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Alternative Health News

Symposium on Journey to Success
Have you ever said to yourself, "Wow, I really got something out of that," at the end of a symposium? I just returned home from such an event. In early October 2009, the Institute of Classical Five Element Acupuncture hosted an international symposium, "Continuing the Journey."

State-by-State Support of Chiropractic
The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (FCP) is launching a new national campaign to continue its goal of generating positive press about our profession. The FCP is asking all chiropractic state associations to join this State-by-State Across America campaign.

Increase Your Influence and Grow Your Practice With Effective Storytelling
I talked about the importance of listening to patients' stories as a way to negotiate a shared reality and improve clinical outcomes. Let's take our discussion of the value of compelling narrative a step further, with the attention now on how you can use stories...

The Initial Consultation: Getting to the Heart of the Matter, Part 8
In previous installments of this series, I emphasized the importance of questioning deeper than the superficial information or data to reach the unique individual patient and understand how, and in what way, they are in need of help and support.

Spinal Hua Tuo Points
Without question, some of the most dynamic acupuncture points on the human body are known as the Hua Tuo Jia Ji points. These points, philosophically and clinically, may effectively treat every condition of the human system. They are extremely easy to locate and use.

Finding the Right Ingredients for Leadership
I have been expressing concern to my close friends and colleagues in chiropractic, many of whom have also been practicing for several decades, about where our profession will find its next group of leaders. It seems as if the old saying, "When the problem occurred...

Working as if Energy Matters
I started by asking what my audience valued most about their work. Like corn popping, answers came from the audience of 35 professionals who had signed up for my seminar.

Treatment and Prevention of H1N1 Swine Flu
As the H1N1 swine flu sweeps across the world, it is important to keep several things in mind. First of all, while all flu is deadly, this one appears milder in symptoms and duration than the common flu.

Advocacy in Action on Capitol Hill
"I assume you are here to discuss chiropractic issues." I replied: "No, I am here to discuss patient issues." I was meeting with the legislative director of my congressman during a recent trip to Washington, D.C. I was there primarily in my role as chair of the Chiropractic Health Care (CHC) section of the American Public Health Association, and my first venture at advocacy on Capitol Hill resulted in a very enjoyable and interesting discussion.

Is a Group Practice Right for You?
We are often asked about the advantages and disadvantages of group practice versus solo practice. Both practice set-ups have their advantages and disadvantages. The first question we always ask is: "Do you play well with others?"

In Remembrance: Nutri-West Founder Passes Away
Dr. Paul Anthony White, founder of Wyoming-based nutritional manufacturer Nutri-West and one of 12 founding members of the International College of Applied Kinesiology, passed away on Oct. 17, 2009, at the age of 70.

Taking Medicated Diet Into the 21st Century
As a matter of course in traditional medicine, one is faced with the undeniable truth concerning herbal concoctions; they taste awful. In order to circumvent this, the resourceful herbalist prescribes food recipes that can replace the foul-tasting brews.

Glutathione: The Body’s Master Detoxifier and Antioxidant
Glutathione is a tripeptide comprised of the amino acids L-cysteine, L-glutamic and glycine. At the cellular level, glutathione functions as a water-soluble antioxidant and is directly involved in specific detoxification reactions that protect the body against various dangerous substances.¹

Examining the Flow of Qi Through the Organ Systems
The flow of qi is one of the basic constituents of the human body and its functions; our body's ability to make quality qi is essential to good health.

News in Brief
The American Chiropractic Association and other members of the Patients' Access to Responsible Care Alliance (PARCA) are hailing new legislation that would permanently repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula used by Medicare to determine annual health...

Who Has the Answers? Chiropractic Does
As the health care debate rages, the spotlight is beginning to shine on some of the real culprits behind our soaring health care costs: poor lifestyle habits. An alarmingly large percentage of this country's health care expenditures is directly attributable to the way we...

Refunding for Incorrect Coding
Blue Cross Blue Shield is beginning to audit acupuncture claims for accuracy. When it is found that there is invalid coding, Blue Cross Blue Shield is seeking reimbursement for the incorrectly coded services.

News in Brief
PCOM, Chicago is launching its newly accredited program, the Massage Therapy/Asian Bodywork Certificate. The Clean Needle Technique Manual for Acupuncturists: Guidelines and Standards for the Clean and Safe Practice of Acupuncture, 6th Edition, has undergone an extensive update and reorganization of information.

The Connection Between Qi Gong and Massage
The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon (Neijing) was compiled in 200 BC and is still considered the bible of Chinese medicine today. The Neijing discusses four major healing modalities: acupuncture, pharmacology (herbs), massage and qi gong.

'Tis the Season of Giving
Our public health column has a history of encouraging both practitioners and students to consider mixing business with pleasure. We'd like to share with you some programs that just might add the boost you need to your CEUs, your practice and your soul.

We Get Letters & E-Mail
Professionals are frequently offered courses, seminars, programs and even new organizations in nutrition that claim to "certify" the doctor in nutrition. It can be a confusing dilemma to decide what course of action to take. Should I be "certified" by this group or that group?

The First Stop on the Road to Compliance
In March 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved new guidelines for acupuncturists dispensing herbs. According to the FDA, Chinese herbs are classified as dietary supplements.

Freedom, Creativity -- and Systems?
If you've ever gone to a seminars on practice growth, taken any courses on the topic, or even talked to people who have, then you know the concept of "systemization" is a big one. At first glance, it seems like something dreamed up in the furthest corner of...

After the Baby is Born, Continued
I was lying in bed trying to get my two sons asleep thinking about what I was going to write this article about. The deadline for submission was two days past and I had not even started writing it yet. Worse than that, I had no idea about what I was going to write.

Breaking Ground: New Building in the Works for NBCE
The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE), headquartered in Greeley, Colo., since 1978 and at its current facility in West Greeley for the past 19 years, recently broke ground on a new 15,000 square-foot, $2.5 million meeting facility scheduled to be completed in May 2010.

Research Abstracts From the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Objective: Investigation into the alleviation of long-term effects of infant colic on the toddler is a neglected area of research. The aim of this study was to document any behavioral or sleep disturbances experienced by post-colicky toddlers who were previously treated...

The Tao of Wii
Over the past few years, the Nintendo Wii has become very popular in homes, as well as in physiotherapy for rehabilitation. The Wii Fit exercise program was introduced in May 2008 and has sold more than 6.5 million copies in the United States.

We Get Letters
In an Acupuncture Today article by Jake Paul Fratkin, "In Praise of the Lowly Clinician," he states "In no case will I take cases that I feel I have little chance for improvement, and for me, this includes neurological conditions such as Parkinson's, stroke, Alzheimer's or problems due to genetic defects.

Health Care Is Being Dissected Under a National Microscope - But Where Is Chiropractic?
There is perhaps one thing we can all agree on: The chiropractic profession is not so much as a tiny voice in the back row. A panel of medical experts is advising the Obama administration on everything from single-payer systems to obesity management and end-of-life care.

Strategic Marketing in Today's Economy
When times are tough, small-business owners often start cutting back on marketing to save money. Big mistake! In today's economy, it is vital to step up your marketing so you stand out from the competition. While everyone else is retreating and patiently waiting...

How Chiropractic Helps the Insurance Industry
Insurance companies and others hesitant to expand coverage of chiropractic care should review a copy of a report commissioned by the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress and prepared by Mercer Health and Benefits, a San Francisco-based human resources and financial advisor.

Support for First Professional Doctorate Increasing
There seems to be no doubt that one of the major issues facing the acupuncture and Oriental medicine profession is that of FPD, which would be a doctorate degree that prepares a graduate for working in the AOM field, by emphasizing competency skills along with theory and analysis.

Holistic Nutrition Your Patients Are Craving
Most of your patients are taking a multivitamin. If they aren't, they know they probably should. They might be taking vitamin C for immunity, or vitamin E because they heard it has antioxidant actions. But is what they're taking making a difference?

Death and the Clinic
Today, I cried. I sat down to write this piece, attempting to purge, but it will not leave. The grief is older than this one lifetime. I have read that Taoist practitioners were able to read "past life" imbalances in a pulse and how they affected the present life.

The Iliopsoas: A Possible Cause of Acetabular Labrum Tear
An anatomic study that appeared recently in the American Journal of Sports Medicine1 identified – for the first time – the cross-sectional anatomy of the iliopsoas tendon at the level of the labrum. Several authors have implicated iliopsoas impingement on the anterior...

AAAOM a Hit at National Foundation for Women Legislators' Convention
Giant strides were taken to ensure health care options for the American public when more than 30 acupuncturists attended the National Federation for Women Legislators' (NFWL) 72nd annual convention this Labor Day weekend in Albuquerque.

Putting Evidence Into Practice
Recently the Council on Chiropractic Guidelines and Practice Parameters (CCGPP) released another best-practices chapter for review and comment: a literature synthesis of chiropractic management of thoracic spine conditions. After reviewing this chapter, I've concluded...

Looking Back at the Crystal Ball: Practice Technology Four Years Later
What was controversial four years ago, but not anymore? How about the following three statements: (1) More chiropractors will adopt electronic documentation in the near future. (2) Medicare will increase audits of chiropractors. (3) Electronic health records...

Welcome the Pain
One reason I admire Mr. Zion Yu is that he is able to treat extremely complicated cases very simply and directly. His life-long study of acupuncture has led him to many discoveries and inventive ways to share this healing system.

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Practice Management 101

By Jenn Sommermann, LCMT
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Jenn Sommermann is a licensed massage therapist, educator and business consultant. She practices in New York and is owner of Massage by Land & Sea. She is nationally certified by NCBTMB and a member of the AMTA since 1992.

After owning a wellness clinic in Boston for 12 years, she relocated to New York, becoming both teacher and chair of the business department at the Swedish Institute in Manhattan.

Jenn continues to reach a broader audience offering continuing education in Practice Management and Ethics throughout the country. Jenn has successfully coached hundreds of massage therapists in all aspects of their business.

For more information, visit her website at www.jennsommermann.com.