HYBRID EVENT: You can participate in person at Rome, Italy or Virtually from your home or work.

8th Edition of International Conference on

Traditional Medicine, Ethnomedicine and Natural Therapies

June 05-07, 2025 | Rome, Italy

Traditional Medicine 2023

Integrating indigenous ancestral medicine with mental health and acupuncture protocols

Speaker at Traditional Medicine, Ethnomedicine and Natural Therapies 2023 - Leslie Whitcomb
Akamai University, United States
Title : Integrating indigenous ancestral medicine with mental health and acupuncture protocols

Abstract:

This presentation uses a complexity science approach to explore Integrating Indigenous Ancestral Medicine with Mental Health and Acupuncture Protocols. It is supported by case study experience and empirical research bibliographies. The case study experience includes healing modalities of North American ancestral, transgenerational healing practice, South American Pacha Mama practice, mainstream mental health practice, and co adjunct collaborations of Indigenous Ancestral Medicine with Mental Health modalities and Acupuncture treatment. Indigenous Ancestral Medicine is a medicine of relationship. Mental Health approaches are designed to heal relationship: with self, other, family, community and society. Acupuncture is a traditional medicine and a science of relationship – the relationship of the body’s meridians, organs, body processes and chi into a larger equilibrium, with health as the optimal state resulting from this equilibrium. Experience of these three systems of medicine in harmonious practice with each other will be facilitated for participants, by the presenter, in zoom format. The presenter will then provide a brief touchpoint for participants with body based Indigenous physiological patterns, Mental Health relational elements and Acupuncture Meridian systems. The presenter will then clarify didactic understandings of experiential learning; to include one case study in which all the above modalities were employed to address issues of transgenerational trauma. These issues had presentation in fractures of ancestral world view for meaning making, ruptures in relationship of self to self, and self to other, family, kin, community and nature; finally, they had presentations of disequilibrium in five elements acupuncture meridian chi and presentations of hormonal, autoimmune, digestive, and whole health challenges. Following the didactic presentation, participants will be given interactive charts to integrate tools from the presentation into self-efficacy practices to share with their population of service. These mapping exercises are designed to allow practitioners from a variety of health and well-being modalities to consider how their own modalities may become more efficacious and sustainable, through understanding of and respect for Indigenous Ancestral Medicine.

Biography:

Leslie Whitcomb, M.Sc., Ph.D. is a proud carrier of her Ketooweh Lenni Lenape ancestral medicine heritage. Her dual heritage, as both Indigenous and white has informed her professional work in Mental Health, Indigenous Ancestral Medicine and co adjunct facilitation with practitioners of Acupuncture, Acupressure and Homeopathy for thirty-five years. Leslie works in partnership with regional ecosystems, international practitioners and academic scholars. Her research and collaboration has made contributions in K-12 school systems, graduate programs, social services training programs and in private practice. She is currently faculty at Akamai University, Engineering Leadership Skills Clinic Facilitator at Cornell University, and in private family facilitation practice.

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