AHG
Symposium
2014
Brian H. Keenan
Topics
 Hypertension
 Surgical
pre and post care
 Mental
Health For The Herbalist
 Herbal
Powders in Clinical Practice
Hypertension
A talk by: Dr. Michael Tierra R.H., OMD,
L.A.C.
 Normal
is considered less than 120/80
(subject to discussion)
 Elevated blood pressure must be
documented on 2 or more visits before a
diagnosis can be given.
 TCM considers it an excess of Heat,
Dampness, and Phlegm
 Ayurveda: Upset Pitta and Kapha
Some HTN Associated Diseases
 Type
2 diabetes
 Erectile dysfunction
 Preeclampsia
 Sleep apnea
 Kidney disease
 Liver disease
 Lifestyle can be major medicine here, not
just herbs.
Now…The Herbs
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Rauwolfia
Hawthorne
Hibiscus
Motherwort
Garlic
Cayenne
Linden
Olive Leaf
Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) : Ayurveda
Salvia miltiorrhiza (Dan Shen, Red Sage): TCM
Foods As Medicine
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Hawthorn Berries
Celery
Onion
Garlic
Carrot
Shepherd’s purse,
Kelp
Mushrooms
Apple
Pear
Tangerine
Next topic: Surgery
A talk by Chanchal Cabrera
MSc, FNIMH, RH(AHG)
Some complications of surgery:
 Bleeding
 Blood clots
 Infection
 Scarring and adhesions
 Pain
 Adverse drug reactions
 Disablement
 Cognitive and memory decline
General Restorative Agents
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Whey with Immunoglobulins
Glutamine and arginine
Adaptogens
Bone broths
Astragalus
Mushrooms
Seaweeds
Coconut milk
Chlorella
Herbs for Mental Alacrity
(Botanicals for mental sharpness)
 Gingko
 Rosemary
 Rhodiola
 Gotu
Kola
 Perrywinkle
 Qian Ceng Ta (Huperzia serrata)
Aromatherapy
(essential oils)
Basil
Peppermint
Rosemary
Clary sage
Nutritional Supplements for the
Mind
 Phosphatidyl
 Fish
choline
oil
 Evening primrose oil
 Sea Buckthorn oil
 B complex vitamins
 Oat straw
 St. John’s wort (for nerve pain)
Pain treatment post surgery
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Corydalis ambigua capsules1–3 caps as needed
with maximum 8 caps in 24 hours
Rabdosia rubescens (dong ling cao)
Panax notoginseng (tienchi),
Dong guai (angelica sinensis),
Boswellia serrata
White willow (Salix alba)
Turmeric (Curcuma aromatica)
Piper methysticum (kava)
Pedicularis spp
Scutellaria laterifolia
A topical Cream to reduce
scarring
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Topical treatment to speed healing and reduce
scarring
Apply daily as soon as the risk of infection has passed
and continue for two months
Base cream 74g (olive oil, lanolin, water, beeswax)
Shea butter--15 g
Jojoba oil -- 4 mL
Rosa mosqueta oil --5 mL
Helichrysum essential oil--1 mL
Lavender essential oil--1 mL
Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant
Health has good instructions.
Mental Health
 Talk
Given by Holli Richey, MS, LCSW,
RH(AHG) and Larken Bunce, MS, Clinical
Herbalist
 Huge Topic
 What can the herbalist do?
 Understand the need for qualified
professionals here.
 Two major herbal approaches: Nervines
and Adaptogens
More On Your Responsibility…
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When working with mental health, understand the
DSM V, especially if the patient has a condition
with it.
Understand how to coordinate working with
doctors and therapists.
Understand red flags: suicidal ideation, violent
tendencies, manic episodes, etc.
Know when not to treat.
Never stop educating yourself.
Treating the whole person is usually a better role
for the herbalist than managing a mental
condition.
Herbal Assessment Approach
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Use the characteristics of the whole person to
guide your approach
Ex: Is the person a more…
Hot/Overactive/Excessive/Tense
presentation?
Or are they Cold/Stagnant/Moist/Depressed?
How about Depleted and Tense?
Again, these are energetic approaches
meant to guide herbal choices, not to
supplant conventional therapeutic care of a
qualified specialist.
Adaptogens
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Why Helpful?
They help us manage the stress response, often are
nourishing, tend to be modulating.
Hot/Dry/Excess:
Eleuthero, Licorice, Rhodiola, Rehmannia, and Red Peony
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Cold/Moist/Stagnant:
Eleuthero, Schisandra, Holy Basil, Ashwaganda, Rhodiola
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Cold/Dry/Depleted/Tense:
Ashwagandha, Asian or American Ginseng, Licorice,
Maca, Shatavari
Nervines
 Hot/Dry/Excess:
Rose, Linden, Hawthorn, Chamomile, Lavender,
Blue Vervain, Motherwort, Skullcap, Wood Betony,
Ginkgo, Gotu Kola, Mimosa Flower
 Cold/Moist/Stagnant:
Damiana, Rosemary, Purple Bee Balm,Mugwort,
Turmeric, Garden Sage and Clary Sage, St John’s
Wort, Anise
 Cold/Dry/Depleted/Tense:
Oats, Skullcap, Mugwort, Lemon Balm, Lavender,
Anise, Hyssop, Gotu Kola, Mimosa Bark, Wood
Betony
Herbal Powders!
A Talk by Bevin Claire, RH (AHG)
Why Powders?
 Whole
plant (often roots and seeds)
 Larger quantities
 Can be used quite creatively.
Herbs for Powdering
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Althea officinalis
Angelic sinensis
Arctium lappa
Astragalus membranaceus
Bacopa monnieri
Capsicum spp.
Centella asiatica
Cinnamomum cassia
Cordyceps sinesnsis
Crataegus Spp
Curcuma long
Echinacea angustifolia
Elettaria caradmomum
Eleutherococcus senticosis
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Foeniculum vulgare
Ganoderma lucidum
Glycerrhiza glabra
Lepedium meyenii (maca)
Mahonia spp.
Mentha spicata
Panax quinquefolius
Salvia spp.
Schisandra chinensis
Silybum marinum
Taraxacum officinale
Ulmus rubra
Withania somnifera
Zingiber officinale
Quick Recipes
 Anti-Inflammatory
 Detox
Fudge
Hummus
Anti-Inflammatory Hummus
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One 8oz tub of hummus (or make your own)
1 clove of garlic freshly crushed
1tbsp turmeric powder
1tsp ginger powder
¼ tsp cayenne
Blend together all ingredients and use as you
would any other hummus. Excellent with
veggies as a dip. Reduce ginger and
eliminate cayenne if something less spicy is
preferred.
Detox Fudge
 Add
Turmueric, Ashwaganda, Ginger,
and Dandelion Root into gently melted
chocolate with 1/3 part coconut oil. Allow
to harden in freezer and cut into cubes.
 Store in freezer.
Want More?
 Become
 Or
a member of the AHG!
visit:
http://www.americanherbalistsguild.com/
symposium/symposium-proceedings
 Read pdf’s of every talk there and look at
the original material that made up this
talk.
 Remember, Do…Your….Research!
 Questions?