AANP 2013 Convention:
"Walking our Talk: Nature Cure in the Twenty-first Century."
Presenter:
Glen Nagel, ND
Contact Information:
4206 SE Ramona St.
Portland, OR 97206
503 475-4051
Fax 503 226-8133
gnagel@ncnm.edu
Presentation Title:
Song of the Herb: A unified paradigm exploring the energetic’s of western herbs
through the development of plant personalities.
Short description:
Plants have the ability to show us through their expression the very essence of life. I will create a
representation of the properties of specific western herbs which will give pictures of the
personality of the herbs. This presentation will explore plants using signatures, temperatures,
chemistry, and herbal actions to give the naturopthic physician a complete understanding of the
physical, mental, and emotional aspects of plants and its clinical uses.
Abstract:
The study of naturopathic botanical medicine in the last 20 years has been built upon the dual
aspect of plant chemistry and clinical research. This has giving our profession a view of herbal
medicine which can be very different than that of our elder physicians and traditional healers.
The focus on botanical medicine has moved away from vitalism into plants as natural drugs. This
has lead to the development of increasing methods for concentration and fractionating the
chemical aspects of herbs. This has lead to the development of standardized medicines. For all
the advances this has brought it has also lead to loss of the true vitalistic method of botanical
prescribing. Almost all traditional cultures from Native American to Chinese, have had an
understanding that the healing power of green plants is more that chemistry. This view point
includes a perspective that views the animating life force of the plant, in which contains the seed
of wholeness. Plants tell us stories about themselves and their connection to the natural world. It
is this connection that contains the genius of each plant. It is in this rediscovery that I will
discuss the power of intuition, observations and wonder at the natural world. Each herb has a
spiritual identity, a personality pattern which stands, so to speak, with its eternal light. This
personality teaches us about how a plant stands before the world in the integrity of its being.
In my study of plant physiology and botany over the years I have discovered insights into the
genius of plants. It is the development of this awareness that I will strive to bring to the audience.
AANP 2013 Conference
Abstract Submission
Glen Nagel, ND
I will bring together all aspects of the healing energetics of plants: the chemical, the organoleptic
(senses), the signatures, and spiritual realms. I will use a multi media method I call “herbdance”
in which I illustrate with music and song the key lessons each plant can teach. In this journey we
can connect with the spirit of each plant that can directly influence and change our human
conscious and health. We are all healers in this light and the green flame may remind us of that
connection. In our race to the future, in the domination of technology, in the concentration of
constituents, there is a loss of wisdom of traditional ways of looking at medicine. The plant
world can reconnect us to that oneness to the sense of place and purpose. In this insight we can
restore and further move naturopathic vitalistic botanical medicine into the future.
Learning Objectives:
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To restore the ability to use love, wisdom and wonder in the study of naturopathic
botanical medicine.
To encourage insight and confidence in using the ‘vis’ in our naturopathic practices.
To rediscover the light found in each plant and develop key description as to its use.
To establish a new understand of Cimicifuga, Urtica, Silybum, Crataegus, Tilia,
Ginkgo and other botanical medicines.
To re-familiarize participants with the traditional, botanical signatures that can be
applied immediately in a naturopathic practice to help your patients.
To learn clinical indications for botanicals based on a unified method of botanical
insight using, botany, observation, organoleptics, chemistry and clinical knowledge.
Presentation Outline:
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90 minutes, using lecture, PowerPoint, music and singing.
CE 1.5 hours: 0.5 hours in theory, 0.5 clinical relevance and outcomes and 0.5 hours in
practicum.
Audience: General naturopathic physician.
Glen Nagel, ND Short Biography
Dr Nagel has been a practicing herbalist for the last 25 years. He has worked in the herbal
industry as well as an herbal educator offering classes and courses in herbal medicine. He is also
a licensed naturopathic physician in Oregon and has practice
Naturopathic Medicine since 1993 in Montana, Colorado, and
Washington. He is a former Assistant professor of Botanical medicine at
Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington. Currently he is an assistant
profession and NCNM Zidell Healing Garden Curator. He teaches
Botanical medicine and Naturopathic Vitalism and naturopathic
philosophy at NCNM. He is involved in keeping nature in naturopathy
and has lead elective classes in hands on field study of botanical
medicine and nature cure. He has a lifelong interest in plants and nature
and believes in teaching with humor and hands on experience.
AANP 2013 Conference
Abstract Submission
Glen Nagel, ND