Martha Mathews Libster

Dr. Martha Libster, Founder of the Self-care Institute at Golden Apple Healing Arts, is the author of 10 books including Gentle Medicine for Balance in Body and Peace of Mind (2020) with companion Experiential Guide - a complete guide to precision Self-care with plants as partners and the award-winning history Herbal Diplomats, recipient of the 2005 Lavinia Dock Award for Excellence in Historical Research and Writing from the American Association for the History of Nursing.
A native of Ohio, USA, Dr. Libster holds a doctoral degree in Humanities – Healthcare History from Oxford Brookes University in Oxford, England, a master’s degree in Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and bachelor’s degrees in Dance Education from New York University and Nursing from Mount St. Mary’s University in Los Angeles. She has been awarded Research Grants from the Vincentian Studies Institute in Chicago, North Carolina Arts and Humanities Council Grants, and served as Visiting Research Scientist at Northwest University in Mafikeng, South Africa funded by the Medical Research Council. In 2013, she held a Faith Andrews Research Fellowship in Shaker Culture from the Winterthur Museum, Garden, & Library. Dr. Libster has served as Associate Editor for the Journal of Holistic Nursing and Guest Editor for three international nursing journals. She has participated as keynote and endnote speaker at such international venues as the World Health Organization in Geneva, the National Museum Te Papa New Zealand, the United State Botanic Garden, the Royal College of Nursing, and the Philip and Elkin Alston Lecture at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Dr. Libster’s histories, Enlightened Charity (2009) and Herbal Diplomats (2004), are vivid depictions of the lives of American women nurses who led healthcare reform during the populist social reform period of the 19th century. She is a scholar who is responsible for introducing innovations in integrative holistic care, nurse-herbalism, and health culture diplomacy, such as her Elements of Care™ Self-care Program to the American public, health professionals, and acclaimed institutions around the world. She is also an improvisational poet.