Saturday 7 August
Keynote Speaker : Leah Hechtman
The Natural Health and Fertility Centre – www.naturalhealthfertility.com
The dance of conception – Survival and health of sperm and oocytes
Leah is an experienced and respected clinician and has been in private practice for over 20 years. She specialises in fertility, pregnancy and reproductive medicine and holds fellowships and memberships with many International organisations. She sits on multiple Scientific Advisory boards and is a Past President of the NHAA. She has completed extensive advanced training and is the Director of The Natural Health and Fertility Centre, in Sydney Australia. She is a keynote speaker, author and contributor and importantly a mother to two boys who keep her grounded and consciously aware.
ABSTRACT:
Global statistics indicate that male fertility is declining at a rapid rate with meta-analyses revealing that sperm counts have declined by more than 50% in the past 50-60 years. It is believed that male infertility accounts for 40-50% of infertility cases and with total infertility statistics being 8-12% of the population, a large amount of unsupported health issues prevail.
Female infertility statistics are equally alarming and with the role of the oocyte to ‘tidy up’ any sperm abnormalities, the dance of conception can be challenging and thwarted for some couples.
Ubiquinol is essential for both male and female gametes and is present in follicular fluid, semen, within the structure of each gamete and is essential for both individual’s ATP production systemically. Thus, making it one of the most important nutrients for the health of humankind and efficient reproductive fitness.
Dr Asmita Patel
Research manager at SPCNM - www.spcnm.ac.nz
The use of natural medicine among older aged New Zealanders
Dr Patel earned her PhD in public health from Auckland University of Technology. She is currently Research Manager at South Pacific College of Natural Medicine (SPCNM), where she also teaches on the Foundations of Research paper. Dr Patel has held research positions at a number of tertiary institutions in the Auckland region. She has worked on a wide-range of health-related studies. Dr Patel has also held a research and teaching position at a tertiary institution that teaches traditional Chinese medicine. Dr Patel has published her research in a number of peer reviewed international and domestic journals.
ABSTRACT:
Study aims: To provide a demographic profile of older adults who attended a student natural medicine clinic over a 2-year period, and to identify the symptoms and conditions that treatment was sought for.
Methods: Data were collected for 76 older aged clients, (28 male and 48 female) aged between 65 and 88 years of age.
Results and Conclusion: The majority who attended the clinic were female, in the young-old age group (65 to 74 years of age) and identified as being New Zealand European. Treatment was predominately sought for chronic health conditions, such as constipation, chronic pain, and arthritis.
Loula George, Mike Eyres, Erin Hudson, Sunshine Tremain - Cannaherbalists
Medicinal Cannabis -the Herbalist’s Pathway
We are 4 medical herbalists/naturopaths with decades of experience in clinical practice, teaching and research - Mike Eyres, Erin Hudson, Sunshine Tremain and Loula George.
Our group has become involved in the area of medicinal cannabis since completing the post grad course – Introduction to Medicinal Cannabis from AUT in 2020. Our aims are to ensure the herbalist’s pathway for preparing and prescribing medicinal cannabis in our traditional whole plant form – this is our scope of practice.
We are currently lobbying for registered medicinal herbalists to be recognised as legitimate prescribers by way of an amnesty (see attached press release). As a group we have real time clinical experience involving many patients who have accessed medicinal cannabis and we are ready to offer our experience to other herbalists.
ABSTRACT:
A panel discussion on medicinal cannabis and the herbalist pathway. We are 4 herbal practitioners with a range of clinical experiences who have recently completed a post graduate course on Medicinal Cannabis at AUT. We have met monthly for the last 18 months for case discussion and have collected data on hundreds of patients who have experienced non approved cannabis medicine. We can include any of the following topics as required by our members. The history of cannabis use and the current political climate. The endocannabinoid system Cannabis medicine in relation to the endocannabinoid system and its clinical efficacy Case histories to illustrate the individualisation of prescribing and its efficacy on different conditions e.g pain, anxiety, insomnia Whole plant medicine is very much our domain and we need to explore the herbalist pathway for legitimate prescribing of this wonderful plant.
Dr Amie Steel
The Naturopathy Health Technology Assessment: Contents, Significance, Contribution
Dr Amie Steel is a Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine in the Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney. She is also a member of the World Naturopathic Federation Research Committee.
ABSTRACT:
Background: Naturopathy is practiced throughout the world, yet many stakeholders are misinformed or entirely ignorant of the role, value and practice of naturopathy. Methods: The World Naturopathic Federation prepared a type of report targeting government officials – known as a health technology assessment (HTA). Results: The HTA summarises information about naturopathy relevant to governments and may be used to lobby governments to take more notice of the naturopathic profession in their country and around the world. Conclusion: The HTA will be a valuable tool for naturopaths in any country wishing to advance the standing of their profession.
Dr Cliff Harvey
Ketosis and Ketogenic Diets, Myths and Realities
- PhD in nutrition, focussed on identifying markers of carbohydrate tolerance, ketosis, and ketogenesis
- Performed the first trials specifically evaluating keto-flu, time to nutritional ketosis, and the effects of medium chain triglycerides in a class ketogenic diet
- Practitioner of 23 years experience
- Author of several best-selling books, including The Carbohydrate Appropriate Diet
- Papers have been in the Top 5 most viewed articles for their respective years in PeerJ (2 years running – 2018 and 2019)
ABSTRACT:
The ketogenic diet is becoming more and more commonly used in clinical practice, but it is often poorly understood. In this workshop, Dr Cliff Harvey examines the science behind the evidence-based benefits and application of ketogenic diets for health.
He will discuss the evidence-based benefits and applications of ketogenic diets, what ketones, ketosis, and ketogenic diets are in the context of the most recent scientific understanding, and how to simply apply ketogenic diets. In addition, Cliff will discuss topics of clinical interest such as ‘keto-flu’, and ways to enhance the effects of a ketogenic diet.
This session is perfect for anyone who is confused about the ketogenic diet or simply wants to hear a pragmatic, evidence-based approach. It will be particularly beneficial to clinicians in practice.
Associate Professor Matthew Leach
Evidence-based practice and New Zealand Naturopaths: state of the art.
Associate Professor Matthew Leach is Deputy Director of Education at the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, Southern Cross University. A/Prof Leach has made a significant contribution to the fields of complementary medicine, evidence-based practice and health services research since completing his PhD sixteen years ago. He has published more than 140 refereed journal articles, 12 book chapters and a sole-authored textbook, and has attracted over 3,139 citations for his work (h-index of 29). A/Prof Leach is also a member of several journal editorial boards and government committees, and has been awarded more than $1.74 million in competitive research grant funding.
ABSTRACT:
Background: Health professions are under increasing pressure to adopt evidence-based practice (EBP). Still, the extent to which naturopaths engage in EBP remains poorly understood, particularly in New Zealand.
Methods: Cross-sectional survey of NZ naturopaths.
Results: 111 naturopaths completed the survey. There was strong support for EBP, with naturopaths reporting a medium-high skill level in EBP. Notwithstanding, most naturopaths engaged in EBP-related activities at a low level. Several barriers and enablers to EBP uptake were identified.
Conclusions: These findings may help guide potential strategies to improve EBP uptake in NZ naturopaths, with a view to improving future naturopathic education and practice.
Jill Dunn
Naturopathy, an integrated health profession: What does it take?
- NZQA Advisory group 1991-2003 naturopathy & Chair of Herbal medicine advisory group for development of education standards
- NZQA Governance group 2014 for evaluation of national naturopathic education standards for naturopathy
- Redevelopment of naturopathic bachelor’s degree
- Managed herbal medicine application for regulation
- NZ representative on World Naturopathic Federation & Chair of Professional Mapping Committee currently undertaking global research on naturopathic professionalisation
ABSTRACT:
Despite increasing public use, a significant workforce, and World Health Organization calls for national policy development to support integration of services, naturopathy has yet to examine existent frameworks as potential barriers to integration. This presentation reports cross-sectional survey findings from 29 countries examining naturopathic regulation, education, and practice frameworks. Naturopathic education and regulation has significant heterogeneity. Standards are highest and more consistent within regulated frameworks. Consistent regulation, formalized education frameworks and practice standards could assist professionalisation, integration and public access to naturopathic care.
AGM: Sunday 8 August
Dr Kiran Krishnan
The role of post-biotics in modulating inflammation that can have an impact on the health of the skin.
Kiran Krishnan is a Research Microbiologist and has been involved in the dietary supplement and nutrition market for the past 20 years. He comes from a strict research background having spent several years with hands-on R&D in the fields of molecular medicine and microbiology at the University of Iowa. He left University research to take several leadership positions in global companies in Business Development and Product Development. Most recently, Kiran is the General Manager for Novozymes One Health America & Microbiome Labs, a leader in microbiome and probiotic research. He is a frequent lecturer on the Human Microbiome at Medical and Nutrition Conferences. He is an expert guest on National Radio and Satellite radio and has been a guest speaker on several Health Summits as a microbiome expert. He is currently involved in over 18 novel human clinical trials on probiotics and the human microbiome. Kiran is also on the Scientific Advisory Board for 7 other companies in the industry. Kiran has published clinical trials in peer-reviewed, scientific journals and several global patents in his name.
ABSTRACT:
Studies have shown that microbial post-biotics in the gut microbiome can have a measurable impact on skin outcomes. In particular, the production of short-chain fatty acids in the gut and modulation of those short-chain fatty acids in circulation, can ameliorate acne and inflammation in the skin. In addition, the production of carotenoids in the GI tract may have an impact on the resilience of the skin. We will explore how modulations to the gut microbiota can change post-biotic expression, which can impact the skin in a positive way.