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Alternative Health News

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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."

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...

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.

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.

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.

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?

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...

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...

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.

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...

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.

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?

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 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...

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...

'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.

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?"

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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CranioSacrally Speaking

By John Upledger, DO, OMM
Current Article
About the Columnist

Other Articles

Light-Touch Therapy Eases Pregnancy and Delivery of Twins: October, 2009 (Vol. 9, Issue 10)

How a Child's Drawing May Enhance Hands-on Comprehension: September, 2009 (Vol. 9, Issue 09)

Massage Today Reader Discovers "Anything’s Possible": August, 2009 (Vol. 9, Issue 08)

Dialoging With the Nonconscious Mind: July, 2009 (Vol. 09, Issue 07)

The Therapeutic Value of Listening: June, 2009 (Vol. 09, Issue 06)

Overcoming the CST Language Barrier: May, 2009 (Vol. 09, Issue 05)

Unwinding Meridians to Reverse Anemia: April, 2009 (Vol. 09, Issue 04)

CranioSacral Therapy for a Multitude of Health Problems: March, 2009 (Vol. 09, Issue 03)

It's Music to My Hands: February, 2009 (Vol. 09, Issue 02)

How to Make Word-of-Mouth Marketing Work for You: January, 2009 (Vol. 09, Issue 01)

Six Ways to Ease the Pain of an Economic Still Point: December, 2008 (Vol. 08, Issue 12)

The Pressurestat Model Explains the Craniosacral Rhythm: November, 2008 (Vol. 08, Issue 11)

The Iterative Process: A CranioSacral Approach to Health and the Human Body: October, 2008 (Vol. 08, Issue 10)

Straight Talk on Scoliosis: September, 2008 (Vol. 08, Issue 09)

Is a Miserly Money Mantra Shortchanging Your Practice?: August, 2008 (Vol. 08, Issue 08)

Working in Concert With Nature: July, 2008 (Vol. 08, Issue 07)

Releasing Emotions Trapped in the Tissues: June, 2008 (Vol. 08, Issue 06)

The Controversy of Cranial Bone Movement: May, 2008 (Vol. 08, Issue 05)

Palpating the Craniosacral Rhythm: April, 2008 (Vol. 08, Issue 04)

Easing Migraine Pain: March, 2008 (Vol. 08, Issue 03)

Derailing an Accident’s Effects: February, 2008 (Vol. 08, Issue 02)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Cell Patterns: January, 2008 (Vol. 08, Issue 01)

Tales From the Cranial Frontier: December, 2007 (Vol. 07, Issue 12)

When a Child Wants to Move But Can’t: November, 2007 (Vol. 07, Issue 11)

The Hungry Brain: October, 2007 (Vol. 07, Issue 10)

Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction: September, 2007 (Vol. 07, Issue 09)

How the CranioSacral Therapy Paradigm Applies to Other Modalities … and Life: August, 2007 (Vol. 07, Issue 08)

Autism Spectrum Disorder: How CranioSacral Therapy Can Help: July, 2007 (Vol. 07, Issue 07)

Strong Enough for Parents, Gentle Enough for Their Kids: June, 2007 (Vol. 07, Issue 06)

A Touching Experience in Ireland: May, 2007 (Vol. 07, Issue 05)

Why Incorporate CranioSacral Therapy Into an Existing Manual Therapy Practice?: April, 2007 (Vol. 07, Issue 04)

Helping the Brain Drain: How CranioSacral Therapy Aids ADD/ADHD: March, 2007 (Vol. 07, Issue 03)

Scoliosis and CranioSacral Therapy: February, 2007 (Vol. 07, Issue 02)

The Gift of Therapeutic Presence: January, 2007 (Vol. 07, Issue 01)

It’s a Family Affair: December, 2006 (Vol. 06, Issue 12)

Chronic Pain and CranioSacral Therapy, Part 2: November, 2006 (Vol. 06, Issue 11)

Chronic Pain and CranioSacral Therapy, Part 1: October, 2006 (Vol. 06, Issue 10)

Understanding the “E” Word in Bodywork: September, 2006 (Vol. 06, Issue 09)

Easing Seizures: August, 2006 (Vol. 06, Issue 08)

Truth: The Golden Thread, Part Two: July, 2006 (Vol. 06, Issue 07)

Truth: The Golden Thread, Part One: June, 2006 (Vol. 06, Issue 06)

When the Inner Physician Speaks, I Listen: May, 2006 (Vol. 06, Issue 05)

For Better Client Outcomes, Just Add Water: April, 2006 (Vol. 06, Issue 04)

Understanding the Contraindications: March, 2006 (Vol. 06, Issue 03)

Exploring the Therapeutic Value of CranioSacral Therapy: February, 2006 (Vol. 06, Issue 02)

The Potential Impact of Orthodontia on Whole-Body Health: January, 2006 (Vol. 06, Issue 01)

No More Earaches: December, 2005 (Vol. 05, Issue 12)

Taming Osteoporosis: November, 2005 (Vol. 05, Issue 11)

Quantum Physics and CranioSacral Therapy: October, 2005 (Vol. 05, Issue 10)

Cellular Conversations: September, 2005 (Vol. 05, Issue 09)

The Natural Effects of Melatonin: August, 2005 (Vol. 05, Issue 08)

A Natural Approach to Degenerative Diseases of the Central Nervous System: July, 2005 (Vol. 05, Issue 07)

Changing Hearts and Minds for 20 Years: June, 2005 (Vol. 05, Issue 06)

Centering the Session With Intention: April, 2005 (Vol. 05, Issue 04)

Massage Therapists Take Center Stage at Beyond the Dura 2005: March, 2005 (Vol. 05, Issue 03)

An Obscure Side-Effect of Obesity: February, 2005 (Vol. 05, Issue 02)

The Will to Persevere: January, 2005 (Vol. 05, Issue 01)

Performing the Initial CranioSacral Evaluation: December, 2004 (Vol. 04, Issue 12)

The Still Point: November, 2004 (Vol. 04, Issue 11)

The Significance Detector: October, 2004 (Vol. 04, Issue 10)

Direction of Energy: September, 2004 (Vol. 04, Issue 09)

A Look Inside the Craniosacral System and How CST Helps: August, 2004 (Vol. 04, Issue 08)

Toxic Brain Injury (Encephalopathy): July, 2004 (Vol. 04, Issue 07)

Cholesterol: Friend of Foe?: June, 2004 (Vol. 04, Issue 06)

CranioSacral Therapy: Who Shall Do It?: May, 2004 (Vol. 04, Issue 05)

21-Year-Old Looks Forward to Pain-Free Adulthood: April, 2004 (Vol. 04, Issue 04)

Connective Tissue Leads to the Core of Good Health: March, 2004 (Vol. 04, Issue 03)

Addressing the Skeptics, Part II: February, 2004 (Vol. 04, Issue 02)

Addressing the Skeptics, Part I: January, 2004 (Vol. 04, Issue 01)

CranioSacral Therapy Alters Brain Functioning: A Clinical Overview: December, 2003 (Vol. 03, Issue 12)

CranioSacral Therapy and Scientific Research, Part II: November, 2003 (Vol. 03, Issue 11)

CranioSacral Therapy and Scientific Research, Part I: October, 2003 (Vol. 03, Issue 10)

Releasing the Energy Cyst: August, 2003 (Vol. 03, Issue 08)

To Breathe Again: July, 2003 (Vol. 03, Issue 07)

Applications of CranioSacral Therapy in Newborns and Infants, Part II: June, 2003 (Vol. 03, Issue 06)

Applications of CranioSacral Therapy in Newborns and Infants, Part I: May, 2003 (Vol. 03, Issue 05)

Cell Talk: April, 2003 (Vol. 03, Issue 04)

The Practical Pitfalls of Research: March, 2003 (Vol. 03, Issue 03)

CranioSacral Therapy and the AIDS Patient: February, 2003 (Vol. 03, Issue 02)

The Facilitated Segment: January, 2003 (Vol. 03, Issue 01)

Living in the Laboratory: December, 2002 (Vol. 02, Issue 12)

My Dolphin Mentor: November, 2002 (Vol. 02, Issue 11)

CranioSacral Therapy vs. Cranial Osteopathy: Differences Divide: October, 2002 (Vol. 02, Issue 10)

Life, Stress and Health: September, 2002 (Vol. 02, Issue 09)

TMJ: Primary Problem, or Tip of the Iceberg?: August, 2002 (Vol. 02, Issue 08)

The Big Picture on Milk Intolerance: July, 2002 (Vol. 02, Issue 07)

Mighty Joe Defies the Odds: June, 2002 (Vol. 02, Issue 06)

Intention and Touch: May, 2002 (Vol. 02, Issue 05)

The Consciousness of Organ Transplants: April, 2002 (Vol. 02, Issue 04)

The Expanding Role of Cerebrospinal Fluid in Health and Disease: March, 2002 (Vol. 02, Issue 03)

CranioSacral Dissection Sheds New Light on Effects of Palpation: February, 2002 (Vol. 02, Issue 02)

Nothing Is Impossible: January, 2002 (Vol. 02, Issue 01)

Consciousness and Its Therapeutic Applications: December, 2001 (Vol. 01, Issue 12)

The Role of CranioSacral Therapy in Addressing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: November, 2001 (Vol. 01, Issue 11)

Who's the Smartest of Them All?: October, 2001 (Vol. 01, Issue 10)

Magnets: A Cause for Pause: September, 2001 (Vol. 01, Issue 09)

Craniosacral Therapy and Attention Deficit Disorder: August, 2001 (Vol. 01, Issue 08)

Health Care as a State of Self-Defense: July, 2001 (Vol. 01, Issue 07)

When the Immune System Attacks, Ask Why: June, 2001 (Vol. 01, Issue 06)

The Privilege of Being a Witness: May, 2001 (Vol. 01, Issue 05)

An Eclectic and Integrative Approach to Treatment: March, 2001 (Vol. 01, Issue 03)

The Magic of Intentioned Touch and Blending: January, 2001 (Vol. 01, Issue 01)