The concern and questions around vaccines is growing substantially around the globe. With this comes a lot of fear and concern about infections, vaccines, choices, traveling abroad and simply not being fully informed before making a decision around vaccinations. As one of very few ND’s in British Columbia, Canada who originally obtained the Immunization Certification, Dr. Bean would like to present on some key areas around vaccinations that we as practitioners should know and what we can provide for our patients when they have questions. This should not be a topic of fear or anger but a topic that is honest, forthcoming and transparent. Practitioners should know what resources to offer their patients who have questions around vaccines along with knowing where they can go for current and reputable information. From simply knowing how to locate a vaccine insert, utilizing annual surveillance reports from the CDC, understanding how adjuvants work and what along with what they are how they are researched, to understanding infant immunity as it pertains to vaccination.

Benzodiazepine receptor agonist (BZRA) drugs, e.g., Clonazepam (Klonopin®), Lorazepam (Ativan®), Temazepam (Restoril®), Alprazolam (Xanax®), and Diazepam (Valium®) are commonly prescribed for anxiety and insomnia, but have significant health risks. Older adults in particular are vulnerable to increased frailty, falls and mortality risks from use of BZRAs. Evidence supports the use of cognitive behavioral therapy and individualized tapering plans for reduction of BZRA use, however access to CBT limits the impact CBT can have for many adults. Also, few adults are aware of effective alternatives. Recently result suggests BZRAs are particularly causative for increased morbidity in older adults, and importantly, functional improve may result when use of the drugs is stopped. Active research at the National University of Natural Medicine is surveying older adults to learn their preferences for alternatives to BZRA drugs, as well as desirable characteristics for non-drug alternatives. NUNM is also testing non-drug educational and mind-body interventions for BZRA tapering, and progress will be shared in this presentation.

Exosomes are quickly becoming the most promising rejuvenation tool for healing skin ailments when used topically. The popularized usage with Microneedling is yielding impressive clinical results, with a decrease in acne scaring, hyperpigmentation, and fine lines after just 1-2 treatments. My own patients are seeing far more healing of skin along with tighter overall appearance and plumper more hydrated texture than with PRP. Research is showing that Exosomes (extracellular component of mesenchymal cells containing mRNA but No DNA…signaling growth factors) are also effective in wound healing, follicle healing for hair growth, and when used with a driving cream can reduce neuropathy. Additionally, because exosomes deliver growth factors for remodeling of collagen through fibroblasts proliferation, this treatment may also protect against future skin damage! (If this is too niche of a topic I’m also happy to do a talk on safe skincare and personal care products, guidelines, and how to provide a framework for your patients when choosing products….topics will include label reading, resources like ewg, what is an endocrine disrupter and how to avoid etc).

Deep dive into what biofilms are, how they are formed, how they influence chronic disease and how to diagnose them.

The local microbiome is a massive contributor to urogenital health, especially in our female patients. This talk reviews basic, advanced, and novel ways to assess and influence the vaginal microbiome.

What does integrative care look like for Endometriosis?  Spring boarding off the first lecture about overall integrative care pros and cons, Dr. Williams and Dr. Hayes will discuss this difficult condition and their success with approaching it collaboratively.

MS is one of the many chronic neurodegenerative diseases that has become more prevalent in the past several decades that often leads to progressive disability. Conventional medication may slow the progression of illness, but does not reverse or cure the illness. Fortunately, there are several interventions that naturopathic doctors can do to not only help slow the progression of disease, but may actually help reduce inflammation and repair damaged myelin, leading to improved function, less pain, better mobility and improved quality of life. Dr. Ingels will discuss his experience living with MS and what he does for himself and his patients to help overcome MS. This includes dietary management, therapeutic lifestyle, exercise and eStim, targeted nutrients and herbs and trauma work which can significantly improve the quality of life of people living with MS.

More than 53 million Americans have osteoporosis or osteopenia, and the standard of care is to prescribe one of the more than a dozen FDA-approved osteoporosis medications. Understanding the potential benefits and risks with these medications is crucial when advising patients and answering their questions. In this talk, Dr. Neustadt reviews the medications and teaches clinicians which ones are best for primary fracture prevention, secondary fracture prevention and discusses how clinicians can discuss these drugs with patients to help them make the best decisions for their health.

Microbiome research continues to expand, pointing to both the diversity of microbiomes throughout the body and how microbiome health impacts systemic health. So the question becomes how to keep those microbiomes healthy? Botanical interventions are proving to be worthy of consideration. Join Drs. Kristen Klos-Maki and Jocelyn Strand as they delve into a review of novel research including case studies, pilot research, literature reviews, and clinical trials. All of the studies point to the use of plant-based compounds in the prevention and management of conditions such as GI disorders, oral-systemic health, and inflammatory disorders. They will discuss key findings, mechanisms of action, and integration of botanicals into clinical practice. You will leave with easily applied therapeutics to offer global and restorative support for improved patient outcomes and holistic wellness.

Researching into the influence of the gastrointestinal track on bone health has provided surprising links between these two systems. Every 30 seconds someone with osteoporosis breaks a bone, and osteoporosis is second only to cardiovascular disease as a global health problem. If you’re a woman, your risk of an osteoporotic fracture is greater than your combined risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer. One often overlooked driver of decreased bone density and weaker bone is gastrointestinal dysfunction and medications for gastrointestinal disorders. Malabsorption, dysbiosis and chronic inflammation are underlying drivers.

There are so many things that are being lost in our profession. The one I am most determined to make sure stays in our treatment protocols is escarotic treatment. I was handed the original treatment protocol when we cleaned out Dr Bastyr’s office in 1991. I would love to give the history of this treatment protocol and to talk about the specifics of the effectiveness and treatment. I could see me doing a treatment a year at this conference of things that we may lose

Identity-based discrimination – whether in singular incidences or cumulative experiences across lifetime and environment – has been linked to a cascade of chronic physiological stress symptoms including cardiovascular health, endocrine disruption, digestive health, restorative sleep, and negative mental well-being symptoms. Health care providers have a unique opportunity in their trusted relationships with patient consumers to assess and understand prior experiences of identity-based discrimination. Initiating the conversation can be difficult, especially to be mindful of not making assumptions around apparent or non-apparent identities (e.g., broad disability factors, physical illness, mental well-being, neurodivergence, sexual identity, gender identity, religious/ spiritual identity). With a variety of opening prompts and humanistic assessment questions to engage consumers to start a conversation, an introductory pathway for providers will be offered to better understand the holistic impacts on health from societal injustice so healing can start in the consumer’s health sanctuary with their trusted health providers.

Research has shown a continual decline in males sperm parameters over the past several decades. This coincides with changes in androgen production, and an increase in male factor fertility concerns. Declining sperm parameters have a much broader impact than simply a man’s ability to reproduce they are also connected with both short and long term health for our male patients. Sperm parameters can indicate potential concern with the ability to handle oxidative damage, inflammation and immune function. These can then relate to cardiovascular system concerns, metabolic health, chronic inflammation and much more. Examining sperm parameters can improve our understanding of a patients current functional health which can help with fertility treatment but could also support strategies for optimizing both short and long term health.

Achieving and maintaining hormonal balance is vital for overall health and well-being. In this presentation, we will explore the powerful combination of biohacking techniques and functional testing methods to optimize hormonal balance effectively. We will delve into the topics of sleep, stress management, exercise, and nutrition as essential pillars of hormone optimization. Additionally, we will emphasize the significance of accurate diagnosis through functional testing in order to develop personalized treatment plans. Join us as we uncover practical insights and evidence-based strategies for biohacking hormonal balance and achieving optimal health.

Clinical practice is busy! I get it. Why engage in research? Dr. Barber will highlight the rationale
behind engaging in at least some research and how to identify “low-hanging fruit” – what is
easy to report, publish, present on, and how to do it. She will discuss different systems to
implement in your practice to set you up for success and bridge the interface between clinical practice and research. Come with cases/topic areas that inspire you and we can set up an action plan to publish and share your work!