Naturopathic doctors are uniquely positioned to support their perinatal patients and set the stage for longevity. While obstetric and midwifery appointments begin to uptick in the second and third trimesters, the latest research indicates integrative interventions are most effective if implemented in the first trimester. Then, during the postpartum window, evidence suggests a multitude of ways that naturopathic care can support immediate and long-term health goals and outcomes. This talk will leave you equipped to support pregnant people along the spectrum of early pregnancy to their post-menopausal years.

There are more than 100 types of neuropathies, with more than 20 million Americans affected. Polyneuropathy is typically characterized by symmetric distal sensory loss, burning sensations, or weakness, and symptom intensity ranges from mild to severe. While patients are eager to utilize treatments with little or no adverse effects, most healthcare practitioners are unaware of these options.

This presentation will provide an overview of the common causes of neuropathies and then will delve into effective “natural” interventions that have few to no side effects but that will mitigate symptoms and improve overall quality of life.

Approximately 1 in 35 people are autistic. While we often think of autism as primarily affecting young white boys, it also affects girls and women, adults, and minorities. This presentation will discuss how to screen for and recognize autism in a variety of patients, including tips to help pracitioners recognize high masking autism and autistic burnout (which can present as fatigue), the pros and cons of formal autism evaluations, and approaches that can help autistic patients. Attendees will leave feeling better empowered to support autistic patients and to run a more neurodiversity-affirming practice.

The presentation will focus on the use of dietary factors, nutritional supplements, and hormones for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Relevant research on dietary factors and on the use of calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin K, trace minerals, and other micronutrients for preventing or treating osteoporosis will be covered, as will relevant research on the impacts of estrogen, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and testosterone on bone health.

As we face the challenges of an aging population globally, the role of cross-cultural communication in healthcare is crucial for fostering environments where both patients and healthcare professionals can thrive. Longevity is about not only extending life but also enhancing its quality through connectedness, empathy, and resiliency. This session explores the importance of cross-cultural communication in promoting personal empowerment, emotional intelligence, and team cohesiveness - all of which are essential in nurturing long, healthy lives. Attendees will gain practical insights and actionable steps to integrate these values into their naturopathic practices, contributing to both organizational success and patient well-being.

As menopause approaches, the vast majority of women notice an increase in their waist circumference while their muscles start to lose strength, and this seems to happen despite keeping the same eating and exercise habits. People want to feel good about how they look, but helping patients improve body composition has much deeper ramifications beyond physical appearance. Building and maintaining muscle during this time is crucial to maintain function and cardiovascular, metabolic, and cognitive health as a person ages. Perimenopausal females have different nutritional and physical activity requirements than they have in their younger years. Patients need the right knowledge as well as effective support to be successful with behavior changes. Hormone replacement and achieving healthy patterns of cortisol secretion can enhance the benefits of working out and eating well. Individuals utilizing GLP-1 agonists must take specific actions to protect their lean mass. This presentation will help you ensure that, even as your patients are looking slimmer, they are making changes that extend their health span.

Recognizing disordered eating and addressing mental health and behavioral habits are crucial in the comprehensive care and treatment of obesity. This presentation will review the most common eating disorders, mental health conditions, and behavioral health concerns concurrent in obesity.

What matters most as we age? This presentation will explore the well-documented importance of how social engagement, creative expression, and sense of purpose affect our health and happiness. We will also review how, as clinicians, we can engage with patients to support their unique goals over a lifetime, with the use of a palliative care model.

As life expectancy continues to rise, prioritizing emotional wellness is essential for not only achieving longevity but also enhancing overall quality of life. This talk will examine the deep connection between emotional health and physical well-being, illustrating how a focus on emotional wellness and self love can lead to improved health outcomes.

Self-love, characterized by self-acceptance, compassion, and the nurturing of one’s emotional needs, serves as a foundational pillar for mental and physical health. We will examine the barriers that individuals often face in cultivating self-love, including negative self-talk, societal pressures, and past traumas. By prioritizing emotional wellness, individuals can boost their self-esteem and emotional resilience, increasing the likelihood of a fulfilling and longer life. Emotional awareness and self-love are vital for making choices that genuinely support our health. Each person's journey to success in life, love, and health is unique, and these paths can only be discovered by tuning into one's own needs and feelings.

This presentation will discuss practical strategies for naturopathic physicians to help support their patients' emotional wellness through effective clinical inquiry and treatment. An exploration of the topic of self love as a treatment outcome will push clinicians to expand the scope of what kind of emotional support is possible in the therapeutic context.

The Vital Force and Longevity of their patients have been a focus of Ayurvedic physicians throughout the 5000 year history of Ayurveda. The importance of these topics is conveyed by the fact that Ayurveda has attributed Longevity medicine as its own branch of healthcare practice. As a general rule, Ayurvedic treatments go through the cycle of removing the obstacles to healing, strengthening the weakened systems, optimizing the natural healing systems, and rejuvination by optimizing foundations of health. These steps are outlined for every condition, as well as for the whole person.

This presentation will discuss the principles of healing and rejuvenation by organ system and the whole person. It will include breathwork practice, review of lifestyle routines, recipes, and classical formulations for Rasayana (rejuvenative) that are adaptable to and can be applied in any Naturopathic clinic.

This presentation provides insight into how Cordyceps, Reishi, Lion's Mane, Chaga, Maitake, Royal Sun blazei, and Mesima mushrooms may promote longevity and vitality. This is a deep dive that uncovers the potential genetic support mushrooms can unlock, and how they promote cellular functioning and antioxidant activity. In addition to helping to maintain balanced immunity, these seven mushrooms may support nearly every system of the body.

This dynamic session will reveal a powerful, data-driven approach to optimizing healthspan through targeted testing, lifestyle interventions, and advanced treatment strategies. The presentation will dive into the crucial role of testing key biomarkers—like telomere length, insulin sensitivity, biological age, and oxidative stress markers - which can unlock vital insights into the aging process, forming the foundation for personalized interventions that enhance both longevity and vitality.

Attendees will discover cutting-edge strategies like specific fasting protocols, precision-targeted exercise, and medicinal approaches that activate these cellular renewal and resilience, optimizing metabolic health and driving long-term wellness. Novel methods to accelerate autophagy and harness its full potential will also be shared.

Drawing from the practices of the world’s longest-living populations, this talk will also demonstrate how purpose-driven living and strong social connections can reduce inflammation, improve cognitive function, and promote cellular repair. Integrating these into patient care can dramatically elevate health outcomes.

As we age, the conversation around sexual health often fades, but the desire for intimacy and pleasure doesn't have to. This presentation offers a refreshing and holistic approach to promoting sexual wellness and longevity, guiding attendees through an exploration of naturopathic strategies that address the multifaceted nature of sexual health in aging individuals. We'll delve into the interplay of hormonal shifts, chronic diseases, medication side effects, and the often-overlooked psychoemotional factors that influence sexual well-being as we age.

Challenging societal expectations and cultural narratives that limit our understanding of aging and sexuality, this talk will emphasize the importance of creating a safe and empowering space for patients to explore their concerns and desires.

The session will introduce the concept of Erotic Blueprints™, a powerful framework for understanding how individual needs and preferences may shift throughout the lifespan. Discover how these blueprints can shed new light on common sexual concerns, such as erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness, and pain during intercourse, which are often more prevalent in older adults. Practical insights will be shared on how to adapt intimacy coaching techniques to support patients in maintaining fulfilling and joyful sexual connections as they age. This presentation offers a unique opportunity to expand your clinical toolkit and empower your patients to embrace a lifetime of sexual wellness.

Weight stigma and bias is present in all spaces of our culture - and particularly in healthcare. Being aware of how stigma and bias may harm a patient, their health and healthcare experience is essential at providing safe and effective care. This presentation will review considerations for morbidity and mortality in populations impacted by weight stigma and several ways to implement strategies to reduce bias and harm in a healthcare setting.

Mitochondria, often referred to as the powerhouses of the cell, play a critical role in maintaining cellular energy homeostasis and metabolic health. As a key regulator of energy production, mitochondrial function is intrinsically linked to the processes of aging and longevity. The decline in mitochondrial efficiency and increase in mitochondrial dysfunction are hallmarks of the aging process, contributing to the development of various age-related diseases and a decrease in overall healthspan. This presentation explores the strategies and interventions aimed at optimizing mitochondrial function to enhance healthspan and promote longevity.

This talk delves into the latest research on the interplay between environment, diet, supplementation, and select pharmaceuticals in enhancing healthspan and longevity. By understanding and leveraging these strategies, healthcare practitioners can develop comprehensive, evidence-based approaches to support mitochondrial health, ultimately contributing to the prevention of age-related diseases and the promotion of a longer, healthier life.

Stress is unavoidable but how you weather the storms of life and adapt to stressors can  be supported with herbs and nutrition! 

Whether you're supporting patients with fatigue, mood changes, sleep disturbances, or hormonal fluctuations, this presentation, sponsored by Gaia Herbs PRO, will provide tools to enhance your therapeutic approach using adrenal supports, with a special clinical application for supporting women transitioning through menopause.

As a sponsored talk, this presentation is for informational purposes only and will not include CE credit.

This presentation, sponsored by Gilead Sciences - the makers of PrEP - will cover all things related to prescribing and using PrEP in your patients.

As a sponsored talk, this presentation is for informational purposes only and will not include CE credit.