Kristen McPhee is a distinguished herbalist, adept nutritionist, published author, and proficient substantiation researcher, well-respected for her insightful work and industry expertise. A proud alumnus of the Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH), Kristen holds a Master of Science in Therapeutic Herbalism and a Certificate in Nutrition and Integrative Health. These rigorous academic programs at MUIH have provided her with a rich blend of scientific knowledge and practical skills that she seamlessly applies in her remarkable career.
Following her graduation from MUIH, Kristen practiced as a nutritionist and clinical herbalist. In addition, she has been operating as a self-employed Science Writer & Editor, Nutrient & Herb Researcher, and Market Analyst at Forward Botanicals since 2016. Within this role, she meticulously analyzes scientific data for claims substantiation, ingredient efficacy and safety, and product label development, while regularly publishing and presenting on nutrition science and botanical ingredients.
Kristen currently holds the position of Scientist I (Nutrition & Botanical Scientist) at NOW Foods. Her wide array of responsibilities includes providing scientific and regulatory support, reviewing marketing materials and customer reviews for regulatory compliance, and conducting botanical and nutrient ingredient evaluations for new product concepts. In addition, Kristen develops structure-function claims and product label text, offers colleague training on dietary supplement regulations, and assists the legal department by offering scientific and regulatory expertise.
In conjunction with these roles, Kristen has been contributing to the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) as a Research Editor. She undertakes the development and revision of entries in the AHPA Botanical Safety Handbook 2nd edition, and presents her comprehensive literature review findings to an Expert Advisory Council.
Additionally, Kristen’s tenure with Elsevier as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Herbal Medicine further showcases her versatile skills. From March 2022 to February 2023, she provided final decision recommendations on manuscripts, evaluated manuscripts and reviews, and helped to prevent submission backlogs. Kristen has also demonstrated significant expertise during her time with the American Botanical Council. As an Editor and Research Compiler, she consulted on draft executive summaries, evaluated content for clinical significance, and compiled over 10,000 scientific studies on herbal medicine for a professional herb database.