Information & Details about the 10th International Herb Symposium
The VBMA IHS Vet Track
We’re honored and delighted to be hosting the VBMA Vet Track at this year’s International Herb Symposium. One of Rosemary's earliest teachers and dearest friends was Juliette de Bairacli Levy. Juliette passed away just a couple of years ago at the ripe old age of 97, but she was a major influence in botanical veterinarian medicine and she would be very pleased with all of us for introducing this track to the IHS. Juliette was a beloved teacher at the IHS for many years and made her first appearance to the U.S. after a long absence to attend the International Herb Symposium in 1990.
The Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association is a group of veterinarians and herbalists that are joined together with their love of animals and the mission to treat these wonderful beings through the art and science of botanical medicine. Herbal Medicine is so much more than learning a plant and its medical indications, it is learning about the soul and spirit of a plant and how that plant can stimulate an animal to heal. There is no place better to learn this than at IHS. In the professional world of veterinary medicine often we as veterinarians lose sight of this incredible energetic influences that plants have on our bodies. We need the spirit of the IHS to help us keep heart. Yet we work so closely with our animal companions we have a great deal of knowledge to share about our animal’s unique needs and their herbal treatments.
The VBMA is honored to be part of this symposium. Our speakers are all veterinarians that have spent years being taught by their animal clients and are bringing this information to you.
Veterinarians and animals lovers can register for the Vet Track for a small additional fee of $25. This fee includes a Certificate of Attendance from VBMA and is used to support the work of VBMA to help acquire Alternative CE’s for members. Vet Track Participants can attend any of the regular workshops as well as the specified Vet Track workshops and general participants of the IHS are also welcome to attend the Vet Track Workshops.
Veterinarian Botanical Medicine (VBMA Track)
A country or civilization can be judged by the way it treats its animals
~ Mahatma Gandhi
We are honored to have the following veterinarians and herbalists who specialize in wholistic care of animals join us at the IHS. They will be offering their expertise on wholistic animal care emphasizing botanical medicine. Participants of the IHS are welcome to join in any of the classes offered as part of the VBMA TRACK.
Dr. Hubert Karreman, DVM
Dr. Hubert Karreman is a 1995 graduate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. He has been a dairy practitioner for 15 years in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, predominantly working with certified organic dairy farms. He is an internationally recognized expert in the non-antibiotic treatment of infectious disease. He recently finished a 5 year term on the USDA National Organic Standards Board and was on the AVMA Taskforce for Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine, which wrote the current AVMA Guidelines on CAVM. He recently founded Bovinity Health, a company based on providing functional alternatives to antibiotics and hormones. His first book Treating Dairy Cows Naturally: Thoughts and Strategies is available from Acres USA and his second book, The Barn Guide to Treating Dairy Cows Naturally, also published by Acres USA, will be available in December. He is president-elect of the Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association. Dr. Karreman will be talking about Health for Organic Livestock
Dr. Liz Hassinger, DVM
Dr. Liz Hassinger is a 1989 graduate of Tuft's Veterinary School and has completed post graduate study in small animal medicine and surgery. She has practiced in Southern Rhode Island since 1991. Dr. Hassinger has completed the training and requirements for certification in Veterinary Acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. She studied animal chiropractic at the Healing Oasis School and is certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association. She has completed studies in homeopathy through the Renaissance School of homeopathy, and studied herbal medicine through Tufts University and International Herb Symposium Herbs. Dr. Hassinger's talk will deal with Unique Veterinarian topics and their Herbal Cures. Her second session will deal with the unique needs of cancer patients both with herbal medicines and nutritional support.
Dr. Cindy Lankenau, DVM
Dr. Cindy Lankenau is a holistic mixed animal veterinarian currently practicing in western N.Y. She graduated from Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1981 and is certified in acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic and herbal medicine. Since 1991, she has been exclusively using alternative modalities. She is currently the president of the VBMA and has lectured at the University of Buffalo's Mini- Vet School, AHVMA, and IVAS. Dr. Lankenau’s talk will discuss the recognition and treatment of vaccine induced diseases.
Dr. Bruce Ferguson, DVM, MS,
Dr. Ferguson received his DVM in 1992 from the University of Florida. He studied with the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 1997 and began attending Chi Institute of Chinese Medicine (www.tcvm.com) classes in 1998. Bruce studied Tui Na in Beijing and, along with Dr. Xie, developed a TCVM Tui Na course now offered at the Chi Institute. Bruce lectures at veterinary colleges and at scientific meetings nationally and internationally in the field of TCVM. Bruce is now living in Perth, Western Australia, and is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Murdoch University’s Veterinary School where he runs a TCVM consultancy, lectures to final year veterinary students, and offers a popular 2 week long Special Topics rotation in TCVM to select final year veterinary students. Dr. Ferguson will be speaking on Holistic Veterinary Care
Dr. Stephen Tobin, DVM.
Dr. Stephen Tobin is a holistic veterinarian who provides treatment using homeopathic herbs and nutrition and runs a full-service veterinary clinic in Meriden, Connecticut. A member of The Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy, The National Center For Homeopathy, The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association, and The International Association For Veterinary Homeopathy, as well as past president of The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Tobin lectures and publishes on animal care regularly.
Dr. Laurie Dohmen, DVM
Dr. Laurie Dohmen is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. She has always had a mixed animal practice in central Delaware. She has sat on the DVMA board, and the board of her local SPCA while working there as a staff veterinarian. After almost 10 years, Dr. Dohmen went back to school learn a variety of holistic modalities and revamp her practice to be primarily holistic yet integrative. She is now a Practitioner of Bach Flower Essences, and an Herbalist trained through Rosemary Gladstar’s on-site apprenticeship and her home study course. Dr. Dohmen has also completed the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society’s Veterinary Acupuncture training and the Chi Institute’s Veterinary Food Therapy course. Dr. Dohmen will be sharing some of her personal remedies for various commonly seen veterinary conditions.
Greg Tilford
Greg Tilford is a well- known author, consultant and teacher in the field of veterinary botanical medicine. He is an active international lecturer and educator at leading educational institutions throughout America and abroad. A respected pioneer of the natural pet care industry, he is the formulating herbalist and president of two Montana-based companies that produce natural supplements for companion animals: Animals'™ Apawthecary Co. and Animal Essentials Inc. He is author of four other books on herbs and herbal medicines, including From Earth to Herbalist, Herbal Remedies for Dogs & Cats, and The EcoHerbalist’s Fieldbook.
Workshops: Holistic Animal Herbalism: Putting the Health Needs of Companion Animals into Real Life Perspective; (2) Holistic Herbal Approaches to Common Pet Ailments