What You Will Learn: Why it’s important to understand the traditional use of plants and herbs. What shamanic medicine is and why it should be respected. The importance of the study of ethnobotany in keeping alive traditional people’s botanical and cultural knowledge, spiritual heritage, and reverence for the earth. Dr. Z’s journey into ethnobotany and how that led him to also pursue his expertise in naturopathic and botanical medicine and herbalism. How Dr. Z combines his apprenticeship with Shamans in Jamica with his research and clinical experience to keep alive their customs and document their insights.  How modern herbalists, like Dr. Z, are validating the teachings of ancient herbalists and physicians through their research analysis of plants’ biochemical properties, compounds, and their standardization. What the doctrine of signatures is and what it reveals about plants. Some of Dr. Z’s favorite plants and essential oils from Jamica and their actions including allspice oil, clove oil, bitter melon, Jamaican dogwood, ginger herb and oil, rosemary herb and oil, Guinea Hen Weed, and Lignum vitatae. How essential oils are extracted in Jamica using modern distillation and rudimentary methods. Combining essential oils and other herbs for synergistic effects, such as cinnamon oil with bitter melon for balancing blood sugar. How natural remedies do not just suppress symptoms, rather, they aim to correct the underlying imbalance as they offer “side benefits.” Why “weed” is a bad word and how all plants possess medicinal properties.  Dr. Z’s favorite DIY with essential oils.  The closing questions: (1) What Dr. Z does daily for self-care and why everyone should consider it, (2) What we should do to better our own health and reconnect with the planet.  You can find Dr. Z at http://www.drznaturally.com/.  Bio of Dr. Eugene Zamperion, ND, RH(AHG), Ethnobotanical Researcher Dr. Eugene Zampieron earned a B.S. in Biological and Marine Sciences from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, minoring in Science & Technology. He began to engage in masters’ level course work in marine invertebrate zoology, but his field research in Jamaica, WI changed his life and career path after recovering from an illness using ancient, herbal medicine. Due to his awe for the power of plant medicine, in 1990, he pursued his Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (N.D.) degree at the acclaimed Bastyr University. In addition, he became a Professional Registered Medical Herbalist/Phytotherapist and Ethnobotanist with expertise in tropical and Northeastern medical botany.   From national herb walks to leading adventures and ecologically based tours into rainforests around the world with EcoTours for Cures TM, Dr. Z continues to lecture around the globe teaching people about plants and natural medicine. He also currently has a private practice in Woodbury, CT, where he specializes in the care of patients with autoimmune disorders, chronic illnesses, and decoding challenging medical mysteries. As of today, he already has succeeded in his mission of providing evidence of the power of natural healing on an individual and international level. Dr. Z resides with his wife Kathleen and his two children, Caitlin and Kevin, on a 10-acre woodlands sanctuary in historic Litchfield County, CT. You can find Dr. Z at http://www.drznaturally.com/.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices