Southwest Conference on Botanical Medicine 2022

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM, Arizona and Pacific Time
Panel Discussion: Inspiring a Path Toward Wellness for Those in Our Care
Lise Alschuler, ND, Kenneth Proefrock, NMD and Katie Stage, ND, RH (AHG)
How do we offer inspiration and guidance for those who come to us for healing? From the person who is just beginning to explore botanical and natural medicine, to the seasoned patient experiencing motivational challenges, every practitioner has their own approach to inspire patients to make significant changes on the path toward wellness. Three experienced practitioners share their techniques, followed by an open discussion for others to share their ideas.

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM, Arizona and Pacific Time
The Integral Immune System: Harmonizing the Neuroimmune Axis with Botanical Medicine
Jason Miller, DACM, LAc
The intimate relationship between stress and immune system function is often linked to the key role the HPA axis plays in regulating inflammatory signaling networks. Over the past 40 years, the evolution of psychoneuroimmunology has revealed how profoundly the state of one’s mind affects one’s state of health. In patients with even mild depression, T cell responses to certain immune-stimulating molecules (mitogens) were weakened. In cases of both anxiety and depression, the production of white blood cells was reduced and patients exhibited increased susceptibility to infection. Recent research has also revealed that negative emotions can stimulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, pushing the immune system into an excitatory state and exacerbating autoimmune conditions.

The microbiota-gut-brain-axis is an essential component of the neuroimmune network and studies show that what we feel does not originate in the brain, it originates in the gut. Vagal afferent signals account for an estimated 90% of vagal nerve activity, implying that the vast majority of the signals manifesting in the vagal network start in the gut and are sent to the brain. Many botanical formulas can provide immune enhancement by improving function across systems throughout the body, including enhancing digestion, calming the CNS, modulating the stress response, and improving hormone efficiency. These are all examples of therapeutic principles that will improve the health of a patient, and will simultaneously improve immune system function.

1:30 PM – 3:00 PM, Arizona and Pacific Time
A Multidisciplinary Integrated Model for Treating Chronic Pain and Opioid Dependence
David Eisen, LAc, MSW, OMD
W.I.S.H. is an integrated medical and behavioral health program designed to treat chronic pain and opioid dependence effectively and compassionately. The goal of WISH is to increase functionality and quality of life. This program employs a participant centered. trauma-informed approach, The modalities that WISH uses include acupuncture, nutrition, herbal medicine, physical therapy, mentors, movement therapy (yoga/tai chi/qi gong), meditation, and education regarding pain theory. Over the past 6 years WISH has successfully treated over 1,0000 people. Outcomes show significant reductions in pain, increase in ADL’s and better sleep, as well as reduction in hospitalizations.

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM, Arizona and Pacific Time
Finding Balance: Herbs and Treatments to Nurture Yin
Katie Stage, ND, RH (AHG)
There are many ways to understand botanical medicine; one of these is to approach the medicine through an energetic perspective. In Chinese medicine, this balance is described in terms of yin and yang. The importance of finding balance between dark and light, cold and hot, moist and dry, and active and passive is described in a number of traditional medical/ herbal systems. This session will explore herbs that tonify yin, the dark, cool, and moist aspects of health. It will cover conditions including fatigue, peri/menopausal symptoms, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, GERD, cough, anxiety, depression, support for healthy aging, dementia, and skin health.

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Lise Alschuler, ND
Botanicals for Frailty in Elders
Frailty, or a decline in age-specific fitness, affects some elders and is associated with poor quality of life, poorer surgical outcomes, and reduced physical and mental stamina. Frailty exists as the opposite of fitness, thus supporting fitness in elders is of key importance. While nutritional status, physical activity and mental health are key determinants of elder fitness, botanicals offer an important strategy as well. This presentation will focus on several botanicals such as Artemesia spp., Curcuma longa, Astragalus membranaceus, Cordyceps, Crataegus spp, Boswellia serrata and Withania somnifera; each of which can support fitness and reduce specific measures of frailty in elders.

Preserving GI Health During Cancer Care
This presentation will review radiation treatments and chemotherapy agents which can cause mucositis and intestinal toxicities. These pharmaceuticals include alkylating agents, antimetabolites, topoisomerase inhibitors, and microtubule inhibitors. Integrative strategies for managing oral and intestinal toxicities will be reviewed. Nutritional, lifestyle and botanical interventions will be highlighted with a review of the body of evidence and clinical application strategies for each. Examples of therapies to be discussed include glutamine, ginger, honey, olive leaf, topical essential oils, aloe vera, turmeric, green tea, charcoal, and zinc.

Paul Bergner, Medical Herbalist
Antianxiety Herbs and Mechanisms of Action
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system which is a key target of pharmaceutical drugs in the treatment of anxiety. A review of research shows that a number of herbs traditionally used for anxiety are clinically effective compared to the pharmaceuticals. They have effects on the GABA system but do not present the side effects common to drugs. Herbs we will cover include Piper methysticum (Kava), Valeriana (Valerian), Humulus (Hops), Matricaria (Chamomile), Passiflora (Passion flower) Withania (Ashwagandha), Scutellaria (Scullcap), and Melissa (Lemon Balm).

Herbs for Herpes and Shingles
Oral and genital herpes infections, and shingles outbreaks, are all common conditions in modern practice. The infectious organisms, although not identical, are all in the category of herpesviruses. In-vitro research demonstrates a wide variety of botanical substances can inhibit or kill these viruses, including drug-resistant forms. Such information is relevant to topical applications where the plant material can come into contact with the tissues. In traditional medical herbalism these conditions are treated with a combination of topical and internal applications of herbs, and with dietary manipulation. We will review the science of herbs which suppress these infections and offer practical clinical applications for their treatment.

Isla Burgess, Medical Herbalist
Biophilia: How Participating in the Lives of the Plants that Grow Around You Can Inform your Clinical Practice
“I believe that knowing the plants that grow around you well is a Conservation and Sustainable action. I also believe that knowing a few plants really well is more efficacious clinically than knowing a little about a much larger Materia Medica. When we live among our local plants, watch daily their growth pattern and responses, we know just how much we can gather in the current year. We also know how different seasons affects their nature and over time how they are adapting to change. We can do much to change our prescribing and contribute to reducing the decline of plant species in the wild. We become a ‘Biophiliac’.” — Isla Burgess. Using examples of plants that we all think we know well, this workshop will explore this process.

Deborah Frances, ND
Reclaiming the Sacred in Women’s Health: Herbs as Allies on the Path to Wholeness
Recognizing and honoring the Sacred flowing through the physical bodies of all of us, regardless of age or gender, is an essential part of returning to wholeness and healing our relationships with Mother Earth and all Creation. For women, the inner worlds of spiritual experience have a doorway through the physical realms of our cycles from menarche through menopause and beyond.

In this presentation we examine the spiritual gifts of several herbs combined with specific clinical applications for the treatment of PMS, dysmenorrhea, fibrocystic breasts, bacterial vaginosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, menorrhagia and symptoms associated with menopause. Emphasis is placed on the importance of liver herbs, adaptogens and pelvic decongestants, including Uncaria tomentosa, Nymphaea spp, Hypericum perforatum, Cimicifuga (Actea) racemose, Salvia officinalis, Viburnum opulus and Atropa belladonna.

Strategies for Creating Herbal Formulas
Most plants thrive in community, with roots and branches intertwining and sharing nutrients, shelter and communication. Is it any surprise they work together so well in formulas? There are no hard-and-fast rules for formulating, only tips and guidelines to help us organize our thoughts enough to create a well-balanced formula.

Once a thorough intake has been completed, each case is analyzed to determine which are the primary organs or organ systems to be treated. One or more “lead” herbs are then selected to target those areas. Secondary herb(s) may be chosen to support and enhance or balance actions of the lead herb(s). “Drivers” are herbs that stimulate general circulation (Cayenne, Ginger) or direct the formula to target areas (Pipsissewa or Juniper for the urinary tract).

Sometimes a single herb will do the job and a formula is not needed. Premenstrual breast tenderness, for example, responds well to a simple of Ceanothus spp. This herb provides antioxidant and liver support in addition to its lymphatic actions and has specificity for breast tissue. How many herbs to we want in a formula? Functional heart palpitations are well treated with Leonurus cardiaca, but the addition of Crataegus spp for nourishing support can only enhance the action of the Leonurus.

Finally, we consider whether more than one formula is needed and how our formulas might best be dispensed. Tinctures lend ease in formulating but are not necessarily appropriate for mineral-rich herbs or demulcents. Teas are great for increasing fluid intake. Formulas mixed in powder can be encapsulated or taken with nut butter, applesauce or in liquid. There are as many approaches to creating herbal formulas as there are herbalists formulating. Join us for an adventure in creativity! Presentation will be case-centered.

Jason Hawrelak, ND
Key Points when Prescribing Probiotics in Clinical Practice
Over the last two decades, probiotic research has increased exponentially. This has been mirrored by an explosion of probiotic products in the marketplace. With the sheer choice of probiotic supplements and foods available on the market today, it can be challenging for health professionals to sort through each manufacturers’ claims of superiority. In this presentation, Dr. Hawrelak covers probiotic prescribing fundamentals and details the wide range of mechanisms that explain how these agents can have such myriad health benefits. Benefits include improvement in a wide range of conditions, including systemic conditions like anxiety, type 2 diabetes, and the prevention of respiratory tract infections, as well as gastrointestinal issues such as Helicobacter pylori eradication, irritable bowel syndrome, and celiac disease. The concept of probiotic strain specificity will be examined, and Dr Hawrelak will discuss the shifting paradigm in probiotic prescribing from “re-seeding the gut” to choosing the bacterial strain with the desired action for treating specific conditions. He will conclude by debunking a number of probiotic myths that are widely promoted online.

Kenneth Proefrock, NMD
Botanical and other Protocols for Opiate Use Disorder
The US healthcare system is in the midst of an epidemic of opioid use and misuse, with a record 93,000 deaths in 2020 due to opioid overdoses. Among patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain relief, often for long periods, an estimated 2%-6% will develop some sort of substance use disorder. Three million individuals meet diagnostic criteria for opioid use disorder (OUD). Our clinic has developed a comprehensive naturopathic approach to treating patients with substance abuse issues and withdrawal symptoms over the past 25 years. The foundation of our long-term approach is botanical medicine, counseling, nutritional and lifestyle oriented strategies.

Most pertinent to this talk will be the myriad of ways that natural substances can be used to promote a better calibration of the patient’s response to their self-medication. Specific botanical and nutritional interventions include Mitrogyna (Kratom), Sceletium, Alpinia, Zingiber, Verbena, Urtica, Bergamot…amino acids and their derivatives like Tyrosine. DL Phenylalanine, Phenylbutyrate, inositol, phospholipids, nutraceuticals like Piracetam, Aniracetam and Sulfiram and many more. We will discuss the processes of detoxing/withdrawal, receptor blockade, addressing the underlying causes for substance abuse (physical, psychological, spiritual pain and trauma vs neglect) and the role that transformative, psychedelic experiences can play in the process.

JoAnn Sanchez, MS
Herbs of Joy: A Virtual Guided Plant Show and Preparations Demonstration
Join us for a virtual guided plant show and preparations demonstration (via pre-recorded video) in the SCNM herb garden. Seven botanicals will be highlighted that serve to support us in uplifting our spirits and bringing us joy. Adaptogenic and aromatic compounds, working synergistically in these plants, can be very supportive of our wellbeing and happiness. Join us as we explore a holistic approach to healing our body and mind by partaking in the energetic and physical qualities of these plants and the manifestations of increased joy the “green people” bring us from sunshine.

Jillian Stansbury, ND
Treatment for Acute Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is typically part of a continuum with general anxiety disorder, but the severity and urgency of the symptoms make it imperative for a clinician to offer those suffering some quick relief. This session will explore those herbs that might quickly allay the overwhelming acute symptoms of panic disorder and offer alternatives to pharmaceutical sedatives. We will look at the ‘big guns” such as Rauwolfia and Piscidia and discuss how to use them safely as part of broader protocols that employ adaptogens, nervines, nutrients, sleep support, and self-care. We will explore the mechanisms of action of the leading calmative herbs and demonstrate how to best combine different materia medica options to create herbal formulas to allay both acute symptoms of panic, as well as optimize general nervous system regulation and function.

Andrea Sullivan, ND
The Roots of Naturopathy: Herbal Remedies from African Slaves
For far too long the contributions of African Americans and their ancestors have been ignored or falsified. Contributions to naturopathic medicine are no exceptions. The “secret doctors” on the plantations were never mentioned in my naturopathic education, and yet many of the herbs used on the plantations were studied in class. African slaves were not allowed to read or write, thus much of the learning was by experimentation and word of mouth. There was a knowledge of the medicinal value of plants and similarities in the plants between the Southern States and West Africa. The herbs used by the “secret doctors ” were a welcome alternative, in many instances, to the medicine of the plantation owners. These plants included: Verbascum thapsus, Ocimum spp, Artemisia absinthium, Dioscorea cayenensis subspecies rotundata and Lycopodiella cernua, among others.

David Winston, RH (AHG)

“Just Another Sleepless Night”; Herbal/Nutritional Protocols for Insomnia and Other Sleep Disorders
Sleep is one of the foundations of good health. Chronic sleep issues not only make us feel tired, grumpy and irritable, clinical research has clearly shown that poor quality or inadequate amounts of sleep can contribute to hypertension, obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Many herbs have a long history of being used for insomnia and other sleep disorders, but how do we determine which herbs to use for which sleep disorder and for which person ? In this class we will discuss common sleep problems, the energetic differentiation of insomnia and the most appropriate therapies (herbal/nutritional) to help relieve them based on the specifics of the person and their symptom picture.

Spices for Life
Without spices, our food would be much the poorer in both taste and nutritional value. The world’s great cuisines liberally use garlic, cayenne, ginger, cinnamon, oregano, black pepper, as well as traditional spice blends to dazzle our palates and create symphonies of flavor. Many people are aware that almost all of these aromatic herbs also act as carminatives, helping to improve digestion and relieve GI upset. What is not as well known is that these same herbs offer a plethora of other medicinal effects. Spices are often anti-inflammatory, act as antioxidants, lower blood sugar levels, enhance circulation, improve neurological function, relieve depression, reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease, as well as having significant antibacterial and antiviral activity. In this class we will explore the less well known benefits of the herbs found in your spice cabinet, which is a treasure trove of flavor and therapeutic benefits for preventing and treating disease.

Erica Zelfand, ND
Ketamine in Doses Big and Small: Versatility in Treating Depression and Other Mood Disorders
How on earth did ketamine, an anesthesia drug, come to be used for psychiatric purposes? We will review the history of this unique molecule, examine its known mechanisms of action, and explore the theories of how and why it treats depression. After juxtaposing SSRIs with ketamine, we will learn about the several different paradigms for administering the drug, from daily microdoses to large psychedelic “trips” and everything in between. Whether taken as an IV infusion, intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, lozenge, capsule, nasal spray, or rectal suppository, ketamine is the old-but-new drug that may help treat several mood disorders. This lecture will also include some cases from real patients, along with pointers on ketamine safety and suggestions on why the drug may not work as well in some cases.

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Continuing Education Credits

• Please sign up for CE when you submit your registration form ($25 additional fee for all CE).
• We offer CE, CME, CNE, PDA and CEUs through these approvals
• Credits issued for full or partial attendance
• Totals below include attendance at pre-conference intensive

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS (AAFP):
Approved for up to 34 hours Prescribed Credit* for DO, MD, RN, FNP, California NDs and others. AAFP Approval details

Approval Statement: The AAFP has reviewed the 2022 Southwest Conference on Botanical Medicine and deemed it acceptable for AAFP credit. Term of approval is from 03/25/2022 to 03/25/2023. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

*AMA/AAFP Equivalency:
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.

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS:

• Approved for all NDs (including California CNDA) who accept AAFP credits described above
• Approved: Oregon (OBNM): up to 38.5 hours of which 13 can be pharmacy
• Approved: Arizona (SCNM CE Board): 25.5 hours general + 13 hours pharmacy (or 10 pharmacy + 3 hours opioid credits for Arizona NDs)
• ND CE approval details

ACUPUNCTURISTS:

• Approved: NCCAOM: up to 19 PDA (CE hours) for live online event only
• NCCAOM approval details

NURSING:

• Approved by the AAFP (see above) for up to 34 hours CE credit. (AAFP is recognized by the ANCC as a provider of nursing continuing education for RNs, FNPs and other nursing professionals)

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!

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