Dr. Kevin Spelman, PhD, RH (AHG), MCPP, CNS is a molecular biologist, phytochemist and clinician who has worked with many medicinal plants, in the field, in the clinic, in laboratory settings and human trials. He is a past National Institutes of Health postdoctoral fellow, where he studied cannabinoid signaling and was the first researcher to predict and demonstrate cannabinoid ligands in Zanthoxylum spp. He was also a Marie Curie research fellow in the European Union investigating the effects of medicinal plants on malaria. His clinical experience began in the late 1989 and progressed to a group practice of MDs, DOs, FNPs and PAs and stretched through thirty years, four states and two countries. Dr. Spelman has also advised the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Clinton administration). His research history includes investigating brain and ovarian cancer, clinical investigations, immunological studies and chemical analysis on multiple plants. International research has included the analysis of nutrient levels in teenage women in West Africa, working with children with neurological disorders in Central America and researching medicinal plants active against malaria in Paris. Dr. Spelman has been an adjunct assistant professor at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, an adjunct professor of botanical medicine at National University of Natural Medicine and a distinguished lecturer at Maryland University of Integrative Health. He has published 29 scientific papers and 6 chapters on medicinal plants. Dr. Spelman currently leads Health, Education & Research, a consulting service for the Natural Products and Cannabis Industry where he has assisted natural products companies in research, scaling up, formulations, product development and meeting regulatory requirements. As a formulator he has had 13 SKUs in the market both cannabinoid-based and non-cannabinoid-based and has products he co-formulated in use by 30 professional sports teams and the 3 branches of military special services. For further information, please visit his website: http://phytochemks.com. You may contact Kevin via e-mail@ phytochemks@gmail.com
2020 Presentations by Kevin Spelman
THURSDAY INTENSIVE, AUGUST 20 ~ 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
"Considering Cannabis in the Therapeutic Tool Box"
Cannabis is practically everywhere, yet few practitioners feel like they understand the ins and outs of its therapeutic use in clinical work. In this intensive, we will look at practical considerations such as dosing, indications, product preparation and home extraction and the newest preclinical and clinical research that has accumulated since my last intensive.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 ~ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
"Neurology, Mitochondria and Herbs"
Besides the fundamental role of mitochondria in metabolic processes, mitochondria are key in signaling process in the CNS. Mitochondrial processes such as a mtUPR, cross talk between other organelles, mitophagy, fission and fusion all have a significant role in brain health. Multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction to some extent. In this review, we will examine a set of herbal medicines that either through traditional medicine or modern research are known for neurological activity and have a role in mitochondrial pharmacology.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 ~ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
"Understanding Herb-Drug Interactions (HDI)"
Herb-Drug Interactions (HDI) have become a significant issue…or apparently it seems to be. But what is not apparent is what the science actual demonstrates. Due to very poor science, repetitive citations of poor-quality studies and ignorance about concentrations of exogenous molecules on detoxification there is a significant misunderstanding about what is real and what is noise. This is misleading phytotherapists, scaring patients/consumers and generating fear among allopathic practitioners. Using pharmacological science, we will deconstruct the noise of poor-quality research and construct a model to evaluate what information is real.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 ~ 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
CLOSING KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:
"Molecules of Life: Plants as Medicines"
Plant compounds are unique. They are often more complex than laboratory synthesized compounds and considering an evolutionary perspective, many phytochemicals are more familiar to our genomes than new-to-nature molecules. In this keynote we will examine the beauty of plants and their compounds and how they could potentially inspire us through pharmacological complexity to offer better therapeutics.
"Considering Cannabis in the Therapeutic Tool Box"
Cannabis is practically everywhere, yet few practitioners feel like they understand the ins and outs of its therapeutic use in clinical work. In this intensive, we will look at practical considerations such as dosing, indications, product preparation and home extraction and the newest preclinical and clinical research that has accumulated since my last intensive.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 ~ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
"Neurology, Mitochondria and Herbs"
Besides the fundamental role of mitochondria in metabolic processes, mitochondria are key in signaling process in the CNS. Mitochondrial processes such as a mtUPR, cross talk between other organelles, mitophagy, fission and fusion all have a significant role in brain health. Multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction to some extent. In this review, we will examine a set of herbal medicines that either through traditional medicine or modern research are known for neurological activity and have a role in mitochondrial pharmacology.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 ~ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
"Understanding Herb-Drug Interactions (HDI)"
Herb-Drug Interactions (HDI) have become a significant issue…or apparently it seems to be. But what is not apparent is what the science actual demonstrates. Due to very poor science, repetitive citations of poor-quality studies and ignorance about concentrations of exogenous molecules on detoxification there is a significant misunderstanding about what is real and what is noise. This is misleading phytotherapists, scaring patients/consumers and generating fear among allopathic practitioners. Using pharmacological science, we will deconstruct the noise of poor-quality research and construct a model to evaluate what information is real.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 ~ 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
CLOSING KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:
"Molecules of Life: Plants as Medicines"
Plant compounds are unique. They are often more complex than laboratory synthesized compounds and considering an evolutionary perspective, many phytochemicals are more familiar to our genomes than new-to-nature molecules. In this keynote we will examine the beauty of plants and their compounds and how they could potentially inspire us through pharmacological complexity to offer better therapeutics.
2017 Presentations by Kevin Spelman
2017 Presentations by Kevin Spelman
THURSDAY INTENSIVE, AUGUST 24 ~ 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
"Cannabis as a Therapeutic Tool"
Cannabis has taken the nation by storm. Twenty-eight states (and D.C.) have either medical or recreational laws on the books. Yet there is still much mythology on the endocannabinoid system (many medical school curriculums still neglect to teach the ECS), the chemistry and the pharmacology of cannabinoids, especially THC and CBD. This intensive will start with an overview of the endocannabinoid system, go into the chemistry of Cannabis and move on to viable therapeutics.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25 ~ 9:00 am - 10:30 am
"Metabolic Syndrome: A Mitochondrial Etiology?"
While many in the medical field still consider the etiology of metabolic syndrome to be obesity, inactivity and insulin resistance, there may be a more insidious cause—mitochondrial toxins. This lecture will focus on the metabolic syndrome research that points at the mitochondria as playing a causative role in metabolic syndrome. This lecture will also provide an excellent precursor to the Botanicals for CFS/SEID/ME.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26 ~ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
"Botanicals for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease"
The National Academy of Sciences has estimated that up to 2.5 million Americans suffer from Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease, also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. While many physicians still believe this pathophysiological state is psychosomatic, there is a substantial evidence-base to show that these patients have neurological, immunological and autonomic variations out of the norm. We will examine the physiology of SEID/ME/CFS and look at the use of botanicals and nutraceuticals for the potential treatment of SEID/ME/C.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26 ~ 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
"Organ Reserve, Preserving Functional Capacity; Aging Gracefully"
Aging is generally associated with degenerative decline. Much evidence from lifestyle and dietary studies in the past decade however, challenges this association. Dietary differences are associated with significant differences in the development of disease and longevity. The Organ Reserve construct--the amount of functional capacity of each organ--suggests that bodily processes can maintain competence for extended periods of time depending on preserving and maintaining organ function.
"Cannabis as a Therapeutic Tool"
Cannabis has taken the nation by storm. Twenty-eight states (and D.C.) have either medical or recreational laws on the books. Yet there is still much mythology on the endocannabinoid system (many medical school curriculums still neglect to teach the ECS), the chemistry and the pharmacology of cannabinoids, especially THC and CBD. This intensive will start with an overview of the endocannabinoid system, go into the chemistry of Cannabis and move on to viable therapeutics.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25 ~ 9:00 am - 10:30 am
"Metabolic Syndrome: A Mitochondrial Etiology?"
While many in the medical field still consider the etiology of metabolic syndrome to be obesity, inactivity and insulin resistance, there may be a more insidious cause—mitochondrial toxins. This lecture will focus on the metabolic syndrome research that points at the mitochondria as playing a causative role in metabolic syndrome. This lecture will also provide an excellent precursor to the Botanicals for CFS/SEID/ME.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26 ~ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
"Botanicals for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease"
The National Academy of Sciences has estimated that up to 2.5 million Americans suffer from Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease, also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. While many physicians still believe this pathophysiological state is psychosomatic, there is a substantial evidence-base to show that these patients have neurological, immunological and autonomic variations out of the norm. We will examine the physiology of SEID/ME/CFS and look at the use of botanicals and nutraceuticals for the potential treatment of SEID/ME/C.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26 ~ 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
"Organ Reserve, Preserving Functional Capacity; Aging Gracefully"
Aging is generally associated with degenerative decline. Much evidence from lifestyle and dietary studies in the past decade however, challenges this association. Dietary differences are associated with significant differences in the development of disease and longevity. The Organ Reserve construct--the amount of functional capacity of each organ--suggests that bodily processes can maintain competence for extended periods of time depending on preserving and maintaining organ function.
© 2021 NorthWest Herb Symposium