Kathleen Gould, Herbalist RH (AHG), discovered herbalism when teachers recommended medication to help her son focus. Seeking natural alternatives, she immersed herself in plant medicineโa journey that became her lifeโs calling.
She studied with some of the most respected herbalists in the United States, including Rosemary Gladstar, Tieraona Low Dog, MD, James Duke, Ph.D., Michael Tierra, David Hoffman, Patch Adams, and Susun Weed. By 2005, she opened her third herb shop, SW Herb, alongside her business partner and late husband, Mike. In 2008, they joined forces with recently retired Madalyn Johnson in the current Mesa, Arizona location.
SW Herb was born from Kathyโs vision to share the โherbal queendomโ with as many seekers as possibleโpeople searching for better health, deeper knowledge, and a more connected way of living. She believed that understanding health and herbs was a God-given right and devoted her life to guiding others in nurturing the Herbalist Within.
For over 40 years, Kathy taught countless students, blending playfulness with deep wisdom. Many went on to become volunteer apprentices, helping run the store and continuing to share her teachings even after her passing.
Today, SW Herb is proudly owned by her son, Michael, and remains deeply rooted in the community Kathy nurturedโone built on integrity, kindness, respect, inclusion, curiosity, and empowerment. Guided by these values, we honor her legacy by keeping the spirit of herbalism vibrant and alive for generations to come.
SW Herb is a place to reconnectโ
with plants, with tradition, and with one another.
We are a working herbal apothecary and gathering space rooted in the belief that plant medicine belongs in the hands of the community. Our shelves are filled with handcrafted remedies made with care, intention, and deep respect for the plants themselves.
But SW Herb is more than a shop. It is a space for learning, mentorship, and shared experience. Through hands-on classes, certification programs, and apprenticeship training, we cultivate both confident herbalists and curious beginners.
Here, education is hands-on, questions are welcomed, and healing is approached with steadiness and heart.
Whether you are just beginning your journey or deepening an existing practice, we support you in building confidence, practical skill, and trust in your own intuition โ helping you discover the inner herbalist already within you.
Our Team
Our team of skilled herbalists all trained for years as apprentices under Kathy at SW Herb. Together, they carry forward her legacy of sharing herbal wisdom and keeping her passion for plant medicine alive in the community.
Sheryl King
Executive Consultant, Empowerment Coach, & Herbalist
Having apprenticed and worked with Kathy for twelve years learning the art of herbal medicine, Sheryl also uses her coaching skills to assist clients in nurturing the Herbalist Within.
To preserve the legacy of SW Herb Shop and Gathering Place during this time of transition, she is honored to incorporate her 38 years of business and leadership experience into guiding this talented team of herbalists into the next phase of SW Herb.
Brenna Membrila
Herbalist Practitioner & Educator
Brenna is a family herbal practitioner and birth keeper who supports women, children, and families through a whole-istic vitalist lens. As both educator and clinician, her work is grounded in the bodyโs innate physiology and the energetic application of plants.
For over five years in the SW Herb community, Brenna has supported families through birth, postpartum, chronic illness, and nourishment while also working in local herb shops and tending her own practice.
In addition to managing her own business and continuing her studies with respected teachers, Brenna remains committed to the foundation established at SW Herb and acknowledges Kathyโs influential mentorship in shaping her path. Youโll often find her at the shop planning classes, guiding apprentices, creating tea blends, and offering consultations.
Kylie Prouty
Senior Herbalist & Owner of Valley to Rim Wellness
With over 12 years of experience exploring how plants and lifestyle practices support deep healing, Kylie is passionate about circadian health and believes that we, too, are nature.
Her herbal journey began at SW Herb, where she completed all of the shopโs courses and apprenticed under Kathy Gould for two years. She is grateful to serve the community through SW Herb and looks forward to helping others reconnect with the Herbalist Within.
Diana McNaughton
Herbalist & Farmers Market Specialist
Diana is a certified herbalist who brings her knowledge of herbs to the Old Town Scottsdale Farmerโs Market each week. She received her certification through SW Herb in 2015, followed by four years of apprenticeship shadowing Kathy Gould.
She has continued her education through the Boston International Herbal Symposium and the Durango Good Medicine Confluence. Diana looks forward to meeting you and assisting with your herbal needs.
Contact:
Stop by and say hello at the market, or call Diana at (602) 689-1474 to pick up SW Herb products.