September 2008
International News
Practice Management
Continuing Education and Events		 State Legislative Activities
AAAOM Activities
AAAOM Student Organization		 National AOM Issues
Links
Products, Services, and Member Savings

Table of Contents:

International News



State Legislative Activities


Sponsors of:

National AOM Issues



Practice Management


Sponsors of:

AAAOM Activities



Links


Sponsors of:

Continuing Education and Events



AAAOM Student Organization


Products, Services, and Member Savings

 

Greetings AOM Members and Colleagues:

The International 2008 AAAOM Conference and Exposition begins on October 16, and the AAAOM office has been a beehive of activity in preparation. Fortunately, we have benefited from some extra help these days. Viktoriya Neverov, a Senior at University of Califonia, Davis, has stepped into the office as our Events Management Intern. This internship will guide her through the internecine processes and exhaustive care through which AAAOM conferences take shape. She is busy learning on the job, and with the AAAOM transitioning to a Spring conference schedule, the timing couldn’t be better. Read more about Viktoriya’s new role in this month’s Qi-Unity Report.

Class space and hotel room availability for the conference in October is limited. If you have yet to register for the conference or book your room, we recommend you take care of this as soon as possible:

www.aaaomonline.com

This issue of the Qi-Unity Report features an AOM approach to stroke from the pioneering practitioner Rick Kitaeff. Have you ever wondered how AOM and allopathic medicine integrates in China? Grace Zhao, who grew up in China but now lives and works in the US, offers her cross-cultural perspective on the matter. The breathing experts at perfectbreath.com contribute an article on the teachings of Taoist master Chungliang Al Huang, whose life has been dedicated to articulating a clear understanding of qi. These articles and far more await you — including the Fall 08 issue of The American Acupuncturist — forthcoming at the end of this month. There’s always something happening, and we’re happy to continue to bring you the best of AOM news, views and research. We wish you good health and professional growth as we move into Fall and the intellectual harvest the season provides.

Once again we extend our appreciation to Golden Flower, Kan Herb, and Mayway for choosing to sponsor the Qi-Unity Report. If you are one of our business partners, wouldn’t you like to join them? Your continued support invigorates the AAAOM and serves to remind us that the AOM profession is, in many ways, the sum of our collective efforts as a community. Thank you sponsors, for your support! We ask our practitioner members to patronize those businesses that have put themselves forward to support your profession.

The AAAOM is interested in your feedback. We invite you to use our General Feedback page to let us know your opinions and insights.

International News

Links to International AOM Articles

This from Beijing: Coca-Cola, a company first famous for mixing South American coca leaves with African kola nuts, is trying to repeat history.

For months, the Atlanta drinks giant has been working quietly to perfect prototype beverages using Chinese herbal cures. Analysts and executives suggest the project may be as important to the company's future as its original formula was to its past.
business.smh.com.au
freshwebcontent.com
www.ausfoodnews.com.au

The first Traditional Chinese Medicine Week opened at the Royal Society of Medicine in London on August 4. Over 500 precious items related to Chinese medicine are on display. Many of them have never been exhibited abroad before.
www.cctv.com

The Qingping Traditional Chinese Herbs Wholesale Market (known as Qingping Shichang) in Guangzhou always overwhelms foreign visitors with its astonishing traditional Chinese medicines.
thestar.com.my

Canadian gymnastics team coach Tony Smith was amazed when his back pain vanished after just one acupuncture session at the Olympic Village clinic.

"It really does work," he said. "I will definitely recommend it to my athletes."

Smith, who has long suffered from lower back pain, had just about given up hope after none of the various treatments he tried made any difference.
www.chinadaily.com.cn

Acupuncture may bring pain relief to people with chronic headaches, according to new research. The study by German researchers is one of the largest to date on using acupuncture to ease headaches.

"Acupuncture plus routine care in patients with headache was associated with marked clinical improvements compared with routine care alone," said Dr. Stefan N. Willich of Charite University Medical Center in Berlin, who headed the research team.
www.canada.com

In a collaborative effort between the Chinese government and an Australian research institute, scientists have isolated four compounds in bitter melon that may account for the vegetable's utility as a diabetes treatment in traditional Chinese medicine.
www.naturalnews.com

State Legislative Activities

ASNY's Updated Mission

ASNY, the Acupuncture Society of New York, is a 100% volunteer organization that supports the profession in many ways. But ASNY is nothing without you, the active and involved member.

So what have we recently done with respect to our mission?

ASNY and its membership were instrumental in defeating the 300 hour Chiropractic Bill in an unprecedented manner this last legislative session. After discussions between ASNY leadership and the sponsor and a successful letter writing campaign, the sponsor agreed to pull it from legislative consideration. Although alive and viable in many states, the Chiropractic bill in New York is now permanently dead.

ASNY has significantly strengthened its support with the New York State Coalition (NYSAC). NYSAC is a co-operative alliance of acupuncture organizations, schools and practitioners united in the legislative and lobbying effort to pass the first comprehensive acupuncture amendment for the State of New York. Many leaders of NYSAC presently serve as advisors and Board members of ASNY. Upon successful passage of the bill, the mission of NYSAC will be achieved; however ASNY will continue to fulfill its long-standing political leadership and advocacy role in Albany on behalf of the profession.

ASNY is proud to have recently solidified its mutual support and cooperation with The American TCM Society (ATCMS). One of the many benefits of this cooperation is ASNY members can now take ATCMS seminars at their member discount rate. We encourage you to support ATCMS by attending their continuing education seminars.

ASNY has re-committed to its outreach program for all students--the future of our profession (and ASNY). By re-establishing direct communication and closer ties to school leaders and demonstrating its engaged representation and advocacy for practitioners, ASNY has engendered strong support for its student recruitment campaign. Closer alliances with alumni associations at New York schools have also been established through this committed outreach.

ASNY receives regular reports from its retained lobbyist in Albany, who monitors any and all legislative or regulatory threats/opportunities that arise in Albany. To this end, ASNY has continued to be engaged in discussions with the sponsors of a bill to add acupuncture coverage for licensed acupuncturists to the worker's compensation system in NY.

In the judicial system, ASNY continues to serve in its court recognized role as an advocate and voice for the entire NY acupuncture profession. Through its counsel Michael Taromina, Esq., ASNY has maintained a strong stance in a critical insurance reimbursement case now on appeal.

On the national level, ASNY will be participating in the annual national AAAOM meeting in Chicago in October. Our President, Steven Schram, Vice President, Michael Jabbour and counsel, Michael Taromina, Esq., among others, will be representing the views and interests of our members. As the longest-standing, politically-engaged organization in NY--a state with the second most acupuncturists in the entire country--ASNY will continue to serve a critical political role not just in NY, but also on the national legislative scene. We look forward to updating our members on these exciting new initiatives and how they will benefit our community.

Adding legitimacy and credibility to your free listing on Acufinder, a national acupuncturist search engine, we have arranged for Acufinder to display the ASNY logo under member names.

Due Diligence and Transparency

Notice of ASNY's Annual Meeting

While the Board meets regularly, the membership comes together for a formal meeting but once a year. And we have scheduled it for December 7th at 3PM. The location will be at Touro College, 27-33 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010.

The agenda of the meeting follows standard guidelines (old business, new business, etc.), but for the most part, is an opportunity for you to vote for the leadership of ASNY as well as give you the means to meet face to face with those that represent you.

An update from each board member will be given with regards to projects that they have been working on.

ASNY Invites Your Participation

We are looking for Acupuncturists who would like to do more for their profession. You can do this simply by JOINING ASNY . This simple act will help ensure that the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Profession has a strong future in New York.

Part of our renewed mission to serve the entire profession requires diversification of our board and as such, seek a board member from the ATCMS community as well as one student (non-licensed) board member. If you wish to have a leadership position in our profession, please let us know of your interest.

We sometimes get asked by members if ASNY can do a specific project. Sure we can, but only if you help make it happen. If you have something you want ASNY to do, and you want to get involved in making it happen, please email us.

Would you like to get involved in helping ASNY advance the profession of Acupuncture in NY? Could you write an article for the ASNY newsletter? Let us know!

AzSOMA AOM Day

Em>All Licensed Acupuncturists & Students
Are Invited to the
AzSOMA AOM day Celebration & Conference
October 26th, 2008 – Sunday 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Sheraton Tucson, 5151 E. Grant Rd. Tucson, AZ 85712 - (520) 323-6262
Arizona Society of Oriental Medicine & Acupuncture
Events		Regular FeeAzSOMA Member Fee
Introduction TJM (Traditional Japanese Medicine) and
Japanese Acupuncture Part 1
Carl Wagner, DOM L.Ac. (3.5 CEUs)
8:30 am – Noon		$50$35
AzSOMA Annual Open Meeting and Lunch Buffet
Noon to 2:00 pm

Agenda:

  1. Recent development in AZ acupuncture regulations (Board director-Pete Gonzalez)
  2. Status of acupuncture insurance and reimbursement in Arizona
  3. Public relations & prosperous practice management for the profession
  4. Introduction to the new AzSOMA website
  5. Outstanding teachers and students awards
  6. Announcements
$20$20
TJM and Japanese Acupuncture Part II
Carl Wagner, DOM, L. Ac. (3.5 CEUs)
2:00 pm - 5:30 pm		$50$35
Total Fee for whole day lunch and conference (7.0 CEUs)$120$90

Payment to: AzSOMA, 10645 N. Tatum Blvd. Suite 200-169 , Phoenix, AZ 85028

You can register online by visiting: www.azsoma.org or email us to info@azsoma.org

Join AzSOMA and get discounts on CEU/vendors and participate in AzSOMA activities/events.


National AOM Issues

MAKING A MARK!

By Carol Desmond

An Introduction to Trademarks for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

What is a trademark?

A trademark is a sign capable of distinguishing the goods or services produced or provided by one enterprise from those of other enterprises.

Any distinctive words, letters, numerals, drawings, pictures, shapes, colors logotypes, labels or combinations used to distinguish goods or services may be considered a trademark. In some countries, advertising slogans are also considered trademarks and may be registered as such at national trademark offices. An increasing number of countries also allow for the registration of less traditional forms of trademarks such as single colors, three-dimensional designs [shapes of products or packaging], audible signs [sounds] or olfactory signs [smells]. However, many countries have set limits on what can be registered as a trademark, generally only allowing for signs that are visually perceptible or can be represented graphically.

Examples:

  1. Trademarks: Microsoft; Froot Loops; Ford (these are products or goods)
  2. Service marks: Blockbuster; McDonalds; Kinkos (these are services)
  3. Logotypes: CBS eye in a circle; Apple Computer’s Apple; Nike Swoosh
  4. Color Marks: Kodak yellow packaging; Howard Johnson red roof; Owens-Corning pink fiberglass insulation
  5. Trade Dress: Coca Cola bottle shape; Banana Republic decorating motif; Pillsbury Doughboy
  6. Slogans: Microsoft's "Where Do You Want To Go Today?", IBM's "Solutions For A Small Planet", Clairol's "Hair Color So Natural Only Her Hairdresser Knows For Sure".
  7. Sounds: MGM'S lion roar; Harley Davidson's motorcycle exhaust sound; NBC's chimes.
  8. Collective Marks: ILGWU (International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union; GSA (Girls Scouts Of America); AAA (American Automobile Association).
  9. Certification Marks: Good Housekeeping Seal Of Approval; Harris Tweeds; Roquefort Cheese.

What are trademarks for?

The main function of a trademark is to enable consumers to identify a product [whether goods or service] of a particular company so as to distinguish it from other identical or similar products provided by competitors. Consumers who are satisfied with a given product are likely to buy or use the product again in the future. For this, they need to be able to distinguish easily between identical or similar products.

By enabling companies to differentiate themselves and their products from those of the competition, trademarks play a powerful role in the branding and marketing strategies of companies. The image and reputation of a company create trust, which is the basis for establishing a loyal clientele and enhancing a company's goodwill. Consumers often develop an emotional attachment to certain trademarks based on a set of desired qualities or features embodied in the products bearing such marks.

Trademarks also provide an incentive for companies to invest in maintaining or improving the quality of their products in order to ensure that products bearing their trademark have a positive reputation.

The value of trademarks:

A carefully selected and nurtured trademark is a valuable business asset for most companies. For some, it may be the most valuable asset they own. Estimates of the value of some of the world's most famous trademarks such as Coca-Cola or IBM exceed $70 billion each.

Why should your company protect trademarks and service marks?

While most businesses realize the importance of using trademarks to differentiate their products/services from those of their competitors, not all realize the importance of protecting them through registration.

Registration, under the relevant U.S. trademark law, gives your company the exclusive right to prevent others from marketing identical or similar products/services under the same or a confusingly similar mark.

Without trademark registration, your investments in marketing a product or service may become wasteful because rival companies may use the same or a confusingly similar trademark for identical or similar products/services. If a competitor adopts a similar or identical trademark, customers could be misled into buying the competitor's product/service thinking it is your company's product/service. This could not only decrease your company's profits and confuse your customers, but may also damage the reputation and image of your company, particularly if the rival product/service is of inferior quality.

Given the value of trademarks and the importance that a trademark may have in determining the success of a business in the marketplace, it is critical to make sure that it is registered in the relevant markets.

In addition, a registered trademark may be licensed to other companies, thus providing an additional source of revenue for your company, or may be the basis for a franchising agreement.

On occasion, a registered trademark with a good reputation among consumers may also be used to obtain funding from financing institutions that are increasingly aware of the importance of brands for business success.

How can your company protect its trademarks and service marks?

Trademark protection can be obtained through registration and, in some countries also through use. Even where trademarks can be protected through use, you are well advised to register the trademark by filing the appropriate application. Registering a trademark will provide stronger protection, particularly in case of conflict with an identical or confusingly similar mark.

Is the registration of the business name of your company sufficient?

Many people believe that by registering their business and its <trade name at the state business registry, the name is automatically protected as a trademark. This is a rather common misconception! It is important to understand the difference between trade names and trademarks.

A trade name is the full name of your business, such as "Blackmark International Inc." and it identifies your company. It often ends with Inc., Corp., LLC, or Ltd or other similar abbreviations that denote the legal character of the company.

A trademark, however, is the sign that distinguishes the product/service of your company. A company may have various trademarks. For instance, Blackmark International, Inc. may sell one of its products as BLACKMARK but another as REDMARK.

Companies may use a specific trademark to identify all their products/services, a particular range of products/services, or one specific type of product/service. Some companies may also use their trade name, or a part of it, as a trademark and should, in that case register it as a trademark.

Five point checklist for selecting trademark:

  • Check that your trademark of choice meets all the legal requirements for registration;
  • Conduct a trademark search to make sure that it is not identical or confusingly similar to an existing trademark;
  • Make sure the trademark is easy to read, write, spell and remember and is suitable to all types of advertising media;
  • Make sure the mark does not have any undesired connotations in your own language of any of the languages of potential export markets;
  • Check that the corresponding domain name [i.e. Internet address] is available for registration

About the Author

Carol Desmond is president of Trademarks To Go, Inc. a company that helps businesses and individuals cut through the confusion and red tape involved in protecting themselves from infringement on their brand, name, logo, or whatever else they have developed that identifies their unique product or service. For further information, call (914) 220-5474 or email cdesmond@tmtogo.com

Acupuncture Treatment of Post-Stroke Syndrome in Rehabilitation Settings

by Richard Kitaeff, MA, ND, DiplAc, LAc

Because acupuncture has the unique ability to regulate the nervous system directly, physically, at a deep level and with immediate effect, it fulfills a strong need of post-stroke patients. The majority of these patients are confined to rehabilitation hospitals, which provide minimal physical, speech, and occupational therapies that are extremely slow in effecting changes in mobility or mental function. It may be a revelation to some that in institutions across the country a vast population of the profoundly disabled are warehoused often in a semi-vegetative state. Patients and their families are fervently seeking the slightest improvement in conditions of quadriplegia, or more often hemiplegia, and speech defects. As in the case of chronic pain, our profession has the opportunity to address a condition for which conventional Western medicine has had limited effectiveness.

For acupuncturists willing to extend their work to a location outside their clinics, their services would create a valuable niche. They may be able to introduce themselves and present selections of the growing body of clinical research in this area to patient and family support groups usually associated with hospitals. For liability reasons, hospital approval through a credentialing procedure would be required for acupuncturists to work within the institutional setting. However, practitioners may contract directly with the families of patients. For disabled or Medicare-eligible patients, insurance is usually not billable; payment would be made in cash and should take into account additional travel time required for mobile treatment.

The stroke patient is severely deficient in Kidney Qi, particularly Kidney Yang Qi. Extremities are cold, and the pulse is thin and weak. Therefore, one purpose of treatment should be to strengthen this core Qi of the yin organs with stimulation of points such as KID 3, KID 7, LIV 3, SP 6 and CV 3. Concurrently, to address the paralysis of the limbs, meridian points such as GB 39, ST 36, GB 34, LI 4, LI 11, SI 3 and TH 5 should be stimulated with both acupuncture and electrical amplification of the acupuncture needles. I have been applying electrical pads of the Acutron Mentor device directly over needles on the limbs and delivering a program of variable frequency milliamperage followed by microcurrent over two consecutive 10-minute courses of treatment.

Relevant auricular and Korean hand acupuncture reflex points are also stimulated with needles, and remain stimulated after the treatment session by use of ear seeds and hand acupuncture magnetized pellets. Major body treatment points are also left stimulated with 100-gauss magnets under bandages. Of course, scalp reflex zones should always be treated contralaterally for post-stroke syndrome, as well as for any neuromuscular or musculoskeletal condition, to influence the affected side. Since my training in the scalp acupuncture system of Dr. Zhu Mingqing 20 years ago, I now utilize this system with all patients for general nervous system regulation as well as for its mobilizing and pain-relieving effect on any specific body area. Its effects are very profound and immediate.

For the duration of the treatment, I also apply an electromagnetic coil over the affected brain area (Example: left brain for right-sided paralysis). This procedure is based on published research showing improvement in speech for post-stroke patients by the application of electromagnetism over brain areas. At the same time, I have found it valuable to utilize the Acutonics system of tuning forks – “Ohm” frequency around the ears and at KID 1 bilaterally and the “opening” interval at gate points (LIV 3 and SP 6, LI 4 and LI 11).

At times I have applied essential oils at meridian points and have used specific combinations of oils purported to resonate with specific chakra or nervous plexi locations. I have emphasized these techniques particularly when consciousness has been blocked or clouded following the trauma of the Wind-Stroke. For several months I have been utilizing this combination of techniques in twice-weekly treatment of a 19-year-old girl who is in a vegetative, minimally conscious state as a result of a traumatic head injury.

External treatment with physical techniques such as acupuncture should always be accompanied by internal metabolic treatment. Unfortunately, oral supplementation for patients in rehabilitation hospital settings is restricted, and herbal treatment is usually contraindicated due to the possibility of interaction with blood-thinning and other medications that are routinely administered. But I have nevertheless usually been able to introduce a few fundamental liquid supplements. One is Intramax, produced by Drucker Labs. It is a mango-peach flavored combination of 415 distinct nutrients including highly absorbable forms of all vitamins, macro-minerals, trace minerals, amino acids, enzymes, probiotics, essential fatty acids and anti-oxidants. This comprehensive combination is made possible through a special carbon-bonding technology. A small dose (2 tablespoons morning and afternoon) is sufficient to provide a high quality of nutritional support that is certainly not provided by hospital food or drug-store multivitamins. If possible, I also introduce Mineral Qi Tonic from Nature Sunshine company as a strong tonic formula, which supplies in liquid form major traditional adaptogenic (or Kidney Yang activating) Chinese herbs along with trace minerals needed for enzyme activity. Finally, I always recommend Xango, the original brand of mangosteen juice, utilizing the puree from the whole mangosteen fruit found in Southeast Asia. This is a source of Cox-2 inhibitor anti-inflammatory ingredients along with powerful anti-oxidant and anti-microbial factors. Whenever permissible, I would add an intramuscular injection of vitamin B12, B complex, vitamin C and magnesium for powerful adrenal and nervous system support.

Overall progress is not always easily apparent in treatment of post-stroke patients, but the prognosis is always best when treatment can be initiated close to the time of the stroke. Within the course of a single treatment session, it is usually possible to demonstrate as much as 20%-50% improvement in mobility of a limb. With repetition of treatment, such improvement can become stable and long-term. In all cases, patients are aware of the general feelings of energy and relaxation immediately after treatment i.e., the general autonomic nervous system regulating effect of acupuncture. For this reason alone, acupuncture should be a required component of therapy for every stroke patient.

Rick Kitaeff, MA, ND, DiplAc, LAc was the first Western graduate from Meiji University of Oriental Medicine in Osaka, Japan, and was licensed as an acupuncturist by the government of Japan in 1975. He has interned at the Osaka Medical College Hospital Pain Clinic and the Kyoto Pain Control Institute. He was founding president of the Acupuncture Association of Washington and founding academic director of the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. His research on acupuncture and endorphins, carried out at the University of Washington and published in Pain journal, was the first to verify the analgesic effect of acupuncture through objective (EEG) measurement. He was a member of the first graduating class of naturopathic physicians from Bastyr University. He has lectured internationally and written for publication in journals and textbooks of acupuncture and naturopathic medicine. Currently, he directs New Health Medical Center, a comprehensive natural medicine center incorporating Asian and European treatment approaches. For the past 10 years, he has been a staff member of Northwest Hospital and has been granted medical privileges at several rehabilitation hospitals. For advanced students and practitioners, he offers individual preceptorship training in the integration of Chinese and Western natural medicine practice. (www.newhealthmed.com and newhealthmed@bigplanet.com)

Integrator Blog News & Reports

Integration, by nature, asks us to open our peripheral visions. We are served to look at the whole of the field. We need to develop new fascia, new connectivity. Opportunities crop up in new places. The Integrator Blog News and Reports is meant to provide you with information, insights and tools to enhance integrated care in the environment you serve.

- John Weeks, publisher-editor

Update on a "Social Business" Model: The Working Class Acupuncture Clinic Had 448 Patient Visits Last Week

One of the Integrator's Top 10 for integrative practice for 2006 was Working Class Acupuncture. The Portland, Oregon-based business, controversial in the acupuncture community, promotes greater access to affordable acupuncture services through a business model in which acupuncture is delivered in a community room. Patients average $19 per visit. Now just 3-years-old, the clinic, which anchors a national network, had 448 patient visits in the final week of August 2008. Visits for the month were at over 1600, up 33% from the prior year, and quite likely the highest number of any acupuncture clinics in the United States. Co-founder Lisa Rohleder, LAc shares data on visits, salaries and expansion of this for-profit model which, on reading the work of Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, is a classic "social business." More ...
More ...

Columnist Bill Benda, MD: Tough Love on Who Owns "Integrative Medicine" and on Associated "MD-Bashing"

Bill Benda, MD, weighs in forcefully on the recent series of Integrator articles, guest columns and commentaries on who owns the term "integrative medicine" and some of the attendant name-calling. It's been a little ugly, seeing the disparate perceptions, hurt feelings and psycho-spiritual-economic rifts between the diverse parties with a stake in the integrative practice movement. Benda focuses on two points he feels must be made, once and for all, regarding "allopathically-centered integrative medicine" and the need to end "MD bashing" by naturopathic doctors and other complementary healthcare practitioners. Benda's addition to this difficult exchange reminded me of what may be the best therapeutic course for those wishing to take this healing seriously: the knowledge, skills and values in the 1994 Pew-Fetzer Task Force work on practitioner-to-practitioner relationships.
More ...

Toward an Integrated History of the Integrative Practice Movement

[From my Integrative Practitioner Online column] My recent participation in a forum of leaders of seven integrative practice-related organizations included some organized sharing of mission statements of these organizations via the work of Bill Benda, MD, the forum's moderator. We were struck by similarities. It reminded me that the separate histories or our various organizations also include a good deal of common ground in the timing of the founding of many or our organizations. Look at the organizational fecundity of the 1977-1988 period. More ...
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Integrative Medicine and Integrated Health Care Round-up: August 1-15, 2008

A Medscape piece on pharma and medical professional organizations has its natural products parallels ... Integrative medicine programs at U Kansas and New Mexico expand to new clinical facilities ... Quinn assists U Kansas in establishing a unique fellowship program for an MD, DO or ND ... Pelletier's CHIP program adds Pfizer, Pepsi and GlaxoSmithKline as participating firms in exploring integrative medicine in employee health ... Boston's Integrative Medical Alliance teams with Tufts to give experience in complementary therapies to conventional health professions students, clinicians ... Rafal's "mind heals" program in Rhode Island ... Alexander technique expert Jean Louis Rodriguez shares a widely reported BMJ trial which could launch expanded interest in the little utilized but powerful patient-centered approach ... Big kudos: population-based, group-oriented mind-body program for adolescents led by James Gordon, MD shows positive outcomes in Kosovo ... Team co-led by Moshe Frenkel, MD publishes a dozen integrative oncology papers in Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America ... Bethany Hayes, MD is looking for practitioners for True North Center ... More ...
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Integrative Medicine and Integrated Healthcare Round-up: August 16-31, 2008

Data on total number of AOM students ... Hawaii med school opens complementary medicine center ... Ralph Snyderman, MD, a top influencer of medical school-based integrative medicine, tells academic medicine to "lead, follow or get out of the way" of what he calls "prospective health care" ... Bradly Jacobs, MD, MPH leaves a Revolution on the decline ... Physician staffing firm reports survey on MD views of CAM ... Delaware gets medical association's support in successful licensing campaign ... AHPA firms look good in JAMA study ... Integrative Medical Consortium formed of half-dozen other national professional associations ... Yoga leader Terri Kennedy selected for American Heart Association role ... Integrative program for the disabled seeks information on other models ... plus more More ...
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Resources

Integrator Archive by Subject for January-June 2007
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Integrator Archive by Subject for 2006: All Hot-linked
More ...

Practice Management

Chungliang Al Huang: Understanding Qi and the Breath

By Don Campbell and Al Lee

"True breathing is like a flower blooming. If we hold our breath, the bud never opens."
-Chungliang Al Huang

To watch Tai Qi master Chungliang Al Huang move is to witness pure grace. At a recent class on the grounds of his Oregon coast retreat, attendees watched with awe his focus on these ancient body movements. But his attention goes much deeper. His are lessons in qi, and he seems to have an innate way to draw his devotees in and fully experience qi and its power within our bodies and minds. Initially in his lessons he forgoes the usual focus and attention on form and detail. He attempts to fully engage people, encouraging them in his own inimitable way to open their hearts and minds and to drink in that childlike wonder and experience of the “Big Qi.”

Chungliang is a Tao master, philosopher, author of Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain and The Watercourse Way (with Alan Watts), and he is founder/president of the Living Tao Foundation. Affable and delightfully outgoing, he is the living embodiment of the power of the breath. Chungliang was kind enough to work with us for our forthcoming Sterling Publishing book, Perfect Breathing: Transform Your Life One Breath At a Time.

Herewith, are a few nuggets of his wisdom:

Understanding the Importance of Qi
In our hectic modern lives, Chungliang stresses the importance of understanding qi and using it to one’s best advantage. “I try to remind myself and encourage my students and people I teach and share the learning with, to just constantly pay attention to when you're not breathing properly,” he says. “For me, philosophically, I continue to realize the breath I take is much bigger. The breath I take is much more natural in nature than the way I am as a human being. We try to be natural but often, we are very unnatural.”

“We live in very unnatural surroundings,” he continues. “We live in square rooms, in cities with traffic. We become very unnatural, very quickly. It is easy. When we become unnatural in our life patterns, we become unnatural in our breath patterns. That is when we need to pay attention to the relationship of our own breath to the bigger life force that we call qi. It takes constant practice. That is why we need to practice, and that is why I use tai qi and qi gong day to day.”

The Dance of Breathing
For Chungliang, “Breathing in life is not a straight line. There is no period between breaths. It is circular, and much like dancing. When people are dancing, they are not dancing to get from one side of the room to the other side of the room in a straight line. They curve around and enjoy the dancing. Same with breathing. You enjoy the breath, the process of your breathing. The goal is not to finish or accomplish your breathing.”

Breathe for Joy
And remember, conscious, intentional breathing of any kind should be looked upon as an enjoyable discipline. Says Chungliang, “Many people forget that breathing is fun. It is not a military drill. In true dancing enjoyment, you learn to move around and circulate. You are not getting anywhere, but in the Western mind we have to get somewhere, get to our goal, hit the target, but nature is not like that. You enjoy the breath, the process of your breathing. The goal is not to finish or accomplish your breathing.”

Earth and Sky Connection
Chungliang says, “I use my body as a link to the sky. I funnel the sky qi into my body. I then dig down and connect to the earth qi like the grass and the trees. Even though we are small and finite, we can tune in and connect to this eternal expansive qi.”

Don Campbell and Al Lee are the authors of Perfect Breathing: Transform Your Life One Breath At a Time (Sterling Publishing/January 2008). They write, speak, train, and blog tirelessly on the subject. Discover more ways you can improve your health, performance, and wellbeing at www.perfectbreath.com. Reach them at info@perfectbreath.com.
© 2008, PerfectBreath.com

An Interview with Grace Zhao

QUR: Growing up in China, were you given TCM as a child when you got sick?

Yes, I did. My mom would give me TCM medicine when I was coughing due to a cold or the flu.

QUR: What factors led your parents to choose treatment from an allopathic doctor or a TCM practitioner?

My parents took me to see allopathic doctors when I had “infections.” For example, I came down with pneumonia several times when I was young. I took biomedicine pills and injections. One of the unpleasant memories of my childhood is related to the needles.

When I caught a cold or the flu, my parents would usually give me TCM medicine. And they gave this to me in the early stages of the illnesses.

QUR: How did people in China relate to AOM concepts like qi, yin and yang and hot and cold foods? Was there much resistance to these concepts after the Cultural Revolution and its political campaigns to modernize Chinese thought?

In general, people have an intuitive understanding of these abstract concepts. It is a very common language/saying to describe “fire” in the body for instance. And they know what cuisine to eat to adjust the “fire.”

I was born during the Cultural Revolution. Based on my understanding and observation, there was not resistance to these concepts during that time. TCM is medicine. It does not have political implications.

Currently, there has been debate about the direction of TCM as Western pharmaceutical and diagnostic industries gain a strong foothold in China’s healthcare market. Overall, people are able to see the merits of both medicines, and they usually take integrative treatment based on needs.

QUR: Do you think that medicine in the U.S. will eventually integrate to the degree of the easy coexistence found in East Asia? Why or why not?

That’s a great question. I wish it would happen. And that’s why my long-term business vision with MingWellness is to bring AOM to the American mainstream and let the public experience the benefit of truly integrative medicine.

Realistically speaking, I do not expect to see the same high level of integration in U.S. in the near future. One reason has to do with the cultural differences. Eastern culture is “yin,” which is more open, flexible, receptive, and inclusive; Western culture is “yang,” which is more forceful, repellent, resistant and exclusive.

Another reason is related with the characteristics of the two medicines. Allopathic medicine can be understood as a stand-alone science while AOM has its deep Eastern philosophical root.

Therefore, it is naturally easier for the Chinese people to accept Western medicine than for American people to accept AOM.

QUR: What obstacles do you see toward greater acceptance of AOM in the U.S.?

One of the obstacles is effective market education. Because AOM embodies cultural and philosophical elements, we need at all times to be conscious and sensitive to how our Western audience sees, thinks, and feels when we promote it to them. We need to remind ourselves to walk in their shoes, see through their filters, and communicate in a language or context that they can relate to. We want to overcome ignorance, skepticism, and resistance by “spinning” AOM value.

Of course, seeing is believing. The best way to accelerate acceptance is to spread success stories. After all, it was how acupuncture was first introduced to U.S. back in 1972.

QUR: Do you go to see an AOM practitioner or an allopathic doctor when you get sick?

I go to see both kinds of doctors depending on my health situation at that time. Fortunately I am sound and healthy, and I do not go to doctors very often. Generally speaking, I see AOM doctors for balance and prevention, and I see allopathic doctors when I am sick.


AAAOM Activities

AAAOM to Subsidize Cost of Student Conference Participation in Chicago

As in previous years, the AAAOM will once again subsidize the cost for AOM students to attend the AAAOM conference. All AOM students can attend any classes they like for the flat rate of $75. While we understand that this rate is far below per capita costs for conference attendance, we feel it is important to encourage participation on the national level for students whose budgets operate on more limited resources. The AAAOM-SO represents the future of the AOM profession, and we feel grateful for their involvement.

Announcement of Conference Sponsors

This year the AAAOM-SO caucus lunch expense will be sponsored by The American Acupuncture Council, our Platinum Sponsor. AAC will also sponsor the Presidents’ Council break. Golden Flower, our Gold Sponsor, will sponsor the Presidents’ Council Luncheon. KPC Herbs, our Bronze Sponsor, will sponsor the conference bags and general session.

We thank our supporters, who recognize the importance of making the AAAOM conference beneficial for all who attend!

AAAOM Welcomes Viktoriya Neverov

I am currently a student at the University of California, Davis, finishing my last two quarters and eagerly awaiting my graduation. I am majoring in history and classics. To the outside observer, it might seem a little baffling to imagine me interning for the AAAOM. Not only is alternative medicine something I do not study, but my 'event management position also has nothing to do with my two majors. Yet it is my diligent interest in the origin of ideas that got me involved with this organization. Studying history, I became interested in ancient history. Studying ancient history fueled my interest in ancient languages. Finally, studying ancient languages attracted me to ancient and natural remedies. I further developed an interest in the business side of alternative and natural medicine, hence my interest in and involvement with AAAOM.

I was always sick as a child, constantly troubled by asthma, allergies, bronchitis, and more. At the same time my awareness of natural remedies was growing, I decided it was time to strengthen my immune system. As an adult I began experimenting with health diets. After much research, I chose the raw vegan diet as my experiment and refused all cooked foods, meat, and dairy products. Of course, my family scoffed in the beginning—I was the first vegan they had laid eyes upon! Once the allergies started their vicious attack that spring, however, they noticed that I—once the biggest allergy victim of them all—did not have so much as a sniffle. They, too, became believers in what I was practicing.

As my beliefs in natural and alternative medicine intensified, I decided to follow my curiosity, which ultimately led me to the AAAOM. So here I am, interning for the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, learning more than I ever thought I would and loving every minute of it.

When I started interning at AAAOM, my first assignment was to create a comparison chart of past Expo event contracts. Contracting, as I was told, is a corner stone in Event Management – which, although is common sense, never occurred to me. So immediately I began learning about the world of business, marketing and event management. Currently, as the 2008 Expo approaches, I am being trained to help with conference registration– which will be my job at the convention this October. At the same time, most of my current focus is centered on the 2009 Exposition. I will be working with staff to facilitate the speaker selection; compiling contracts and developing the conference brochure. I will also be involved in the organization and the marketing of an "Acupuncture Awareness Day" at the California State Capitol and a "Career Development Day" for graduating students of acupuncture, sponsorships and donations. I will also complete any other assignment, perhaps not mentioned here, spontaneously arising, which this internship will have trained me to accomplish.

As mentioned above, I have already learned a lot – and I have only been interning at this organization for a little over three weeks. My awareness of alternative medicine is expanding, while my passion for it keeps growing. I am very thankful to be given this opportunity to work with such knowledgeable staff and to be introduced to the business world in such an amenable way.

Links

Here are some AOM links of interest:

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine is an open access journal publishing original peer-reviewed research articles in complementary and alternative healthcare interventions, with a specific emphasis on those that elucidate biological mechanisms of action. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ISSN 1472-6882) is indexed/tracked/covered by PubMed, MEDLINE, CAS, Scopus, EMBASE and Google Scholar.
www.biomedcentral.com

A new medical study, from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital, finds that acupuncture, an ancient form of healing that has been around for thousands of years, is as good as, or better than modern medicine in helping ease the side effects of breast cancer treatment. abcnews.go.com

New York Chiropractic College (NYCC) announced that its School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine achieved initial accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) for a five-year period. www.chiroeco.com

A new study from researchers at the American Cancer Society finds many cancer patients use complementary and alternative methods, most often prayer, relaxation, supplements, meditation, and massage. Meanwhile, the use of other methods, such as biofeedback, homeopathy, and acupressure, are relatively uncommon. The study, appearing in the American Cancer Society peer review journal CANCER, also finds women, younger survivors, whites, individuals with higher income, and those with more education were more likely to use complementary methods. www.eurekalert.org

During a deployment of naval combat engineers to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, acupuncture was used in the health care of sailors, Marines, and soldiers. It objectively and subjectively improved the health of troops in the field. Troops were able to function while being treated, reducing or avoiding sickness in quarters or light limited duty status and saving operational man-days. www.redorbit.com

From the Journal of Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture: Acupuncture points (acupoints) of the Lung Channel usually can help in the treatment of pulmonary diseases including cough and asthma. LU 9 (Taiyuan) is the ninth point on the Lung Channel. pharmtao.com

Board certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist teams with licensed acupuncturist in largest ongoing Eastern/Western pregnancy study. www.marketwatch.com

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has added three new Centers of Excellence for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) to its centers program. These centers will explore the biological effects of a number of plant-derived compounds and preparations found in CAM products, such as dietary supplements, on pancreatic diseases, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and Alzheimer’s disease. NCCAM, a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the lead federal agency for research on complementary and alternative medicine. www.chiroeco.com

Dr. Ari Prasad, director of the Center for Life, the University of New Mexico's new integrative medicine clinic in Albuquerque, rejects the label of alternative medicine. Instead, Prasad prefers to call what the center offers "complementary medicine"—augmenting modern medicine with practices and treatments that may go back thousands of years in other cultures. www.lcsun-news.com

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to withdraw its draft of “Guidance for Industry on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Products and Their Regulation by the Food and Drug Administration. AHPA’s stated the FDA should “inform the public that the draft guidance has been withdrawn,” and that “no further effort should be made by FDA to develop any final guidance on this subject matter.” www.chiroeco.com

The word for the number eight (“Ba”) in Chinese language sounds similar to the word for prosperity, so this number usually represents luck in Chinese culture. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), there are several concepts that contain the number eight. pharmtao.com

Acupuncture sessions will soon be offered as a free, alternative method of therapy for rape victims. Starting Sept. 16, Alachua County Victim Services & Rape Crisis Center in Gainesville, FL, will offer free acupuncture therapy during confidential individual and group counseling sessions for survivors of rape trauma and sexual assault. The 12–week program will accommodate five women with 10 acupuncture sessions at Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine. www.alligator.org



Continuing Education and Events

2008 nuherbs Chinese Medicine Scholarship Program

OAKLAND, Calif – September 4, 2008 – Today nuherbs Co. announced the recipients of the 2008 nuherbs Chinese Medicine Scholarship Program. These Scholarships recognize the future leaders of a growing Chinese Medicine community in the United States. Scholarships are awarded to assist with tuition costs at an Acupuncture institution accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Every participant received a $30 gift certificate from nuherbs Co.

Students at 43 acupuncture schools across the nation participated this year, and over 250 applications were reviewed. Criteria was based on students’ written response to a short essay question and after careful review by an esteemed panel of judges the following three students have received scholarships:

$2,000 nuherbs Scholarship
Laura Chadwick of Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, Chicago IL Campus

$1,500 Herbal Times Scholarship
Philip Garrison of Five Branches Institute, Santa Cruz CA Campus

$1,000 Jade Dragon Scholarship
Kristi Oshiro of American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine San Francisco, CA

About nuherbs Chinese Medicine Scholarship Program: Reintroduced in 2007 this industry first scholarship program initially ran from 1999 to 2001. Through this scholarship program, nuherbs Co. has pledged its ongoing support to the future of Chinese Medicine and this beautiful heritage of healing. For information regarding the 2009 nuherbs Chinese Medicine Scholarships contact nuherbs at (800) 233-4307.

About nuherbs Co.: Founded in 1979 by Dr. Bing Yin Lee as a family herb store in Oakland's Chinatown. nuherbs Co. has grown into a leading importer of Chinese herbal formulas, bulk herbs, Chinese Medicine supplies, and other custom products. nuherbs Co. is dedicated to the practice and acceptance of Chinese Medicine in the United States. For more information about nuherbs Co. and its wide variety of products please call (800) 233-4307.

Northwestern Health Sciences University Achieves Successful NCCAM Site Visit

For information: Kate Martin, public relations coordinator at Northwestern, at (952) 888-4777, ext. 172, or kmartin@nwhealth.edu.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Northwestern Health Sciences University hosted a site visit by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) on July 30. The purpose of the visit was to assess progress of the CAM Research Education Project, which is funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (National Institutes of Health) for $750,000. The aim of the project is to help integrate research into student education at the University. Northwestern has teamed up with the University of Minnesota to manage the project. Prior to the site visit, Northwestern’s CAM Research Education Project team was required to submit a progress report to the funding agency.

A successful site visit, along with a progress report demonstrating satisfactory achievement of proposed activities, is necessary to receive continued funding for another three years. The program officer recommended that the project be approved for continued funding.

Northwestern Health Sciences University offers a wide array of choices in natural health care education including chiropractic, Oriental medicine, acupuncture, therapeutic massage and human biology. The University has nearly 900 students on a 25-acre campus in Bloomington, Minnesota.

The First International Traditional Chinese Medicine Summit in New York

The 2008 New York International Traditional Chinese Medicine Summit will be held at the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel in Flushing, New York City on November 1-2, 2008. This will be the first international TCM summit in the United States organized by the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS) whose headquarter is located in Beijing China. The local host of the Summit is the American Traditional Chinese Medicine Society (ATCMS) with its co-host the United Alliance of the New York State Licensed Acupuncturists (UANYSLA). The Summit is also supported by thirteen other TCM professional organizations, Colleges and Universities in the US and abroad.

The New York International TCM Summit is a world-class event, featuring the most prominent and famous expert educators, researchers and clinicians in the field of traditional Chinese medicine from the United States, China, Canada, Japan, Singapore and other regions. The theme of the Summit is the developments in TCM / acupuncture research and clinical applications, TCM education and clinical training from a global cooperation perspective. More than 50 experts in the field have been invited to speak in the Summit. Their abstracts will be published in the special Journal of NYTCM Summit. Attendees can earn up to 16 PDA points (pending NCCAOM approval) in the 2 day summit.

In addition to the outstanding academic presentations, there will be an exhibition for services and products to enhance the practice of traditional Chinese medicine, sight seeing arrangements for the convenience of participants, free TCM expert consultation sessions open to the general public, an evening banquet with fun-filled performances. The registration fee is $250, $50 discount for students. The banquet/performance fee will be $50 before October 15, 2008. Please visit www.ATCMS.org for more detailed information.

The WFCMS is the largest international academic organization of Chinese Medicine. As a large umbrella organization it coordinates communication and promote academic exchanges between professional groups and Chinese medicine societies worldwide. The WFCMS also has strong ties to the World Health Organization (WHO). It has 177 member-organizations from 55 countries, representing an estimated 190,000 practitioners.

ATCMS is the largest and most active professional organization of traditional Chinese medicine on the East coast of America. The goals of ATCMS are the promotion of TCM in the public, education, research and professional development.

UANYSLA is a professional organization of licensed acupuncturists in the greater New York region. The mission of the association is to protect the members’ legal rights and benefits, to provide advanced clinical trainings and to promote the members’ clinical practice and development.

CONTACT:
Dr. Ling Zheng
American Traditional Chinese Medicine Society
(212) 689-1773
(212) 689-1898
Lingzheng62@yahoo.com
www.atcms.org

AAAOM Student Organization

AAAOM 2008 Chicago International Conference & Exposition
Student Caucus Preview

by Amanda Troelsen, AAAOM-SO Co-President

It is hard to believe that the 2008 AAAOM Conference is only one month away. Final preparations are being made, and finishing touches will soon adorn the conference site. A very exciting conference is planned; the highlight for students is the AAAOM-SO Student Caucus, scheduled from 10am-2pm on Saturday, October 18, 2008. This year’s Student Caucus will prove to be an informative and inspiring event for all in attendance. Highlights of the caucus include: introduction of the 2007-08 AAAOM-Student Organization Council (SOC), short lectures about practice and patient management, and the role of the AAAOM/AAAOM-SO and other AOM-related organizations in the AOM profession, raffles of AOM related prizes and scholarships, AAAOM-SO committee reports, a catered lunch, AAAOM-SOC elections, and other surprises.

Due to the amazing growth of the student organization, this year’s AAAOM conference includes events planned specifically with students in mind. Immediately following the Student Caucus, there is a student geared, practice-management class taught by Loni Anderson, LAc entitled “Strategic Planning-Building the Foundation of a Successful clinical Practice.” This class will be held from 2-6pm. Students looking forward to starting their own independent clinic won’t want to miss this opportunity to acquire the business acumen needed to succeed on one’s own.

But the conference isn’t solely about sharpening your professional tools. Meet other students at the first annual AAAOM-SO sponsored “Student Meet & Greet.” This event will take place at The Ram Restaurant and Brew Pub, just a couple of blocks from the hotel, from 6:30-9:00pm Saturday, October 18th. Don’t miss this chance to make new friends, connect with fellow AOM students, and get to know the newly elected AAAOM-SOC. Following the Student Meet & Greet, the annual AAAOM Banquet opens for free to all at 9:00pm for dancing at the Westin.

Student volunteer opportunities are still available, and volunteers are much needed. Generally, these duties include being a room monitor to collect signatures from attendees for CEU credits as they enter and exit the classroom. Students who volunteer will receive free admission to the classes for which they volunteer. Please contact Doug Newton at dnewton@aaaomonline.org for details and to sign up.

The entire AAAOM-SOC and AAAOM-Board of Directors looks forward to seeing students at the conference. You are the future of our profession!

Products, Services, and Member Savings

Dear Prospective Advertiser:

Investing your advertising dollars in The American Acupuncturist and the Qi-Unity Report makes good sense for so many reasons:

  • Reach the practitioners who need your products and the students who represent the future. Our members anticipate each new copy of The American Acupuncturist with high expectations and retain past issues for reference. The Qi-Unity Report continues to offer the contemporary AOM articles practitioners have come to expect.
  • Associate your company with the quality research of an official AAAOM publication. We continually publish articles that ensure excellence and benefit alternative medicine.
  • Feed the growth of alternative health care. Your advertising dollars are a direct investment in the future of your business as they support the growth and sustainability of this medicine through the legislative, educational and practice management activities of the AAAOM, its members, The American Acupuncturist and the Qi-Unity Report.
  • Stretch your advertising dollars longer, as interest in a quarterly professional journal endures longer than the limited shelf-life of newspapers. We get requests for The American Acupuncturist back-issues long after we have published more recent volumes, illustrating long-standing demand. Get 300% of the value of monthly advertising for a similar monthly rate, and extend the shelf life of your advertising. Your business membership also affords you advertising discounts on both The American Acupuncturist and the Qi-Unity Report.

Join our current advertisers to infuse growth into the field your products and services benefit. The reunified organizational force behind the AAAOM means more power toward serving the growth of alternative medicine.

With so much to gain, what better time is there to advertise in The American Acupuncturist and the Qi-Unity Report? Please contact me to learn more at (866) 455-7999.

Yours in Health,

Douglas Newton
Manager, Program Development and Business Services, AAAOM
866-455-7999
916-443-4766 (fax)
info@aaaomonline.org

ENCLS: AA/QUR Ad Card (PDF); Adv. Contract (PDF)

In closing,

As always, your feedback serves as a useful lens through which we may look at how well we are serving our members. Please take a moment to express your thoughts to us.

General Feedback

In Health,


Rebekah Christensen,
Executive Director
Douglas Newton,
Managing Editor