RE: Digest Number 458

[Guest guest]

Regarding our integration, or lack thereof, I would just like to make

everyone aware of how our profession is trying to handle it. Whether

this is the correct way to handle things is meaningless, however I do

know that this is the only thing I see happening to unite our

profession.

 

There is a visioning task force (VSTF) taking place for the future of

Oriental Medicine in America. The AAOM, Alliance, NCCAOM, ACAOM, and

CCAOM are organizing a way for our profession to gather our thoughts,

visions, and insights for where we feel the profession should go. From

the way I understand it they are not giving us a vision for the future,

merely facilitating the process of determining a vision that fits

everyone's needs. I don't know all the information on the subject, as I

have recently begun reading more about it, but I do know that I will be

trying to give them feedback to help.

 

There are many people on this list, and others, whose years of

experience exceed mine. Your feedback and participation in the process

would be important for our profession, and so I encourage everyone to

get involved.

 

Here is the website with their minutes and all the information you need

to get informed about the process - www.acupuncturetoday.com/vstf

 

Marc

 

Marc Sklar, LAc

Oriental Medicine Practitioner

Body Evolution Wellness Center

858-571-0160

www.bodyevolution.org

sklarlac

acutwin

 

 

 

Chinese Medicine

Chinese Medicine

Thursday, May 06, 2004 1:20 AM

Chinese Medicine

Digest Number 458

 

 

Message: 14

Thu, 6 May 2004 02:49:08 EDT

Musiclear

Re: Integrated Medicine

 

In a message dated 5/5/2004 11:54:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

zrosenbe writes:

Truthfully, it should be called 'assimilative medicine'.

 

Who is doing the integration, and who is being assimilated?

 

Until we have a stronger profession, we should proceed with caution.

 

 

 

 

Very well put Z`ev. I agree we do need a stronger profession. The

question is how do we get that?

 

In part we get that by sheer numbers. Make it as easy as possible

for

people to switch careers and help people with acupuncture.

 

There are different reasons people choose to join our profession.

Some

are drawn to Acupuncture, some to herbology, others are integrating some

 

western supplements. Even in China, acupuncturists and herbologists are

trained

differently and have a different license to practice.

 

I think most here will acknowledge that even if a 2nd year student

did

boiler plate acupuncture, they would help people. Do a good intake and

choose

your points. Doesn't take 6 years to figure out.

 

A lot of people I have talked to are going to acupuncture school to

augment what they already do.

 

By requiring a DOM to get a license we are effectively cutting the

power

of our profession overtime. There are a lot of people in school who are

just

barely able to put school into their life from a financial or time

commitment.

Remember what it was like for you? How many of your fellow students do

you

think would have decided to start school if the requirements took 50%

more

time and money?

 

By adding a couple more years of school, the loss of income

associated

with that and a much higher debt ratio coming out of school, we would be

 

effectively crippling the growth of our students and practitioners.

 

This is completely opposite of what we really want to do.

 

Acupuncture is new to the States. It takes time for society to

accept a

new form of healing. The more licensed acupuncturists that bring

acupuncture

to the masses, the more acceptance iacupuncture will receive. Because,

lets

face it,,,,, Acupuncture works.

 

More people involved in the profession who advertise the wonders of

it's

healing abilities will create patients who describe to their friends how

 

acupuncture healed the pain in their (fill in the blank). This will

bring our

profession to the for front.

 

We do not need, nor want, medically oriented studies to promote what

we

do. Think Germany.

 

Word of mouth is the grease that guide Acupuncture into the general

populous.

 

We need as many professionals talking about Acupuncture as we can

get.

 

Just say no to DOM. We would effectively be lynching our selves.

 

Chris