Introducing
Introducing
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Phil Rasmussen
Phil Rasmussen
Dip Herb Med; M.Pharm; MNIMH; FNZAMH; MNHAA
Infection Management in Aotearoa - how Medical Herbalism can play a greater role
Infection Management in Aotearoa - how Medical Herbalism can play a greater role
Antimicrobial drugs are widely used to treat infections and infectious diseases in Aotearoa New Zealand. Although these have greatly improved health outcomes, risks are emerging to the extent we can rely upon these, from microbial resistance, new pathogenic strains, and medicine security.
Plants were widely used for infections until less than 100 years ago, and still are for much of the world's population. Research is validating both traditional and other applications when these are carefully selected as prophylactics or treatments for bacterial, fungal or viral infections. Incorporation of qualified natural health practitioners into infection management programmes, would have huge benefits.
Incorporating Naturopaths & Medical Herbalists into Primary Healthcare infection management programmes, would catalyse a more integrative and prevention focussed healthcare model for Aotearoa NZ.
Learning Objectives:
Greater awareness about specific medicinal plants that can be efficacious as prophylactics or treatments, of bacterial, fungal or viral infections.
More confidence in how to apply medicinal plants in the clinical management of some common infections, such as those affecting the upper respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary system, and skin.
Increased knowledge about antimicrobial resistance, and how it is influencing treatment choices and outcomes for a growing number of infectious diseases
Bio:
Bio:
Phil is a practicing Medical Herbalist, pharmacist and researcher with more than 30 years of clinical and industry experience. This includes establishing and operating a Herbal Medicine Service within the Auckland Regional Alcohol and Drug Detoxification Service for many years, founding & growing a GMP-certified herbal medicine manufacturing and exporting company, teaching and presenting on a wide range of clinical herbal medicine subjects, promoting the ethical usage of native plants, and initiating and supporting field trials and land use diversification programmes involving medicinal plant cultivation in rural parts of Aotearoa.
Phil served as President of the NZ Association of Medical Herbalists from 2018 to 2021, is a founding director of the national industry body Natural Health Products New Zealand, and an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy at the University of Auckland.
Phil is a longstanding advocate for increased utilisation of phytotherapy within state funded health care services, and has a keen interest in how medicinal plants and practitioner-prescribed plant medicines can reduce the growing burden of chronic conditions such as diabetes, mental health and substance use disorders, and infection management.
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