August 28, 2007

Table of Contents:

  1. Report on WHO
  2. AAAOM Specialty Boards Task Force
  3. Integrator Blog News & Reports
  4. Acupuncture at Sea
  5. ABORM's Efforts to Provide Up-to-Date Info
  6. Misha Cohen Speaks at AAAOM Conference
  7. Asthma and TCM
  8. OCOM is Smoke-Free
  9. TCM and Vision
  10. ACAOM Accredits Bastyr and OCOM
  11. Announcements and Adverts

 

Greetings OM Members and Colleagues:

The upcoming 2007 Conference in Portland generates a sense of celebration for our upcoming 25th Anniversary, combined with cohesion and collaboration that only reunification can bring!

Early Bird Conference Registration: Early Bird registration is set to close Friday, August 31st, but in light of the Labor Day weekend before us, Early Bird Conference Registration is extended until Tuesday, September 4, 2007. If received beyond that date, regular conference rates will apply. (This excludes our student campaign, which extends the student Early Bird Rate of $75 through September 30.)

Early Bird Hilton Room Registration: The preferred conference rate of $151 per night is available through Monday, September 17. Our contracted rooms are 70% booked, so we recommend you don’t delay! You can register online at: www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/pdxphhh_aao/index.jhtml

Historical Picture Request: In preparing for our combined 25th Anniversary Celebration, we invite you to share with us any historical pictures you have in your files by emailing copies of your pictures to rchristensen@aaaomonline.org for inclusion in the tribute we’re planning. If you only have original pictures, you may mail them to my attention at: P. O. Box 162340, Sacramento, CA 95816; staff will scan the pictures and return your originals.

Qi-Unity Report: This issue of Qi-Unity Report delivers overviews from Expo speakers as well as a wealth of articles that directly influence AAAOM practitioner and member concerns. We are pleased to announce that staff, in concert with the Media and Publications Committee, is re-designing many of the features of Qi-Unity Report to enhance its use and value. You’ll see changes with our September issue! Please enjoy this issue as you explore and deepen your understanding of the resources available to you here.

This Issue Sponsored By:

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Report on World Health Organization

Jeannie Kang, LAc

Since June 2005, I have been representing the AAAOM at the WHO meetings for the International Classifications of Diseases (ICD) held in Korea, Japan, or China. WHO Pacific Rim region organized the meetings. This region coordinates Oriental medicine development and research, formulating standards for acupuncture, herbs, terminology, etc.

I have attended several of the WHO-ICD meetings since 2005. Meetings last for 3 days, 8am -5pm. With attendance from 6-7 countries, we cycle through many opinions, comments, and discussions that can be long and arduous, while always resulting in a peaceful agreement. Before deciding whether or not OM could be included into ICD, WHO-PRO had to complete the International Standardization of Terminology. After years of revisions, it is finally complete! With this enormous vehicle in hand, attending countries decided whether to take part in this world wide health information system. This was very exciting, defining the first time in history that Oriental medicine would no longer be considered a "non-scientific" approach to medicine-- the verbal generation-to-generation, hand-me-down medicine...anecdotal medicine each country used in villages...the “barefoot doctors” as they were called.

In all probability, the ICD11, including Chapter 24 (including OM) will become a reality in 2015. As such, Oriental medicine would find a new home shoulder-to-shoulder with Western medicine disciplines like neurology, internal medicine and pediatrics. The ICD codes would reflect OM diagnosis, such as Bi Syndrome, with a universal code, recognized as such by all practitioners of Oriental medicine and medical doctors worldwide. This form of communication will help Oriental medicine to achieve a global approach for this long standing, effective medicine that we call our own. At the March meeting, delegates from China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Australia, US, and the ICD consultant from Australia worked diligently to make a sound decision. All countries agreed to participate in the ICD 11, Chapter 24 (the chapter solely dedicated to Oriental medicine; could eventually expand to include other "alternative" medicines from Africa, South America, etc.) Once all member countries were on board, we found that which had to be taken to formulate the first draft before the WHO-FIC (WHO- Family of International Classifications.) This is the governing body that oversees all information preceding acceptance into ICD systems.

The preliminary meeting was scheduled for August, 2007, to present the first draft in Italy in October, 2007. This doesn’t allow much time if we want to get this done this year such that 2015 would be the final date of completion. This year is the perfect window of opportunity; otherwise we will have to wait another couple of years before the opportunity arises again for acceptance of drafts for a new category like Oriental medicine. The WHO Pacific Region is going ahead with ICD 11 at full force. The WHO Pacific Region extended the invitation to the US from the beginning. The practitioner community needs to be on this train now rather than later. Then we can be part of the discussion on how to remodel our system in the United States, to update it according to international standards. China and Korea already have a national system built into their healthcare system with ICD 10 codes to bill insurance for reimbursement. . .Yes... drafted in OM language! In Japan, Western doctors practice with herbs, but non-physicians practice acupuncture. I recommend we continue to support this initiative until the end, in 2015. In the meantime, we need to start thinking about how to better integrate the IC9 system into our billing practices in the United States. Globalization of Oriental Medicine means ascribing to international standards. It is a challenge, but one that must be met with courage, steadfastness, patience, and endurance, for the survival of this medicine into the 21st century.

Jeannie Kang has studied abroad at Sussex University in Brighton, England, and received a BA from UC Riverside. She completed a psychology residency at Patton State Hospital in Highland, California. She received her MA from South Baylor University. From 2002-2006 Ms. Kang sat on the board of directors of the California State Oriental Medical Association (CSOMA) where she served in various capacities, including the Executive Committee and as immediate past-president. She currently serves as the Chair of the AAAOM’s Korean Advisory Council and as international advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO). Ms. Kang has a successful practice in Los Angeles, California since 1998 and finds her work very rewarding!

AAAOM Specialty Boards Task Force

Dear Colleagues:

A few months ago, we began getting inquiries from our members about the AAAOM's position on specialty boards. As we started talking about specialty boards, we discovered that there was a wide range of strong opinions. We also discovered that when people discuss specialty boards, they are not always talking about the same thing, and may actually differ widely from each other on just what the term "specialty board" means. So even though specialty boards and certifications have existed in the AOM world for many years, a new and passionate interest exists, focused on where this path may lead us as a profession.

As the sole national acupuncture and Oriental medicine professional organization in the U.S., the AAAOM is committed to creating an inclusive forum for the professional community to stimulate open and informed dialogue regarding specialty boards and other professional issues. Members of our board of directors recently met and generated several excellent ideas toward engaging our membership in this conversation. Initially, the AAAOM will convene a Specialty Boards Task Force, which will include experts and interested parties. This task force will move the process forward, inclusive of the professional community at large.

You will be receiving more information from the AAAOM about these and other activities in the next few weeks. Please let us know if you have additional ideas toward expanding discussion throughout our larger community.

This is an exciting time in the development of our profession. We believe that taking the time to hear all voices and perspectives is an important process that will facilitate general understanding of specialty boards, and help to determine what impact this level of organization may have on our profession. I look forward to your participation.

Sincerely,


Leslie McGee RN, LAc, DiplAc/CH
President, AAAOM

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

The Integrated Healthcare Policy Consortium (IHPC) and Academic Consortium for Complementary and Alternative Health Care (ACCAHC) recently alerted the NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) that they are significantly out of compliance on a key Congressional mandate. NCCAM's advisory council is mandated to include among its members at least 50% who are licensed in CAM disciplines plus 3 consumer members. The current council has just 27% of its members from chiropractic, acupuncture and Oriental medicine. naturopathic medicine and massage therapy. None are consumer representatives. Since alerting top NCCAM officials of concerns about the situation, ACCAHC and IHPC have since received assurances that NCCAM will work promptly to meet the requirements of the law.
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A recent article in Medscape General Medicine suggests that when author Dan Brown gets tired of pulling off the veils of the Vatican he might spend a little time unwinding the political-economic machinations and special understandings that shape what the Cochrane Collaboration sees fit to publish. The article, by physician-author David Cundiff, MD, is entitled "Evidence-based Medicine and the Cochrane Collaboration on Trial." Cundiff concludes: "While evidence-based medicine is absolutely essential to comprehensive healthcare reform, it has been profoundly corrupted by money."
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So what do people in the integrated care community think about Sicko, Michael Moore's documentary on the US medical madness? The Integrator invited your comments and reviews - and still does. Eric Goldman, the New York-based editor of Holistic Primary Care was the first to respond, thoughtfully and at length. I attach comments up front from Integrator advisor Milt Hammerly, MD, director of medical operations and integrative medicine for Catholic Health Initiatives, a multi-state health system; Tom Ballard, ND, a clinician with 25 years of practice; Marc Diener, a Hollywood lawyer and activist with the Integrated Healthcare Policy Consortium, and Kathleen O'Connor, journalist and executive director of the citizen's healthcare reform organization Code Blue Now! Then, the main course of Goldman's column, in which he compares Moore's approach to that other major recent documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. Enjoy!
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Julie Gerberding, MD, has stepped out of the box of the health reform debate. Gerberding believes that true reform of the US medical system requires us to establish "schools of health" in which professionals start their education together. The paradigm shift will foster cooperation and a sense of common mission. While not referring directly to the complementary and alternative professions, Gerberding's vision is deeply aligned with recommendations in a 2005 National Education Dialogue report from educators representing 12 complementary and alternative healthcare and integrative medicine disciplines. These pushes for multi-disciplinary collaboration also echo recommendations from the Institute of Medicine in its report on CAM in the United States. An Integrator reader urges a campaign to urge Gerberding to continue to promote this direction to limit turf wars wars."
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The Integrator is made possible through sponsorships from NCMIC, Triad Healthcare, Standard Process, Alternative Medicine Integration Group, Inner Harmony Group and individuals who voluntarily contribute.

Acupuncture at Sea

Here is part 1 of an article I wrote for the school paper after serving on one of the cruise ships. I'll publish it in here in 2 parts. Enjoy.

Most acupuncture students have a dream of graduating and walking into a clinic setting where they can start seeing patients and making a good living. One of the popular options for those of us lucky enough to be able to pick up and move is working on a cruise ship. Who wouldn’t want to spend 4 months on a luxury ship sailing to such exotic places as the Caribbean or the Mediterranean? It sounded good to me, so last January I sold everything I owned and flew to Miami for “training.”

There are two companies hiring acupuncturists to work on cruise ships. The one I worked for, Steiner Leisure, is a British company that supplies most of the spa personnel for the cruise industry. The other is called Acupuncture at Sea. This company only works on Celebrity cruise ships.

Steiner’s US office is located in a non-descript building in South Miami. For our training, the three of us who were being sent out had to memorize a lecture that was to be given twice a week, learn the ingredients on products that we were required to retail (more on that later), and be taught about life at sea.

Most people in the US don’t work in the cruise industry, we heard that week, because the hours you work (about 70 per week) and your monetary compensation (for some crew as little as $300 per month) it is hardly worth it. The social structure of the ship is militaristic in nature. There is an actual Captain. Officers take care of various aspects of the ship. There are high standards of quality that are utilized and crew are regularly reprimanded for disobeying the slightest of the many rules used to keep order and provide a luxury vacation experience for passengers. It turns out that working on a cruise ship is like being part of a militaristic Disneytopia.

Our week of orientation ended with more questions than answers and the three of us left our comfort zone to head out to sea. I had never been on a ship before, so pulling up next to three of them that Saturday morning was like standing at the foot of a huge mountain. Each ship was three(!) football fields in length and 14 stories tall. It was to be my home for the next 4 months.

I walked onto the ship excited about the prospect of making the $1000 per week that I was promised was possible, ready to share the lecture in my head,

Acupuncture is an ancient tradition that has roots far beyond China. Have you heard of the Austrian Ice Man? He had 57 tattoos on his body that correspond directly to the placement of some of the most important acupuncture points on the body.

I had my business-casual wardrobe and a made-up face (part of the contact you sign states you will wear make up and have your hair in an up-do every day). It was a small price to pay when you are about to make $4000 per month fresh out of acupuncture school.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that I wasn’t in San Francisco anymore. Right off the bat, my co-workers had issue with my hippie-girl look. I had to buy new make-up, color and cut my hair, and buy new clothes. Turns out that business casual means an all-black wardrobe and make-up means being made to look like a runway model. Can you say eyeliner?

Once everyone was happy with my look, I set about acquiring patients. Giving lectures was the most effective method. People from all parts of the US had heard of acupuncture, always wanted to try it, and wanted to meet someone who actually performed this ancient “voodoo” as it was frequently called. Many people were surprised that I studied for a Master’s degree, that I was Caucasian, and I actually believed acupuncture can make a difference. I quickly learned that if I lectured from a place of experience and expertise, people were convinced and ready to give it a try. This practice of recruiting new clients every week was the best part of my time at sea. Where else are you going to have a captive audience to listen to your expert information and then try what you have to offer?

More to come...

ABORM's Efforts to Provide Up-to-Date Info

The American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM) is dedicated to advancing knowledge of integrated fertility treatment methods, including acupuncture and herbal therapy. This article describes a July, 2007, study regarding the safety of alternative treatments for fertility, questioning its lack of comparable data, which may prevent women from seeking safe and effective acupuncture treatments. Find out more about ABORM’s efforts to provide the public with accurate and up-to-date information on integrated fertility treatments.

http://www.aaom.info/qiunity/07/08/05.pdf (PDF)

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Endometriosis

Misha Cohen, LAc

Endometriosis Defined

Endometriosis is a widely prevalent gynecological disease defined by the presence and growth of uterine glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. While the cause of endometriosis is not well understood, the most widely accepted view of the etiology of endometriosis from a Western perspective is the theory of “retrograde menstruation”, described by JA Sampson in the 1920’s. Endometriosis affects about 10% of all reproductive-aged women and the prevalence rises to 20-50% in infertile women.

Endometriosis is a progressive disease that is often is often associated with infertility. It is estimated that the incidence of endometriosis is 30%-45% in women with infertility. The precise cause-effect relationship between endometriosis and infertility is controversial.

Both medical and surgical therapies have been offered for alleviation of symptoms associated with endometriosis and the treatment of infertility. Western treatment of endometriosis-associated pain has been well studied and all major medical therapies appear to be superior to placebo. However, in the treatment of infertility, medical therapy has not been shown to be of any benefit, in contrast to surgical treatment that may improve infertility outcomes in all stages of disease.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and various hormonal therapies are prescribed to alleviate pain associated with endometriosis. There are many side effects of the varying drug therapies from androgenic effects, endometrial atrophy, nausea, weight gain, hot flashes, vaginal dryness and more.

Surgery via laparotomy or laparoscopy is a common form of therapy used in endometriosis treatment to remove endometrial implants and adhesions as well as reduce pelvic pain and future adhesion formation. Surgery has its own after effects such as post-operative pain and scarring.

In this context, additional agents with higher efficacy and lower side effects are desirable. There is growing evidence that medicinal Chinese herbs with anti-inflammatory and pain-alleviating properties may be utilized in the treatment of endometriosis and infertility.

History of documented Use of Chinese Herbs

Records describing Chinese herbal treatment of infertility and miscarriage date back to 200 C.E. The first book devoted to obstetrics and gynecology, entitled “The Complete Book of Effective Prescriptions for Diseases of Women”, was published in 1237 C.E. Since then, Chinese herbs have been used by many generations in China and throughout the world.

Several herbal products are available on the market for treating endometriosis and infertility. Traditionally, Chinese herbalists prescribe combinations of herbal formulas with multiple ingredients. The idea is that each individual herb will work synergistically to treat the disease process. The design of the formula varies, but when treating endometriosis and infertility, certain ingredients overlap. Herbs may be consumed in a variety of forms including pills, tablets, granules, or decoctions (teas). While some formulas are taken once, others are taken regularly at various times and in particular combinations. Chinese herbs should be prescribed by a licensed health professional trained in Chinese herbal medicine who determines which formulas and regimens are best for a particular set of symptoms.

The practice of Chinese traditional medicine has been evolved for thousands of years as practitioners have optimized and updated therapy based on the raw and processed ingredients of plants and their derivatives. Historically, Chinese medicine has relied heavily on herbal treatment of many gynecological illnesses.

Endometriosis Theory in Chinese medicine

Within Chinese medicine, endometriosis is primarily viewed as a Blood (Xue) Stasis resulting in the formation of internal lumps. The condition of blood stasis is associated with a phenomenon where small vessels are not capable of carrying normal blood flow, thus causing clotting, bleeding, resulting severe lower abdominal pain, and infertility. There are multiple causes of Blood Stasis, particularly syndromes of (1) Qi Stagnation (2) Accumulation of Cold causing Blood Stasis, (3) Heat Congestion with Blood Stasis and (4) Qi and Blood Vacuity with Blood Stasis.

Infertility Theory in Chinese medicine

There are seven physically-based types of infertility in women according to several theories in Chinese medicine. These include Jing Deficiency, Qi and Xue Deficiency, Heat Injuring the Channels, Stagnation of Qi and Xue, Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency, Cold Uterus/Yang Deficiency, and Extraordinary Channel Disturbances.

AAAOM Conference Workshop

Dr. Misha Cohen will be speaking at the AAAOM Conference on Sunday morning on “Chinese Herbal Medicine for Endometriosis”. Come learn more about the current research and the combined use of Western and Eastern medicine in treating this widely prevalent and chronic disease in women.

Towards an Integrated Clinical Pathway for the Treatment of Pediatric Asthma

Christopher Huson, LAc

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Over 9 million U.S. children under 18 years of age (13%) have ever been diagnosed with asthma, and 6.5 million (9%) still have asthma.”(1)  Most children with asthma in the United States are “managed” by conventional medical care. However, a treatment plan integrating conventional medicine (CM) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) may prove to be more economical than stand-alone CM care. By using the outcomes measurements designed for the assessment of conventional medicine we can compare the long- and short-term effects of including TCM in the treatment model.

The western medical approach to pediatric asthma is well-established. Children’s asthma is “managed” by the use of bronchodilators to treat acute attacks, and corticosteroids for “control” of symptoms during chronic (remission) periods. Allergic triggers in diet and environment are identified and avoided. TCM’s approach to pediatric asthma is also well-established: patients are assessed through differential diagnosis and treated with a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine, medical massage, dietary therapy, and exercise.

It appears there may be enough similarity between the two (TCM/CM) systems’ differential diagnosis and treatment of pediatric asthma to allow for the development of an integrative clinical treatment pathway featuring both TCM and CM. Comparative efficacies can be determined by existing standards of outcomes measurement. These include: peak expiratory flow metering, pulse oximetry, spirometry, use of asthma-related health care services, use of anti-inflammatory medications, changes in functional status, quality of life assessment, measurement of total or asthma-related school days lost.

The American healthcare marketplace measures medical efficiency through cost-effectiveness. Integrative approaches for the treatment of knotty public health dilemmas are not only being defined, they’re being funded! If, through the development of an integrative clinical pathway for the treatment of pediatric asthma, we can prove that it is beneficial to employ both TCM and CM together, this may prove to be beneficial both to our children and our profession.

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(1) p4. Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2005, U.S.Department of Health and Human Services, Hyattsville Maryland 2006

OCOM is Smoke-Free

Study in a completely tobacco-free environment! Oregon College of Oriental Medicine is Oregon’s first 100% tobacco-free campus. More information is available about this “first”!

http://www.aaom.info/qiunity/07/08/08.pdf (PDF)

Preserving Vision Naturally Through Chinese Medicine

Dr. Marc Grossman

As vision problems are reaching epidemic levels in our society, the eye care industry has become a multi-billion dollar business. Its major tools such as glasses, contact lenses and eye surgery enter the lives of virtually all citizens of the Western world. In The Art of Seeing, Aldous Huxley wrote, “If everyone who had deficient vision had broken legs, the streets would be full of cripples."

Patients go to their eye doctors year after year with worsening eyesight. They typically are told that this is a normal part of the aging process and that nothing can be done to prevent visual decline. They may be put on a lifetime of medications such as those diagnosed with glaucoma.

The following are common examples of conventional treatment or advice where in fact definitive holistic measures could be taken to prevent vision from deteriorating.

Where is the much needed prevention, education and rehabilitation? There are numerous peer-review studies clearly showing that these eye conditions can respond to proper diet, lifestyle adaptations and nutritional supplementation, and that people can preserve their vision. As leaders in the complementary health care profession, acupuncturists and herbalists can expand their role readily into one of helping people maintain their invaluable gift of sight.

Medication and surgery are sometimes necessary and, in acute cases, can preserve vision. The role of modern Western medicine in saving lives and vision is remarkable, a true blessing. But medicine as practiced today lacks the holistic and preventive emphasis that many times can obviate the need for surgery and medications. There are certain conditions such as dry macular degeneration for which conventional medicine has virtually nothing to offer sufferers. This is an excellent example of where holistic medicine should be at the forefront of treatment rather than at the backdoor.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have successfully treated a wide range of visual conditions including glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, optic neuritis and optic atrophy.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), all diseases involving the eye are closely related to the liver. It is also understood that the eye is nourished by all of the internal organs in the body. The lens of the eye and the pupil basically belong to the kidney, the sclera to the lungs, the arteries and veins to the heart, the top eyelid to the spleen, the bottom eyelid to the stomach, and the cornea and iris to the liver. The spleen and stomach also control circulation in the eyes. Therefore an imbalance in any of the internal organs may lead to eye disease.

As Chinese medicine practitioners, we are in a unique position to help people preserve their vision in many ways the not offered through the allopathic community.

About the Author
Dr. Grossman, OD, LAc, is one of the leading holistic eye doctors, has been in practice for over 27 years, and is the author of a number of 5 books on natural eye care including the following: co-author of Magic Eye - A 3D Guide (Andrews and McMeel, 1995), Natural Vision Care - An Encyclopedia (Keats Publishing) printed in April, 1999 (out of print), Greater Vision (McGraw Hill) printed in September, 2001 (revised in 2007), and Natural Eye Care: A Comprehensive Manual for Practitioners of Oriental Medicine, which is a 230-page manual describing both the Western and Eastern approaches to preserving eyesight for over 20 specific eye conditions. His newest book was just released in June, 2004 and is entitled Beyond 3D : Improve Your Vision with Magic Eye by Marc Grossman (Author), Magic Eye Inc. (Author), and his most recent book Natural Vision Care: Your Guide to Healthy Vision (Vision Works Media Services, Inc.) printed in November, 2007.

Dr. Grossman lectures nationally on topics such as Natural Vision Improvement, Vision and Nutrition, Psycho-Emotional Aspects of Visual Conditions, Vision & Learning, Holistic Integrative Visual Therapy, and Chinese Medicine and Vision Care. For more information and for a free copy of his Eye Exercise E-Booklet, visit his website at http://www.naturaleyecare.com or call (888) 735-8475.

ACAOM Accredits
Bastyr's DAOM and OCOM's DAOM

Bastyr's DAOM First In Nation to Receive Regional and Professional Accreditation: Five Year Accreditation Status from Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

August 27, 2007 – (Kenmore, Washington) Bastyr University, a leader in natural health arts and sciences education, is pleased to announce that its doctor of acupuncture and Oriental medicine program recently received five-year accreditation status with the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). The program is one of the first in the nation to attain this professional status and Bastyr University is the only academic institution in the United States with a doctor of acupuncture and Oriental medicine (DAOM) program that is both regionally and professionally accredited.

Bastyr University and all of its academic programs are accredited by the Northwest Commission for Colleges and Universities, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The University’s accreditation through the Northwest Commission for Colleges and Universities enabled the University to launch a regionally accredited doctor of acupuncture and Oriental medicine program in 2004, and allows DAOM students to qualify for federal financial aid funding. The ACAOM is the recognized accrediting agency for the approval of programs preparing acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners. It is not currently recognized by the U.S. Department of Education with respect to doctoral programs in the field.

“We are thrilled to complete this final step of the accreditation process for our new doctor of acupuncture and Oriental medicine program,” says Terry Courtney, dean of the School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at Bastyr University. “Joined with our regional accreditation status, recognition by the ACAOM shows that our doctor of acupuncture and Oriental medicine program has the appropriate professional quality assurance mechanisms in place to prepare acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners to excel in the field.”

The Bastyr University DAOM program was developed to address the current trend of increased collaboration between acupuncturists, physicians and other health care providers. The program’s focus in oncology and advanced pain management represents the growing clinical collaboration between traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and allopathic care in the clinical arena. Bastyr University’s DAOM program recognizes the strengths that traditional Chinese medicine contribute to enhancing quality of life for both cancer patients and those struggling with chronic pain. The rich academic resources of the University are fully utilized within the DAOM program as students work with highly experienced faculty in TCM, basic sciences and western clinical medicine.

About Bastyr University
Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington is an accredited institution, internationally recognized as a pioneer in natural health arts and sciences education. Founded in 1978 as the John Bastyr College of Natural Medicine, the University integrates the pursuit of scientific knowledge with the wisdom of ancient healing methods and traditional cultures from around the world. Today, Bastyr is the largest university for natural health arts and sciences in the United States, combining a multidisciplinary curriculum with leading edge research and clinical training.

The University offers bachelor of science degrees in exercise science and wellness, health psychology, herbal sciences and nutrition. Graduate programs include naturopathic medicine, nutrition, acupuncture and Oriental medicine, nutrition and clinical health psychology, and applied behavioral science. Student clinical training takes place at Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Seattle’s Wallingford/Fremont neighborhood and at many external sites throughout the region. For additional information about Bastyr University and its teaching clinic, Bastyr Center for Natural Health, visit www.bastyr.edu or www.bastyrcenter.org.

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Oregon College of Oriental Medicine's (OCOM) DAOM to Receive Accreditation By Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

For Immediate Release - August 23, 2007
Portland, Oregon - Dr. Beth Burch, Dean of Doctoral Studies, announced yesterday that the Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) program at Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) was granted accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM).

At its August 10, 2007 meeting, the ACAOM reviewed the Site Visit Evaluation Team Summary Report of the April 14 – 16, 2007 Site Visit to the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine and the school’s written response to that report. The Commission granted initial accreditation to the Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine program for a five-year period, effective August 10, 2007.

“OCOM’s doctoral program was one of the first two DAOM programs in the country,” says Dr. Burch. This is an important accomplishment for the doctoral program and the college. Accreditation reaffirms OCOM’s leadership and excellence in acupuncture and Oriental medicine education.”

OCOM’s Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) program was established in 2003 and graduated its first class of 19 students in July of 2005. The program is designed for licensed acupuncturists who want to deepen their knowledge in both core and specialty clinic domains. It is offered in monthly modules over a 26-month period. Every module includes both didactic (classroom) content and clinical work, including supervised treatment of patients in the doctoral clinic.

In order to achieve accreditation, OCOM’s doctoral program had to meet ACAOM’s 14 Essential Requirements: comprehensive, educational and institutional requirements for acupuncture and Oriental medicine programs. As part of the accreditation process, in 2006 the OCOM administration conducted a thorough self-analysis of the DAOM program and prepared a self-study report documenting how the program met the criteria of each essential requirement. In April of 2007, a four-member ACAOM site visit team spent three days at the OCOM campus confirming the evidence presented in the self-study report and assessing the program’s compliance with the ACAOM criteria for accreditation.

“I want to congratulate and thank everyone at OCOM for the hard work and superlative effort that achieved this five-year accreditation of the doctoral program,” says Peter Martin, Chair of OCOM’s Board of Trustees. “This is an extraordinary milestone for the college and the profession.”

About Oregon College of Oriental Medicine
OCOM trains master’s and doctoral students, conducts research, and treats patients at clinics on campus and in the community. Founded in Portland, Oregon in 1983, OCOM is one of the oldest Chinese medicine colleges in the United States. For more information about Oregon College of Oriental Medicine and the doctoral program, please visit www.ocom.edu or contact Erin Sutherland, Director of Community Relations, at 503-252-3179, esutherland@ocom.edu.

Announcements

The QX World Conference, Budapest, Hungary
“A Lifestyle of Wellness”
October 5, 6, 7 and 8, 2007

Dear All:

Professor William (Bill/Desire) Nelson would like to invite you to Budapest, Hungary for his QX World Conference.

Please check the website www.qxconference.com for information, registration, and a PayPal link to pay your registration fee with credit card.

You can also book your accomodation online and stay at either the WestEnd Hilton where the conference will be held, or you can contact Ms Edit Varga on edit.varga@sperco.hu for other accomodation and travel options.

Please note that you can also register for the Congress of Quantum Masters VI in Amsterdam, Holland September 28 - October 1, 2007 and get a discount!!! For more information, see www.quantummastersworldtour.com.

Also, between the two conferences, you can either relax or take part in the IMUNE Training of the Trainers in Budapest, Hungary from October 2, 3, and 4. This is offered for those people who are trainers and wish to improve their skills and training. For more information, please go to www.qxscience.com.

Prof Nelson hopes to see you there!

Kind regards,
Edit Barota
Quality System Assistant
Eclosion Kft.
Budapest, Hungary
Telephone: +36 1 303 6043 extension 330
Facsimile: +36 1 210 9340

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Mind Body Medicine Professional Training Program - September 28, 2007 through October 3, 2007: put on by The Center for Mind Body Medicine at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans, LA. The most comprehensive mind-body training program in the U.S. It combines large group didactic training with our unique small-group model, making it possible for healthcare professionals to integrate the best of mind-body medicine into clinical practice and teaching. This is the Center for Mind-Body Medicine's core program. We have been teaching around the world for 13 years, providing thousands of professionals with the tools needed to become more effective healers and with an experience that has brought more meaning to their work. Continuing Education Credits and scholarships are available. For more information, please visit www.cmbm.org/mbm, or contact Klara Royal at 202-966-7338, ext. 241.

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Oregon College of Oriental Medicine: Continuing Education Seminars 2007 - 2008

Satya Ambrose, ND, LAc: 9/23/2007
Illustrative Cases from 30 Years of Practice: Longevity and Psychoneuroimmunology, with a focus on Depression, Cardiovascular, and Other Chronic Diseases
Li-Chun Huang, MD (China): 10/6 & 7/2007
Auricular Medicine: Diagnosis and Treatment through the Use of the Ear
Alex Tiberi, LAc: 1/12 & 13/2008
Chinese Medicine for Kids: The Treatment of the 40 Most Common Disorders in Children
Eric Stephens, LAc, DAOM: 2/24/2008
Palpation-Based Acupuncture: A Direct Way to Clarify Diagnoses, Choose Effective Points, and Evaluate Treatment
Emilie Connor, PT, LAc: 3/8 & 9/2008
Japanese Hara Evaluation and Treatment of Gynecological Disorders - Kiiko Matsumoto's Approach
Richard Tan, LAc: 4/26/2008
Basic Balance Method
Richard Tan, LAc: 4/27/2008
Global Balancing for Internal Disorders and Pain Management
Lonny Jarrett, LAc: 5/17 & 18/2008
Chinese Medicine and the Evolution of Consciousness
Misha Cohen, LAc: 5/31/2008
Conscious Conception: Fertility Enhancement in Women Using Chinese Traditional Medicine
Misha Cohen, LAc: alumni only free event: 6/1/2008
Menopausal Syndrome and Chinese Medicine

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Society for Acupuncture Research 2007 Annual Conference
The Status and Future of Acupuncture Research:
10 Years Post - NIH Consensus Conference
University of Maryland at Baltimore
November 8 – 11, 2007
Baltimore, MD, USA

In November, 1997, a landmark report by a consensus panel convened by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) concluded that there is clear evidence of acupuncture efficacy for postoperative and chemotherapy related nausea and vomiting, for nausea of pregnancy, and for postoperative dental pain. The NIH panel also cited other conditions for which acupuncture may be effective as a stand alone or an adjunct therapy, but for which there is less convincing scientific data. These other conditions included drug addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headaches, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma. This consensus report has served as one of the most significant government statements that has contributed to increased acceptance of acupuncture and Oriental medicine by the biomedical profession in the United States.

This 10th anniversary of the 1997 NIH Consensus Conference on Acupuncture will feature:

Pre-Conference Workshops; November 8, 2007

  • Introduction to Current Issues in Acupuncture Research
  • An Experiential Approach to the Life Cycle of an Oriental Medicine Clinical Trial
  • Acupuncture and Neuroimaging: A Primer of the Brain and Neuroimaging for Acupuncturists

    Pre-Conference Satellite Symposium; November 8, 2007 (1:00 – 5:00pm)

    Up to 37 CEU’s available, including Maryland and California

    For registration and further information, visit the SAR website at:
    www.acupunctureresearch.org
    Sponsored by the Society for Acupuncture Research, the University of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine and NCCAM (Grant # 1R13AT004143-01)

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    Enhancing Balance is proud to announce that our Tai Chi Fundamentals certification program has been approved by NCCAOM for 13 credits or PDAs for acupuncturists. Please get in touch if you are interested in sharing this information with your teachers, students and clients. There is Level 1 & 2 training happening in the Milwaukee area this September 22 and 23, 2007 and we accepting registrations for now. If you would like a registration form either emailed or mailed, please give us the correct addresses.

    Thank you.

    TAI CHI FUNDAMENTALS

    PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The Tai Chi Fundamentals Program (TCF) provides a prequel and support to a lineage tai chi form and creates a bridge between tai chi practice and the medical model. The first program of its kind, it provides a clear, systematic approach for mastering tai chi basics that builds from simple to complex patterns of movement. Integrates mind/body components of tai chi with clinical overview, movement analysis, therapeutic & functional applications.

    FEES: 2-day Course: $295; $30 late fee & no refunds after 9/10

    REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS: Complete Program Set $115 or the Personal Practice Set $45 (if you do not want materials that include biomechanics analysis)

    COURSE INSTRUCTORS: Patricia Culotti, CTI, Co-founder of Enhancing Balance, a multi-service wellness company, Pat has taught tai chi and qigong to diverse populations for hospitals and health care organizations since 1981. She teaches Cheng Man Ch’ing Yang style form internationally. Certified in Yang style and advanced certified in Tai Chi Fundamentals, Pat develops programs and trains professionals for certification. She modeled postures in the Tai Chi Mind and Body book by Tricia Yu. Michael Culotti, MSW, MPA, LAc, Co-founder of Enhancing Balance, has studied and practiced the ancient Chinese healing arts since 1987. Michael is a licensed acupuncturist and certified Tai Chi instructor who integrates this meditative and movement branch of traditional Chinese medicine with his patients. He is a magna cum laude graduate of the Midwest College for Oriental Medicine and completed his clinical training at Guangzhou University in China.

    LODGING INFORMATION: 262-662-1060 pat@enhancingbalance.com

    Enhancing Balance

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    UNDER THE AUTUMN MOON FESTIVAL
    a free public celebration in Old Town Chinatown
    Saturday, September 15 & Sunday, September 16

    Portland, Ore.- Under the Autumn Moon celebrates the rich heritage of Old Town Chinatown with a week-end of festivities for the entire family. Saturday, September 15th 10:00am- watch the parade led by 25 foot dragons and lions along NW Broadway south to SW Alder and back to the NW Flanders festival street along 5th avenue. Saturday, September 15th at sunset- watch spectacular fireworks from the NW Flanders Festival Street followed by a big screen outdoor movie. Sunday, September 16th 11:00am to 4:00pm- visit the Classical Chinese Garden for free and enjoy local street performers. Saturday and Sunday, September 15th and 16th starting at 11:00 am- enjoy family entertainment on the University of Oregon World Stage on the NW Flanders Festival Street featuring the Dragon Arts Puppet Theater, Charlie Brown jugglers and Westside Dance & Gymnastic Academy. For the slightly older, Klezmocracy, Dirty Martini Trio, Earl and the Reggae Allstars and Bethany & Rufus represent the multi-cultural neighborhood of Old Town Chinatown.

    Take a walk and visit all the booths along both festival streets featuring food, fun or take a rubbing of the historical bronze plaques located in the neighborhood. Stop by the Arts, Culture and History booth to find all the hidden gems in Old Town Chinatown. View the future of the neighborhood at the OTCT Future Booth. Get a free massage from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine booth. Relax at the Cricket Tea Garden featuring Asian pastries from Meianna Bakery and tea from the Tao of Tea. Have dinner in one of the many eateries in Old Town Chinatown and then come back for fireworks and an outdoor movie.

    Under the Autumn Moon is a production of the Old Town Chinatown Business Association with support from private sponsors, Portland Business Alliance, Portland Development Commission, Portland Clean and Safe, Portland Department of Transportation and TriMet. For more information, visit www.undertheautumnmoonfestival.com or www.portlandchinesegarden.org.

    In closing…

    I feel the impact of Michael Moore’s film “Sicko” will increase public attention towards alternative approaches to health care. This will shine an ever stronger spotlight on our community and the ability of our profession to afford the public a discernable difference in care options. We look forward to exploring the vast future of our medicine as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary milestone in Portland. See you there!

    As always, we welcome your feedback to improve and enhance this publication and its benefits to you as we continue to galvanize our common interest to rise and meet the marriage of challenges and opportunities that lie ahead!

    Best Wishes,

    Sincerely,


    Rebekah Christensen,
    Executive Director