A Case Study”

Fall 2004-Spring 2005

• LeAnne Yenny, Masters of Science in Science Education (MSSE); “Meaningful Assessment and Grading for Focused Learning in Science”
• Leslie McDaniel, Masters of Science in Science Education (MSSE); “Making Real World Connections: Action Research Proposal”

Fall 2005-Spring 2006

• Amy Washtak, Masters of Science in Science Education (MSSE); “Technology in the High school chemistry classroom”
• Yvette Deighton, Masters of Science in Science Education (MSSE); “WANTED: New Habits Action Research Pilot Study and Proposal”

Fall 2006-Spring 2007

• Linda Jones, Masters of Science in Science Education (MSSE); “Inquiry based learning in the ethnobotany classroom.”
• Brynna Vogt, Masters of Science in Science Education (MSSE); "Increasing relevancy through real-world connections."

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Klein, Robyn. 1992. Astragalus americanus, weed or cure? Journal of Canadian Herbal Practitioners.

Klein, Robyn. 1996. Toxicology and herbs: an introduction. The Australian Journal of Medical Herbalism 8(4):100-111.

Klein, Robyn. 1998. Medicines from the lily family. The Australian Journal of Medical Herbalism 10(2):47-50.

Klein, Robyn. 1998. Herbal immune support for children. Nutrition Science News November

Klein, Robyn. 1999. Good medicine in Montana: herbal medicine in both Indian and non-Indian communities of the Northern Rockies. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Medicinal Plants: Folk Traditions, History, Pharmacology, 14-18 September. San José (Costa Rica)

Klein, Robyn. 2000. Wise old plants. In, Planting the Future: Saving Our Medicinal Herbs. Healing Arts Press (Inner Traditions), pp. 24-38.

Klein, Robyn A. and Dunkel, Florence V. 2003. Linking plant medicine to traditional knowledge. American Entomologist Vol 49(1):7-17.

Klein, Robyn. 2004. Phytoecdysteroids. Journal of the American Herbalists Guild 5(2):18-28.

Ashley D. Lehman, Florence V. Dunkel, Robyn A. Klein, Saidou Outtara, Drissa Diallo, Kadiatou Touré Gamby, Moussa N’Diaye. Insect management products from Malian traditional medicine—Establishing systematic criteria for their identification. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. In Press, January 2007

Klein, Robyn. 2006. Medical Botany. In: Veterinary Herbal Medicine. Wynn, S., and Fougére B., eds. Elsevier Publishers. Expected Release December 2006.

SYMPOSIUM and CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Toxicology and Herbs: An Introduction. 1996 American Herbalists Guild Symposium in Boulder, Colorado.

Panel: “Potential Drug Interactions with Herbs,” 1997 American Herbalists Guild Symposium in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Panel participants: Kerry Bone, Chanchal Cabrera, and Paul Bergner.)

Plant Identification for Herbalists (full-day intensive). And, panel: “What the Media and Publicists Expect from Herbalists.” American Herbalists Guild Symposium, Seattle, Washington, October 1-4, 1998.

Update on SB 178: Moratorium on the Harvesting of Echinacea and Other Medicinal Wild Plants. March 25-26, 1999. Montana Plant Conservation Conference, Pablo Community College, Pablo. MT

Assorted panels and workshops on indigenous issues of wildcrafting and herbal medicine. May 17-20, 1999. Keepers of the Treasures Conference, Willitson, ND.

Three workshops: Old Medicines of Montana; Identifying Our Medicines, Lessons From Echinacea; herb walk. July 23-25, 1999. United Plant Savers Conference, Flying R Ranch, Bitterroot Valley, MT.

Plant Identification (full day intensive), and workshops: Toxicology for Herbalists, and Wise Old Medicines. American Herbalists Guild Symposium, Ponoco Manor, Pennsylvania, August 5-8, 1999. Proceedings papers published.

Three workshops: Herbs and Cancer, Toxicology, Plant Identification, Wise Old Medicines. 12th Annual New England Women’s Herbal Conference, Peterborough, New Hampshire. August 20-22, 1999.

Ethnobotany of American Species of Ephedra [Ephedraceae]. International Symposium on Ephedra, hosted by the American Herbal Products Association. December 9-10, 1999. Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, Arlington, VA. Proceedings paper published.

Fitting Herbal Remedies into Cancer Treatment; Debunking Echinacea and St. John’s Wort Warnings; Herb Walk, and Panel: Using Herbs with Other Modalities. Third Annual Montana Herb Gathering, Flathead Lake, June16-18, 2000.

Healing with Plant Helpers. September 16, 2000. The 8th Annual Celebrating Women Retreat. Boulder Hot Springs, MT.

Popular Cancer Treatments; Herbs Used in the Management of Cancer; and How the Body Deals with Environmental Toxins and Poisons. October 28-29, 2000. Craigville Conference Center, Cape Cod, Craigville, Massachusetts.

Herbs and Breast Cancer. November 4, 2000. Western Montana Breast Cancer Conference, Boone & Crockett Club, Missoula, MT.

When Wild Harvest Runs Wild: A Montana Story. March 24, 2001. Wild Harvest: Emerging Issues in Commercial Harvest of Native Plants. Hosted by the Minnesota Native Plant Society. Minneapolis, MN.

Making Herbal Tinctures, Salves and Syrups. Annual Meeting of the Great Northern Botanical Association (GNBA), Fairmont Hot Springs, April 6-8, 2001.

Parsley Family Herbs; Dosages of Herbs; and Panel: Ask the Herbalist; and, Panel: Debunking Herbal Myths; Montana Herb Gathering, Flathead Lake, MT, June 15-17, 2001.

Oh Those Lovely Terpenes! 6th Annual Montana Herb Gathering, Lubrecht Experimental Forest Station. July 18-20, 2003.

Adaptogenic Herbs. 6th Annual Montana Herb Gathering, Lubrecht Experimental Forest Station. July 18-20, 2003.

Big Sky Botany: Medicinal Plants and Their Uses. Big Sky Institute’s Outdoor Science Adventures for the Gordon Research Conference. 3 hours. Huntley Lodge, Big Sky, MT. September 11, 2003.

Herbs, the Gentle Medicines: Careers Working with Plants, Earth Medicine: Herbalism Around the World, Sustaining Your Family with Natural Medicines Today. Bioneers. Emerson Cultural Center, Bozeman, MT. October, 2003.

Plant Biochemistry for Beginners; and, Adaptogens. Breitenbush Herbal Conference, Detroit, OR; September 8-11, 2005.