Presenting the2026 Ojai Herbal Symposium: May 30-31, 2026

The 4th Ojai Herbal Symposium is returning to Krotona Hill on the weekend of May 30- 31, 2026. Please join our email list for updates. In the meantime, please browse the info below from the 2023 Ojai Herbal Symposium.

"Herbs: The People's Medicine"

NOVEMBER 11-12, 2023

OJAI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA

OjaiHerbal.org

Humans have been using plant medicine for at least 50,000 years. Today, 60% of the people around the world still depend on herbs for their primary health needs. This year’s Symposium features a diverse faculty of presenters to explore how cultures and individuals are using medicinal herbs for better health and well-being. Herbalists, acupuncturists, naturopaths, medical doctors, chiropractors, health practitioners of all types, and those simply interested in herbs will find our presenters’ content educational and enlightening.
We are pleased to be able to offer 12 Continuing Education Units for California Acupuncturists. Click here to learn more.
Discounts for full-time students are also available. Click here.
2023 Schedule

“The culture and the people are still alive. Our life entails protecting the cultural history and ancestry of our people, having people recognize the past as a legacy to our future. Protection and awareness so that we can share it with others and preserve it for the future generations to come. We have to remind ourselves that we are the Gate Keepers of the World in all its of glory and beauty and not take it for granted for Mother Earth is almighty. We’re fortunate to have people who want to listen and learn about our culture. I feel honored to be associated with those people.”

Heart disease and stroke are #1 and #2 on the World Health Organization’s list of global causes of death. Everyone is affected by them, directly or indirectly. This class, while aimed at clinical herbalists, will provide all participants with a greater understanding of the holistic approach to cardiovascular conditions. Content will include evidence-based herbal prescriptions, the neuroendocrine connection for heart patients, and how to choose the best herbs for optimal supplementation. (1.5 Category 1 Acupuncture CEUs approved by California Acupuncture Board)

This lecture will discuss recent evidence concerning beta amyloid, tau protein, and other more likely causes of Alzheimer's disease. Epidemiological evidence provides the best clues to the causes of the disease. (1 Category 1 Acupuncture CEU approved by California Acupuncture Board)

In this class we will practice an ancient Qigong technique to connect with, cultivate, and nourish the Three Treasures (Jing, Qi & Shen) of Classical Chinese Medicine. We will identify and use acupuncture points for focus and connection to the Three Treasures. Also we will use a "song" as a guide for the practice. (0.5 Category 1 Acupuncture CEU approved by California Acupuncture Board)

This course gives a brief overview of Curandismo, a traditional healing practice originating from Latin American and Hispanic cultures. It combines indigenous beliefs, folk medicine, and spirituality to promote overall well-being. Practitioners, known as curanderos or curanderas, use techniques like herbal remedies, spiritual cleansings, and rituals to address physical, emotional, and spiritual imbalances. It's a holistic approach often passed down through generations, and still valued in many communities. (1 Category 1 Acupuncture CEU approved by California Acupuncture Board)

This talk will explain - from the perspective of Classical Chinese Medicine - the origin and dissemination of the Three Treasures of Humanity, their manifestations in the human body, and their relationship to the Three Treasures of Nature. (1 Category 1 Acupuncture CEU approved by California Acupuncture Board)

In this presentation we will discuss the the historical, cultural, and medicinal importance of the Opuntia (prickly-pear) genus. After the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, the Spaniards learned of its incredible value and began exporting Opuntia ficus-indica to all of Spain’s colonies. Researched for over fifty years, prickly-pear has been used to treat over 40 different medical conditions. (1 Category 1 Acupuncture CEU approved by California Acupuncture Board)

Acupuncture, naturopathy, chiropractic, and herbal treatments are often used as complementary or alternative medicine. Cannabis is one of those such therapeutic agents. There is a lot of misinformation among both patients and practitioners about cannabis. This class explains that cannabis is safe and enables practitioners to answer questions from patients to reassure them that this can be an appropriate treatment or therapy. (1.5 Category 1 Acupuncture CEUs approved by California Acupuncture Board)

Based on her years of experience developing the Earth Island Medicinal Herb Garden in Ojai, Carol Wade’s class will provide you with an overview of the skills and information needed to start a community-centric and sustainable medicinal herb garden. Content will include identification of appropriate plants, garden development strategies, how to use the garden as an outdoor community herbal education classroom, and examples of potential income streams to and from the garden. (1 Category 1 Acupuncture CEU approved by California Acupuncture Board)

In a natural environment, you will be guided in dropping into a deeper state of connection to nature and the more-than-human world through a sensorial experience that will assist you in slowing down, relaxing, and observing with all of your senses. This is an integrative practice that can help let all of the miscellaneous fall away. It is more about being “here” than it is about being “there.” This is a short introductory session. (0.5 Category 1 Acupuncture CEU approved by California Acupuncture Board)

Mugwort has one of the longest histories of continuous use by people in Asia, Europe, and Indigenous America. This class will identify various Artemisia species of Mugwort found around the world and describe the scientific validation of their uses. Practical information will be presented on specific herbs, including types of preparation, dosage, and cautions for 6 major areas of health care. The presentation also will include a discussion of self-help strategies. (1 Category 1 Acupuncture CEU approved by California Acupuncture Board)

In this talk, we will cover the foundations of Ayurveda and explore how to integrate the knowledge of the "doshas" for implementation in daily and seasonal rituals. Food and lifestyle examples will be offered to support these rhythms. (1 Category 1 Acupuncture CEU approved by California Acupuncture Board)

Fossil evidence shows that humans have been using herbs for medicine for at least 50,000 years. Today, the World Health Organization estimates that 60 percent of the world’s people rely on plant medicines for their primary health care. This presentation will review the history of herbal medicine in America and focus on a pivotal period in that history — between 1875 and 1925 — that sheds light on why medicinal herbs no longer play a role in modern mainstream healthcare except for their use in complementary and alternative medicine. We’ll discuss actions that can help return herbs to their rightful status. (1 Category 1 Acupuncture CEU approved by California Acupuncture Board)

2023 Presenters
Lanny Kaufer, Symposium Director
ACUPUNCTURE CEUs

The Ojai Herbal Symposium is Continuing Education Provider #1526 under the California Acupuncture Board. 12 Category 1 CEUs are approved for this year’s Symposium. (Acupuncturists: Please check the YES box on the registration form if you are interested in earning CEUs.) For CEU details, please visit this page.

Contact Us

Lanny Kaufer

Phone: 805-646-6281

Email: Info@OjaiHerbal.org

 

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