Publications:

Books

Pesek T
2012 Eat Yourself Super¿One Bite at a Time: A Superfoods Journey for the Happy, Healthy and Hungry! (ISBN: 9781614481676, ePub Version: 9781614481683), Morgan-James, NY, NY, USA.

Pesek T, Reminick R, and Nair M
2010 Healing Across Cultures & The Good Life: An Approach to Holistic Health (ISBN: 1111222878), Cengage Learning, Florence, KY, USA.

Pesek T, Helton L, Reminick R, and Nair M
2007 Healing Traditions of India (ISBN: 8187474599), Olive Publications, Thiruvanthapuram, Kerela, India.  

Book Chapters

Pesek T
2023 ¿Sickness and Healing¿ in Handler S Ed. The Commonality of Humans Through Art¿How art connects mankind through the ages (accepted Feb 15 2023, in press)

Pesek T, Cal V, Knight K, Arnason J.
2012 ¿Linking Conservation of Biodiversity and Culture with Sustainable Health and Wellness: The Itzama Model and Global Implications for Healing Across Cultures¿ in A.A. Aguirre, P. Daszak, R. Ostfeld Eds. Conservation Medicine: Applied Cases of Ecological Health (ISBN: 0195150937), Oxford University Press, New York, New York, USA.

Pesek T, Helton L, Reminick R, and Nair M
2007a ¿Learning from Traditions of India¿ in Pesek, Helton, Reminick, Nair, Eds. Healing Traditions of India (ISBN: 8187474599), Olive Publications, Thiruvanthapuram, Kerela, India. 9-15.

Nair S, Pesek T, and Helton L
2007b ¿Ayurveda: Wisdom of Life¿ in Pesek, Helton, Reminick, Nair, Eds. Healing Traditions of India (ISBN: 81-87474-59-9), Olive Publications, Thiruvanthapuram, Kerela, India. 73-80.

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles:

Pesek T, Cal V, Walshe-Roussel B, Ferrier J, Arnason, J
2024 ¿Itzamma: The Evolution of Traditional Healing by Q¿eqchi¿ Maya, Southern Belize, Central America¿ HerbalGram. (in process)

Walshe-Roussel B, London M, Otarola Rojas M, Cal V, Pesek T, Arnason J
2023 ¿Ethnopharmacology of immunomodulatory treatments used by the Q¿eqchi¿ Maya of Belize.¿ Ethnopharmacology. (in process)

McGervey C, Davies E, Cal V, Walshe-Roussel B, Ferrier J, Arnason, J, Pesek T
2023 ¿Indigenous Q¿eqchi Maya ex situ conservation of medicinal plant resources at Itzamma Garden as a window into health management need in Toledo District of Southern Belize: A model for community-based participatory research and culturally relevant healthcare¿ Economic Botany. (in process)

Arnason J, Cal V, Pesek T, Awad R, Bournbonnais Spear N, Collins S, Otarola Rojas M, Walshe Roussel B, Audet P, Anh Ta C,  Balick M, Ferrier J
2022 ¿A review of Ethnobotany and Ethnopharmacology of traditional medicines used by Q¿eqchi Maya healers in Southern Belize.¿ Botany. 100: 219-230

Ferrier J, Pesek T, Caal F, Cal V, Balick M, Arnason J
2020 ¿A Classic Maya Mystery of a Medicinal Plant and Maya Hieroglyphs.¿ Heritage. 3(16): 275-282

Walshe-Roussel B, Otarola Rojas M, Sanches Vindas P, Croat T, Cal V, Pesek T, Arnason J
2019 ¿Ethnobotany of Immunomodulatory Treatments Used by the Q¿eqchi¿ Maya of Belize.¿ Economic Botany. 73(2): 154-170.

Ferrier J, Pesek T, Caal F, Cal V, Balick M, Arnason J
2018 ¿Antidiabetic Traditional Medicines of Q¿eqchi¿ Maya Healers and their Antiglycation Potential¿ J Ethnopharmacology. 224: 504-511.

Pesek T, Cal V, Arnason J
2016 ¿Healing Across Cultures: The Itzamma Project in Sustaining Plants, People and Global Health.¿ TeJAS. 1(1): 76-87.

Walshe-Roussel B, Choueiri C, Saleem A, Asim M, Caal F, Cal V, Otarola Rojas M, Pesek T, Durst T, Arnason J
2013 ¿Potent anti-inflammatory activity of sesquiterpene lactones from Neurolaena lobata, a Q¿eqchi¿ Maya traditional medicine.¿ Phytochemistry. 92: 122-127.

Audet P, Walshe-Roussel B, Cal V, Caal F, Otarola Rojas M, Sanchez Vindas P, Poveda  L, Pesek T, Arnason J
2013 ¿Indigenous ex situ conservation of Q¿eqchi¿ Maya medicinal plant resources at the Itzama Garden ¿ Indian Creek, Belize, C.A.¿ Human Ecology. 41(2): 313-324.

Relph A, and Pesek T
2011a ¿Acai, Euterpe oleracea: Rethinking Treatment for
Inflammatory Conditions¿ Journal of Nutritional Disorders & Therapy. 1:103.

Abramiuk M, Dunham P, Cummings L, Yost C, Pesek, T
2011b ¿Paleoethnobotany and Linking Past and Present: Maya Nutritional and Medicinal Plant Use and Sustainable Cultivation Strategy in the Maya Mountains, Belize¿ Ethnobotany Research and Applications. 9: 257-273.

Pesek T, Reminick, and Nair M
2010a ¿Secrets of Long Life: Cross-Cultural Explorations in Sustainably Enhancing Vitality and Promoting Longevity via Elders¿ Practice Wisdom¿ Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing. 6(6): 352-358.

Pesek T, Abramiuk, M, Cal V, Rojas M, Collins S, Sanchez P, Poveda L, Arnason, J
2010b ¿Q¿eqchi¿ Maya Healers Traditional Knowledge in Prioritizing Conservation of Medicinal Plants: Culturally Relative Conservation in Sustaining Traditional Holistic Health Promotion¿ Biodiversity and Conservation. 19(1): 1-20.

Otarola-Rojas M, Collins S, Cal V, Arnason J, Poveda L, Sanchez P, Pesek T
2010c ¿Sustaining Rainforest Plants, People and Global Health: A model for learning from traditions in community based conservation and holistic health promotion as implemented by the Q¿eqchi¿ Maya Healers, Maya Mountains, Belize¿ Sustainability. 2(11): 3383-3398.

Pesek T,  Abramiuk, M, Garagic, D, Fini, N, Meerman, J, Cal, V.
2009a ¿Sustaining Plants and People: Traditional Q¿eqchi¿ Maya Botanical Knowledge and Interactive Spatial Modeling in Prioritizing Conservation of Medicinal Plants for Culturally Relative Holistic Health Promotion¿ EcoHealth. 6(1): 79-90.

Dunham P, Abramiuk M, Cummings L, Yost C, Pesek T
2009b ¿Ancient Maya Cultivation in the Southern Maya Mountains of Belize: Complex and sustainable strategies uncovered¿ Antiquity.  Project Gallery. 83(319).

Abramiuk M, Wanyerka P, Pesek, T
2009c ¿The Discovery of a Maya Stela at Quebrada de Oro, Toledo District, Belize¿ Antiquity. Project Gallery. 83(319).

Pesek T, Helton L, Reminick R, D. Kannan, Nair M.
2008 ¿Healing Traditions of Southern India and the Conservation of Culture and Biodiversity: A Preliminary Study¿ Ethnobotany Research and Applications. 6: 471-479.

Pesek T, Cal V, Fini N, Cal M, Rojas M, Sanchez P, Poveda L, Collins S, Knight K, Arnason, J
2007 ¿Itzama: Revival of Traditional Healing by Q¿eqchi¿ Maya, Southern Belize, Central America¿ HerbalGram. 76: 34-43.

Pesek T, Helton L, and Nair M
2006a ¿Healing Across Cultures: Learning from Traditions¿ EcoHealth. 3(2): 114-118.

Pesek T, Cal M, Cal V, Fini N, Minty C, Dunham P, Sanchez P, Poveda L, Arnason J
2006b ¿Rapid Ethnobotanical Survey of the Maya Mountains Region, Southern Belize, Central America: A Pilot Study.¿ Trees for Life Journal. 1(10): 1-12.

Peer Reviewed Presentations and Abstracts

Ferrier J, Pesek T, Caal F, Cal V, Balick M, Arnason J
2024 ¿A Classic Maya Mystery of a Medicinal Plant and Maya Hieroglyphs.¿ BAS 2024, Belmopan, Belize C.A., June 29-July 1, 2024. (in process)

Arnason J, Haddad P, Cuerrier A, Harris C, Antonio Guerrero J, Ferrier J, Pesek T, Cal V  

2023 ¿New directions in Ethnobotany and Ethnopharmacology of Turtle Island (North and Central America).¿ GA 2023, Dublin, Ireland. July 2-5, 2023.

Ferrier J, Pesek T, Caal F, Cal V, Balick M, Arnason J
2013 ¿K¿an, Tynanthus guatemalensis Donn.Sm.: The Taxonomic and Archaeological Mystery Behind a Maya Antidiabetic Medicinal Plant,¿ The Best of Both Worlds¿Tradition and Modern Approaches, Natural Health Products Research Society of Canada, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. May 12-15, 2013.

Walshe-Roussel B, Choueiri C, Woolfson K, Wilson S, London M, Saleem A, Caal F, Cal V, Otarola Rojas M, Pesek T, Durst T, Arnason J  
2013 ¿Anti-inflammatory natural products from traditional medicines used by the Q¿eqchi¿ Maya of Belize¿ The Best of Both Worlds¿Tradition and Modern Approaches, Natural Health Products Research Society of Canada, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. May 12-15, 2013.

Walshe-Roussel B, Choueiri C, London M, Saleem A, Caal F, Cal V, Pesek T, Durst T, Arnason J  
2011 ¿Ethnopharmacology of anti-inflammatory botanicals used by the Q¿eqchi¿ Maya of Belize¿ Phytochemical Society of North America International Conference, Hawaii, USA, 10-15 Dec 2011.

Pesek T
2011 ¿Opening Remarks and State of Research¿Itzama¿ Itzama Project International Research Conference, Belize, Central America, 19-20 Aug 2011.
  
Elmlinger B, Reminick R, Nair M, and Pesek, T
2011 ¿Superfoods and Sustainable Healthcare¿ Ayushya: A Two Day Workshop on Integrative Health, Healing and Wholeness, Sponsored by UGC Loyola Campus, Trivandrum, Kerala, India, 7-8 July 2011.  

Capuano D, Reminick R, Nair M, and Pesek, T
2011 ¿Effects of Meditation on American College Students¿ Anxiety and Stress Levels¿ Ayushya: A Two Day Workshop on Integrative Health, Healing and Wholeness, Sponsored by UGC Loyola Campus, Trivandrum, Kerala, India, 7-8 July 2011.

Pesek T
2011 Chair, Ethnomedicine Session, 34th Annual Meeting Society of Ethnobiology, Historical and Archaeological Perspectives in Ethnobiology, Columbus, OH, 4¿7 May 2011.

Pesek T, Cal V, Caal F, Arnason J
2011 ¿Maya Mountains Ethnobotany and Ecology Project¿ Ethnomedicine Session, 34th Annual Meeting Society of Ethnobiology, Historical and Archaeological Perspectives in Ethnobiology, Columbus, OH, 4¿7 May 2011.

Walshe-Roussel B, Choueiri C, London M, Saleem A, Caal F, Cal V, Pesek T, Dust T, Arnason, J
2010 ¿Ethnobotany and pharmacology of anti-inflammatory botanicals used by the Q¿eqchi¿ Maya of Belize,¿ Ontario Ginseng Innovation Research Consortium-Canadian Institute of Chinese Medicinal Research; Production, Pharmacology and Health Benefits of Traditional Medicines Conference, Ottawa, Canada, October 23-25, 2010. This poster and oral presentation awarded joint first prize.

Cal V, Arnason J, Ferrier J, Walshe-Roussel B, Pesek T
2009 Co-Chair, Ethnomedicine Workshop, ¿Efficacy of traditional medicines: Maya traditional medicines and cultural development in Belize,¿ National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO), Canada, Ottawa, Canada. November 26, 2009.

Pesek T, Cal V, Collins S, Rojas M, Poveda L, Sanchez P, Arnason J
2008 ¿In situ and ex situ conservation of Q¿eqchi¿ medicinal plant resources, southern Belize, C.A.: a model in learning from traditions and participatory research¿ Science Across Borders Global Natural Health Products Research Conference, Natural Health Products Research Society of Canada, Toronto, Canada. March 26-29, 2008.

Walshe-Roussel B, Treyvaud-Amiguet V, Moher M, Maquin P, Cal V, Pesek T, Arnason J
2008 ¿Quantitative ethnobotanical symptom assessment of immunomodulatory treatments used by the Q¿eqchi¿ Maya of Belize¿, Science Across Borders Global Natural Health Products Research Conference, Natural Health Products Research Society of Canada, Toronto, Canada. March 26-29, 2008.

Pesek T and Cal V
2008 ¿Healing Across Cultures: Sustaining Plants and People¿ Closing Plenary Preso for United Nations Convention on Health and Biodiversity (COHAB 2008), Galway, Ireland. February 28, 2008.  This presentation was selected during Peer Review to be invited as Closing Plenary.

Pesek T
2007 ¿Essence of Nature: Native American Healing Traditions¿ Healing Across Cultures: Learning From Traditions International Symposium, Centre for Environmental Studies, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Coimbatore, India. July 9, 2007.

Pesek T
2007 ¿Healing Traditions of the Maya People of Central America¿ Healing Across Cultures: Learning From Traditions International Symposium, Loyola College of Social Sciences, Thiruvanthapuram, Kerala, India. July 5, 2007.

Helton L, Nair M, Pesek T
2007 ¿A Cross Cultural Look at Centenarians and our Elderly: Secrets of long life and wellness beyond modern medicine¿. Joint Conference of the American Society on Aging and the National Council on Aging, Chicago. March 7, 2007.

Pesek T
2006 ¿Traditional Healing and Medicinal Plants for Sustainable Development¿; Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection Symposium, US Department of State, International Visitor Leadership Program, Cleveland State University Cole Center. April 28, 2006.

Nair M, Helton L, Pesek T
2006 ¿Self to Society: Impact of Environment in the Paradigm of body, mind, and spirit.¿ International Conference on Integrated Value Education. Bangalore, India. June 26, 2006.  

Helton L, Pesek T
2005 ¿Healing Across Cultures: Approaches to holistic practice¿. Ohio College Association of Social Work Educators Annual Conference, Cleveland, Ohio. April 1, 2005.