About Dr. Lisa Offringa

Ethnobotanist, Research Scientist, Professor & Author

About
Dr. Lisa Offringa

Ethnobotanist, Research Scientist, Professor & Author
Dr. Lisa Offringa is an applied research scientist trained in medical and nutritional ethnobotany specializing in plants used for medicine and plant-based foods for potential medicinal uses and increased well-being.

She completed her postdoctoral research with the Stanford Prevention Research Center in the School of Medicine at Stanford University, and continues her work there as a Research Fellow. Her research at Stanford focuses on plant-based foods, and incorporating wellness-building phytochemicals into the daily diet. Her postdoctoral projects included measuring fiber intake in low-fat versus low-carbohydrate diet through a multi-year clinical weight-loss trial, investigating the health benefits of traditional diets around the globe, and studying the effect of fiber and dietary choices on the human intestinal microbiota. As a Research Fellow, Lisa conducted clinical research on mindful eating techniques and continues to research the diversity of dietary plant fibers their effect on human health.

Dr. Offringa is active in education and public outreach, from instructing middle school students about plant-based medicines to guiding Stanford employees in ways to eat more plant foods, fiber and increase their wellbeing using plants. Lisa taught plant sciences at San Jose State University, in the Biology Department at San Francisco State University, Health and Sustainable Food Systems at Stanford University and was a lecturer of Integrative Biology at University of California Berkeley focusing on evolution, ecology and plant sciences. She is also the Botanical Director at the American Herbal Pharmocopoeia and is the Botanical Rotation Director for the Pediatric Integrative Medicine Fellowship at Stanford Hospital.

Dr. Offringa received her doctorate in a joint program between The Graduate Center at The City University of New York and The New York Botanical Garden where she investigated medicinal plants from Northern Thailand used by traditional healers to treat memory disorders in the elderly. This multi-year international project involved anthropology, botanical identification, phytochemical analysis, development and implementation of both in vitro and in vivo studies, and collaboration with numerous international government bodies to ensure rigorous and ethical research practices. Dr. Offringa received her PhD in Plant Sciences and has extensive training in all aspects of botany.

Prior to her doctoral work, Dr. Offringa was trained as a plant organic chemist and field botanist at San Francisco State University. After receiving her BS in Psychology, she worked for two technology start-up companies as the CEO’s Assistant. Growing up, she traveled extensively and lived overseas sparking a love for learning new perspectives.

At the core of her career as a researcher and educator is the preservation of global biocultural diversity by emphasizing the importance of plants used for food and medicine, and to raise awareness of the connection between our food systems, our personal health and preservation of the environment.

Dr. Lisa Offringa is an applied research scientist trained in medical and nutritional ethnobotany specializing in plants used for medicine and plant-based foods for potential medicinal uses and increased well-being.

She completed her postdoctoral research with the Stanford Prevention Research Center in the School of Medicine at Stanford University, and continues her work there as a Research Fellow. Her research at Stanford focuses on plant-based foods, and incorporating wellness-building phytochemicals into the daily diet. Her postdoctoral projects included measuring fiber intake in low-fat versus low-carbohydrate diet through a multi-year clinical weight-loss trial, investigating the health benefits of traditional diets around the globe, and studying the effect of fiber and dietary choices on the human intestinal microbiota. As a Research Fellow, Lisa conducted clinical research on mindful eating techniques and continues to research the diversity of dietary plant fibers their effect on human health.

Dr. Offringa is active in education and public outreach, from instructing middle school students about plant-based medicines to guiding Stanford employees in ways to eat more plant foods, fiber and increase their wellbeing using plants. Lisa taught plant sciences at San Jose State University, in the Biology Department at San Francisco State University, Health and Sustainable Food Systems at Stanford University and was a lecturer of Integrative Biology at University of California Berkeley focusing on evolution, ecology and plant sciences. She is also the Botanical Director at the American Herbal Pharmocopoeia and is the Botanical Rotation Director for the Pediatric Integrative Medicine Fellowship at Stanford Hospital.

Dr. Offringa received her doctorate in a joint program between The Graduate Center at The City University of New York and The New York Botanical Garden where she investigated medicinal plants from Northern Thailand used by traditional healers to treat memory disorders in the elderly. This multi-year international project involved anthropology, botanical identification, phytochemical analysis, development and implementation of both in vitro and in vivo studies, and collaboration with numerous international government bodies to ensure rigorous and ethical research practices. Dr. Offringa received her PhD in Plant Sciences and has extensive training in all aspects of botany.

Prior to her doctoral work, Dr. Offringa was trained as a plant organic chemist and field botanist at San Francisco State University. After receiving her BS in Psychology, she worked for two technology start-up companies as the CEO’s Assistant. Growing up, she traveled extensively and lived overseas sparking a love for learning new perspectives.

At the core of her career as a researcher and educator is the preservation of global biocultural diversity by emphasizing the importance of plants used for food and medicine, and to raise awareness of the connection between our food systems, our personal health and preservation of the environment.

Dr. Lisa Offringa is an applied research scientist trained in medical and nutritional ethnobotany specializing in plants used for medicine and plant-based foods for potential medicinal uses and increased well-being.

She completed her postdoctoral research with the Stanford Prevention Research Center in the School of Medicine at Stanford University, and continues her work there as a Research Fellow. Her research at Stanford focuses on plant-based foods, and incorporating wellness-building phytochemicals into the daily diet. Her postdoctoral projects included measuring fiber intake in low-fat versus low-carbohydrate diet through a multi-year clinical weight-loss trial, investigating the health benefits of traditional diets around the globe, and studying the effect of fiber and dietary choices on the human intestinal microbiota. As a Research Fellow, Lisa conducted clinical research on mindful eating techniques and continues to research the diversity of dietary plant fibers their effect on human health.

Dr. Offringa is active in education and public outreach, from instructing middle school students about plant-based medicines to guiding Stanford employees in ways to eat more plant foods, fiber and increase their wellbeing using plants. Lisa taught plant sciences at San Jose State University, in the Biology Department at San Francisco State University, Health and Sustainable Food Systems at Stanford University and was a lecturer of Integrative Biology at University of California Berkeley focusing on evolution, ecology and plant sciences. She is also the Botanical Director at the American Herbal Pharmocopoeia and is the Botanical Rotation Director for the Pediatric Integrative Medicine Fellowship at Stanford Hospital.

Dr. Offringa received her doctorate in a joint program between The Graduate Center at The City University of New York and The New York Botanical Garden where she investigated medicinal plants from Northern Thailand used by traditional healers to treat memory disorders in the elderly. This multi-year international project involved anthropology, botanical identification, phytochemical analysis, development and implementation of both in vitro and in vivo studies, and collaboration with numerous international government bodies to ensure rigorous and ethical research practices. Dr. Offringa received her PhD in Plant Sciences and has extensive training in all aspects of botany.

Prior to her doctoral work, Dr. Offringa was trained as a plant organic chemist and field botanist at San Francisco State University. After receiving her BS in Psychology, she worked for two technology start-up companies as the CEO’s Assistant. Growing up, she traveled extensively and lived overseas sparking a love for learning new perspectives.

At the core of her career as a researcher and educator is the preservation of global biocultural diversity by emphasizing the importance of plants used for food and medicine, and to raise awareness of the connection between our food systems, our personal health and preservation of the environment.

Lisa C. Offringa, PhD

Medical and Nutritional Ethnobotanist

Lisa Offringa

Profile
With over 15 years of experience in ethnobotany and an extensive background in psychology, botany, chemistry and nutrition, I have a unique perspective on the intersection of food, plants, products, people and the environment. I am a highly skilled research scholar and educator able to cross disciplines, manage multiple projects and adeptly translate science to diverse audiences.
Education

Postdoctoral Research Fellow | Stanford University School of Medicine

PhD in Biology: Plant Sciences | The New York Botanical Garden & CUNY Graduate Center

BS Psychology | George Mason University

Expertise
  • Extensive botanical knowledge
  • Use of medicinal plants
  • Design and execution of human clinical trials
  • Phytochemical training and testing
  • Global traditional medicine practices
  • Nutrition and nutritional supplements
  • Dietary fiber and the intestinal microbiota

Medicinal Plants of Northern Thailand for the Treatment of Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly by Dr. Lisa Offringa

This book provides a description of cognitive impairment in the elderly population through the lens of Thai Traditional Medicine as it is practiced in northern Thailand. It provides an overview of Thai Traditional Medicine and the memory loss presented in elderly dementia. Some medicinal plants used by traditional Thai healers to treat cognitive decline and memory issues in the elderly are reviewed.

Medicinal Plants of Northern Thailand for the Treatment of Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly provides readers with the detailed description of the in vitro screening of ten plants and those results. The bioactivity of these single plants exemplifies the success of using an ethnobotanical filter to identify plants with cognitive enhancing activity.

Medicinal Plants of Northern Thailand for the Treatment of Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly by Dr. Lisa Offringa

This book provides a description of cognitive impairment in the elderly population through the lens of Thai Traditional Medicine as it is practiced in northern Thailand. It provides an overview of Thai Traditional Medicine and the memory loss presented in elderly dementia. Some medicinal plants used by traditional Thai healers to treat cognitive decline and memory issues in the elderly are reviewed.

Medicinal Plants of Northern Thailand for the Treatment of Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly provides readers with the detailed description of the in vitro screening of ten plants and those results. The bioactivity of these single plants exemplifies the success of using an ethnobotanical filter to identify plants with cognitive enhancing activity.

Medicinal Plants of Northern Thailand for the Treatment of Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly by Dr. Lisa Offringa

This book provides a description of cognitive impairment in the elderly population through the lens of Thai Traditional Medicine as it is practiced in northern Thailand. It provides an overview of Thai Traditional Medicine and the memory loss presented in elderly dementia. Some medicinal plants used by traditional Thai healers to treat cognitive decline and memory issues in the elderly are reviewed.

Medicinal Plants of Northern Thailand for the Treatment of Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly provides readers with the detailed description of the in vitro screening of ten plants and those results. The bioactivity of these single plants exemplifies the success of using an ethnobotanical filter to identify plants with cognitive enhancing activity.

Contact Dr. Offringa