Dr. Z
Dr. Eugene R. Zampieron, ND, also known as Dr. Z, is a doctor of naturopathic medicine and is certified and licensed by the Board of Naturopathic Medical Examiners in Connecticut as a naturopathic medical physician.
While studying in Jamaica, WI and becoming ill, Dr. Zampieron was healed by a Jamaican “Bush” Doctor/Traditional Herbalist. Now fascinated by herbal and shamanistic healing, the ethnobotany of the Caribbean, and medical anthropology, Dr. Zampieron attended Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences in Seattle, WA, a residential medical program.
Dr. Zampieron is Master Herbalist and Professional Member of the American Herbalist Guild. He is an expert in the biochemistry and pharmacognosy of plant based medicine from around the globe, as well as clinical phytotherapeutics. Dr. Z currently leads exciting natural medicine walking tours through Chinatown, New York City, and teaches seminars on plant identification and wildcrafting herbs of the North East. He has taught botanical medicine seminars at the prestigious New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx, New York.
Dr. “Z”, as he is known by his listeners, also co-hosts and produces several nationally syndicated talk radio programs on health and alternative medicine, which airs on 100+ stations across the United States, including “The Natural Medicine Chest”™ and “Natural Alternatives Health Radio Network”. He also produces local TV programs and radio throughout Long Island and in Connecticut on WPKN 89.5. His program is broadcasted over the Internet through VitalCast.com.
Dr. Zampieron is a professional speaker and writer and teaches with an encyclopedic knowledge of natural medicine. Dr. Z has taught hundreds of lectures, seminars and workshops on holistic health and botanical medicine to lay people, physicians, American Herbalist Guide conference, botanists, hospitals, associations, support groups and major conferences in the natural foods industries. In addition to authoring many articles in both the lay and professional setting, he is currently authoring several booklets on various issues in holistic health. His major books are, “ARTHRITIS: The Alternative Medicine Definitive Guide” (AlternativeMedicine.com books), and “The Natural Medicine Chest”, co-authored with Dr. Ellen Kamhi, The Natural Nurse.
Drs. Zampieron and Kamhi have developed an international line of herbal medicines used for Arthritis called The ArthroNutrition Program, manufactured by Nature’s Answer. He likewise is C.E.O. of “EcoTours for Cures”™, and leads adventure groups and travel excursions into the Blue Mountain National rainforests of Jamaica, WI. He lives with his wife Kathleen, daughter Caitlin, and son Kevin on a 9-acre farm and woodlands preserve in historic Litchfield County, Connecticut.
He practices in Woodbury, CT with an emphasis in clinical ecology, environmental medicine, and chemical sensitivity & detoxification; he also is an authority on the successful management of autoimmune and inflammatory disease with Naturopathic and “Global” (Natural Medicine & Healing Systems worldwide) therapeutics.
Dr. C
Dr. Lindsay Chimileski is a naturopathic physician with an enthralled devotion to herbal medicine, plants, fungi, healing the root cause and being in the natural world.
She is experienced in local plant and mushroom identification. She has been participating in leading these botanical excursions through the Jamaican jungle for over 10 years and is an avid hiker, forager and mushroom hunter in Connecticut (and where ever she travels). She also shares her deep love of yoga with the group and will lead some optional classes.
Dr. Chimileski is an experienced professor, leading the botanical medicine curriculum, hosting clinic shifts and teaching advanced nutrition courses at the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine. She has years of experience lecturing to both the public and professionally at medical continuing education conferences. Dr. Chimileski also teaches a variety of online and in person medicinal mushroom courses. She is an advocate for the mindful practice of mushroom identification and foraging.
Dr. Chimileski’s private practice is Hawthorn Holistic Health in Hamden, Connecticut. She has a Naturopathic Doctorate, Masters of Acupuncture and Bachelor’s Human Development and Family Studies and is a practicing, licensed naturopathic physician and acupuncturist in Connecticut. She is also a registered herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild.
Kibret
Kibret Neguse is an activities coordinator for the Ecotour. A lifelong friend of Dr. “Z”, Kibret has lived and travelled extensively in Jamaica, WI. A high school biology field trip brought them to this Caribbean island in 1981, where they discovered not only beautiful and exciting underwater life, but a virtual paradise of flora and fauna, and a friendly and diverse culture among the people of Jamaica. It was Jamba, a Maroon shaman, who invited Kibret back time and again where they travelled to the most remote regions of Jamaica, learning about the natural resources and the cultural aspects of this fascinating country. The reggae music of Jamaica captured his heart and soul, and for over 40 years he has been an avid collector, musician, and producer, as well as the reggae music director and radio host of “Rockin’ Iration”, a reggae music program on WUSB 90.1 FM in Stony Brook, NY. The program can be heard globally at wusb.fm where it streams live or archived.
His knowledge of Rastafari culture and reggae music provides an interesting and important aspect to the ecotour, and his relationship with Jamaica’s top reggae music artists allows him to invite them to visit and perform. He is also one of the drumming instructors in Nyabinghi, a sacred Rasta style of chanting and drumming, which is always a highlight of the Ecotour.
Kibret is a devoted herbalist, forager, gardener, and plant collector. His profound connection to nature led him to working with wood, designing and building custom handcrafted furniture and art.
Honoring Jamba
We are sad to announce that Jamba, one of our Ecotours founders passed away in 2014. Jamba was our master of ceremonies, our guide, teacher, & leader during the EcoTours for Cures excursions throughout Jamaica. He was extremely knowledgeable in the ethnobotany, culture, folklore, and spiritualities of Jamaica. You can read more about him here.
Our Teachers
Lion, Jon, Kemar, Prince Francis, Natty Grant and Binto
LION
Rastafarian farmer, main guide, Juiceman, Expert in Bush medicine, Fire Builder, Hype man, Singer and overall entertainer
Patois: Fairly Easy to understand
BINTO
Rasta farmer, expert chef, knows the bush well
Patois: easy to understand
JOHN BOOPS
Guide, Expert in Bush Medicine, Singer (his falsetto is the best!)
Patois: very hard to understand; heavy patois accent. Just politely ask him to slow down
PRINCE FRANCIS
Donovan Francis, known as Prince Francis, is a Reggae superstar and is known as the Godfather of the 1960’s reggae style known as studio one, which was the grandfather of all rap music today!!!!
He is a talented artisan, crafting calabashes (a type of gourd) into wonderful containers, handbags, and plant hangers, and is also a knowledgeable Bush doctor.
Here’s a YouTube Link to some of his hits in Jamaica, some topping the chart to number one!!
NATTY GRANT
Rastafarian farmer, guide, Lives Ital (natural) strict vegetarian, expert in Bush
Patois: Easy to Understand
KEMAR
Bush medicine knowledge, driver, helping hand and general support
Patois: Easy to Understand
Dr. Diane Robertson is well known in the Caribbean and international circles as the pioneer in Jamaican Herbs since 1980 when she entered into the ” realm of herbs ” after a colorful career practicing as a Pharmacist in the various fields of Pharmacy and owning her business for 15 years.
She teaches at the University of Technology in Kingston, works with the ministry of health and is Jamaica’s top herbalist
Dane recently had a stroke, so she will joining us virtually. If we are able to, we will meet her in Kingston for dinner the last night, depending on flight timing.
Dr. Ellen J. Kamhi, Ph.D. is a founding organizer of our ecotours trips. She attended Cornell and Rutgers Universities and hold degrees in nursing, teaching and public health education. Since 1969, Dr. Kamhi’s quest for knowledge about natural healing modalities has lead her on extensive travel to Spain, France, Portugal, England, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and across the United States.
She is considered an authority on natural healing, darkfield microscopy and indigenous medicines. Her research on longevity resulted in a two year apprentice in Mexico, where she was immersed in the study of ethnobotany of the Mexican Indians and other indigenous cultures. Combining her knowledge of herbology and teaching, she pioneered a program at Cochise College in Arizona based on desert ecology and the therapeutic use of local flora.
Dr. Kamhi holds certification in reflexology, bach flower remedies, herbology and darkfield microscopic technology.
Her research in the field of “quantum physics” and frontiers of the mind/body connection has established her as an authority on bioenergetic medicine and complimentary medicine.
She is a frequent lecturer at various professional organizations in the U.S. and abroad, and is a member of the International Society for Subtle Energy Medicine, the United States Psychotronics Association (a group researching the link between physics and metaphysics), the American Holistic Nursing Association and is a Professional Member of the American Herbalist Guild.
Dr. Kamhi co-hosts the nationally syndicated weekly radio program, “Natural Alternatives” and “The Natural Medicine Chest”, which can be heard over the Internet through VitalCast.com. Each week Dr. Kamhi and Dr. Zampieron, along with listeners across the nation, explore some of the most fascinating issues surrounding natural medicine and progressive health care. She is also seen regularly on several TV series, including “The Natural Nurse”, “Healthy by Choice”, and “Sustainable Living”. Her latest book (co-authored with Dr. Z), “The Natural Medicine Chest”, is now available nationwide.
Read more about Dr. Kamhi and her fascinating work at The Natural Nurse site
