Speaker: Jason Hawrelak, ND  Research demonstrating the vital importance of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiota to human health has been growing exponentially over the past two decades. Investigations have also been finding that an altered GIT ecosystem (i.e., dysbiosis) is involved in the pathogenesis of a number of different disease states – from depression, autism and metabolic syndrome to Alzheimer’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and even hypertension. Recent studies have revealed that many herbal medicines have the capacity to alter the composition and functioning of this microbiota. In this presentation, Dr Hawrelak will provide a brief overview of the importance of the GIT microbiota and highlight some of the published research that has assessed the impact of herbal medicines on our GIT microbiome. We will feature botanicals that appear to nurture the microbiota, as well as herbal formulas that can be used to target specific infections or imbalances in the ecosystem. Finally we discuss botanicals whose use may result in unwanted collateral damage to this vital human ecosystem.

Related product: The PowerPoint for this recording is available here: 2022 Southwest Conference on Botanical Medicine: Conference Book Download (PDF)

  Also available in video (for purchase separately on Vimeo).

Continuing Education:

Naturopathic Physicians: This recording has been approved for 1.5 general CME credits by   

• Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine (OBNM)
• Arizona SCNM (Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine)