Medicines from the Earth Herb Symposium 2018

Friday June 1

Pre-conference events at Blue Ridge Assembly (unless otherwise noted). Participants may reserve lunch in advance from Blue Ridge here (“Early arrival needs”). Symposium registration required to attend these extra events.

8:30 AM – Noon
Field Trip to BioNetwork Lab in Candler, NC: Using a Microscope for Botanical Identification
Marie Knight and Andrew Capps of BioNetwork
Join us in the BioNetwork laboratory for hands-on practice using a microscope to examine plant materials. Microscopy is one of many useful tools for identifying and authenticating botanical samples to comply with CGMP requirements, but it can also offer a new perspective on familiar and beloved plants. 20 person limit. $59.  Read more.

Medicinal Mushrooms in the Kitchen and Apothecary Part 1 and Part 2–Demonstration Intensive at Blue Ridge Assembly
Marc Williams
Learn how to incorporate our fungal allies into tasty therapeutic preparations fit for both the table and the medicine chest. We demonstrate and sample a variety of preparations from choice local mushroom species and those from places more exotic.. 25 person limit. $59. Read more

 

 

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10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Ethnobotanical and Native Plant Field Study
David Winston, RH(AHG)
Herbalist, ethnobotanist and researcher David Winston leads a journey into the traditional and current uses of the plants found on the grounds of Blue Ridge Assembly. This event fills every year so please register early!   35-person limit. $69

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Intensive: Botanical Medicine in a Clinical Psychology Practice– Chronic Pain, PTSD, Anxiety and Depression Part 1 and Part 2
Amanda McQuade Crawford, MA, RH (AHG)
 Examples from Amanda’s practice as a medical herbalist and clinical psychologist help shed light on the best ways to address chronic pain, PTSD, anxiety and depression with botanicals, mind-body therapies and nutrition.  These conditions are covered from many different angles, providing a holistic picture of effective treatment for these complicated mental health conditions. ($79) 

Learn more about this intensive.

 

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2:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Ecology, Propagation and Cultivation of Native and Oriental Medicinal Herbs at Mountain Gardens
Joe Hollis
Mountain Gardens is a forty-year-old botanical garden incorporating the largest collection of medicinal herbs in the eastern US. Follow expert botanist and horticulturist Joe Hollis on a leisurely plant walk with detailed information on the ecology, propagation and cultivation of the herbs. We also look at the Mountain Gardens nursery, apothecary and seed bank. Limit 20. $59 We are sorry but this event is full.
Read more

5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Registration at Blue Ridge Assembly Pavilion, Exhibit Hall Opens
(5 – 7 PM Joe Hallock and Friends play old time mountain music. Come join the fun!)

Saturday June 2

7:00 AM – 7:45 AM  Qigong with Greg Casey (Optional–Back by popular demand–Eureka Hall Front Porch)
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM  Breakfast (for those who’ve purchased meals beforehand)
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM   Registration: Blue Ridge Center Pavilion
8:30 AM – 9:15 AM  Opening Meeting: Washburn Auditorium

(Concurrent lectures–choose one–no need to sign up in advance.)
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Kratom: Chemistry and Clinical Applications for Opiate Withdrawal, Pain, Depression and Anxiety
Kenneth Proefrock
Mitragyna speciosa is a psychoactive plant grown in Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand and Malaysia where it has been used as an analgesic, to control diarrhea and to reduce fever in acute conditions. The major alkaloids in kratom have shown opioid agonist activity and can be used as an alternative for chronic pain and opioid withdrawal symptoms. Kratom is controversial in the US, with a DEA threat to ban it outright being responded to by thousands of citizens requesting it be left alone and allowed to remain available in the open market. This lecture discusses what Kenneth has learned from using it for pain conditions, opiate withdrawal and depression/anxiety.

Helping People Cope with Loss
Amanda McQuade Crawford
How can we choose herbs, words and service to meet a wounded person’s need for meaning and for healing? Includes a practical herbal guide for those suffering from trauma and loss. Also addresses palliative end of life care (aimed at quality of life, not recovery), which focuses on symptom relief, especially pain, and the stress often accompanying end of life. Herbal options for those dying and those living with trauma and grief.

Environmental Impact on Sexual Development and Reproductive Ability
Walter Crinnion, ND
The impact of ubiquitous pollutants on sexual and reproductive health go far beyond “environmental estrogens”. This talk looks at each of the most common pollutants in relationship to their impact on female health through all ages. This will include the role of certain pollutants in common female disorders, dysfunctions and diseases. Lifestyle, nutritional and botanical support for these issues are also addressed. 

Plant Walk: Challenges and Opportunities with Exotic Invasive Plants
Marc Williams
This class describes plant family patterns and their applications to exotic invasive plants for food, medicine and beauty. A review of the ethnobotanical literature helps us learn how to employ these plants and effectively make use of a problem by turning it into a resource. We identify and take an in-depth look at some of the prime species of medicinal plants occurring on the Blue Ridge Assembly property, and then discuss a more general useful exotic invasive plant list of over 150 species from the eastern United States.

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Refreshments and Exhibit Break in Pavilion

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Hysterectomies – Herbal Tools for Prevention or Recovery from Surgery
Kathleen Maier, RH(AHG)
By the time women in the States reach 60 yrs of age, 1/3 will have lost their uteruses. When one imagines that fact, it clearly begs for questions and change. As herbalists, we have the tools for changing these numbers. This lecture examines basic tenets of uterine health, the four major reasons for hysterectomy and botanical therapies for each, and how good womb care over the course of a woman’s life can help prevent surgery. We will also look at ways to prepare and recover from surgery when this is the wisest option.

What Type is your Headache? Botanical Therapies
Mary Bove, ND
A review of the various mechanisms behind the physiology of a headache, and botanical applications for specific mechanisms. Describes the application of botanicals to address all influences contributing to the headache along with strategies for breaking cyclical aspects of some headaches. Discussion covers common headache pharmaceuticals both over the counter and prescription, and botanical options and lifestyle recommendations.

Herbs and Nutrients for Enhancing Cognitive Function
Jillian Stansbury, ND
Oxidative stress and inflammatory load in the body can contribute to neuronal damage, and agents that can help protect, repair, and regenerate nerves may be helpful. Medium chain triglycerides and metabolic optimization can help prevent, and possibly slow the progression of neuronal degeneration. Herbs shown to support cholinergic transmission have given rise to several prescription pharmaceuticals. These and other cholinesterase inhibiting botanical medicines are discussed, along with basic protocol ideas for treating cognitive impairment.

Pao Zhi- The Alchemy of Herbs (Demonstration)
David Winston, RH(AHG)
Alchemy is the process of taking something physical and liberating its inner essence and activity. In this class we briefly discuss Chinese, Ayurvedic and European Alchemical techniques and how they can be applied to plants. We will learn how to change one herb into many different medicines, how to detoxify herbs, increase specific organ activity, increase bioavailability of active chemical compounds and experience the cooking techniques used in the the Chinese art of Pao Zhi (medicine processing).

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Lunch and Exhibit Break

2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Botanicals and Nutrients for Chemotherapy-Related Neuropathy and Neuropathic Pain
Donald Yance, RH (AHG), CN
Of the many side effects of drug treatments for cancer, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the most debilitating, affecting up to 70% of patients on chemotherapy. This leads to poor quality of life and often discontinuation of useful anti-cancer treatment. Oxidative stress is a central mediator of apoptosis, neuroinflammation, metabolic disturbances and bioenergetic failure in neurons, and therefore one of the main causes of CIPN. The lecture offers a summary of research on botanical compounds (such as Vinpotecine and Huperzine A), herbs (such as astragalus, hypericum and ginkgo), and nutrients (such as α-lipoic acid, N-acetyl carnitine, and N-acetyl cysteine), which have demonstrated significant positive effects in treating and preventing CIPN in clinical trials in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Also included are a few out-of-the-box pharmaceutical agents that demonstrate protective effects against CIPN, such as Celecoxib and Minoxidil. Specific treatment protocols for taxane and platinum-related CIPN are presented.

Encounters with The Shaman’s Pharmacy (Peru)
Chris Kilham
Travelers who venture to the Ucayali region of Peru’s Amazon for ayahuasca wind up encountering a variety of regional medicines, including cat’s claw, chuchuhuasi, seven roots tonic, mapacho, and many more plants used for treatments and for “dieting.” From the Belen market of Iquitos to the shacks of shamans we’ll examine some of these medicines, and the role they play in health and healing.

Inside/Outside Applications for Joint & Tissue Inflammation
Teresa Boardwine, RH(AHG)
Learn simple remedies for aching joints and inflamed tissues. Internal botanical formulas can be supplemented by a variety of poultices, salves and soaks to speed healing. Demonstration of a few of these techniques is included in the presentation.

Herb Walk
Doug Elliott
Refresh yourself in the beautiful Blue Ridge Assembly forest with Doug, the consummate story- teller, entertainer and harmonica player. Scientific medicinal plant information and folklore are combined in a seamless whole in this walk on the wild side!

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Refreshments and Exhibit Break in the Pavilion

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Terpenoid Chemistry for Herbalists
Kenneth Proefrock
An unforeseen consequence of the medical cannabis movement has been a resurgence of interest in terpene and terpenoid chemistry. This vast subject includes such things as essential oils, aromatics, saponins and resins. In this discussion, we walk through the different categories of terpenoid compounds, discuss their chemistry, potential therapeutic effects, and best methods of processing. Kenneth brings samples for a sensual survey of the visible, aromatic, and physical properties of terpenoid compounds as well as a discussion of extraction and concentration methods that include different distillation techniques, soxhlet extractions, and solubility enhancement methods. Be prepared to be immersed in the sticky, smelly, intoxicating world of terpenoid chemistry.

The Many Virtues of the Mint Family: From Digestion to Cognition. Rosemary to Oregano and Thyme
Mary Bove, ND
Medicinal uses of the classic herbs in the Mint/Lamiaceae family are described along with some of the general traits of the family as a whole. Class participants will experience this aromatic family via smell, taste, sight, and brain. Herbs and preparations experienced during class include Rosemary, Lemon Balm, Spearmint, Holy Basil, Lavender, Oregano, and Thyme.

Hormonal Depression in Women
Amanda McQuade Crawford
Women are statistically much more likely to suffer from major depressive disorders than men. We examine three types of women’s mood disorders where hormones also play a role in changed behavior and cognition. The focus is on botanical and other natural therapies for premenstrual, postpartum and menopausal depression. Based on clinical experience with natural therapies supported by research, the presentation points health care providers toward getting at root causes. 

Foraging for Health – A Seasonal Approach (Demonstration)
Vickie Shufer
Follow the cycles of the plants through the seasons and discover which plants are available at each time of the year. Beginning in the spring with a tonic and cleanse, continuing into summer with berries for strength and hydration, and ending with roots, nuts, and berries for the fall and winter. Includes demonstration of cooking a few tasty dishes with these wild foods.

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Dinner
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Exhibit Hall Open in the Pavilion

6:30 PM –7:30 PM
American Herbalists Guild (AHG) Gathering
Front Deck of Blue Ridge Center
Find out more about the American Herbalists Guild, meet other AHG members and enjoy desserts on the front deck. All welcome! 

8:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Keynote: Down the Rabbit Hole on the Medicine Trail
Chris Kilham
In the course of medicine hunting around the globe, all manner of circumstances arise, including wild events, mishaps, plans gone wrong, horrific foods, and scenes that boggle the mind. Come along as Chris Kilham shares the funny and awful side of medicine hunting, through stories and images from around the world.

 

 

Sunday June 3

7:00 AM – 7:45 AM  Qigong with Greg Casey
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM  Breakfast

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Panel Discussion: Staying Centered in a Stressful World
Jill Stansbury, Mary Bove and Kenneth Proefrock
We all know the signs of stress in ourselves, our patients and our families, but in the furious pace of life today it’s sometimes difficult to take the time and energy to address self-care. Botanicals are great allies, and incorporating dietary and lifestyle changes can make a big difference when we are feeling overwhelmed. By puttng attention on this basic need, we can affect all areas of life.

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM Refreshments and Exhibit Break in the Pavilion

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Synergy: The Key to Effective Herbal Practice
David Winston, RH(AHG)
In all the world’s great herbal traditions, the use of single herbs (simples) is virtually unknown. Complex formulas are most often used and are, if properly formulated, significantly more effective than individual remedies. With classic traditional formulas there are clear strategies to create a mixture that is more than the sum of its parts. There are multiple ways to create synergy and avoid antagonism. In this class we look at the concepts and techniques used in TCM, Ayurveda, Unani-tibb, Physiomedicalism, Eclectic Medicine, Siddha and Western herbal practice that allow the clinician to achieve superior results and clinical success.

COPD and Women: How Herbs Can Help
Mary Bove, ND
COPD is actually a big issue in women’s health and rarely talked about. This class reviews the basic pathophysiology of COPD, why women are at higher risk, and examines possible prevention strategies. The focus is on botanical applications for common symptoms and long-term management of COPD, as an alternative or adjunct to OTC and pharmaceutical treatments such as bronchodilators and inhaled steroids.

Herbs to Lift the Spirits
CoreyPine Shane, RH(AHG)
Using Chinese medicine theory, we can look at depression, melancholy and grief as different patterns of disharmony in the body when they are overwhelming to us and we can’t continue our daily life. In this class we’ll look at these patterns of imbalance to figure out when to nourish, when to move and clear, and when to calm the spirit. Although we’ll be borrowing some terms from Traditional Chinese Medicine, this lecture is also intended for the western herbal practitioner.

Establishing Relationship with the Healing Plants (Outdoor Walk)
Kathleen Maier, RH(AHG)
This experiential class teaches simple methods for developing intimate relationships with the plants around us. We employ techniques such as wide angle vision, sketching, organoleptics, journaling, and other methods in order to understand the depth of the relationships that are available to us with plants. We will also pay tribute to Goethe and his study of plant morphology.

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM Exhibits in Pavilion

2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
The Role of Botanicals in Chemotherapy, Part 1 
Donald Yance, RH(AHG), CN
Based on thirty years of clinical experience and the increasing evidence from clinical trials, this lecture describes botanical protocols for patients on chemotherapy. The key is to create a multi-targeted approach using chemotherapeutic agents, botanicals, nutrients and dietary medicine based on the blood and pathology tests of each individual. This works toward mitigating side effects and toxicity from chemo, improves recovery of bone marrow and organ systems, enhances immunity, and targets unrelated patient health issues such as mood and sleeping disorders, digestive issues and fatigue. Describes the positive synergistic effects of botanicals working with chemotherapy for the best outcome and presents the most up-to-date herb-drug interaction information based on research and experience.

Autoimmune Dietary Recovery Plan
Teresa Boardwine, RH(AHG)
We explore the dietary needs of a person in recovery from severe illness, expecially autoimmune conditions. With a focus on liver, gut, blood and the immune system, we discuss a diet to re-establsh health. We include medicinal herbs and foods in our menu plans and recipes.

Preconception Care: Diet and Lifestyle Choices for Optimizing the Health and Vitality of the Child
Walter Crinnion, ND
Conscious conception would include preconception care. In our current toxic environment this is rapidly becoming a necessity rather than a option. This talk reviews the adverse effects of the most common environmental pollutants on the vitality of the child and includes a list of which ubiquitous pollutants should be assessed for exposure or presence (including potential tests).

Beginner’s Guide to Making Tinctures (Demonstration)
Robin McGee
Making your own tinctures is fun, easy, empowering (and addictive)! During this demonstration class you will learn the steps for making tinctures from fresh and dried plant material using both the folk method and the more precise weights & measures method. We also discuss equipment, recordkeeping, labeling and more.

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM  Refreshments and Exhibit Break in Pavilion

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
The Role of Botanicals in Chemotherapy, Part 2 
Donald Yance, RH(AHG), CN
In the second part we go more deeply into details of tests and protocols. This includes a list of essential blood and pathology tests, what to look for in a CBC report, tumor and microenvironment biomarkers, and specific molecular tests on the major chemo agents (such as taxane, platinum, etc), How to test for mutations and biomarkers that help guide botanical protocols, how to target cancer stem cells with botanicals, and how to use protective botanical compounds during chemotherapy. And finally, we discuss how to combine whole plant extracts containing isolated chemotherapeutic agents with their drugs for maximum effect (ie; Camptotheca acuminata with chemotherapeutic agent Irinotecan or Topotecan)

The Solanaceae – A Bewitching Family
Jillian Stansbury, ND
This richly visual presentation explores the fascinating depth and breadth of the Solanaceae family, from flying ointments and hallucinogenic species, to first grade pain medicines, to modern pharmaceuticals based on the family’s tropane alkaloids. Join us for a deep exploration of the energy, mythology, and pharmacology of this bewitching family to include discussions of Atropa belladonna, Hyoscyamus niger, Brugmansia, Datura, and other medicinal species of South America.

Relating Heart and Lung Sounds to Specific Herbal Remedies in the Eclectic Tradition (Hands-on workshop with stethoscope—please bring your own!)
Kenneth Proefrock, ND
The eclectic physicians and physiomedicalists used a stethoscope to relate heart and lung sounds to particular herbal remedies. This class is based on one Kenneth taught for a while at SCNM, and found it very enlightening. Everyone had a stethoscope, we talked about normal heart, lung and abdominal sounds, then we listened to one another to get a sense of the large range of ‘normal’, then we talked about common pathological presentations and specific herbal medicines prescribed on the basis of the findings of this diagnostic tool. This is NOT a medical diagnostics class, but an interesting exercise that helps shed light on historical herbal usage.

Herb Walk
Doug Elliott
Whether he’s pointing out poison ivy, pontificating on poke sallet, crooning about creasy greens, jiving about ginseng, or extolling the virtues of dandelions, this herbalist, author, and storyteller will delight and amaze you with his broad, practical, scientific and cultural knowledge of the area’s many useful wild plants.

6:00 PM –7:00 PM Dinner and Exhibit Break
5:30 PM –7:00 PM Exhibit Hall Open in Pavilion

7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Note: Continuing education not offered for this event
Herbal Songs and Stories with Doug Elliott, Jill Stansbury and Kathleen Maier
(Fireside program in the amphitheater)
Songs inspired by plants and the natural world to build community and support personal healing. Stories of healing from another tumultuous year. Come to sing, tell a story of healing, or just be.

Monday June 4

7:00 AM – 7:45 AM  Qigong with Greg Casey
7:30 – 8:30 AM Breakfast

8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Naturopathic Interventional Strategies for Seizure Disorders and other Neurological Conditions
Kenneth Proefrock, ND
We begin with a broad discussion of the types of seizure disorders and related neuralgic conditions, the presumed causes for their onset and development, and expected progression for these conditions. We then discuss therapeutic interventions, beginning with allopathic agents and rationale, discussing weaning strategies, ethical medico-legal concerns, and botanical/nutraceutical agents that are helpful in the process. Discussion examines the therapeutic use of Cannabis products and derivatives, liposomes, and other botanical and nutraceutical agents: Albizzia, Glycyrrhiza, Scutellaria, Rauwolfia, Bacopa, Convolvulus, Schisandra, glycine, taurine, B12 and folate analogs, piracetam, pramiracetam, oxyracetam, aniracetam, idebenone, sulbutiamine, and phenylbutyrate.

The Bomoh’s Medicine (Malaysia)
Chris Kilham
In traditional Malaysian medicine, healers are known as Bomohs. Utilizing a broad range of Southeast Asian plants, Bomohs are the bush doctors of the region. In this seminar we examine plant-based remedies of the Bomohs, from Tongkat Ali to kesum. Vivid images from multiple trips to Malaysia will bring this presentation to life.

Finding Focus: Working with Adult ADD/ADHD
CorePine Shane, RH(AHG)
Most commonly thought of as a problem in children, Attention Deficit Disorder is just as likely to manifest in adults. Even though the symptoms may be more subtle and thus harder to recognize, ADD can still have a huge impact on people’s daily lives, and proper treatment can allow people to flourish and thrive in a whole new way. Using Chinese Medicine theory, we’ll talk about herbs and supplements that can be used for the different manifestations of this issue – to nourish the adrenals and nervous system in cases of Kidney Yin deficiency, aromatic herbs to clear brain fog when Damp and Phlegm cloud the mind, and sedative and grounding herbs for an agitated spirit.

Journey to the Trees (Outdoor Plant Walk)
Robin McGee
From calming a cough or cooling internal heat, to uplifting a grieving heart or giving ease from itchy rashes, the trees offer great support to body, mind, and spirit. Meet some of the Tall Standing Ones that inhabit Blue Ridge Assembly and much of the southeast –white oak, wild cherry, sassafras, tulip poplar, pine, etc– and learn their identifying characteristics, their medicine, and a bit of their magic.

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Refreshments and Exhibit Break in the Pavilion

Mycotoxins – The Health Effects of Mold and how to Diagnose and Treat
Walter Crinnion, ND
Molds thrive on moisture and cellulose, both of which are abundant in many homes. This talk reviews where in the home (and how) molds can grow as well as what the mycotoxins do to the body. The mechanisms of damage from these molds will include the symptom pictures that they produce. Methods for testing homes for molds are thoroughly reviewed, with examples of home mold spore counts and how to interpret them. Remediation techniques for the home along with treatment plans for the individuals complete the presentation.

Energetics of Menses/Moon Time and PMS
Kathleen Maier, RH(AHG)
This class looks at tissue states and energetic systems to gain a deeper understanding of women’s cycles. When we understand our “Nature” (do we run hot/cold, damp/dry) then we can support and tend our reproductive health in a more meaningful way. The best way to ensure an easeful transition into menopause is to understand your constitutional needs in the earlier years. While we will define the chemistry involved, there is more to PMS than simply hormones.

Herb Walk
Doug Elliott
Laugh and learn as Doug guides you through a wealth of medicinal herbs and regales you with stories of the plants, the medicines and the people of the Appalachians.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch and Exhibit Break. Exhibit Hall closes at 1 PM.

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Closing Panel: My New Favorite Herb
Chris Kilham, CoreyPine Shane and Teresa Boardwine
Saffron, lady’s mantle and wood betony have unique healing properties and are favorites of these herbalists.

3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Note: Continuing education not offered for this event.
Farm Tour: Gaia Herbs in Brevard, North Carolina
Gaia Herbs Fonder Ric Scalzo and Herbal Educator Mary Bove, ND
Free of charge, only open to symposium participants. Limit 60. We are sorry but this event is full.

On this tour you’ll walk the fields and learn about planting, cultivation and harvest techniques while enjoying the beautiful, fertile valley surrounded by mountains. It’s an experience not to be missed! Read more

Teresa Boardwine
Teresa Boardwine operates Green Comfort School of Herbal Medicine in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where she offers classes, consultations and online access to her workshops. She has been teaching her hands-on medicine making classes for over 20 years.
Presentations: 
1. Inside/Outside Applications for Joint & Tissue Inflammation
2. Autoimmune Dietary Recovery Plan

Mary Bove, ND
A clinical medical herbalist, Mary Bove had a practice in family medicine in Brattleboro, Vermont for over 20 years. She is the author of An Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children and Infants, and recently produced an iPhone App, Momma Nature’s Food Pharm Guide. She is currently the botanical educator for Gaia Herbs, Inc.
Presentations: 
1. What Type is your Headache? Botanical Therapies
2. COPD and Women: How Herbs Can Help
3. The Many Virtues of the Mint Family: From Digestion to Cognition. Rosemary to Oregano and Thyme

Andrew Capps and Marie Knight of BioNetwork Labs in Asheville
Andrew Capps is an industry trainer in natural products with 11 years of laboratory, regulatory, quality management, and training experience from his work in academic research and regulatory settings. Marie Knight is a laboratory coordinator for BioNetwork, part of the North Carolina Community College System. She has worked in life science labs for 15 years, conducting chemical and microbiological testing and assisting clients with quality control projects. They will co-teach the Friday intensive at the BioNetwork Lab (about 40 minutes from Blue Ridge Assembly).
Presentation: 
1. Field Trip to BioNetwork Lab in Asheville: Using a Microscope for Botanical Identification ($59)

Walter Crinnion, ND
Walter J. Crinnion has been in practice since 1982, specializing in treating chronic health problems caused by environmental chemical overload. He is past director of the Environmental Medicine Center at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. He offers a six-month training in environmental medicine, and an annual conference on the topic.
Presentations: 
1. Environmental Impact on Sexual Development and Reproductive Ability
2. Preconception Care: Diet and Lifestyle Choices for Optimizing the Health and Vitality of the Child
3. Mycotoxins – The Health Effects of Mold and how to Diagnose and Treat

Doug Elliott
Doug Elliott is an herbalist, storyteller, basket maker and author who presents programs from Canada to the Caribbean. He has written four books, including Wild Roots, and recorded a number of award-winning albums of stories and songs. His latest book: Swarm Tree: Of Honeybees, Honeymoons and the Tree of Life.
Presentations: 
Three Herb Walks

Joe Hollis
Joe Hollis has lectured, consulted and taught workshops in medicinal herb identification, cultivation and processing at Mountain Gardens and at various colleges and conferences in North Carolina for over 30 years. Mountain Gardens sells its seeds, plants and preparations at herb fairs and medicinal herb conferences, and via the internet at the website: www.mountaingardensherbs.com. In June 2018 he will be travelling to China to collect important medicinal species not presently available in the US. According to Joe, “Paradise is a garden.”
Presentations: 
Intensive at Mountain Gardens (in Burnsville about 1 hour from Blue Ridge Assembly) FULL
Friday June 1, 2 – 5:30 PM: Ecology, Propagation and Cultivation of Native and Oriental Medicinal Herbs (Cost $59)

Chris Kilham
An author and lecturer who has appeared on TV and radio in all parts of the globe, Chris Kilham is the FOX News Medicine Hunter and also appears on The Dr. Oz Show as an herbal expert. He is the author of fourteen books and the Explorer in Residence at U Mass Amherst.
Presentations: 
1. Keynote: Down the Rabbit Hole on the Medicine Trail
2. The Bomoh’s Medicine (Malaysia)
3. Encounters with The Shaman’s Pharmacy (Peru)

Kathleen Maier RH(AHG)
Kathleen Maier has been a practicing herbalist for over twenty years and is currently director of Sacred Plant Traditions in Charlottesville, Virginia where she offers a three-year clinical/community herbalist training program. She began studying plants in the Peace Corps in Chile and is the co-author of Bush Medicine of the Bahamas.
Presentations: 
1. Plant Walk: Establishing Relationship with the Healing Plants
2. Hysterectomies – Herbal Tools for prevention or Recovery from Surgery
3. Energetics of Menses/Moon Time and PMS

Robin McGee
Robin McGee is a community herbalist, organic farmer, herbal educator, writer and storyteller. From her early childhood, it has been her intimate relationship with the Plant People and the Tall Standing Ones that feeds her soul. She lives with her husband on their chemical-free farm and botanical sanctuary in Anderson, SC.
Presentation: 
1. Beginner’s Guide to Making Tinctures (Demonstration)
2. Journey to the Trees (Outdoor Plant Walk)

Amanda McQuade Crawford, MA, RH (AHG)
Amanda McQuade Crawford is a graduate of Britain’s College of Phytotherapy. After living in New Zealand for a year, where she was the senior clinic tutor at Canterbury College, she is currently an herbal consultant in the Los Angeles area. Amanda is the author of The Herbal Menopause Book and Herbal Remedies for Women.
Presentations: 
1. Pre-conference Intensive Friday 1 – 5 PM: Botanical Medicine in a Clinical Psychology Practice: Chronic Pain, PTSD, Anxiety and Depression($79)
2. Helping People Cope with Loss
3. Hormonal Depression in Women

Kenneth Proefrock, ND
A naturopathic physician practicing in Sun City, Arizona, Kenneth Proefrock is also the owner of Vital Force Naturopathic Compounding. He is the vice-president of the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners and chair of the biochemistry portion of the naturopathic physician’s licensing exam.
Presentations: 
1. Kratom: Chemistry and Clinical Applications for Opiate Withdrawal, Pain Conditions and Depression and Anxiety
2. Terpenoid Chemistry for Herbalists
3. Relating Heart and Lung Sounds to Specific Herbal Remedies in the Eclectic Tradition (Hands-on workshop with stethoscope—please bring your own!)
4. Naturopathic Strategies for Seizure Disorders and other Neurological Conditions

Vickie Shufer, MA
A naturalist and herbalist with a master’s degree in therapeutic herbalism, Vickie Shufer teaches classes on edible and medicinal plants, as well as outdoor education programs. She is the author of The Everything Guide to Foraging and was the editor/publisher of The Wild Foods Forum newsletter (1994 – 2014). She also owns and manages a native nursery, The Wild Woods Farm, where she propagates native plants.
Presentations: 
1. Foraging for Health – A Seasonal Approach (Demonstration)

 

Jill Stansbury, ND
A naturopathic doctor, Jill Stansbury specializes in women’s health, mental health, and chronic disease. She teaches on the faculty of National University of Naturopathic Medicine, where she was chair of the botanical medicine department for 25 years. She travels extensively in the Peruvian Amazon to study indigenous healers and their herbs.
Presentations: 
1. Anthraquinone Glycosides: A Practical Review
2. The Solanacea – A Bewitching Family
3. Herbs and Nutrients for Enhancing Cognitive Function

Marc Williams, MA
Ethnobiologist Marc Williams teaches classes on ethnobotany and using plants as medicine. His training includes a B.A. in Environmental Studies/Sustainable Agriculture from Warren Wilson College and a M.A. in Appalachian Studies/Sustainable Development from Appalachian State University with a minor in Planning/Geography. He is the executive director of Plants and Healers International and has spent over 18 years working at various restaurants and farms, and traveling throughout 28 countries in North/Central/South America, Europe and all 50 states in the USA.
Presentations: 
1. Medicinal Mushrooms in the Kitchen and Apothecary–A Demonstration Intensive on Friday morning
2. Plant Walk: Challenges and Opportunities with Exotic Invasive Plants

David Winston RH(AHG)
David Winston is an herbalist and ethnobotanist with 41 years of training and clinical experience in Cherokee, Chinese and Western/Eclectic herbal traditions. He offers a two year clinical training program in botanical medicine at David Winston’s Center for Herbal Studies and is the founder and president of Herbalist and Alchemist, Inc.
Presentations: 
1. Friday 10 AM to 3 PM: Ethnobotanical and Native Plant Field Study ($69)
2. Pao Zhi- The Alchemy of Herbs (Demonstration)
3. Synergy: The Key to Effective Herbal Practice

Donald Yance, RH(AHG)
An herbalist and certified nutritionist, Donald Yance practices at the Mederi Centre for Natural Healing in Ashland, Oregon, where he specializes in the treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases. He is the founder and president of the Mederi Foundation, a nonprofit organization for professional education and clinical research in integrative medicine, and president and formulator of Natura Health Products.
Presentations: 
1. The Role of Botanical Medicine in Chemotherapy: Scientific Evidence and Clinical Experience, Part 1
2. The Role of Botanicals in Chemotherapy, Part 2 Highlights
3. Botanicals and Nutrients for Chemotherapy-Related Neuropathy and Neuropathic Pain

Registration Fees

$479 at the door
Online registration closes Thursday May 31 at 5 PM Eastern. Register at the door after that–all are welcome!

Symposium location Blue Ridge Assembly, 84 Blue Ridge Circle, Black Mountain, NC. Come to Ware Pavilion to register. There is still room.

Questions? Contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

Registration fee covers all lectures, panel discussions and other group meetings. Extra fees for intensives, lodging and meals

Information: 541-482-3016

 

Lodging and Meal Information

Blue Ridge Assembly, Black Mountain, NC
84 Blue Ridge Circle, Black Mountain, NC 28711

All inclusive lodging and meal packages start at just $184 for three night’s lodging and eight meals. Commuter meals are also available for $72 for the weekend.

Blue Ridge Lodging and meals now closed.

Alternate Lodging in Black Mountain:
Quality Inn (828) 669-9950
Super 8 Motel (828) 357-4150
These are both about 10 minutes away.

Camping: 
The closest campgrounds are in Swannanoa, about 10 minutes away from Blue Ridge Assembly. They offer tent camping, RV hookups and camping cabins. Call KOA at (800) 562-5907 or Mama Gertie’s Hideaway at (828) 686-4258 for reservations.

Airport Transportation
The closest airport is Asheville Regional Airport. Airport van: Diamond Executive Car Transportation. Reservations: call (828) 281-8139 and mention the herb symposium. Please have your flight arrival and departure times ready when you call. Cost: $65 one way from the airport to Blue Ridge (45 minute trip) for one person. Fees are divided up if there’s more than one person per trip.

Cancellations
Before May 16, symposium and intensive fees will be refunded minus $50 processing fee per registrant. No refunds can be given after May 16, 2018. Please make all refund requests by email

Continuing Education

We offer CE, CME, CNE, PDA and CEUs for:

• Acupuncturists: 25 PDA (hours) approved by NCCAOM, includes Friday AM and PM events. Approval details here
• Naturopathic Physicians: Maximum 25 CME hours approved by OBNM of which 12 hours can be pharmacy (includes Friday pre-conference intensive, plus one Friday morning event) Approval details here
• Nursing: This continuing nursing education activity is approved for 25 contact hours by the Western Multi-State Division, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center‘s Commission on Accreditation. Approval details here.
• North Carolina Chiropractors: CE not being offered for chiropractors this year.
• North Carolina Pharmacists: Approved for 17.5 hours by NC Association of Pharmacists.

Number of credits depends on which lectures are attended.
CE Questions? Contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

 

Lecture Notes

 

Lecture notes are compiled into an online book (proceedings) which is available to all registrants at no cost. Registrants have been sent a link and password to access the teacher materials online. Printed books are also available for $20 at the symposium ($30 afterwards).

Thanks to Gaia Herbs for the beautiful photos on this page!