About the presentation: In this presentation, the speakers will review their background and interest in medicinal plants, both those that are found locally or commonly in the United States, and some examples from Andean Ecuador. Specifically, the speakers will discuss nettles, mullein, and dandelion as examples of plants with varied and important healing properties. Finally, there will be discussion of the interaction between Western medicine and traditional medicine, and how that overlap does and should occur to optimize the patient experience and health outcomes.
About the presenters:
Matilde Cachiguango Muenala is an Integral Doula and Postpartum Doula, Community Health Worker, and also an expert artisan from the Kichwa-Otavalo nation of Ecuador. Matilde emigrated to the United States in 2001 with her
husband and two young daughters, dreaming of building a better life. In Wisconsin, the family grew with the birth of another daughter, further strengthening their family and cultural bonds. As the owner of Sabiduría Nativa Kichwa, LLC and a founding member of Roots4Change Coop, Matilde has dedicated herself to promoting community health and well-being, particularly in the maternal and child health sector. Her work focuses on continuously learning and sharing her knowledge with the community and family, always honoring her ancestral roots from the great Kichwa nation. Matilde is committed to education and empowerment for
those who share a similar story to hers. Her goal is to inspire others to continue their education and fight for their dreams, showing that anything is possible, no matter the obstacles they may face.
Aída Inuca is a Kichwa Native and proud mom of an 8 year old boy. She was born and raised in the Andes Pijal Otavalo- Ecuador. In her native community, honoring childbirth with great kindness and respect are key principles and traditions and she firmly believes that coming into the world with love, naturalness, and patience is a human right all should have. As a doula, she is here to walk with you through your pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum journey, giving you emotional and physical support to help ensure that your experience of bringing life into the world is an unforgettable occasion.
David Kiefer, M.D., is a board-certified family physician with extensive experience in botanical and integrative medicine. His research and teaching activities encompass both national and international universities and conferences, and he has a focus on Latin American ethnobotany and evidence-based herbal medicine. Dr. Kiefer is Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and faculty at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Kiefer’s past work included teaching naturopathic medical students at Bastyr University in Seattle, and supervising family medicine residents at a homeless youth clinic. He completed a fellowship at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, where he was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine for many years. Dr. Kiefer graduated from the University of Wisconsin Medical School in Madison, and completed his residency training at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle.
Please note: this presentation will feature live interpretation from Spanish to English.
