Table of Contents:

1. Expo 2006 Status Report
2. SAR Celebrates 10th Anniversary of NIH Consensus Conference
3. National OM Day is October 24 - NCCAOM Spearheads Effort
4. AOM Students - Help Create Your Future!
5. HR-5688 Threatens Scope of Practice - An Open Letter
6. Michigan Governor Makes Acupuncture Board Appointments
7. James Snow Appointed Program Director at Tai Sophia institute
8. Fifth Annual Integrative Medicine for Healthcare Organizations Conference
9. Integrating Key Western Botanicals Seminar by Michael Gaeta
10. "The Way of Master Tung" by Dr. Wei-Chieh Young
11. Workshops on North American Plants at TAI Sophia Institute by Herbalist Michael Moore
12. Vermont Fall Foliage CEU Event: Bi Obstruction Syndrom by Jeffrey Yuen
13. Pao Zhi Two-day Seminar by Dr. Cheng Chi
14. AWB Needs Final Member for Katrina Team

In this issue of the Qi-Unity Report, we're focusing AAOM's letter of greeting on an important all-day pre-conference event to be held October 19, 2006 from 8:00am - 5:30pm: The Asian Medical Nomenclature Debates. This is a complex topic that will span a multi-year duration. A formidable panel was chosen to open the door to discourse and discussion for the purpose of beginning the exploration of transmission of Asian Medical texts to the West.

http://www.aaom.info/qiunity/06/08/00.html

AAOM Expo 2006 - Status Report: AAOM Expo 2006 (Wigwam Resort & Spa - Litchfield Park (Phoenix) AZ) is just two months away. Our Early Bird Registration closes August 31, 2006. As of September 1, member and non-member rates to attend increase by 20% - so don't delay! Our attendance limit for each workshop is 100 - we recommend your early registration to assure your seat is reserved. Exhibitor Booths are nearly sold out...only 12 booths remain, and when they're gone - they're gone! Room reservations for the $168 conference rate at the Wigwam Resort and Spa are far ahead of last year this time, and last year was a sell-out...call or reserve your room online. To reach "How-To" information for this and more...

http://www.aaom.info/qiunity/06/08/ad1.html

http://www.aaom.info/qiunity/06/08/sar_conf.pdf

National OM Day
October 24 is Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM) Day, a designation recognized by leadership organizations in the field of Acupuncture and Oriental medicine, and spearheaded by the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). The purpose of the designation is to raise awareness about the benefits of acupuncture — a viable form of medicine with a 3,000 year history—and how consumers can find certified professional practitioners to ensure better care, better treatment, and better outcomes.

http://www.aaom.info/qiunity/06/08/03.html

AOM Students - Help Create Your Future!
After four years of student caucus conference meetings, AAOM is launching a Student Organization subsidiary. The 2006 Conference in Phoenix, AZ, will be a landmark meeting for the foundation of the American Association of Oriental Medicine- Student Organization (AAOM -SO). The meeting agenda will include a historical first presentation of the AAOM-SO by-laws, national appointments and elections, establishment of local and regional chapter charters and an action plan for 2006 regarding such topics as: license reciprocity between states, key leadership appointments and elections for regional directors, student support of AAOM position on state and national political issues, student loan forgiveness, national public relations campaign, mentorship program. This new organization needs your participation!

The Phoenix conference will be held at the Wigwam Resort and Spa in West Suburban Phoenix's lovely Litchfield Park. Students (and practitioners) can sign-up for roomshares http://forums.aaom.org/default.asp?CAT_ID=3 online. Through room-sharing, the $168 per night resort room cost to attend the entire conference is significantly reduced. (Non-conference rates are $289-$300 per night). Overnight room reservations are currently exceeding the registration level from our 2005 conference. Last year, overnight rooms were a sell-out - so early registration is recommended. The conference brochure and/or online registration is available at: www.aaom.org. Come learn and make a difference in your profession's development!

http://www.aaom.info/qiunity/06/08/05.html

Michigan Governor Makes Appointments

LANSING, MI, August 15, 2006 – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced the following appointments to the Michigan Board of Acupuncture. The Board is responsible for promulgating rules that set forth minimum standards for registration as an acupuncturist.

"Deborah E. Lincoln, R.N., M.S.N. of East Lansing, acupuncturist with the Meridian Health and Wellness Center. Ms. Lincoln is appointed to represent acupuncturists for a term expiring June 30, 2010."

Deborah Lincoln is the AAOM's 2005-2006 Convention Chairman. She is President of the Michigan Association of Oriental Medicine, and in February 2006, saw a 20-year endeavor culminate in the passage of Michigan's first-ever Acupuncture Law. Deborah's extensive education in Western and Chinese Medicine spans over 36 years. She has been in private practice in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs and Oriental Medicine over 24 years in Lansing, Michigan. Deborah is the VP of Corporate Events of the AAOM Board of Directors.

http://www.aaom.info/qiunity/06/08/06.html

The Tai Sophia Institute is a graduate school for wellness-based education, clinical care, research and public policy discourse. Founded in 1975 as a small healing arts clinic, the Institute now offers Master’s degrees in acupuncture, herbal medicine and the applied healing arts. More than 900 of the Institute’s alumni actively practice acupuncture and other healing arts around the country. Its current enrollment totals more than more than 320 graduate students. In addition to its degree programs, the Institute offers a wide variety of wellness educational programs that are open to the community. The Institute also maintains clinics for acupuncture treatment and herbal consultations.

The two-and-a-half day program has been customized to provide you and your team with top-notch educational sessions, in-depth case studies, skill building workshops, onsite visits to successful integrative medicine centers, a cutting-edge poster and exhibit forum and ample time for networking. For sponsorship and exhibit opportunities and to be added to the mailing list, please contact Sita Ananth at sananth@healthforum.com or call 707-644-1181.

Integrating Key Western Botanicals
Western herbal medicine has much to offer the Chinese medicine practitioner. Rather than attempting to teach how to integrate the entire Western material medica into an AOM setting, this presentation will explore the clinical relevance of incorporating a limited range of essential Western herbs. We will begin with an overview of Western herbal medicine, including the energetics of Western herbs, and issues of efficacy and quality. We will continue with a short review of key Western herbs that have major relevance in the AOM clinic. Echinacea, for example, emerges as a key herb for immune system function that has no counterpart in TCM. You will learn of groundbreaking new research, which will significantly change what you know about Echinacea's effects on the immune system and how it actually works. The seminar emphasizes a practical way to introduce Western herbs into the AOM clinic—based on the presenter’s clinical experience and validated with case histories, which demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach.

Michael Gaeta holds New York State licenses in acupuncture, nutrition and massage therapy. He received his Master’s degree from the New York College of Health Professions, where he was a faculty member for ten years. In 1990, Michael founded the Hands-On Health Wholistic HealthCare Centers, a successful group practice with three locations in New York. His passion is to give, love and serve through teaching, hands-on therapies and music.

San Francisco, CA. Call 800-662-9134. 7 NCCAOM CEUs approved.

Gaeta Herb Seminar (PDF)

Tung's Acupuncture
Dr. Wei-Chieh Young (www.drweichiehyoung.com) is scheduled to be held on the 2nd weekend of November and December 2006 in Los Angeles. It will cover the acupuncture points, needling techniques/methods, treatments and theoretical principles, etc.

The four-day seminar will issue 30 hours of continuing education credits to California licensed acupuncturists. The tuition is $750. Those who purchased the book Tung's Acupuncture will receive a $50 discount.

Invited by The American Association of Oriental Medicine (AAOM), Dr. Young is going to present the topic of "The Way of Master Tung" in October. Compared to this seminar, the former can mainly cover the "basic way" due to time constraints, while the latter will reach to a more advanced level and could be called "The Dao (Philosophy) or the Keys of Tung's Acupuncture".

Seminar Location: Considering many non-local attendants' convenience, we have decided to change the location to BEST WESTERN EXECUTIVE INN (about 25 minutes from Ontario airport). Seminar attendants will receive 15% off discount) 18880E.GALE AVENUE, ROWLAND HEIGHTS, CA91748 TEL:(626)8101818 (or contact us: 626-581-1755)

Registration: If you would like to attend the seminar, please register with us. To register, please send us your name, address, telephone number, and email by fax (626-581-1688) or email to dryoung@drweichiehyoung.com.

Register before August 10th with $100 deposit will get a free copy of ILLUSTRATED TUNG¡¦S ACUPUNCTURE POINTS* ($60 value). The book contains more than 200 color photos of point locations. Send your contact information and a $100 check payable to Wei-Chieh Young to CHINESE MEDICAL CENTER, 19161 Colima Road, Rowland Hts, CA 91748.

North American Plants
Michael Moore, founder of the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine, will conduct two one-week workshops, Materia Medica of the American West and Field Lecture Workshop: An In-depth Exploration of Regional Medicinal Plants at the Tai Sophia Institute. Scheduled for the week of August 28, Materia Medica of the American West will cover Moore’s most favored plants and clinical applications. He will discuss their habitat, environmental risks and availability.

Field Lecture Workshop: An In-depth Exploration of Regional Medicinal Plants will take place the week of September 4. The workshop includes visits to regional parks and focuses on plant personalities, constituents, historical uses, and therapeutic applications. The hours for each workshop will be 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The cost for each workshop is $450 or $850 for both. Five percent of workshop proceeds will be contributed to United Plant Savers, an organization dedicated to protecting native medicinal plants of North America. To register, or for more information, contact the Tai Sophia Institute at 410-888-9048, Ext. 6611 or visit www.tai.edu.

Bi Obstruction Syndrome
Bi obstruction syndrome is one of the most common conditions seen in an acupuncture office. Mr. Yuen will present the use of Classical Chinese Medicine to treat this common condition. The treatment of BI will be discussed according to the 5 Channel System including the Sinew Channels, Luo Vessels, Divergent Channels and Extraordinary Vessels. We will also examine treatments in relationship to Wai Ke (external medicine).

Jeffrey Yuen presents "Bi Obstruction Syndrome" on October 21 & 22, 2006 (9am - 5:30pm) in Burlington, Vermont. Course will provide 15 NCAAOM approved CEUs. Visit http://www.vaaom.org/events to register.

Bi Obstruction Syndrome (PDF-600KB)

Pao Zhi
This two-day short course focuses on the theory and practical application of herbal preparation techniques, collectively called páo zhì. Course includes lecture, demonstration, and first-hand application of the techniques at each participant’s own cook top station. Taught by Dr. Cheng Chi, faculty member at AAAOM in Roseville. Dr. Chi earned a Masters Degree in TCM pharmacology and has extensive experience in the cultivation and processing of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs.

Where: University of Minnesota’s Food Science and Nutrition facilities, St. Paul McNeal Hall, Room 126
When: Part 1: Sunday September 17, 2006 8:30 am – 5 pm, Part 2: Sunday September 24, 2006 8:30 am – 5 pm
Cost: $200 (by 9/10/06), $250 (after 9/10/06), $150 (Student)
CEUs: 15
Register: Gail Behr, 715-425-8365

Read the Tuesday Update from Team Leader Erika Eddy in New Orleans here:

AWB Tuesday Update (PDF)

Within humanity and within our Medicine…

We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made of layers, cells, constellations.
-Anaïs Nin

Sincerely,

Rebekah Christensen,
Executive Director

PS: Don't miss Expo 2006, scheduled October 19-23, at the Wigwam Resort and Spa, Litchfield Park (Phoenix), Arizona. You'll find Exhibitor and Attendee Brochures online at www.aaom.org!

All of us want to see acupuncture and Oriental Medicine become a societal right and a healthcare choice for all by achieving enough awareness and acceptance to increase its stature. We feel a key in achieving this goal shall be derived through our communication and collaborative efforts; i.e., unity. As organizations, schools, practitioners, students and businesses of OM, we must all recognize that a direct benefit of honoring our interdependence through collaboration is decreased fragmentation and increased prominence of our profession within the healthcare community.

Who can Participate? As an AAOM member, you are being sent an invitation to participate by submitting to this collaborative news alert. You can access the submission form online by visiting www.aaom.org/?pagenumber=45160. Topics that will be published are varied. If you want to contribute something and don't know if it would be appropriate, just drop us an email or give us a call. AAOM's Editor-in-Chief, editor@aaom.org, will be happy to assist you or answer additional questions you might have.

Each issue's deadline is the first Monday of the month. Submissions received after that date will be published in the next month's issue.