Many of our medicinal plants have thousands of years of use for us to draw from. However, as medicine evolves, we continue to broaden our understanding of how these plants interact within the human body. This presentation will take participants into the past while also peering into the future: we will explore a selection of medicinal plants and their potential application in modern-day diseases such as metabolic syndrome, ECS deficiency, chronic stress, and immune disorders, looking at clinically relevant research materials and practical tips for the use of these herbs. The challenges of culture, geography, resource care and translation across time and technology will be part of this exploration. We will update our current understanding of the pharmacology of adaptogens, their relationship to the endocannabinoid system, and exploring potential plants and constituents which may modulate aspects of the ECS/HPA/immune axis. Participants will leave with a collection of clinically relevant research materials, practical tips for the use of these herbs in clinic, and a deepened appreciation for the ever-evolving potential of plant medicine in its many forms.

This presentation will review adrenergic systems in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system and the nicotinic and muscarinic receptors for adrenaline and noradrenaline. Botanical agents that act as agonists and antagonists at these receptors will be reviewed along with a discussion of selected materia medica options that have specific due to unique effect on adrenergic systems.

This session will review herbal medicine as a primary or adjunctive modality to support mental health with a focus on anxiety. Anxiety is of the two most common complaints in general practice. We’ll review standard Materia Medica, mechanisms of action, indications, and contraindications of commonly available herbal medicines. We’ll also review some less-standard mechanisms for supporting mental health as impacted by anxiety. We will review nutritional requirements to maximize efficacy of the herbs relevant and we will also review any functional testing relevant to identify root causes of disease that maybe involved.

Ayurvedic medicine has a long traditional relationship with herbs as these integrate diet, physiology, patterns and types with plant knowledge. Drawing on this heritage, Dr. Rajurkar will discuss some particular herbs as a means of mining these understandings and connections.
Ayurvedic Medicine is one of the oldest ‘food as medicine’ and herb using traditions with both oral, lineage and written records that forge a deep resource for herb knowledge. Dr. Rajurkar has deep experience with this tradition and its texts. Holistic health, meditation and Vedic literature are Dr. Rajurkar’s passions. She is a renowned teacher on Sanskrit Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita.

This talk will feature a key look at endangered herbs. We will begin with an overview of the problem illustrated by endangered resins and gums including Boswellia, Commiphora. We will look at alternatives: Pinus, Abies, Picea, Pseudotsuga, Tsuga, Populus, Allium sativum. We will spend time with endangered/problematic African herbs: Prunus africanum, Pausinystalia, Cryptolepis and alternatives: Serenoa and other less or unknown herbs. We will look at endangered South American herbs: Handroanthus (pau d'arco), Aspidosperma quebrancho and alternatives Curcuma, Balsamorrhiza, Inula. We will finish by looking at issues relevant to choosing local herbs over the exotic, foreign, distant, and "sexy."

In this lecture we will review and revise our notions of sustainability and discuss how ethics can impact the choices a practitioner makes in a clinical setting, We will discuss herbs whose populations are at risk (due to climate change, overharvest, labor shortages, etc) and review appropriate analogues. Case studies will be used to connect to herbs that are vulnerable or at-risk and we will look at appropriate alternatives and analogues.