Past Conference
Video and audio now available for purchase with continuing education for ND, MD, DO, RN, FNP, APRN, etc.
Save the Date for next year: March 28 – 30, 2025
Southwest Conference on Botanical Medicine
Online from March 22 – March 24, 2024
(Extended access to videos after online conference weekend)
This annual conference will take place online.
Table of Contents
- Registration
- Conference Schedule
- Recorded Videos
- Pre-Conference Intensive
- Speakers and Topics
- Continuing Education
- Scholarships
- Sponsors
Highlights:
- 21 online presentations: See speaker and topic list.
- Pre-conference Intensive with Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO on Restorative Sleep: Integrative Strategies for Remediating Sleep Disorders
- Two panel discussions on Zoom with audience participation
- Continuing education available for ND, MD, DO, RN, FNP, LAc and others
- NDs: Approved by SUHS and OBNM for up to 35.5 general hours of which 13 can be pharmacy (or 10 pharmacy + 3 opioid credits for AZ ND).
- California NDs: Approved by AAFP for up to 32.5 Prescribed Credits
- Acupuncturists: Approved up to 19 PDA for live event (NCCAOM)
- Nurses, MDs and DOs: Approved by AAFP for up to 32.5 Prescribed Credits
- NDs: Approved by SUHS and OBNM for up to 35.5 general hours of which 13 can be pharmacy (or 10 pharmacy + 3 opioid credits for AZ ND).
- Registration includes:
- Access to 21 videos for 6 months
- Digital lecture notes and PowerPoints in PDF format to own
- Full set of audio recordings to own
- Continuing education ($25 additional fee for CE)
Registration: Early bird $355 by March 5; $425 after that date. Includes all video lectures except Friday intensive and CE fee.
Student Discounts: Students receive $160 off registration pricing. Please contact us for the discount code.
Cancellations: By March 6, registration fees will be refunded minus $50 processing per registrant. No refunds can be given after 3/6/24. Refund requests should be emailed to the Registration Office.
Scholarships: In recognition of the need for diversity in the fields of clinical herbalism and naturopathic medicine, the conference is offering a limited number of full scholarships to persons of color (Black, Indigenous, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian-American) who are not yet practitioners and would like to further their education in the clinical uses of botanical medicine. Details The scholarship program is now closed. Congratulations to this year’s recipients!
Other Full and Partial Scholarships are modeled on the work-study program. There are a limited number of scholarships based on financial need, and secondarily on participation in publicity initiatives for the conference. Applications close March 5. Details.
Livestream Events on Zoom (March 22 – March 24)
All live events are recorded for later on-demand viewing for those who can’t attend online at the scheduled time.
Note: The information provided in this conference is a research resource for health professionals and is not intended to replace diagnosis and treatment by a qualified health care practitioner.
Pre-Conference Intensive with Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO
Restorative Sleep: Integrative Strategies for Remediating Sleep Disorders
Date: Friday, 3/22/24
Time: 1:00 – 5:15 PM Arizona and Pacific Time on Zoom
Cost: $95
Open only to registered conference participants.
Continuing Education: 4 hours credit
- NDs: 2 general + 2 pharmacy hours (SUHS and OBNM)
- California NDs: 4 Prescribed Credits (AAFP)
- Acupuncturists: 4 PE-CW PDA (NCCAOM)
- MDs, DOs and Nurses: 4 Prescribed Credits (AAFP)
Description: This pre-conference intensive provides a deep dive into sleep from an integrative perspective. We review sleep architecture, the rationale for sleep, define sleep quality and discuss the importance of dreaming. From there we review several types of insomnia, specifically onset insomnia, maintenance insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome. For each of these conditions, the discussion includes pathophysiological contributors, and the benefits and risks of leading conventional and pharmaceutical management strategies. Finally, integrative and botanical approaches based on clinical experience are presented.
Special Friday presentations for acupuncturists (all are welcome)
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM, Arizona and Pacific Time
Why Using Sustainably Sourced Herbs Matters and How to Find Them
Ann Armbrecht, PhD
What do you know about where the herbs in the herbal products you buy come from? What do you know about the companies producing those products? Are they investing in the long term human and ecological communities from which they source? Or are they looking for the best deal on the market? Most importantly, do you know why this matters?
As practitioners, we have a tremendous capacity to influence the purchasing decisions and practices of companies using medicinal plants in their products. Yet, using that power wisely depends on understanding the challenges companies face in sourcing herbs from around the world. This presentation provides tools and resources so that everyone purchasing herbal products can make the most of that buying power and encourage more companies to invest in the practices needed to create high quality, sustainably sourced botanical products.
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM, Arizona and Pacific Time
Herban Legends and Clinical Pearls in the Female Reproductive Materia Medica
Paul Bergner, Medical Herbalist
An Herban Legend is a persistent, widely and firmly held belief about a plant and its medicinal effects which is not true. A Clinical Pearl, on the other hand, is a useful and reliable property or indication for the herb, unrelated to the Legend. The origin of an Herban Legend or its rationale is obscure or forgotten, and is usually based on misinterpretation of science or tradition. It is repeated, believed, and repeated again from textbook to textbook, across a generation until it becomes “common knowledge”. A large number of such Legends are present in North American Herbalism for the category of female reproductive system herbs, usually relating to supposed hormonal effects. Each of the herbs we discuss will also have one or more Clinical Pearls. We will discuss Actaea spp, Angelica sinensis, Withania, Dioscorea, Humulus, Paeonia, Trifolium, Vitex, and the Viburnums.
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM, Arizona and Pacific Time
A Comprehensive Management Plan for Multiple Sclerosis: Botanicals, Nutrients and the New Generation of Pharmaceuticals
Kenneth Proefrock, NMD
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disabling disease of the central nervous system that affects people during early adulthood. Despite several US FDA-approved medications, the treatment options for MS are limited, and up to 70% or more of people with MS explore complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments to help control their MS and treat their symptoms. We discuss the CAM anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective therapies most frequently used, including dietary strategies, fatty acid supplementation, alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin D analogs, thiamine derivatives, and other supplementation for both relapsing and progressive forms of MS. We include an overview of the conventional pharmaceutical approaches to MS, many of which are relatively new, with eight new drug interventions approved over the past five years. These represent some interesting shifts in therapeutic strategy, and many are very compatible with botanical medicine interventions. Case histories are included to illustrate these therapies.
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM, Arizona and Pacific Time
Treatment Approaches to the #1 Cause of Liver Disease in North America: MAFLD
Katie Stage, ND, RH (AHG), FABNG
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), previously called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or simply “fatty liver”, impacts at least 25% of those in North America. This session explores MAFLD including differentiating it from other conditions affecting the liver, monitoring, and treatment. An emphasis is placed on natural treatment and prevention, although pharmaceutical approaches will also be covered.
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM, Arizona and Pacific Time
Holistic Treatment of Rhinosinusitis
Todd Caldecott, Dip, CI.H., RH(AHG), CAP(NAMA), AAC
Rhinosinusitis refers to inflammation of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, and can be classified as acute or chronic depending on the duration of symptoms. It is estimated to affect upwards of 16% of the population, and has a significant negative impact on the quality of life, associated with chronic fatigue, depression, and cognitive impairment. It is the fifth most common diagnosis for which antibiotics are prescribed, despite the lack of clear evidence for their effectiveness, contributing to the pervasive issue of antibiotic resistance. This lecture provides a practical overview of the holistic treatment of rhinosinusitis, drawn from decades of clinical experience, incorporating elements of nutrition, Ayurveda, lifestyle, and herbal medicine.
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM, Arizona and Pacific Time
Panel Discussion: Prevention of Viral Infections: Building Immunity with Botanicals
Panelists: Paul Bergner, Medical Herbalist; Todd Caldecott, Dip, CI.H., RH(AHG), CAP(NAMA), AAC; and Katie Stage, ND, RH (AHG), FABNG
The COVID pandemic taught us valuable lessons in the prevention of viral infection, which can be applied to all viruses, and especially to future, as yet unknown, viruses. Three experienced practitioners weigh in on the botanical and other natural therapies they have found to be the most effective preventatives, building host immunity before a viral infection can take hold.
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM, Arizona and Pacific Time
Panel Discussion: Botanical Therapies for Recovery from Myocardial Infarction (MI)
Panelists: Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO; Kenneth Proefrock, NMD; and Jillian Stansbury, ND
A myocardial infarction (MI) or heart attack can leave a patient debilitated and bewildered when trying to discover the best path forward to re-establishing health. The pharmaceutical standard of care for recovery is part of the picture, but when patients come to us for additional care, we need to exercise knowledge and responsible caution when prescribing adjunctive botanicals and nutrients. We present three practitioners with invaluable clinical experience in navigating the return to health after an MI.
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM, Arizona and Pacific Time
How to Mitigate the Effects of Mold and Mycotoxin Exposure
Marianne Marchese, ND
Dr. Marchese explains the sources of exposure of mold/mycotoxins and their adverse health effects on the pulmonary, immune and neurological system. She describes links to allergies, asthma, sinusitis, neuropathy and altered immune function, and presents the latest research on how to utilize botanical medicine, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals to provide an integrative treatment approach.
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM, Arizona and Pacific Time
Ending Opioid Addiction: Using Herbs and Nutrients to Support the Brain and Body Through Withdrawal into Vibrant Living
Christina Veselak, MS, CN, LMFT (in CO)
This presentation describes the endorphin neurotransmitter system and how opioid dependency and addiction occurs in the brain. We then describe some of the biochemical causes of acute and post-acute withdrawal symptoms and how to alleviate them using herbs, amino acid therapy, and other helpful nutrients. Finally, herbal and nutritional underpinnings of relapse prevention are explored.
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM, Arizona and Pacific Time
Botanical Solutions for Viral Infections – From Acute to Chronic Sequelae
Kristin Gilmour, BHSc (Naturopathy) and Julianne Grant, BHSc (Naturopathy), BApSc (HM)
Phytomedicines and medicinal mushrooms can play an enormous role in overcoming viral infections and in reducing, or averting, their chronic pathological sequalae. This lecture encompasses the physiological mechanisms of acute and chronic viral infection, the mechanisms by which viruses can re-emerge within the host, and the pathophysiological outcomes of chronic infection. Using specific viral examples, including COVID and herpesviruses, this lecture demonstrates the progression from acute to chronic sequalae, and discusses botanical treatment aims and the relevant properties and application of phytomedicines and medicinal mushrooms.
These lectures will be available to view on demand starting Friday, March 22. Conference registrants have 6 months viewing access to all streaming videos, including the live sessions which are recorded for later viewing.
Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO
Finding Flow in the Lympathics
The lymphatic system is a bit of an unsung hero in the body: It preserves tissue fluid balance, is essential for competent immunity, and transports lipids. Because it does so much, impairment of lymphatic flow is associated with everything from inflammatory diseases to obesity, immune deficiency, cardiovascular disease, and infectious disease. Lymphatic transport and selective permeability of lymphatics can become impaired in the face of aging, oxidative stress, inflammation, and loss of structural integrity. Fortunately, herbs can help. We’ll discuss a variety of botanical strategies to preserve healthy lymphatics.
Ann Armbrecht, PhD
Why Using Sustainably Sourced Herbs Matters and How to Find Them
What do you know about where the herbs in the herbal products you buy come from? What do you know about the companies producing those products? Are they investing in the long term human and ecological communities from which they source? Or are they looking for the best deal on the market? Most importantly, do you know why this matters?
As practitioners, we have a tremendous capacity to influence the purchasing decisions and practices of companies using medicinal plants in their products. Yet, using that power wisely depends on understanding the challenges companies face in sourcing herbs from around the world. This presentation provides tools and resources so that everyone purchasing herbal products can make the most of that buying power and encourage more companies to invest in the practices needed to create high quality, sustainably sourced botanical products.
Lydia Bartholow, DNP, PMHNP
From Papaver to Fentanyl: How We Got Here and How Herbs Can Help
This workshop follows the public health crisis of opioids and fentanyl in the United States. We will travel the narrative of public health and drug policies that allowed fentanyl to be a major contributor to deaths in the US in the last few years. We then review harm reduction strategies for overdose prevention and recovery with an emphasis on botanical medicine as a central ally.
Paul Bergner, Medical Herbalist
Comparative Materia Medica for the Bitter Herbs
The category of bitter herbs has formed the bedrock of medical herbalism since ancient times. We describe the physiology of bitter receptors, and the general physiological and humoral affects associated with the bitter flavor. We then discuss the nuances of the various categories of bitters such as bitter alteratives, tonic-astringents, mild bitters, aromatic bitters, bitter mints, bitter sedatives, bitter demulcents, bitter anodynes, and bitter laxative-tonics. Finally, we describe analogues, differentials, substitutions, combinations, formulas, and multi-system applications among the categories of bitter herbs.
Paul Bergner, Medical Herbalist
Herban Legends and Clinical Pearls in the Female Reproductive Materia Medica
An Herban Legend is a persistent, widely and firmly held belief about a plant and its medicinal effects which is not true. A Clinical Pearl, on the other hand, is a useful and reliable property or indication for the herb, unrelated to the Legend. The origin of an Herban Legend or its rationale is obscure or forgotten, and is usually based on misinterpretation of science or tradition. It is repeated, believed, and repeated again from textbook to textbook, across a generation until it becomes “common knowledge”. A large number of such Legends are present in North American Herbalism for the category of female reproductive system herbs, usually relating to supposed hormonal effects. Each of the herbs we discuss will also have one or more Clinical Pearls. We will discuss Actaea spp, Angelica sinensis, Withania, Dioscorea, Humulus, Paeonia, Trifolium, Vitex, and the Viburnums.
Todd Caldecott, Dip, CI.H., RH(AHG), CAP(NAMA), AAC
Psilocybin Mushrooms in Clinical Practice
Psilocybin mushrooms have garnered a lot of interest as new research has picked up from pioneering work done in the 1960s, looking at the use of psychedelics in the treatment and prevention of mental health issues. Todd Caldecott has been working with psychedelics, including psilocybin mushrooms, for two decades, and in 2015, developed a micro-dosing protocol to address severe depression as an effective alternative to conventional antidepressants. This lecture reviews the clinical applications of psilocybin mushrooms, both for macro- and micro-dosing, including a review of the ethnomycology, mycochemistry, pharmacy, clinical application, and dosage, as well as their utility in weaning patients from SSRIs.
Renée Camila, Herbalist
As Part of a Whole: Insecurity as Physical Indication
From a holistic perspective, most imbalances have an emotional root. This presentation explores the physical indications of insecurity, unworthiness, and the feeling of ‘not enough’. By tracking the physical indications, we are able to more deeply understand how the body is communicating its unique emotional root. There will be special attention given to reviewing these physical patterns within body systems.
Brianna Piché, ND, IBCLC, FABNP, RH (AHG)
Breastfeeding Medicine: Low Milk Supply, Galactagogues and Botanicals for Common Breastfeeding Pitfalls
We review the physiology of lactation, causes of hypogalactia (low milk supply), and treatment considerations in supporting lactating, breastfeeding and chest feeding individuals in the first year postpartum. This includes supporting the infant-parent dyad for effective latch, use of galactagogues, and treatment of common breastfeeding-associated conditions including mastitis and clogged ducts. The goals of this presentation are to provide the basics in understanding and supporting common medical conditions in lactation, to address knowledge gaps in cases of low milk supply postpartum, discuss botanical galactagogues, and equip providers to support continuation of breastfeeding through the first year of life and beyond.
Brianna Piché, ND, RH (AHG), FABNP
Herbs and Pediatric Fever
We take a look at the physiology of fever, potential benefits of fever and dive into the myths/ fears around fever in children. We review several common causes of fever in children, including viral and bacterial infections, and discuss indications for fever suppression or treatment. We also review botanical febrifuges and pharmacologic antipyretics, administration in children, and interventions for several common causes of fever (e.g., ear infections, throat infections, viral coughs).
Kenneth Proefrock, NMD
The Evolution of Wound Care: Botanical Medicine-Based Considerations and Strategies
As modern herbalists we recognize that the intelligent use of botanical medicines can serve to minimize the usage of antibiotics that cause critical antibiotic resistance. Since ancient times, botanical medicines have been used to effectively treat cutaneous wounds and reduce the onset of infections. Prior to antibiotic medications, a relatively simple wound on a hand or a foot could take a person’s life if not attended to properly. The widespread use of antibiotics throughout the second half of the 1900’s led to an overconfidence in the effectiveness of these agents and a notable complacency in pursuing the high levels of wound care that were necessary prior to antibiotic chemotherapy. There are a remarkable number of wound-healing botanicals that have been widely used in the Northern Hemisphere, including Achillea millefolium, Aloe vera, Althea officinalis, Calendula officinalis, Matricaria chamomilla, Curcuma longa, Eucalyptus, Jojoba, plantain, pine, green tea, pomegranate, and Inula. This discussion covers the topics of antibiotic resistance, with an overview of the antibiotics involved in resistance development and how to use botanical medicine correlates, added to effective wound care and hygiene considerations.
Mary Rondeau, ND, RH (AHG)
For the Family: Using EEG BioMarker Patterns to Guide Parenting and Relationship Strategies Including Botanicals Indicated for these Patterns
The latest in EEG technology is being used more widely in family medicine to provide a proactive model for success in relationships, school and parenting. Identifying EEG characteristics that may contribute to behavior patterns, school struggles and relationship struggles can also indicate useful botanicals and other therapies. Many of these patients are already on pharmaceuticals, and identifying botanicals and nutrients useful for these EEG patterns can lead to reduction in both prescription and recreational drug use.
Jillian Stansbury, ND
Herbal Anodynes: Palliatives for Pain
Palliatives can sometimes be eschewed in holistic medicine as only being band-aids and not treating the underlying cause. However, most of us are happy to give up our idealism when we are suffering and just want something to make us feel better as quickly as possible. Many herbs can help take the edge off many of the most common types of pain, from traumatic injuries, to headaches, to passing a kidney stone. This session reviews herbal options for palliative pain relief and their mechanisms of action.
Jillian Stansbury, ND
Review of COPD Pathophysiology and Available Therapies
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide and is both preventable and treatable. Not only are cigarette use and smoke inhalation contributory, non-smokers can also develop the pathology following long-term exposure to indoor air pollution and noxious fumes. This session reviews the pathophysiology, leading drugs for COPD, and how botanicals and nutrients can be complementary and fuel future drug development.
Speakers and Topics
(Subject to minor changes)
Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO
Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, eMBA is a Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Arizona where she is the Associate Director of the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. She received her undergraduate degree from Brown University. Dr. Alschuler completed her naturopathic medical training at Bastyr University where she also completed her residency in general naturopathic medicine. She is board certified in naturopathic oncology. She completed an executive Masters of Business in 2023. She is co-author of Definitive Guide to Cancer, now in its 3rd edition, and Definitive Guide to Thriving After Cancer. More about Lise Alschuler.
Presentations:
1. Pre-Conference Intensive: Restorative Sleep: Integrative Strategies for Remediating Sleep Disorders
2. Finding Flow in the Lymphatics
3. Panel: Botanical Therapies for Recovery from Myocardial Infarction (MI)
Ann Armbrecht, PhD
Ann Armbrecht, PhD, an anthropologist, is the director of the American Botanical Council’s Sustainable Herbs Program. She is the author of The Business of Botanicals: Exploring the Healing Promise of Plant Medicines in a Global Industry, the co-producer of the documentary Numen: The Healing Power of Plants, and the author of the award-winning ethnographic memoir Thin Places: A Pilgrimage Home. Ann was a 2017 Fulbright-Nehru Scholar documenting the supply chain of medicinal plants in India and lives with her family in central Vermont. More about Ann Armbrecht.
Presentation:
1. Why Using Sustainably Sourced Herbs Matters and How to Find Them
Lydia Bartholow, DNP, PMHNP
Lydia Bartholow, DNP, PMHNP, CARN-AP is a doctorally prepared psychiatric nurse practitioner with a specialty in addiction medicine and trauma-informed care. She is a faculty within the School of Psychiatry at Oregon Health and Science University. She speaks nationally on topics such as co-occuring disorders, harm reduction and substance use disorder care system improvement. Trained as an herbalist from a young age, Lydia still thinks like a herbalist and brings plants with her everywhere she goes. She focuses all parts of her practice on radical public health, harm reduction and anti-oppression work. Lydia lives in Portland, OR, on Chinook, Kathlamet, Clackamas and Kalapuya land. More about Lydia Bartholow.
Presentation:
1. From Papaver to Fentanyl: How We Got Here and How Herbs Can Help
Paul Bergner, Medical Herbalist
The Director of the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism in Portland, Oregon, Paul Bergner offers a full curriculum of audio courses from entry level to advanced clinical skills in medical herbalism, nutrition, and nature cure. He has supervised herbalists in teaching clinics for medical herbalism and clinical nutrition continuously since 1996. He edited the Medical Herbalism journal from 1989 through 2015, and is the author of seven books on herbal medicine, nutrition, and naturopathy. More about Paul Bergner.
Presentations:
1. Comparative Materia Medica for the Bitter Herbs
2. Herban Legends and Clinical Pearls in the Female Reproductive Materia Medica
3. Panel: Prevention of Viral Infections: Building Immunity with Botanicals
Todd Caldecott, Dip, CI.H., RH(AHG), CAP(NAMA), AAC
Todd Caldecott is a clinical herbalist with 27 years of clinical experience, with a deep foundational background in medical herbalism, Ayurveda, and other herbal traditions. He is a registered professional member of the American Herbalists Guild and the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, and director of the Dogwood School of Botanical Medicine. He is a published author/editor of many articles, papers and books on the subject of herbal medicine, health and Ayurveda, including Ayurveda the Divine Science of Life (2006), Ayurveda in Nepal (2009), and Food As Medicine (2011). Since 2002, Todd has maintained a close relationship with a group of hereditary physicians located in Kathmandu, and incorporates many of their artisanal remedies in his practice. In 2014 Todd was the Visiting Mitchell Scholar at Bastyr University, and lectures at conferences and symposiums internationally. Todd lives on small herb farm where he also maintains a clinic and dispensary, on the Sunshine Coast of BC. More about Todd Caldecott.
Presentations:
1. Psilocybin Mushrooms in Clinical Practice
2. Holistic Treatment of Rhinosinusitis
3. Panel: Prevention of Viral Infections: Building Immunity with Botanicals
Renée Camila
Renée Camila is a bilingual clinical herbalist and traditional birthworker. The child of Nicaraguan immigrants, her practice La Yerba Buena Herbs draws from her Spanish and Indigenous (Chorotega) ancestry. Trained in Indigenous energetic herbalism by Karyn Sanders and Sarah Holmes of the Blue Otter School of Herbal Medicine, Renée has been in clinical practice since 2016. Following in the footsteps of her ancestors, she is also a student of Mesoamerican Traditional Medicine (MTM) and Curanderismo. She offers energetic herbal consultations, traditional birth care, folk medicine for ritual use, and classes. She is one of the hosts of the Indigenous-centered radio show and podcast The Herbal Highway and is co-founder of the Now and Then Herb School. More about Renée Camila.
Presentation:
1. As Part of a Whole: Insecurity as Physical Indication
Kristin Gilmour, BHSc (Naturopathy) and Julianne Grant, BHSc (Naturopathy), BApSc (HM)
Kristin is an experienced Australian Naturopathic practitioner with a special interest in the management of immune health, mental health, chronic inflammatory disorders and skin conditions. Alongside her longstanding Naturopathic practice, Kristin is an author, herbal medicine researcher, educator and podcast host. With her colleague Julianne Grant, Kristin has recently published a comprehensive Phytomedicine Compendium, detailing 180 medicinal plants and fungi. More about Kristin Gilmour.
Julianne Grant is an experienced, practicing Australian Naturopathic clinician. Her extensive career has included working with patients within a private clinical setting, within hospitals, sporting groups, with individual athletes, and within corporate settings. Julianne has a special interest in the management of chronic disease and immune disorders. Alongside her clinical practice, Julianne is also an author, herbal medicine researcher, educator and podcast host. With her colleague Kristin Gilmour, she has recently published a comprehensive Phytomedicine Compendium, detailing 180 medicinal plants and fungi. More about Julianne Grant.
Presentation:
1. Botanical Solutions for Viral Infections – From Acute to Chronic Sequelae
Marianne Marchese, ND
A naturopathic physician with 22 years’ experience and a recognized expert in environmental medicine, women’s health, and integrative medicine, Marianne Marchese’s background spans clinical practice, teaching, writing, speaking, research, and professional advocacy. She is the author of the bestselling book; “8 Weeks to Women’s Wellness.” She has been published in numerous journals, wrote the environmental medicine column in the Townsend Letter Journal for 12 years, and lectures throughout the U.S and Canada. More about Marianne Marchese.
Presentation:
1. How to Mitigate the Effects of Mold and Mycotoxin Exposure
Brianna Piché, ND, IBCLC, FABNP, RH (AHG)
Brianna Piché is a naturopathic physician and registered herbalist specializing in integrative pediatrics, postpartum care, and breastfeeding medicine. She has additional clinical interest in adolescent gender-affirming care, sexual and reproductive health, and in providing primary pediatric and peripartum care for families and children who identify as LGBTQ and non-binary. She serves as adjunct faculty at Bastyr University within the Departments of Botanical Medicine and Naturopathic Medicine and teaches coursework in pediatrics and clinical herbalism. More about Brianna Piché.
Presentations:
1. Breastfeeding Medicine: Low Milk Supply, Galactagogues and Botanicals for Common Breastfeeding Pitfalls
2. Herbs and Pediatric Fever
Kenneth Proefrock, NMD
A naturopathic physician practicing in Sun City, Arizona, Kenneth Proefrock specializes in difficult-to-treat conditions in his clinic, Total Wellness. 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. His lectures combine a detailed understanding of biochemistry and physiology with a passion for plant medicine. More about Kenneth Proefrock.
Presentations:
1. A Comprehensive Management Plan for Multiple Sclerosis: Botanicals, Nutrients and the New Generation of Pharmaceuticals
2. The Evolution of Wound Care: Botanical Medicine-Based Considerations and Strategies
3. Panel: Botanical Therapies for Recovery from Myocardial Infarction (MI)
Mary Rondeau, ND, RH (AHG)
Dedicated to holistic healing and transformative mental health care, Dr. Mary is a passionate Co-owner of Wholeness Center, in Fort Collins, CO. Wholeness Center is one of the most innovative integrative mental health centers in the country and has been leading the field with cutting-edge mental health therapies since 2010. Her passion is to transform mental health by treating individuals as whole beings, and acknowledging the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. Her passion for travel and wellness extends to hosting immersive, transformative psychedelic retreats for professionals and patients, locally and abroad.
Throughout her career, Dr. Mary has prioritized comprehensive assessments to provide objective data for treatment guidance, a unique approach in the mental health field. As an educator, she lectures nationally on topics including nutritional psychiatry, botanical medicine, lifestyle medicine, and integrative psychiatry. Dr. Mary is a founding member of Psychedelic Research and Training Institute (PRATI) and is a core faculty at the Integrative Psychiatry Institute (IPI). Dr. Mary is the program director of the Nutritional Psychiatry CME certification program for IPI and created the Botanical Medicine in Psychiatry CE fellowship course for the Academy of Health and Medicine (AIHM). More about Mary Rondeau.
Presentations:
1. For the Family: Using EEG BioMarker Patterns to Guide Parenting and Relationship Strategies Including Botanicals Indicated for these Patterns
Katie Stage, ND, RH (AHG), FABNG
Katie Stage, ND, RH (AHG), FABNG is a naturopathic physician and registered herbalist of the American Herbalists Guild. Her lectures are full of clinical information based on experience in her practice in family medicine at the Sonoran University Medical Center in Tempe, AZ, where she practices family medicine focusing on optimizing women’s/men’s health, gastrointestinal diseases, and mental health. Her lectures combine clinical information with a deep respect for indigenous healing and the ability to heal oneself through connection with nature and simple lifestyle practices. She is also a member of the Ric Scalzo Botanical Research Institute. More about Katie Stage.
Presentations:
1. Treatment Approaches to the #1 Cause of Liver Disease in North America: MAFLD
2. Panel: Prevention of Viral Infections: Building Immunity with Botanicals
Jillian Stansbury, ND
Jillian Stansbury is a naturopathic physician who has been practicing in SW Washington State for over 30 years, specializing in women’s health, mental health, and chronic disease. She holds undergraduate degrees in Medical Illustration and Medical Assisting and graduated with honors in both programs. She was the chair of the botanical medicine department at the National University of Natural Medicine for over 20 years. Jill has recently published five herbal formularies for health professionals, comprehensive, practical reference manuals for herbalists, physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals. More about Jillian Stansbury.
Presentations:
1. Herbal Anodynes: Palliatives for Pain
2. Review of COPD Pathophysiology and Available Therapies
3. Panel: Botanical Therapies for Recovery from Myocardial Infarction (MI)
Christina Veselak, MS, CN, LMFT (in CO)
Christina has been a licensed psychotherapist and addiction recovery/relapse prevention specialist for over 40 years. Along with tremendous experience and training in supporting the emotional, social and spiritual components of recovery, her long-time expertise as a mental health nutritionist and training in Western Herbal Medicine allows her to effectively address many of the biochemical aspects of addictive disorders, including sugar, using dietary and supplement recommendations.
She is the founder and director of the Academy for Addiction and Mental Health Nutrition which teaches practitioners how to use diet, along with amino acid and nutrient therapy to help prevent cravings and recurrent use in their clients by restoring neurotransmitter function and keeping blood sugar in balance. Finally, she is delighted to offer the non-profit organization, Eating Protein Saves Lives, Inc. as a source of life-saving information about optimally feeding the recovering brain, thus providing people with a solid foundation for their recovery journey.
Presentation:
1. Ending Opioid Addiction: Using Herbs and Nutrients to Support the Brain and Body Through Withdrawal into Vibrant Living
Panel Discussions Live on Zoom:
- Prevention of Viral Infections: Building Immunity with Botanicals with Todd Caldecott, Dip, CI.H., RH(AHG), CAP(NAMA), AAC, Paul Bergner, Medical Herbalist and Katie Stage, ND, RH (AHG), FABNG
- Botanical Therapies for Recovery from Myocardial Infarction (MI) with Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, Jillian Stansbury, ND and Kenneth Proefrock, NMD
Continuing Education Information
- Please sign up for CE when you submit your registration form ($25 additional fee for all CE)
- We offer CE, CNE, CME and PDAs through these approvals
- Credits issued for full or partial attendance
- Totals below include attendance at pre-conference intensive
NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS:
- Approved for 35.5 hours of which 13 can be pharmacy, or 10 pharmacy + 3 opioid/addiction credits (OBNM and SUHS)
- California: Approved for 32.5 Prescribed Credits (AAFP)
- Full ND CE details
ACUPUNCTURISTS:
- Approved for 19 PDA hours for live event only (NCCAOM)
- Full NCCAOM approval details
NURSES:
- Approved for 32.5 Prescribed Credits (AAFP)
- Full AAFP approval details
- AAFP is recognized by the ANCC as a provider of nursing continuing education for RNs, FNPs and other nursing professionals.
MEDICAL AND OSTEOPATHIC DOCTORS:
- Approved for 32.5 Prescribed Credits (AAFP)
- Full AAFP approval details
- AAFP Prescribed credit is accepted by the American Medical Association as equivalent to AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™ toward the AMA Physician’s Recognition Award. When applying for the AMA PRA, Prescribed credit earned must be reported as Prescribed, not as Category 1.
A general certificate of attendance is available to any participant who requests it.
Questions about continuing education? Please read our CE FAQ and/or email us. We’re happy to help!
Sponsors and Exhibitors
If you’re interested in sponsorship or exhibiting, please contact us. Many thanks to our sponsors who help make this conference and our scholarship program possible!