HEALING ARTS | By Lanny Kaufer

Ojai Symposium Keynote Speaker, Kevin Spelman, Announced

Internationally recognized medical researcher Kevin Spelman to present keynote address and more at Ojai Herbal Symposium on “Natural Resilience” 

Internationally recognized phytochemical researcher Kevin Spelman, PhD, will deliver the keynote address at the Ojai Herbal Symposium, on Friday evening, November 16, at 7 p.m. in Krotona Hall preceded by an opening blessing from Chumash elder Julie Tumamait-Stenslie. Dr. Spelman’s keynote topic is “Insights into Resilience: The Human-Plant Connection.” The Symposium will continue all day Saturday and Sunday, November 17-18, with twelve more presenters, all experts in their fields, addressing the overall theme of “Natural Resilience.” Sunday afternoon the symposium will move from Krotona Hall to several downtown Ojai locations for smaller breakout sessions including one by Tumamait-Stenslie entitled “Learning the Language of the Earth and Its Plant World.” The presenters include widely respected practitioners, authors, and speakers from across the spectrum of modern herbalism, integrative pharmacy, integrative medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, and Native American healing. Classes will be accessible to the professional and non-professional alike.

Dr. Spelman will give two other talks Saturday on “Cannabidiol: The Anxiolytic, Anti-Inflammatory, Analgesic, Nootropic, Non-Euphoric Cannabinoid” and “The Terpenes of Cannabis.” Dr. Spelman’s research includes brain and ovarian cancer and clinical investigations, immunological studies, and chemical analysis on numerous medicinal plants for the natural products industry.

Registration is open for the full weekend, separate days, or individual talks and workshops. The Ojai Herbal Symposium is presented by the Lanny Kaufer of HerbWalks.com, a local provider of herbal education since 1976. The symposium has been accepted as Continuing Education Provider #1526 by the California Acupuncture Board. Twelve classes are pending Category 1 approval. Professionals in other health and medical disciplines are encouraged to petition their respective boards for credits.

An Herbal Marketplace sponsored by Sespe Creek Collective will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Chaparral Auditorium in downtown Ojai. Vendors of herbal products and related items are encouraged to apply on the website. For all information visit OjaiHerbalSymposium.org or call 805-646-6281.

On Saturday in Krotona Hall, in addition to Dr. Spelman, speakers include USC pharmacologist James Adams, PhD, on “Curing Chronic Pain;” herbalist and horticulturalist Sandy Messori on “The Genesis of Rivendell Aromatics;” licensed acupuncturist and medicinal plant specialist Dr. Fred Siciliano on “The Role of Nutritional Herbology in Natural Resilience;” and Pam Tarlow, PharmD, of Santa Monica Homeopathic Pharmacy on “Drug/Herb/Nutrient Interactions.”

Saturday night at 8 p.m. Greater Goods in Meiners Oaks will host a “Phytotherapeutic Phunk Dance and Elixir Bar” featuring funk tunes and unique cocktails crafted by clinical herbalist Jess Starwood of SunRaven Apothecary with locally-sourced spirits from Ventura Spirits. Admission is included with full weekend registration or open to the public 21 years of age or older by donation at the door. RSVP is requested to info@greatergoodsojai.org as space is limited.

Sunday’s schedule will begin with early morning activities including yoga with Mela Gaskins Butcher, founder and director of the Center for Ayurveda; a tour of the Earth Island Medicinal Herb Garden by garden curator and registered herbalist Carol Wade; and an herb walk with Starwood at Cluff Vista Park.. The Sunday morning program will follow in Krotona Hall, beginning with a talk by internationally known herbalist, therapist and author Amanda McQuade Crawford and integrative oncologist Mary Hardy, MD, entitled “Medicinal Foods & Herbs: Which Adaptogen Suits You?” They will be followed by Mela Gaskins Butcher speaking on “Building Life Force Through Ayurvedic Botanical Medicines.”

After a lunch and marketplace break, the symposium moves downtown for more talks and workshops including Wade’s presentation on “Adaptogens, Nootropics, and Nervines- A Powerful Herbal Trinity,” Butcher’s on “Ayurveda’s Most Celebrated Herbal Medicines,” Siciliano’s on “Ginger Root Tea & Mint Tea: Valuable Healing Agents and Resilient Friends,” and Starwood’s workshop entitled “Wild Epicure: Infusing Local Flavors and Healing Herbs into Gourmet and Everyday Cuisine for Vibrant Health.”

The Sunday afternoon sessions also include Native American healer Tonantzin Cihualcoutl Guerra, founder of the Native Women’s Herbal Medicine Festival, presenting workshops on “Creating a Medicinal Ointment” and “Perseverance, Prayer and Joy;” and Dr. Nathan Kaehler of Ojai Herbs and Acupuncture on “Herbs for Psycho-Spiritual Resilience and Healing Trauma, including PTSD.”

Registration for the full weekend is $255 in advance until November 9 and $285 beginning November 10. Daily and individual class rates are also available on the website as well as student discounts upon request. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Greater Goods Relief Fund for community support in the aftermath of the December 2017 fires.

Calendar Listing:

  • Ojai Herbal Symposium on “Natural Resilience”
  • Krotona Hall and various downtown locations
  • Friday evening, November 16, through Sunday, November 18 
  • Respected practitioners,  authors, and speakers from across the spectrum of modern herbalism, integrative pharmacy,  integrative medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic medicine and Native American healing
  • Herbal Marketplace open to the public. Chaparral Auditorium, Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
  • Phytotherapeutic Phunk Dance and Elixir Bar for symposium attendees 21 years of age and older: Saturday night 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. at Greater Goods in Meiners Oaks.
  • $255 advance, $285 after November 9
  • Info & registration at OjaiHerbalSymposium.org

Photos: Kevin Spelman , Amanda McQuade Crawford, Nathan Kaehler