Moodle at CCNM

This presentation aims to provide up to date information on Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).  This 1.5 hour webinar will review the identification of SIBO, potential causes, as well as conventional and naturopathic treatments.  Discussion will also include various factors that underlie the development of SIBO as well as breath and serum lab testing.  Treatment details will include antibiotics and herbal antimicrobials, along with prokinetics, diet, and supportive supplementation.   Learning Objectives Define underlying pathology and potential causes of SIBO Discuss lab testing options for SIBO Identify signs and symptoms for various types of SIBO Summarize conventional treatments Examine naturopathic treatments  

Investigating root cause of disease takes us much further than the physical body, into the realms of the energetic, emotional, mental, spiritual, and beyond, to nondual awareness. This presentation will teach diagnosis and treatment of physical symptomology within a multi-level system. Through the exploration and understanding of the different levels within the system, a “map” becomes available to the practitioner. Navigation within this “map” allows the practitioner to understand physical symptomology as a representation or expression from other levels within the “map”, providing diagnosis and treatment options from an expanded perspective. This presentation will give an introduction to the structure and content of each level with the system, as well as an overview as to how each level functions in a state of health or manifests disease. This will include some of the latest research in brain science on the physical level, a view of the energetic body, the expression of disease symptoms from the emotional level, and how beliefs and emotions held within the unconscious mind, often as a result of trauma, become manifested physically. The addition of spiritual and nondual awareness to the treatment protocol will be illuminated, as the fields of Energy Psychology and Mindfulness Training join the medical field as accepted and viable methods of treatment. In addition, the Presence of the Practitioner will be discussed and practiced. Case histories and experiential exercises for each level will be included. Upon completion of Level One, the practitioner will be able to understand the general structure and content of the “map of the human system”, and how to use it as a multi-level tool for diagnosis and treatment. The class will include discussion about specific disease states, case histories, and experiential exercises for the practitioner. This information is relevant and applicable to any practitioner within the medical field, regardless of specialty.

Autoimmune disease is growing at epidemic proportions with a very strong predominance of women being affected. Standard interventions are based on symptom control and immune suppression. This presentation reviews a proactive integrative, systems biology, approach for the naturopath to address disease prediction, prevention and treatment, including various evidence-based modalities. Presentation elements also include an exploration of why females are at such increased risk. The role of estrogen and other hormones, the GI microbiota, food immune reactions, stealth infections and molecular mimicry in autoimmune disease pathogenesis will be explored along with how these may serve as leverage points for naturopathic clinical interventions. The hygiene hypothesis and changes in early environmental antigen exposure are also explored. New opportunities for proactive screening for at risk subjects for autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and others using emerging predictive antibody testing are also reviewed and discussed from the perspective of the naturopathic doctor.

This presentation will provide attendees with the skills necessary to identify and address suicidality in children and adolescents. We will discuss risk factors and protective factors, as well as common behaviors that may indicate increased risk for harm. Once suicide risk is identified, attendees will learn how to discuss safety planning with patients, and will observe a mock safety planning conversation between the presenter and model patient.

This Rapid Reviews webinar is based on contemporary research, evidence, traditional knowledge and the extensive training and experience of naturopathic doctors (NDs) in pharmacology, herbal medicine and clinical nutrition.There is reason to believe that naturopathic approaches warrant consideration among the span of possible aids to the global response to COVID-19. Hence, the naturopathic profession undertook the task of conducting rapid reviews to assess the role of specific recommendations in the prevention or treatment of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) inclusive of, but not limited to, COVID-19. The focus of all rapid reviews was limited to human studies specific to URTIs either as original research or systematic reviews.These rapid reviews demonstrate the naturopathic profession’s dedication to evidence-informed decision making and their commitment to being part of the solution to this global pandemic.Learning Objectives:Provide an overview of the findings from the WNF Rapid Reviews.Discuss how the rapid reviews may impact the role of naturopathic medicine with respect to the management of COVID-19.Describe the role of rapid reviews in research.Discuss the importance of the rapid reviews in discussions with policy makers and governments globally.

Diabetes Type 2 is a one of the most prevalent disease states that many suffer from throughout the world and especially on the island of Puerto Rico. Diet and exercise are most advised in consultation with 80% success in treatment outcomes through diet shifts in diabetic populations. This presentation will focus on clinical herbal perspective as to how various foods and herbal medicines common in Ayurveda shift healthy outcomes in diabetic populations. We will discuss various treatment protocols involving foods as medicines to address the various imbalances in constitutions in which Ayurveda accurately approaches clinically.

Recovery time after a stroke is different for everyone—it can take weeks, months, or even years. Some people recover fully, but others have long-term or lifelong disabilities. This presentation discusses folkloric botanical medicines that may support stroke recovery. This presentation reviews specific molecular research on botanical medicines and propose possible formulas for treating various stages of stroke recovery.

Plants have engaged in an “arms-race” with fungi for many millions of years, and have evolved multiple mechanisms to inhibit their growth, disable their defenses, disrupt their biofilms, or destroy their cell membranes. We can take advantage of these mechanisms and apply whole plants, with all their synergistic constituents and activities, in direct contact with fungal-infected tissues. Because of the tendency of fungi and prokaryotic microbes to form multi-species biofilms, and specific anti-fungal component may make these herbs important in formulation for any topical infection. We will review the Azole-class of pharmaceutical topical antifungals, and then review the science and practical applications of berberine-herbs, Alliums, Calendula, thymol-herbs, Spilanthes/Acmella, Anemopsis, Commiphora, Usnea, Tabebuia, and Melaleuca, for common oral, vaginal, and skin infections.

SIBO is a common condition and with great overlap between SIBO and IBS. In fact, SIBO may be the cause of IBS in up to 70% of cases. We also know that food poisoning (acute gastroenteritis) can be a trigger for IBS/SIBO but the mechanisms for this have been unknown. Recent data suggest that food poisoning creates an autoantibody that can cause IBS and SIBO based on animal and human studies. This presentation explores the data around how autoimmunity is triggered after food poisoning and in the development of IBS and SIBO. We will also explore how this could change the prognosis of IBS and SIBO. Pharmaceutical agents discussed include rifaximin and neomycin. There is also discussion of prokinetics such as prucalopride and erythromycin.

Autoimmune diseases are the third leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the industrialized world, surpassed only by cancer and heart disease. According to Fred Miller, director of the Environmental Autoimmunity Group at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, autoimmune diseases are now recognized as among the leading causes of death for young and middle-aged women in the United States. What more, prevalence rates for some of these illnesses are rising for what Miller says must largely be environmental reasons.

The development of autoimmune disease is a complex process that varies between individuals. Yet research and clinical observations over the past 30 years have led to many general insights into autoimmunity. The identification of Th17 cells as well as the increased role of oxidative stress involved in pathogenesis has allowed researchers to explore the development and progression of autoimmune reactions. This talk highlights a deeper understanding of autoimmune mechanisms. It will help clinicians develop novel clinical approaches for treatment aimed at reducing autoimmune processes and balancing immunity and tolerance.

Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus are common, debilitating, and expensive diseases to manage. Current treatment strategies rarely achieve full remission, and the side effects of treatment can be severe. New research is uncovering that the immune system, like any other organ system in the body, has metabolic changes during the disease process. We are now understanding that immune mediated diseases can develop a metabolic signature, and therapies that modulate energy utilization within immune cells is uncovering new and exciting therapies.

Why is autoimmunity is increasing in the United States and worldwide? The rate of increase suggests environmental mechanisms. While genetics clearly play a role in autoimmunity, current research suggests that infectious disease, diet, toxic chemicals, and gut dysbiosis may be more to blame. This seminar will examine the current mechanisms for autoimmune disease, environmental triggers, and controversies associated with autoimmune disease.

The Ayurvedic model provides a comprehensive medical world view based upon creating balance within the body to promote optimal function and healing. Dr. Shailinder Sodhi discusses how these concepts can be integrated with naturopathic concepts to give practitioners more treatment tools and improved outcomes.  He begins with basic explanations of Ayurvedic theory that can add to the understanding of the autoimmune disease model. Dr. Sodhi then discusses various treatment modalities including yoga and breathing techniques but focusing primarily on herbal formulations. The presentation also covers some case studies illustrating how these techniques are used in the clinical setting.

Surgery for the treatment of obesity (bariatric surgery) was started in the United States in the 1950s and has evolved to include multiple procedures and devices over the past 60+ years. The earliest procedures, while effective for their primary goal, became infamous for creating severe malnutrition and toxic overgrowth of bacteria in the bypassed part of the small intestine. This bacteria proved so toxic in some patients that it led to liver failure and death. While that procedure was abandoned, others have replaced it including gastric bypass, duodenal switch, sleeve gastrectomy, and the mini bypass (omega loop). While none has proven to be as toxic as the original surgery, we have learned a lot along the way about how various surgical alternations to the gut can alter not only anatomy, but create changes in the microbiome that impact nutrition, metabolism, weight loss, and other aspects of physiology. This knowledge can help inform clinicians who are supporting surgical weight loss patients, and can also teach us some valuable lessons that apply to SIBO in non-surgical patients.

Wherever they are found plants containing berberine and related Isoquinoline-alkaloids are used in traditional systems of medicine as major topical and internal medicines. Hydrastis and Xanthorhiza in Eastern North America, Mahonia and Berberis species more widely distributed on the continent, and Coptis species in both North America and China have all become major botanicals in the materia medica of those lands. Recent research on concentrated forms of isolated berberine have demonstrated potential uses for diabetes and several other conditions.

Liver congestion, inflammation and poor circulation are all players in reproductive conditions in women. In this lecture we will dive into the latest research as well as the Eclectic uses of herbs that are routinely used to regulate menstrual cycles, optimize fertility and decrease stasis in the pelvis. Herbs we will discuss include black cohosh, vitex, shitavari, maca, yellow pond lily, pulsatilla, red root, peony, horse chestnut, yarrow and more.

Recovery time after a stroke is different for everyone—it can take weeks, months, or even years. Some people recover fully, but others have long-term or lifelong disabilities. This presentation discusses folkloric botanical medicines that may support stroke recovery. This presentation reviews specific molecular research on botanical medicines and propose possible formulas for treating various stages of stroke recovery.

Bee Venom Therapy has a long and extensive history for use in chronic pain. Having a variety of pharmacodynamic and kinetic actions, it represents a novel therapy for difficult pain cases when typical and even adjunctive modalities have failed.  This lecture will review the history, mechanisms of action and rationale for implementation from a modern scientific perspective, as well as safety and legal status.

An evidence based review of common diets purported to benefit individuals with cancer. We will dive deep into the claims of each diet and determine whether there is a good scientific foundation for each. Diets to be reviewed include Budwig, Ketogenic, Vegan/Juicing, Fasting, and Mediterranean.