The American Herbalists Guild will hold its 14th annual symposium October 17-19 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the historic La Posada de Albuquerque. This year's symposium is titled "Building Knowledge, Building Community," and will focus on case studies; roundtable discussions; clinically based lectures; practitioner/client interactions; career-building strategies; and other aspects of clinical herbal medicine.

Background

The American Herbalists Guild is the only peer-review organization in the United States for professional herbalists who specialize in the medicinal use of plants. A non-profit, educational organization, the Guild was founded in 1989 to represent the voices of herbalists nationwide. The Guild serves as a liaison to other professional associations and regulatory agencies, and promotes cooperation between herbal practitioners and other health care providers. Among its goals are the promotion of research in herbal medicine, the encouragement of high standards in herbal education and training; and the fostering of high standards of ethics and integrity in the education and practice of therapeutic herbalism. Membership in the Guild is open to professional herbalists, students and benefactors.

Conference Information

The AHG symposium begins on Friday, Oct. 17 with its annual general membership meeting and a welcoming event. A general session and panel group will discuss "Legal Issues of Herbal Practice," and at 2:00, afternoon sessions will commence. Among the topics to be examined on Friday are herbs and herbal extracts; cupping and moxa techniques for herbalists; and the lymphatic system. AHG President Aviva Romm will moderate a session on how to become a professional member of the Guild, and in the evening, Phyllis Hogan of the Arizona Ethnobotanical Research Association will discuss her work assisting traditional Native American elders in preserving their knowledge of medicinal plants.

The symposium gets into full gear on Saturday, with 10 morning- and mid-morning sessions. Highlights include a talk by David Winston on the energetics of herbs, and Francis Brinker, ND will moderate a workshop on herb-drug combinations that enhance anti-inflammatory effects and reduce drug risks. In addition, Mary Bove, ND, AHG will discuss botanical medicines that impact thyroid disease and James Snow will offer a clinical review of Hepatitis C. The afternoon will be organized into a series of roundtable discussions, small groups where participants can discuss cases, ask questions, and learn from the experiences of respected practitioners. Among the topics to be included are women's health, cancer, infectious disease, pediatrics, and cardiovascular disorders, among others. Simultaneously, a "medicine making station" will allow hands-on practice and demonstrations on how to make herbal tinctures and salves.

On Saturday evening, the Guild will hold its banquet dinner. Tieraona Low Dog, a medical doctor and former AHG president, will deliver the keynote address. Well-known in botanical and integrative medicine circles, Dr. Low Dog was appointed by President Clinton to serve on the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy, and was honored by Time magazine in 2001 as "an innovator in alternative medicine." Following her address, the evening will conclude with a book signing by AHG teachers, and a "coffee house" gathering for members to socialize.

Sunday, Oct. 19 offers a total of 20 workshops, seminars and presentations. Michael Moore, director of the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine, will present a two-part series on lesser-known botanicals and their medicinal properties. Jonathan Treasure, MNIMH, AHG will provide an update on the latest herb-drug interactions, including current research, while Christopher Hobbs, LAc, AHG, and Daniel Gagnon, AHG, will deliver talks on herbs for infectious diseases and herbs for insomnia conditions, respectively. The conference will conclude with a closing circle ceremony.

In addition to the three days of training and workshops, the Guild will offer preconference intensives on Thursday, October 16 covering topics such as phytopharmacy and herbal therapies for cancer. A postconference intensive on October 20 & 21 provides a perfect opportunity for herbal students to gain hands-on clinical experience with Guild teachers, and covers a wide variety of subjects such as intake skills, maintaining records and developing relationships with medical practitioners.

The La Posada de Albuquerque, home to this year's meeting, is less than 10 minutes from Albuquerque International Airport, and provides a cultured, relaxed environment for learning. Room reservations can be made by calling La Posada at (800) 777-5372. Symposium attendees will receive a discounted room rate; however, reservations must be made by Sept. 12 to receive a discount.

For more information on the 2003 American Herbalists Guild Annual Symposium, contact:

American Herbalists Guild
1931 Gaddis Road
Canton, GA 30115
Tel: (770) 751-6021
Fax: (770) 751-7472
E-mail:

Registration forms, a symposium brochure, and other information can also be downloaded at www.americanherbalist.com.

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