This is a case study presentation on my journey as a caregiver and herbalist for my mother over a 10-year period. We will explore research, current medications, ideas, protocols, herbals, food, nutrition, and behavioral challenges. I will share problem solving ideas, health promoting situations, and personal experiences including my favorite formula, “Elder Respect”.

Cannabis has moved from the underground counterculture to the regulated mainstream. The cannabis industry promotes the herb as a cure-all for everything from cancer to PTSD. Come discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of the corporate takeover of cannabis. Lets also talk about herbs that combine well with cannabis and the many, many herbs that can be used to heal conditions now commonly treated with cannabis.

Understanding how our minds got “here” can increase our sense of efficacy (“I am confident”), agency (“I am able”), and compassion (“I am worthy”). Reviewing landmark research on ACES and resiliency, we will calculate our ACE and resiliency scores, learn what it says about our health and target areas to focus. We’ll look at the results of this work in under-resourced communities and the take-aways for us all.

We'll explore plants historically used to enhance dreaming, support restful sleep, and open intuitive channels. Learn about specific herbs, their traditional uses, and simple preparations that can be incorporated into their own dream practices. Join us for a practical dive into plant allies that bridge the waking world with the realm of dreams, informed by generations of Southern Italian folk medicine.

The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis, which controls our stress response and hormone levels like cortisol, influences brain function and gut health. When this system is overstressed, it can disrupt our gut bacteria, leading to issues like brain fog, anxiety, and depression. Explore how adaptogens and nourishing food support this system to restore balance and promote healing.

Through a lens of Black and feminist frameworks, we will learn how herbs can be utilized daily and intentionally to support our human nervous systems. We will expand our capacity to access our breath for transformation and explore how herbs can be used in simple yet effective ways to create healing spaces. The focus will be on healing for women, black people, brown people, and communities of color.

How can herbs effect the brain? They can enhance mood, make us more alert, and even make us smarter! Over the centuries, people have used herbs for all of these brainy reasons and more. Learn how to learn better! Liz Johnson, herbalist, will go over herbs that effect the brain, how to use them, and offer a treat or two with brainy herbs in them. Come and make a brainy brew for yourself.

We'll discuss ways our nervous system gets thrown out of balance and how we can use herbs to restore that balance - in daily, restorative ways and when in acute crisis. We'll begin and end with a grounding meditation, in order to practice giving the nervous system some care, and in-between we'll cover a long list of allies ready to help you when the stress of here and now is too much!

In today’s world of rapid technology and unending stimulation, shifting cultures of herbalism compound the difficulty of balancing life's demands in a big loud world. In the face of all this noise, how do we maintain our true connection with the plants themselves? Come reflect on many of the issues facing us today while also honoring the simplicities that make us herbalists.

Mushrooms could hold the key to humans having a future on this planet. Fungi were some of the first life forms to make land habitable and they’ve already survived five mass extinctions and will most likely survive several more. Could a deeper understanding of Mycelium change our own brains? Perhaps it could change our current way of thinking and help alter our disastrous and self‐destructive trajectory.

Explore new scientific discoveries, clinical trials, clinical reports, and testimonials about the Legendary Lion’s Mane! In this lecture we will discuss how important this phenomenal fungi may be to our neurological system, as well as other body systems. Also reviewed are some of the latest scientific studies that help to uncover the potential of Hericium erinaceus – both the fruiting body and the mycelium.

Does lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus) truly promote neurogenesis as some companies suggest? Or, does lion's mane promote neuroplasticity? What is the difference? How does all of this relate to lion's mane's traditional uses for improved attention, memory, and cognition? This workshop will take a deep dive into the neuroscience and psychological effects of lion's mane mushroom.

In this exploratory lecture, we will discuss how sub-intoxicating doses of psilocybin, combined with other allies, can influence neurite outgrowth, nerve regeneration, and re-myelination of nerves. We will take a deep dive into the science and clinical applications behind the Stamets Stack, as well as discuss the neurogenic synergy that occurs when psylocibin is combined with Lion’s Mane and niacin.

A healthy nervous system is an integral component to all aspects of vitality. Let’s explore ways to nourish our individual and collective nervous systems and avoid the varied ways that our nervous systems are sabotaged. We'll discuss supportive foods, herbs, and lifestyle choices and identify neurotoxins in food and the environment.

There are several ways to prevent and manage the itchy eyes, tickly throat, runny nose, and congested lungs that decrease our enjoyment outdoors. You will learn a few herbal ideas to help inhibit the inflammatory response, tone and restore the respiratory mucosa and lungs, modulate the immune system, and fortify the nervous and endocrine system while marveling at the amazing intertwined systems of our bodies.

Sleep and relaxation are fundamental to our health, yet they can be elusive in our modern experience. Join me for a deep dive into the mechanics, physiology, and psychology of sleep. We will discuss why we are so challenged as a society with this critical aspect of health, explore strategies that may help improve our relationship with sleep, and discover herbal and mushroom allies that may optimize our rest.

What is our cultural and historical inheritance of conquest, survival and resilience: our biological response to sustained stress? How does it drive our unconscious stress response, express our mental health, set our threshold for addiction, and influence our burden of chronic disease. Understanding “it’s not my fault, but it is my responsibility” can help us celebrate our survival and reclaim our cognitive map.

Does lion’s mane promote neurogenesis? Can purslane substitute omega-3s found in fish and eggs? What benefits and potential harms does foraging have on our nervous system? How do we increase equitable access to wild foods and strengthen the self-reliance, sustainability, and well-being of our community? Learn how wild foods alter our nervous system, foster a sense of belonging, and create resilient communities.