Herb-Drug Interactions: Overview with New Information

Much of the teaching about herb-drug interactions in Chinese medicine has been theoretical in the past. It was reasonable to assume, for instance, that you would want to be careful of mixing blood-moving herbs with blood thinners as they might serve to unwittingly magnify the treatment effect to excess, causing damage. Updated information and documented cases now allow us to be more informed about how interactions occur in actual cases, and practical applications abound. This seminar will include the basics of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions and specific examples of the most important interactions every practitioner must know will be discussed, including Chinese herbs, Western herbs, herbal formulas, and more.

Chronic (long-lasting) pain affects more than 50 million adults in the U.S., according to the CDC, and chronic pain is more prevalent and intense amongst veterans than Americans generally. The Veterans’ Administration and Department of Defense (DoD) have widely used Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA), an auricular protocol developed by General Richard Niemtzow for pain relief that initially gained traction at Walter Reed Army Medical Center during the Iran and Afghanistan wars, and have since trained more than 4,600 healthcare providers to deliver the therapy. Professor Howard, who serves as a primary BFA trainer for licensed acupuncturists, will provide an update on the current use of BFA. In 2014, Howard served as the vice president of the 8th International Symposium of Auriculotherapy in the United States. He is currently conducting studies on the use of auriculotherapy in distance runners to enhance performance; some of the men on team USA who won the world 100k gold medal in the Netherlands in 2011 used his protocol as part of their program.

Stephen Cowan, popular pediatrician, Chinese medicine practitioner, and author of Fire Child/Water Child, will share reflections from his upcoming book Seasons of Childhood, which is about growing healthy families through a Chinese medicine lens, based on a viral blog post he authored titled "11 things I wish every parent would know". Dr. Cowan will address timing, grounding, healthy traditions, encouragement vs. indulgence, spiritual factors, and how to diagnose and treat children based on cycles.

This workshop will cover the point protocol, point locations, clinical techniques, and use of Battlefield Acupuncture as well as initial modifications. The ASP needles used for BFA and needle techniques will be discussed, practical demonstrations will be included, and adverse effects will be covered.

Join American Acupuncture Council panelists Marilyn Allen (editor of Acupuncture Today), Brandon Hoffman (market development executive), and Sam Collins (insurance expert) as they share invaluable insights straight from the World Health Organization meetings in Rwanda. Harness global perspectives to optimize your local acupuncture practice. Discover crucial updates on ethical practices, insurance billing and coding, and malpractice trends. This session will help you understand coverage requirements, enhance your documentation, and master compliance to reduce risk and elevate your practice.

This seminar will detail the basics of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions, including Chinese herbs and formulas, Western herbs and drugs, and specific disease conditions. Ways to alleviate adverse reactions from standard treatments for oncology patients will be discussed, as will cautions and contraindications in patients with liver and kidney diseases. Many Chinese medicine practitioners lack the confidence and understanding of Western medicine treatments to engage in a meaningful conversation with oncologists and other healthcare providers: this class will address those concerns and build competence and confidence regarding integrating Chinese herbal treatments.

Microaggressions in healthcare and wellness settings, both conscious and unconscious, can erode trust, damage the relationship between clients and healers, undermine the effectiveness of treatment, and decrease client retention. A practitioner making assumptions about a patient based on race or apparent gender identity, a patient remark about health or lifestyle recommendations, and unconscious bias at reception or in promotion can all lead to negative outcomes. In addition to trying to eliminate microaggressions, how can you manage them in realtime to not only mitigate damage but lead to positive results in the moment and learning in the long term? You may be surprised at how easy and effective it can be. Come learn about the collaborative confrontation of microaggressions for best outcomes!

Dr. Cowan will explore how to use Chinese medicine foundations for health to diagnose and treat conditions in children--and the child in all of us. Where do parents get stuck in raising children and keeping them healthy, and how can we assist them? This class will examine some cases to illustrate how to use basic principles for diagnosis and treatment.