Maui Nursing and Allied Health Conference – Day 1

Virtual Event – 1:45 PM to 6:45 PM (Central Time)

Plants or Pills: A Practical Approach for Alternative Therapies. 
Barb Bancroft, RN, MSN, PNP

Use of dietary supplements (nutraceuticals), herbal remedies, vitamins, minerals, and other forms of complementary, alternative, and integrative therapies are flourishing in today’s world of medicine. All healthcare professionals should be aware of the myriad of choices patients have at their disposal–from the information (and misinformation) dispensed from the internet, to the wide variety of health food stores, to the ability to purchase dubious products from the “Marts”, and to borrowing homemade remedies from the neighbor’s medicine cabinet. Barb discusses the current studies supporting (or not) the top 20 herbal products from Butterbur (migraines) to Chamomile flower (colic in babies, anxiety in adults) to St John’s Wort (depression), Melatonin (sundowning, sleep, cancer prevention?), and Valerian root (Nature’s Valium). You’ll hear the pros and the cons, the adverse effects, as well as the interactions with prescription drugs and lab tests. “Food as Pharmacy” has always been an option suggested by healthcare professionals—the DASH diet and the Mediterranean diets can’t be beat for healthy eating—but what about the of KETO diet, PALEO diet, the modified Atkin’s diet, the Eat Right for Your Blood Type Diet, and more, more, more diets? You’ll be surprised at some of the newest information on the KETO diet, as well as they myriad of benefits of coffee, the best nuts, and other new tasty information on “Food as Pharmacy.” Barb will go through each of the vitamins—the evidence-based findings for Vitamins A, all of the B’s, C, D, E, and K. Can you take too many vitamins? Can you overdose on a single vitamin? What are the signs and symptoms or vitamin deficiency or vitamin excess? Minerals such as magnesium and zinc will be discussed as to their various roles in health and well-being. Should CoQ 10 and red yeast rice be used for high LDL cholesterol? Find out about a surprising “alternative” treatment for menopausal hot flashes (hint—You are getting very sleepy). Why do some women have reduced hot flashes when using soy products and others don’t respond at all? What are the benefits of meditation, acupuncture, massage therapy, sunlight, and humor? Can the B vitamins keep your brain healthy? Do crossword puzzles really work? How do you even pronounce Soduko? What are the top alternative products that can help reduce stress?