Natural Health
Conference:
Come Together
In this year of celebration, it’s fun to think back to the early days of our annual natural health conference and its constant evolution. NHC actually began as an Herbal Studies Conference (HSC) at Callaway Gardens, located in Pine Mountain, GA, south of Atlanta and home of a famous butterfly sanctuary.
Originally scheduled for early October, 2001, its months of attentive planning and excited expectation suddenly slid into the long, cold shadows following the tragedy of 9/11. Clayton College rescheduled its first HSC for May, 2002 and coworkers nicknamed it the-little-conference-that-could (and would!). Its long awaited birth made springtime seem more magical, splendid, and alive than ever before.
Our learning vacation began with opening ceremonies on Thursday evening. There, master herbalist Matthew Wood, AHG, author of Seven Herbs and Vitalism, delighted us with stories of “the secret language of herbs.” Describing Paracelsus’ ancient overview that engages alternative and conventional healing as two complementary approaches, Matthew spoke to all of our hearts.
Keynote speaker and CCNH alumna Linda Page brought to life her years of research in traditional naturopathy, herbology, and holistic nutrition—from her famous Healthy Healing textbook to her zesty new cookbook, Heal with Every Meal.
Another of our 11 conference speakers, CCNH alumna and herbal detox specialist Marty Kernion, PhD, introduced us to physical therapist and ND candidate Jessica Monteleone, who praised Clayton’s role in “imparting life” to students, who then impart life to their clients.
We were further moved by holistic nutrition graduate student May Engels. As she kindly shared a story of her family’s naturopathic journey in overcoming cancer her faith-filled spirit made our spirits soar.
SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR
Everyone loved Callaway Gardens so much that we had to go back in spring 2003. Expanding beyond an Herbal Studies Conference, our new Natural Health Conference brought nutrition guru Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, a Clayton alumna.
Ann Louise’s philosophy of wellness speaks to her belief in “forming a bridge” between conventional medical approaches and complementary/alternative care, which was echoed throughout the conference by presenters and participants alike. In only its second year, our NHC had already attracted more than 200 bridge-builders, including 14 speakers.
Who could forget our evening with gypsy herbal legend Juliette de Bairacli Levy, whose chirpy British accent warned us to “demand fresh air and always live near trees and flowing water, ideally mineral springs.” The bee charmer delighted us with stories of raising goats, cows, Afghan hounds, and animal-loving vegetarian grandchildren.
Conference speaker and herbal adjunct faculty member Darryl Patton reminded us during his popular springtime “weed walks” that several times a day, each of us can choose to eat lower on the food chain. It makes digestion easier and lowers our body’s toxic burden, he added.
A lively drumming circle on Saturday night invited dancing and then chanting, initiated by Indonesian massage therapist and ND student Djohan Gazali. On this magical evening, sudden torrential rains stormed in and flashed out within half an hour— as if in response to Juliette’s message regarding the care and tending of Mother Earth.
Giving of her own talents because she “wanted to be of service” to conference attendees, graduate student Annette Doody offered us the gift of yoga. Her 90-minute class included movement, breathing, and mindful meditation. “When I feel way too busy to slow down,” she said, “I’ve found the best thing I can do is to stop altogether and consciously choose to meditate for longer than usual.”
In other words, we’re never too busy to benefit from self-care.
FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD
By 2004, with 250-plus attendees and 14 speakers we had outgrown Callaway Gardens but still liked the convenience of Atlanta. So we edged NHC closer to town, at the Wyndham Resort in Peachtree City, a quiet suburban outpost.
Last year’s NHC headliners included two holistic physicians and authors, Rudolph Ballentine, MD, a world-renowned homeopath who practices in Brooklyn, and Elson Haas, MD, whose Bay-area practice in San Rafael approaches prescription drugs as a last resort, favoring noninvasive self-care therapies such as diet, acupuncture, and detoxification.
Ballentine’s discussions of personal transformation suggest that we move past illness by outgrowing the way of being that led to sickness. “Without transformation, true healing is suppressed, postponed.”
Ballentine also led an informal tantric yoga group, with discussions of “Opening the Third Eye,” integrating the individual’s yin and yang, feminine and masculine, energies. The conscious choice of gender unity rather than the chaos of separation resonated deeply.
I’m always newly amazed by the depths of knowledge that our speakers impart—especially those who’ve spoken at a previous NHC, who bring new ideas and new topics, each year.
APRIL 21-24, 2005:
25TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY!
The legendary Michael Tierra, OMD, LAc, and founding member of the American Herbalists Guild, is one of three headliners at NHC 2005. His topics address traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) assessment methods.
Live from the U.K., internationally renowned author Stewart Mitchell, LMT, focuses on traditional naturopathic approaches for holistic child development from infancy through adolescence and teenage years.
Back by popular demand, Elson Haas, MD, addresses detoxification and seasonal nutrition. All three keynote speakers are available for Q&A during an ask-the-experts panel discussion Friday night.
Also by popular demand, our 2005 NHC remains in Peachtree City, GA.
As is our custom, NHC begins with optional pre-conference intensives on Thursday. New in 2005, our opening reception is a 25th anniversary party that celebrates the history of Clayton College, with students, graduates, staff and conference speakers. There will be surprises galore, and you won’t want to miss it!
Celebration continues at our annual book-signing party, on Saturday night, where staff and students will honor those speakers who share their knowledge in print as well as on the podium.
Throughout Friday and Saturday and for a half-day on Sunday, classes include various herbal topics and the ever-popular “weed walks,” iridology, homeopathy, food facts and fads, and natural approaches for cardiovascular disease, cancer, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, among others—plus three more optional intensives.
Several sessions feature CCNH alumnae Linda Page, ND, PhD; Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD; Kim Dalzell, PhD; and Denise Lamothe, HHD Other sessions are led by CCNH faculty members Margaret Arthur, MD; Susie Hale, ND; Ellen Tart Jensen, PhD; and Phyllis Light, AHG.
As always, our video cameras will be looking for you—documenting your alma mater’s 25th anniversary for our Web site and various publications.
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