Moodle at CCNM

This course will review different types of vascular dementias that include Alzheimer’s disease and how diagnosis is made using clinical and lab data. It will include clinician-friendly assessments and exercises using different tools to measure global cognition that including the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and St. Louis Mental Status (SLUMS). Learning Objectives:Different types of vascular dementiasHow an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis is madeThe current conventional therapies for ADTo understand new imaging technologies How current interventions that are being evaluated in clinical trialOutcomes of major intervention studies

Amazing Physiological Facts that Will Change Your Practice of Herbalism!

The search for effective, safe and non-addictive pain medication is an age-old quest. Studies show many people – especially the elderly, the poor, people of color and women – are undertreated for chronic pain. While herbs are not as powerful as opiates and other pharmaceutical medications, they can offer safer and often highly effective pain management. In this talk we discuss how specific herbs can relieve specific types of pain, how to combine herbs to create a synergistic effect and reduce inflammation, pain perception and spasm and how botanicals can enhance the effects of pharmaceutical pain medications. The focus of this class is to give the clinician the precise tools needed to manage pain with herbs. To that end we learn to describe the types and nature of pain, the location of the pain and the most effective combinations of herbs to treat pain syndromes. For too long herbalists have thought our ability to effectively relieve pain is very limited. This is untrue once you stop using generic “pain” herbs and understand how we can help control pain with precision and specificity in our herb choices. We also discuss some conventional pain medications and their limitations and adverse effects. Pharmaceutical classes covered include opiods, COX-2 inhibitors, NSAIDS.

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.

Explore the use of medicinal plants in daily, dietary preparations with therapeutic targets. Through a case-study model, we review the use of plants in medicinal preparations such as soups, pestos, beverages, and even healing desserts. As herbalists, we have the option to move beyond the bottle to a sensory approach to herbal medicine that can fit seamlessly into life and practice.

Using chronic sinus infections as a jumping-off point, we explore how the use of herbs topically and through inhalation can impact allergies, asthma, and chronic infection through a range of mechanisms. We won't cover the use of bitters in gut health: this is a well-described link already. But we do talk about practical strategies for engaging with the bitter taste receptors in our airways, GI tract, and liver for relieving chronic infection and congestion.

Cannabis is a plant with star power. The current greening of the USA with changing cannabis laws. Many states now have recreational cannabis which means that many of our friends, clients and patients are able to access cannabis medicine. These folks are also using other botanicals. In this talk will present an overview of the current state of cannabis medicine and discuss the energetics of cannabis. Dr Nagel will give an overview of active constituents of cannabis including THC, CBD other minor cannabinoid’s as well as the various terpenes. An overview of the Cannabinoid system and its effects on human physiology. Dr Nagel will discuss the combination of cannabis with other herbs and relevant research as well as any potential cautions. Cannabis has the potential to be one of the best botanical synergists if we can understand its actions and ability to work well with other herbs.

In this clinical case panel the moderator reviews case to be discussed and explains format to participants. Each of 3 panelists takes 20 minutes to discuss their approach to the case. The third panelist is the moderator who then reviews how they addressed the case and what happened with it.

Bitter-flavored herbs are a mainstay of therapeutics on all major systems of herbalism. Bitter substances can bind to bitter receptors in the mouth and gut to produce, through signaling, physiological changes in multiple systems. The humoral effects of bitter substances are viewed as cooling, drying, and draining. Considering both the physiological and humoral aspects, we can arrive at the appropriate use for therapeutic effects and for avoiding adverse humoral effects. Excessive or prolonged use of bitters can cause injury to the digestive process and injure the overall constitution. Understanding the general effect of the bitter flavor we will describe nuances of therapeutic applications for digestive bitters, bitter laxatives, bitter mints, bitter anodynes and bitter demulcents.

After teaching herb courses for 30 years, it is noted that there is a leap between learning materia medica and applying that knowledge to create effective herbal formulas. This course approaches methods and strategies for creating herbal formulas. This workshop-style class engages participants to use several philosophical tools and constructs for creating herbal formulas and provide a platform for discussion, inquiry, practice and sharing.

Join Richo Cech on a photographic tour through his gardens at Strictly Medicinal Seeds in Williams, Oregon. Participants learn about the medicinal uses, horticulture and landscaping potential of elderberry (Sambucus nigra), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), linden (Tilia cordata), witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), slippery elm (Ulmus rubra), spice bush (Lindera benzoin), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) and Eleutherococcus (E. senticosus). Richo also discuesses herbaceous medicinal plants that grow well in the shade of these trees.

This presentation will explain how metabolic syndrome, prediabetes and frank diabetes become key underlying causes for SIBO and other GI disorders. The influences of lipopolysaccharides from overgrown flora, autonomic neuropathy, hepatic insulin resistance, effects of hyperglycemia and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis on upper GI transit. SS-L will use example cases to show his approach to diabetes treatment and management.  Pharmaceuticals to be discussed include: Metformin, berberine, allicin, oregano, ginger and neem will be discussed with regards to diabetes, insulin resistance and SIBO.

Genomic topics have exploded in the past decade to the point that misinformation and confusion are as possible between practitioner and patient as clarity. Dr. Anderson will use his background in genomic research, clinical genomics and troubleshooting to outline the most clinically salient portions of genomics as they relate to fertility, birthing and pediatrics. The goal of the talk is to leave the attendee with understanding as well as clinical tools to “sort out” these critical topics. And although the last baby Dr. Anderson delivered is 23 years old he has maintained a practice long involvement in high risk prenatal care, fertility and pediatrics.

The gluten-free diet is a frequent staple in a practitioner’s list of modalities to use for a myriad of conditions. “Try a gluten-free diet” or “go gluten-free” has become a common phrase heard even between friends and neighbors, nutritionists and bloggers. However, a gluten-free diet (GFD) is a medical prescription for celiac disease. When prescribing a GFD prior to testing for celiac disease, a practitioner is unwittingly denying that patient a chance at revealing the root cause of symptoms and revealing a life-long/permanent systems-damaging autoimmune process with grave associated repercussions. We wouldn’t ask a non-type 1 diabetic to try insulin – it’s inappropriate. As conscientious practitioners, the medical community needs to be diagnosing celiac disease better and appropriately, or thoroughly ruling it out, prior to prescribing a GFD. Dr Shaver will present the top 10 reasons why prescribing a GFD is unethical in the absence of first performing thorough testing for celiac disease, from high risks of developing other unidentified autoimmune diseases to repercussions amid an entire family tree, to increase risks for cancers in celiacs who continue undiagnosed.

There is a significant debate about whether or not dry herbs differ from the fresh herbs they derive from in nature. Examples from the scientific literature will look at differences in chemistry when plants are dried, as well as a comparison of tinctures made from fresh and dry specimens of the same herb in a study conducted in part by Dr. Yarnell. Examples of herbs that are best used fresh vs. dried are presented. Clinicians are urged to share their own anecdotes and experience with fresh vs. dry herbs.

In this 2 hour presentation Dr El-Hashemy shares his experience using botanical medicines in complex conditions in developmental pediatrics as well as pediatric psychiatry. The focus will be on game-changing, evidence-informed use of selected traditional botanicals from eastern and western traditions. In pragmatic manner, we cover indications, traditional uses, state of the evidence, dosing, concurrent use with prescription medications (safe to combine, interactions and contraindication), how to motivate compliance in a child, and my favorite getting kids to make their own formulations! Dr El-Hashemy shares practical pearls in prescribing, stocking, dispensing of common and not so common botanical medicines. This presentation focuses on the child exhibiting cognitive delay, the impulsive/inattentive child (ADHD), the anxious child, the depressed child, and the child with substance-related or addictive disorder. This presentation covers useful exemplar formulations and variations featuring Dr El-Hashemy’s Mental health botanical “pantry” including: Nepeta cataria (catnip), Bacopa monnieri (bacopa), Piper methysticum (kava) Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng), Withania somnifera (ashwagandha), Passiflora incarnata (passionflower), Pinus pinaster (maritime pine), Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort), German chamomile (Matricaria recutita), Ginkgo biloba, Lavandula angustifolia (lavender), Melissa officinalis, Crataegus oxyacantha, Eschscholzia californica, Magnolia biondii, Rhodiola rosea, Leonurus cardiac, Rauwolfia serpentina, Scutellaria lateriflora, Valeriana officinalis, Crocus sativus (saffron), Curcuma longa, Huperzine A (Chinese club moss), Cinnamomum aromaticum, Hibiscus sabdariffa (hibiscus), Schisandra chinensis, Salvia officinalis, Rosmarinus officinalis.

Pharmacogenetics integrates the study of genomics and pharmacology to understand differential response to medications and clinical interventions. Psychiatric pharmacogenetics applies this study to mental health. This presentation focuses on several genetic variants that have been shown to moderate treatment response with a particular emphasis on how these variations may direct clinicians to certain integrative therapies (e.g., exercise, Omega-3 fatty acids, L-methylfolate, etc.). Both pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic gene variants are discussed.

We will describe little-known, but well-established facts about human physiology, each of which either demonstrates the wisdom and relevance of some traditional herbal practices in herbal medicine, or will change the way you use herbs with patients now. Subtopics include the healing power of mucus; the urinary alkaline tide; the speed of kidney filtration; the gut wall as lymphoid tissue; connective tissue as immunological organ; plasma protein re-circulation in the lymph; and transdermal absorption of botanical medicines. In each case the relevance of the physiology to one or more categories of herbal forms or actions is described. Categories of herbs include expectorants, demulcents, vulneraries, anti-inflammatories, lymphatics and alteratives, as well as comparison of tinctures, teas and topical applications.

The therapeutic order describes a strategy, fundamental to naturopathic medicine and applicable across herbal disciplines, of using the gentlest methods to support the foundations of health in all patients, before simply treating the disease. A case study of a patient with fatigue and thyroid disease is reviewed, with three practitioners giving their views on how to approach the case using the therapeutic order as a strategy. Participants also analyze the case using the same strategy.

The history of herbal medicine is founded in rooted rebels whose interactions with plants changed the way we experience nature and our own health. What herbs inspired the herbalists who’ve gone on to inspire us? How did they use those herbs in clinical practice? Starting in Culpeper’s time and moving to our modern inspirational figures we look at how they used herbs to create a more vibrant community of resistance – and how they are still fighting to keep herbal medicine the people’s medicine.