Herbal Summer School 2024

Nature’s Medicine Chest

Self Study Course

Welcome to Phytotherapy for Today’s World, where we delve into the transformative potential of plant medicines amidst the challenges of modern living. As chronic diseases escalate, and our health faces unprecedented strains from nutritional deficiencies, environmental toxins, and chronic stress, the demand for effective solutions has never been more urgent.

Our world-class faculty at the Gaeta Institute, pioneers in botanical medicine, bring together ancient wisdom and cutting-edge science to equip you with the tools needed to not just survive but thrive in this complex landscape. Through our holistic approach, blending herbal therapy with whole-food nutrition, we aim to empower you with the knowledge, skills, and practical strategies essential for improving patient care and outcomes.

Join us for this special 2 Day Course as we explore traditional practices alongside current research, revealing how plant medicines can bolster resilience and well-being, offering hope for a healthier future.

 

An Herbal Triad for Today’s World:  A Deep Dive on Chinese Wormwood, Black Cumin Seed, and Tongkat Ali with Michael Gaeta

We live in times of unprecedented demands on the human being’s bodymind. Botanical medicine has tremendous potential to help people not only survive but thrive in today’s world. Three of these, Chinese Wormwood, Black Cumin Seed and Tongkat Ali, are of particular importance and current relevance.

Study the Herbal Triad for Today’s patients with Michael Gaeta, a leading educator, clinician and herbalist with 33 years clinical experience, who has trained over 20,000 practitioners over 30 years of teaching. You will gain a traditional understanding of these herbs, informed by current research, and be able to use them confidently the next day in your clinic.

In this seminar, you will rake a deep dive into Chinese Wormwood, Black Cumin and Tongkat Ali:

  1. Knowledge of these herbs in traditional herbal practice
  2. A modern scientific understanding, informed by current published research
  3. Specific clinical applications for patient support, informed by the presenter’s practice
    experience as an herbalist

Detailed Topics Include:

  1. Essentials of phytotherapy – definitions, history, major functions, quality issues, phytochemical complexity, polyvalent activity, phytoequivalance
  2. Chinese Wormwood (artemisia annua), the basis for half of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Medicine, is an herb used in ancient times for fevers. Recent research and clinical experience has expanded its application even
    beyond that, to other important and timely areas of use.

    1. history, functions and indications in traditional Chinese medicine, Nobel Prize
    2.  Current research
    3. Western herbal actions and indications, clinical applications, dosage
  3. Black Cumin Seed “the medicine for every disease except death.” Current research and demonstrates the benefits of this Middle Eastern herb for a wide range of patients including cancer resistance, and anti-viral properties.
    1. history, functions and indications in traditional herbal therapy
    2. current research on other clinical areas, modern Western herbal actions and indications, clinical applications, dosage
  4. Tongkat Ali has become a well-known support of male health. Current evidence expands it use beyond that, to support a wider range of patients including diabetes regeneration, cancer resistance, and more.
    1. functions and indications in traditional herbal therapy
    2. current research, modern Western herbal actions and indications, clinical applications, dosage
  5. Herbal Q&A
    1. Ask any herbal questions you have, bring patient cases, and integrate protocols in your learning
    2. next steps and further resources

 

Beyond Drugs & Diseases: Using Herbs as Nature Intended

with Charlotte Kikel

Herbs were never meant to be used as substitutes for drugs, nor were they meant for diseases. In this class, we’ll take a deep dive into how our ancestors used herbs and what the Physiomedicalists had to say about tissue states. This includes a close up examination of the energetics of herbs and where they lie on the hot, cold, dry and moist spectrum.

From this perspective, we’ll consider the many ways to nudge the body back into balance, including a look into Germanic New Medicine – my new area of study and practice.

You’ll walk away with more tools to care for yourself, your family and your patients and a fresh perspective on life!

Your Herbal Summer School Faculty

   Michael Gaeta 
Dr Michael Gaeta’s purpose is to co-create a world of vital, resilient people who choose a lifestyle of “nature first, drugs last.” To accomplish this, he treats patients with Chinese and functional medicine, and helps natural health professionals upgrade their patient care and practice success.

Michael holds licenses in acupuncture, dietetics-nutrition, and massage therapy. He is also an herbalist and a doctor of acupuncture and Oriental medicine. He earned his Master of Science degree in acupuncture from the New York College of Health Professions, where he was a faculty member for ten years. He holds additional degrees in massage therapy, Asian bodywork therapy, and health sciences. Over the last 28 years, he has trained over 18,000 practitioners. His teaching is informed by 32 years of successful clinical practice.

Michael was a faculty member at Tri-State College of Acupuncture, New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, New York Chiropractic College, Eastern School of Acupuncture and Traditional Medicine, and Southwest Acupuncture College. He has taught hundreds of professionals continuing education seminars, and spoken at dozens of natural healthcare colleges and conferences internationally.

He co-founded Acupuncture for Veterans, which provided free treatments in New York City. Michael is past president of the Acupuncture Society of New York, earning awards for State Association and State Association President of the Year. Dr Gaeta appeared on the CBS Early Show and NBC News, and his wellness podcast attracted over 100,000 subscribers. Michael is also a pianist, which was his first career.

Through the Gaeta Institute for Wholistic Health Education, Dr Gaeta gives live and online trainings, and several online CEU courses in clinical and business success. These include the Clinician’s Mastermind Circle, a one-year certification program in natural functional medicine, and well-reviewed online courses, including the Autoimmune Mastery Program; Cancer Support & Prevention; the Cardiovascular Mastery Program, and Herbal School. Dr Gaeta is also active nationally in promoting health choice and informed consent. Trainings, private health consultations, writings and other resources at michaelgaeta.com

 

 Charlotte Kikel

Charlotte Kikel is a wife, mother, nutritionist, herbalist, lifetime student, and a lover of dark chocolate and all things healing. When her health crashed in 2002 and she realized the medical system couldn’t help her, she started examining what it means to be fully alive.

She studied whole food nutrition at Bauman College in Santa Cruz, CA and then attained a Master of Science degree in Western Herbal Medicine from the Maryland University of Integrative Health. She is a Board-Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Functional Diagnostic Nutritionist, registered as a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild, and currently enrolled in the Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist program at The Building Biology Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

In 2018, Charlotte published her first book, Eat in Peace to Live in Peace: Your Handbook for Vitality. Charlotte now lives happily in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with her husband and eight-year-old son.

What’s Included?