http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php en-US http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 Using Classic Formulas as Modules http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/using-classic-formulas-as-modules-1 Wed, 15 May 2013 20:11:00 +0000 Honora Wolfe Bob Flaws' Blog 971@http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/ <p><em>This article was published in early 2009, but it has such valuable info that I decided to publish it again. I hope our readers find it useful. Thanks for reading!</em></p> <p>by Bob Flaws</p> <p><p>In Chinese, the words gu fang [&#21476;&#26041;] mean &#8220;ancient formulas,&#8221; while the words jing fang [&#32463;&#26041;] mean &#8220;classic formulas.&#8221; Both these terms refer to herbal formulas created in China prior to the Jin-Yuan dynasties (1280-1368 CE). These are the formulas which form the core repertoire of Chinese medicine&#8217;s formulas and prescriptions. Many of these formulas come from Zhang Zhong-jing&#8217;s late Han dynasty Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Damage [Due to] Cold)/Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essentials from the Golden Cabinet/Coffer). They are the formulas that all of us memorize in school as undergraduates, such as Ma Huang Tang, Ge Gen Tang, Xiao and Da Chai Hu Tang, Si Wu Tang, Si and Liu Jun Zi Tang, Er Chen Tang, etc. Many of these formulas are sold by Blue Poppy Herbs as part of our &#8220;Classics&#8221; line. Recently, I happened to ask our General Manager for sales statistics on several of these formulas, and I was disheartened to learn that several of these formulas sell very, very poorly. That tells me that many of our customers do not really understand how Chinese herbal medicine is practiced in clinic as opposed to how it is learned in the classroom and presented in entry-level textbooks.</p> What I mean by this is that many of these formulas are rarely, if ever, prescribed by themselves in clinic in contemporary China. Instead, they are thought of and used as modules for the creation of individualized treatment plans or larger, more complex formulas. From reading the modern Chinese journal literature as well as clinical practice under seasoned doctors in China, it is clear that most patients with chronic diseases present multiple patterns simultaneously. This means that most such patients present a combination of vacuity (often the root) and repletion (commonly the tips or branches) as well as a combination of hot and cold. That also means that formulas for such complex, multi-pattern presentations need to supplement and drain at the same and often contain both warm/hot and cool/cold ingredients. However, most of the classic formulas we learn in school address a single pattern. Take Si Wu Tang (Four Materials Decoction) for instance. It nourishes the blood when there is blood vacuity and also secondarily and to a lesser extent quickens the blood. Or take Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction). It fortifies the spleen and supplements the qi when there is a spleen qi vacuity. Or take Er Chen Tang (Two Aged [Ingredients] Decoction). It dispels dampness and transforms phlegm when there is phlegm dampness. However, in real life, no one (or at least no chronically ill patient) presents with simple blood vacuity, simple spleen qi vacuity, or simple phlegm dampness. Instead, chronically ill patients present with a combination of 3-8 patterns at the same time. For instance, because of the spleen&#8217;s role in both the engenderment of blood and the movement and transformation of water fluids, if the spleen qi is vacuous and weak, there also may be blood vacuity and phlegm dampness. Then, because of the blood&#8217;s importance in nourishing the liver and the mal-effects of phlegm and damp depressions on the qi, there will commonly be liver depression qi stagnation. Further, because of qi, phlegm, and damp depressions along with blood vacuity, over time, blood stasis will typically also be engendered. In this case, one might combine Si Jun Zi Tang with both Si Wu Tang and Er Chen Tang. If there is also indeed liver depression qi stagnation, one might start with Xiao Yao San (Rambling Powder) which courses the liver and rectifies the qi, fortifies the spleen and supplements the qi, eliminates dampness, and nourishes the blood. However, in this latter case, if there is phlegm and dampness or dampness is more severe, one might want to combine Xiao Yao San with Er Chen Tang. If, blood vacuity is more severe, one might want to combine Xiao Yao San with Si Wu Tang. If spleen qi vacuity is more severe, one might want to combine Xiao Yao San with Si Jun Zi Tang. In other words, one should regard these classic or ancient formulas more as modules or building blocks than as stand-alone formulas for real-life patients. When one can write a prescription from scratch and fill it with bulk-dispensed, water-based decoctions, custom-mixed powdered extracts, or custom-ground whole-herb powders, one can add and subtract ingredients to exactly match the patients presenting patterns and complaints. However, from my experience, only 10 percent or less of North American practitioners of Chinese medicine have this ability and practice this way. The other 90 percent of North American and even more European practitioners of Chinese medicine prescribe ready-made formulas in one form or another, and this is exactly why Blue Poppy Herbs introduced our &#8220;Classics&#8221; line. We wanted these practitioners to have the building blocks for adding formulas together to more accurately and effectively treat the multi-pattern presentations that are our norm, not our exception. As an extension of this, when I hear that a formula like Sheng Mai San (Engender the Pulse Powder) or Er Chen Tang sells very poorly, then I know not enough of our customers understand this modular approach. Take Sheng Mai San as an example. This three-ingredient formula comes from Zhang Yuan-su&#8217;s Yuan dynasty Yi Xue Qi Yuan (Expounding the Origins of Medicine). It contains: Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng) Mai Men Dong (Tuber Ophiopogonis) Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae) According to Scheid, Bensky, et al. in Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas &amp; Strategies, 2nd edition, this formula treats a qi and yin vacuity resulting in a dry, unproductive cough. However, this formula is also commonly used in clinic to treat a variety of cardiovascular diseases presenting a combination of qi and yin vacuities. Since cardiovascular diseases most commonly occur in the elderly and the elderly commonly suffer from both a lack of qi and exhaustion of yin, this makes perfect sense. This formula can also be used to treat type 2 diabetes presenting with a spleen qi vacuity and a lung, stomach, and/or kidney yin vacuity. In fact, many, many chronic diseases, including many autoimmune diseases, contain core elements of qi and yin vacuities. Therefore, this small, three-medicinal formula can be added as a module or building block to any other formula when qi and yin vacuities complicate one or more other patterns. In other words, in my experience, this is a very useful little formula. Do I ever prescribe or have I ever even seen it prescribed all by itself? No, absolutely not! Do I routinely see patients with qi and yin vacuities as part of their overall pattern presentation? Yes, every single day! This means this should be a commonly purchased formula, not for use by itself but for use as an add-on to other formulas. Or take Er Chen Tang. As stated above, this formula eliminates dampness and transforms phlegm. Now, please think about the North American and European diets and lifestyles: too much sugar and other sweets (think high fructose corn syrup), too many fatty meats, too many milk products (milk, cream, cheese, yogurt, sour cream, cr&#234;me fraiche, etc.), too many refined flour products, too many chilled, uncooked foods and drinks, too much thinking and worry, and too little physical exercise. This is a perfect recipe for the internal engenderment of dampness and phlegm, and, consequently, we see a rapidly spreading epidemic of obesity in the developed work along with all the morbidity and mortality of being over weight. In Chinese medicine, it is a basic statement of fact that &#8220;fat people [have] lots of phlegm,&#8221; and phlegm is nothing other than congealed dampness. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2007, the rate of obesity in 27 states was 25-29 percent, while the rate in three other states was 30 percent or higher, and these rates are going continuously higher every day. That means we know that, in those 27 states, at least 25 percent of the population suffers from phlegm dampness. That also means that Er Chen Tang could be added to many other classical Chinese herbal formulas such patient might be prescribed for their other presenting patterns. So for Er Chen Tang to be a poor seller, I again have to think that many of our customers are just not themselves thinking from a modular point of view. Bottom line, it is vitally important for all professional practitioners of Chinese medicine to understand that how we study and learn herbal formulas in school and how these same formulas are prescribed in clinical practice are two different things. That is why all our schools require that classroom study be supplemented by clinical observation and practice. It is only in clinic that one sees and learns the &#8220;real deal.&#8221; If someone&#8217;s school does not/did not have a good clinic taught by truly seasoned practitioners, then I urge readers to do one of two things (or, of course, both): 1) go to China for 1-3 months of clinical practice specifically in herbal/internal medicine, or 2) read the &#8220;discussions&#8221; sections of numerous of the Chinese journal articles available at the Blue Poppy TCMinfoline. Such discussions typically explain the most commonly seen multi-pattern presentation of a particular Western medical disease and then go on to explain why the various ingredients are in the protocol for that combination of patterns. By studying these discussions, one will gain a better understanding of how Chinese medicine is practiced in China today. I personally find these discussions invaluable.</p> <p></p><p>(Check out Bob's <a href="http://bluepoppy.com/cfwebstore/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&amp;product_ID=2016&amp;ParentCat=57">online course</a> by the same name as this article. Also, Bob and I discuss this topic in our book, <a href="http://bluepoppy.com/cfwebstore/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&amp;product_ID=1140&amp;ParentCat=31">The Successful Chinese Herbalist</a>.)</p> <p>Copyright &#169; Blue Poppy Press, 2009. All rights reserved.</p><div class="item_footer"><p><small><a href="http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/using-classic-formulas-as-modules-1">Original post</a> blogged on <a href="http://b2evolution.net/">b2evolution</a>.</small></p></div> This article was published in early 2009, but it has such valuable info that I decided to publish it again. I hope our readers find it useful. Thanks for reading!

by Bob Flaws

In Chinese, the words gu fang [古方] mean “ancient formulas,” while the words jing fang [经方] mean “classic formulas.” Both these terms refer to herbal formulas created in China prior to the Jin-Yuan dynasties (1280-1368 CE). These are the formulas which form the core repertoire of Chinese medicine’s formulas and prescriptions. Many of these formulas come from Zhang Zhong-jing’s late Han dynasty Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Damage [Due to] Cold)/Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essentials from the Golden Cabinet/Coffer). They are the formulas that all of us memorize in school as undergraduates, such as Ma Huang Tang, Ge Gen Tang, Xiao and Da Chai Hu Tang, Si Wu Tang, Si and Liu Jun Zi Tang, Er Chen Tang, etc. Many of these formulas are sold by Blue Poppy Herbs as part of our “Classics” line. Recently, I happened to ask our General Manager for sales statistics on several of these formulas, and I was disheartened to learn that several of these formulas sell very, very poorly. That tells me that many of our customers do not really understand how Chinese herbal medicine is practiced in clinic as opposed to how it is learned in the classroom and presented in entry-level textbooks.

What I mean by this is that many of these formulas are rarely, if ever, prescribed by themselves in clinic in contemporary China. Instead, they are thought of and used as modules for the creation of individualized treatment plans or larger, more complex formulas. From reading the modern Chinese journal literature as well as clinical practice under seasoned doctors in China, it is clear that most patients with chronic diseases present multiple patterns simultaneously. This means that most such patients present a combination of vacuity (often the root) and repletion (commonly the tips or branches) as well as a combination of hot and cold. That also means that formulas for such complex, multi-pattern presentations need to supplement and drain at the same and often contain both warm/hot and cool/cold ingredients. However, most of the classic formulas we learn in school address a single pattern. Take Si Wu Tang (Four Materials Decoction) for instance. It nourishes the blood when there is blood vacuity and also secondarily and to a lesser extent quickens the blood. Or take Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction). It fortifies the spleen and supplements the qi when there is a spleen qi vacuity. Or take Er Chen Tang (Two Aged [Ingredients] Decoction). It dispels dampness and transforms phlegm when there is phlegm dampness. However, in real life, no one (or at least no chronically ill patient) presents with simple blood vacuity, simple spleen qi vacuity, or simple phlegm dampness. Instead, chronically ill patients present with a combination of 3-8 patterns at the same time. For instance, because of the spleen’s role in both the engenderment of blood and the movement and transformation of water fluids, if the spleen qi is vacuous and weak, there also may be blood vacuity and phlegm dampness. Then, because of the blood’s importance in nourishing the liver and the mal-effects of phlegm and damp depressions on the qi, there will commonly be liver depression qi stagnation. Further, because of qi, phlegm, and damp depressions along with blood vacuity, over time, blood stasis will typically also be engendered. In this case, one might combine Si Jun Zi Tang with both Si Wu Tang and Er Chen Tang. If there is also indeed liver depression qi stagnation, one might start with Xiao Yao San (Rambling Powder) which courses the liver and rectifies the qi, fortifies the spleen and supplements the qi, eliminates dampness, and nourishes the blood. However, in this latter case, if there is phlegm and dampness or dampness is more severe, one might want to combine Xiao Yao San with Er Chen Tang. If, blood vacuity is more severe, one might want to combine Xiao Yao San with Si Wu Tang. If spleen qi vacuity is more severe, one might want to combine Xiao Yao San with Si Jun Zi Tang. In other words, one should regard these classic or ancient formulas more as modules or building blocks than as stand-alone formulas for real-life patients. When one can write a prescription from scratch and fill it with bulk-dispensed, water-based decoctions, custom-mixed powdered extracts, or custom-ground whole-herb powders, one can add and subtract ingredients to exactly match the patients presenting patterns and complaints. However, from my experience, only 10 percent or less of North American practitioners of Chinese medicine have this ability and practice this way. The other 90 percent of North American and even more European practitioners of Chinese medicine prescribe ready-made formulas in one form or another, and this is exactly why Blue Poppy Herbs introduced our “Classics” line. We wanted these practitioners to have the building blocks for adding formulas together to more accurately and effectively treat the multi-pattern presentations that are our norm, not our exception. As an extension of this, when I hear that a formula like Sheng Mai San (Engender the Pulse Powder) or Er Chen Tang sells very poorly, then I know not enough of our customers understand this modular approach. Take Sheng Mai San as an example. This three-ingredient formula comes from Zhang Yuan-su’s Yuan dynasty Yi Xue Qi Yuan (Expounding the Origins of Medicine). It contains: Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng) Mai Men Dong (Tuber Ophiopogonis) Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae) According to Scheid, Bensky, et al. in Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd edition, this formula treats a qi and yin vacuity resulting in a dry, unproductive cough. However, this formula is also commonly used in clinic to treat a variety of cardiovascular diseases presenting a combination of qi and yin vacuities. Since cardiovascular diseases most commonly occur in the elderly and the elderly commonly suffer from both a lack of qi and exhaustion of yin, this makes perfect sense. This formula can also be used to treat type 2 diabetes presenting with a spleen qi vacuity and a lung, stomach, and/or kidney yin vacuity. In fact, many, many chronic diseases, including many autoimmune diseases, contain core elements of qi and yin vacuities. Therefore, this small, three-medicinal formula can be added as a module or building block to any other formula when qi and yin vacuities complicate one or more other patterns. In other words, in my experience, this is a very useful little formula. Do I ever prescribe or have I ever even seen it prescribed all by itself? No, absolutely not! Do I routinely see patients with qi and yin vacuities as part of their overall pattern presentation? Yes, every single day! This means this should be a commonly purchased formula, not for use by itself but for use as an add-on to other formulas. Or take Er Chen Tang. As stated above, this formula eliminates dampness and transforms phlegm. Now, please think about the North American and European diets and lifestyles: too much sugar and other sweets (think high fructose corn syrup), too many fatty meats, too many milk products (milk, cream, cheese, yogurt, sour cream, crême fraiche, etc.), too many refined flour products, too many chilled, uncooked foods and drinks, too much thinking and worry, and too little physical exercise. This is a perfect recipe for the internal engenderment of dampness and phlegm, and, consequently, we see a rapidly spreading epidemic of obesity in the developed work along with all the morbidity and mortality of being over weight. In Chinese medicine, it is a basic statement of fact that “fat people [have] lots of phlegm,” and phlegm is nothing other than congealed dampness. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2007, the rate of obesity in 27 states was 25-29 percent, while the rate in three other states was 30 percent or higher, and these rates are going continuously higher every day. That means we know that, in those 27 states, at least 25 percent of the population suffers from phlegm dampness. That also means that Er Chen Tang could be added to many other classical Chinese herbal formulas such patient might be prescribed for their other presenting patterns. So for Er Chen Tang to be a poor seller, I again have to think that many of our customers are just not themselves thinking from a modular point of view. Bottom line, it is vitally important for all professional practitioners of Chinese medicine to understand that how we study and learn herbal formulas in school and how these same formulas are prescribed in clinical practice are two different things. That is why all our schools require that classroom study be supplemented by clinical observation and practice. It is only in clinic that one sees and learns the “real deal.” If someone’s school does not/did not have a good clinic taught by truly seasoned practitioners, then I urge readers to do one of two things (or, of course, both): 1) go to China for 1-3 months of clinical practice specifically in herbal/internal medicine, or 2) read the “discussions” sections of numerous of the Chinese journal articles available at the Blue Poppy TCMinfoline. Such discussions typically explain the most commonly seen multi-pattern presentation of a particular Western medical disease and then go on to explain why the various ingredients are in the protocol for that combination of patterns. By studying these discussions, one will gain a better understanding of how Chinese medicine is practiced in China today. I personally find these discussions invaluable.

(Check out Bob's online course by the same name as this article. Also, Bob and I discuss this topic in our book, The Successful Chinese Herbalist.)

Copyright © Blue Poppy Press, 2009. All rights reserved.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

]]> http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/using-classic-formulas-as-modules-1#comments http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php?tempskin=_rss2&disp=comments&p=971 Five Ways to Be the Life of the Party at Every Networking Event http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/five-ways-to-be-the-1 Thu, 02 May 2013 18:41:00 +0000 shawnkirby Honora Wolfe's Blog 970@http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/ <p>by Honora Lee Wolfe</p> <p>We always hear that we have to &#8220;network&#8221; to build our practice. &#8220;Join the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, the PTA, and Toast Masters,&#8221; business teachers say. I myself have said that you should go to every fundraiser, party, speech, seminar, Chamber of Commerce class, PTA meeting, church dinner, book-signing, or other event where there will be people to meet and greet. So, okay, you might say to me, what if I do go? How do I &#8220;work&#8221; such events to actually become better known in the community and turn that into patients and referrals? </p> <p>Here are my best ideas to get the most out of every event you attend.</p> <p>1. Be the first in and last out. As a rule, the best networking opportunities happen in the 20 minutes prior to the start of the event and the 20 minutes after the function ends. If you main objective is to make as many contacts as possible, the always arrive as early as possible. You can even think of yourself as one of the hosts and greet and speak to as many people as possible and then say goodbye and &#8220;gee, wasn&#8217;t it interesting when the speaker said&#8230;&#8221; at the end. Mostly, people won&#8217;t care that you aren&#8217;t really the host, but will be thankful that someone was kind enough to greet them and make them feel more comfortable and welcome in a new environment.</p> <p>2. What&#8217;s in a name (tag)? Okay so this one is a little hokey, but it works. Create your own name tag and put your name and then a quote or message underneath, either something inspiring enough to start a conversation or relevant to what you do and interesting enough that people will ask about it. <br /> Or, if they will have their own nametags, open yours up and write your message on it. You can try something inspiring like, &#8220;The average human heart beats 100,000 times per day; make those beats count.&#8221; or &#8220;Choose a positive thought; the human brain can only hold one thought at a time!&#8221; or something humorous like &#8220;Needle little pick me up?&#8221; or &#8220;Got health?&#8221; This will start a number of conversations; I guarantee it.</p> <p>3. Be a brilliant conversationalist. You can control any conversation by asking all the questions and then just sit and listen attentively. Don&#8217;t interrupt or talk much about yourself. People will believe you carry on the best conversation they ever had. Toward the end of the conversation or when it&#8217;s time to go, offer them your card with a simple comment such as, &#8220;It was great to talk with you; appreciate you sharing about yourself. Here&#8217;s my business card; I don&#8217;t know that you&#8217;ll ever need my services, but if you do, here&#8217;s how to find me.&#8221; Then offer your hand and a smile and move on.</p> <p>4. Be a door prize. Offering your product or service as one of the door-prizes at any event that has such things, or as part of a silent auction for any and every community fundraiser, is always a good way to get publicity for being a real participant. If you can arrange it, try to trade the door prize for a copy of the attendee mailing list. Do this regularly for any clubs and associations of which you are a member and watch your mailing list grow.</p> <p>5. Creative Introductions. You can make a memorable impact on everyone you meet by developing a more creative verbal introduction. So, instead of saying: &#8220;I&#8217;m an acupuncturist.&#8221; you might say: <br /> &#8220;I relieve the full range of human suffering using very small sharp metal implements.&#8221; <br /> &#8220;I help people run faster, jump higher, and recover faster from any and all physical activity and exertion.&#8221;<br /> &#8220;I help husbands love their wives more every week of the month.&#8221;<br /> &#8220;I make it possible for more people to get a better night&#8217;s sleep.&#8221;<br /> You get the idea. As these examples illustrate, the way you introduce yourself can be dead serious and dead boring, or a little more fun and a lot more interesting. Your message should be a conversation starter, memorable, and help you market yourself and your services in a lighthearted way. Remember that you never get a second chance to make a first impression.</p> <p>Hope these ideas help you make the best use of any and all your networking opportunities. My next networking events are a class on my favorite acupuncture treatments at KAMWO Chinese Herbs in NYC, Wed. May 29th at 7 PM and a talk on marketing at PCOM NY on Thursday May 30th at Noon. Maybe I&#8217;ll see you there!</p><div class="item_footer"><p><small><a href="http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/five-ways-to-be-the-1">Original post</a> blogged on <a href="http://b2evolution.net/">b2evolution</a>.</small></p></div> by Honora Lee Wolfe

We always hear that we have to “network” to build our practice. “Join the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, the PTA, and Toast Masters,” business teachers say. I myself have said that you should go to every fundraiser, party, speech, seminar, Chamber of Commerce class, PTA meeting, church dinner, book-signing, or other event where there will be people to meet and greet. So, okay, you might say to me, what if I do go? How do I “work” such events to actually become better known in the community and turn that into patients and referrals?

Here are my best ideas to get the most out of every event you attend.

1. Be the first in and last out. As a rule, the best networking opportunities happen in the 20 minutes prior to the start of the event and the 20 minutes after the function ends. If you main objective is to make as many contacts as possible, the always arrive as early as possible. You can even think of yourself as one of the hosts and greet and speak to as many people as possible and then say goodbye and “gee, wasn’t it interesting when the speaker said…” at the end. Mostly, people won’t care that you aren’t really the host, but will be thankful that someone was kind enough to greet them and make them feel more comfortable and welcome in a new environment.

2. What’s in a name (tag)? Okay so this one is a little hokey, but it works. Create your own name tag and put your name and then a quote or message underneath, either something inspiring enough to start a conversation or relevant to what you do and interesting enough that people will ask about it.
Or, if they will have their own nametags, open yours up and write your message on it. You can try something inspiring like, “The average human heart beats 100,000 times per day; make those beats count.” or “Choose a positive thought; the human brain can only hold one thought at a time!” or something humorous like “Needle little pick me up?” or “Got health?” This will start a number of conversations; I guarantee it.

3. Be a brilliant conversationalist. You can control any conversation by asking all the questions and then just sit and listen attentively. Don’t interrupt or talk much about yourself. People will believe you carry on the best conversation they ever had. Toward the end of the conversation or when it’s time to go, offer them your card with a simple comment such as, “It was great to talk with you; appreciate you sharing about yourself. Here’s my business card; I don’t know that you’ll ever need my services, but if you do, here’s how to find me.” Then offer your hand and a smile and move on.

4. Be a door prize. Offering your product or service as one of the door-prizes at any event that has such things, or as part of a silent auction for any and every community fundraiser, is always a good way to get publicity for being a real participant. If you can arrange it, try to trade the door prize for a copy of the attendee mailing list. Do this regularly for any clubs and associations of which you are a member and watch your mailing list grow.

5. Creative Introductions. You can make a memorable impact on everyone you meet by developing a more creative verbal introduction. So, instead of saying: “I’m an acupuncturist.” you might say:
“I relieve the full range of human suffering using very small sharp metal implements.”
“I help people run faster, jump higher, and recover faster from any and all physical activity and exertion.”
“I help husbands love their wives more every week of the month.”
“I make it possible for more people to get a better night’s sleep.”
You get the idea. As these examples illustrate, the way you introduce yourself can be dead serious and dead boring, or a little more fun and a lot more interesting. Your message should be a conversation starter, memorable, and help you market yourself and your services in a lighthearted way. Remember that you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Hope these ideas help you make the best use of any and all your networking opportunities. My next networking events are a class on my favorite acupuncture treatments at KAMWO Chinese Herbs in NYC, Wed. May 29th at 7 PM and a talk on marketing at PCOM NY on Thursday May 30th at Noon. Maybe I’ll see you there!

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

]]> http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/five-ways-to-be-the-1#comments http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php?tempskin=_rss2&disp=comments&p=970 10 Tips to Help You Get Organized …NOW! http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/10-tips-to-help-you Fri, 22 Mar 2013 20:21:00 +0000 Honora Wolfe Honora Wolfe's Blog 969@http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/ <p>Most successful entrepreneurs try to maximize every minute of their business lives. Being well organized is an important part of their success. If we believe that getting organized is just for those who are compulsive neatniks, think again. I&#8217;d hate to admit the amount of time I&#8217;ve wasted hunting for misplaced items both at home and in my office, and I&#8217;m at least a 6-or-7 on a 1-10 scale of &#8220;how organized are you?&#8221;&#160; Our messy, haphazard ways cost us time and time is money.</p> <p>There are probably a gazillion blogs on getting organized, time management, how to clean up your desk, files, or life. But if you need another nudge, here are my top 10 tips.</p> <ol> <li><strong>If your desk or office is really a mess, schedule a weekend to clean it.</strong> Put everything on the floor. Each item, file, or piece of paper gets picked up and either filed where it needs to go, recycled, or prioritized in a stack that needs attention within days (not months). Do you really plan to answer that brochure you got about going on an acupuncture cruise, donating to your alma mater, or changing insurance policies? Either write the check or recycle the paper now is my advice. When you are done, set aside another day for dealing with the items in the prioritized stack that now remains on your desk.</li> <li><strong>Be ruthless with paper.</strong> As long a you have a digital copy of everything that matters BACKED UP with a proper storage methodology (external drive, CDs, cloud) you don&#8217;t need a paper back up of anything unless it&#8217;s a contract with a signature.</li> <li><strong>Sort through your piles of business cards.</strong> Cannot remember why you have a card or who the person is? Toss it. Have not been in contact with the person for a decade or more? Toss it. You might also consider scanning the ones you want into a digital database and tossing all of them!</li> <li><strong>Find a calendar that actually helps you keep track. </strong>Keep only one master calendar, whether it&#8217;s digital and in your phone or computer, or a book that you carry around. If it&#8217;s a print calendar, decide if you want to be able to see a week or a month at a time. Keep past calendars with tax documents if they provide support for business expenses or income.</li> <li><strong>Set aside time each day to answer emails.</strong> Don&#8217;t let them pile up. If you have not dealt with an email within a few days, delegate it to an employee to respond, delete it, or file it in an appropriate sub-folder in your system.</li> <li><strong>Don&#8217;t think you have to answer every call now.</strong> Let your front desk deal with as many as possible. For the ones to which you must respond, create a time each day for that activity and make it into a habit. For the ones to which you could leave a voice mail, do them at the end of the day or early morning and leave the messages you need to leave, politely and succinctly.</li> <li><strong>Friday is list day.</strong> Actually it can be every day, but on Friday for sure. The last thing I do before leaving on Friday is to make a list of what I&#8217;ll need to do on Monday. That way I can leave the office without keeping stuff in my head or worrying that I will forget something important or something I&#8217;ve agreed to do. It will be front and center awaiting me when I return.</li> <li><strong>Consider that perhaps there are too many things on your plate.</strong> If you just cannot seem to stay organized, could it be that you have more responsibilities than you can really handle? Perhaps you must drop one committee, one teaching gig, one class you are taking, one volunteer job, OR hire more help? Short of getting rid of your spouse or children, what is the least important thing on your weekly to-do list that you could drop?</li> <li><strong>If you are someone who finds it difficult to get and stay organized</strong>, perhaps an hour once per week to re-organize your desk would be a useful way to discipline yourself. I do this from time to time&#8230;going through my email inbox to see what should be responded to or deleted and sorting one or another stack on my desk. It doesn&#8217;t take too long to do this, and keeps my email inbox tidier!</li> <li><strong> Promise yourself that you&#8217;ll stay organized. </strong>Take this one day at a time, but put some systems like the above in place and you&#8217;ll be surprised how much time this will save you week over week. For example, if you were able to fit in 1-2 more patients each week, what would that add up to in 50 weeks? Maybe a vacation or something else you&#8217;ve been saving for? Or just maybe, an hour more of downtime every week would allow you to get an acupuncture treatment, attend a yoga class, or actually have time for your favorite hobby. Now there&#8217;s an idea I could get behind!</li> </ol> <p>Good luck and thanks for reading my blog. For other tips on business, marketing, and clinical success, check out my book <a href="http://bluepoppy.com/cfwebstore/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&amp;product_ID=481&amp;ParentCat=34"><em>Points for Profit: The Essential Guide to Practice Success for Acupuncturists.</em></a></p> <ol> </ol><div class="item_footer"><p><small><a href="http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/10-tips-to-help-you">Original post</a> blogged on <a href="http://b2evolution.net/">b2evolution</a>.</small></p></div> Most successful entrepreneurs try to maximize every minute of their business lives. Being well organized is an important part of their success. If we believe that getting organized is just for those who are compulsive neatniks, think again. I’d hate to admit the amount of time I’ve wasted hunting for misplaced items both at home and in my office, and I’m at least a 6-or-7 on a 1-10 scale of “how organized are you?”  Our messy, haphazard ways cost us time and time is money.

There are probably a gazillion blogs on getting organized, time management, how to clean up your desk, files, or life. But if you need another nudge, here are my top 10 tips.

  1. If your desk or office is really a mess, schedule a weekend to clean it. Put everything on the floor. Each item, file, or piece of paper gets picked up and either filed where it needs to go, recycled, or prioritized in a stack that needs attention within days (not months). Do you really plan to answer that brochure you got about going on an acupuncture cruise, donating to your alma mater, or changing insurance policies? Either write the check or recycle the paper now is my advice. When you are done, set aside another day for dealing with the items in the prioritized stack that now remains on your desk.
  2. Be ruthless with paper. As long a you have a digital copy of everything that matters BACKED UP with a proper storage methodology (external drive, CDs, cloud) you don’t need a paper back up of anything unless it’s a contract with a signature.
  3. Sort through your piles of business cards. Cannot remember why you have a card or who the person is? Toss it. Have not been in contact with the person for a decade or more? Toss it. You might also consider scanning the ones you want into a digital database and tossing all of them!
  4. Find a calendar that actually helps you keep track. Keep only one master calendar, whether it’s digital and in your phone or computer, or a book that you carry around. If it’s a print calendar, decide if you want to be able to see a week or a month at a time. Keep past calendars with tax documents if they provide support for business expenses or income.
  5. Set aside time each day to answer emails. Don’t let them pile up. If you have not dealt with an email within a few days, delegate it to an employee to respond, delete it, or file it in an appropriate sub-folder in your system.
  6. Don’t think you have to answer every call now. Let your front desk deal with as many as possible. For the ones to which you must respond, create a time each day for that activity and make it into a habit. For the ones to which you could leave a voice mail, do them at the end of the day or early morning and leave the messages you need to leave, politely and succinctly.
  7. Friday is list day. Actually it can be every day, but on Friday for sure. The last thing I do before leaving on Friday is to make a list of what I’ll need to do on Monday. That way I can leave the office without keeping stuff in my head or worrying that I will forget something important or something I’ve agreed to do. It will be front and center awaiting me when I return.
  8. Consider that perhaps there are too many things on your plate. If you just cannot seem to stay organized, could it be that you have more responsibilities than you can really handle? Perhaps you must drop one committee, one teaching gig, one class you are taking, one volunteer job, OR hire more help? Short of getting rid of your spouse or children, what is the least important thing on your weekly to-do list that you could drop?
  9. If you are someone who finds it difficult to get and stay organized, perhaps an hour once per week to re-organize your desk would be a useful way to discipline yourself. I do this from time to time…going through my email inbox to see what should be responded to or deleted and sorting one or another stack on my desk. It doesn’t take too long to do this, and keeps my email inbox tidier!
  10. Promise yourself that you’ll stay organized. Take this one day at a time, but put some systems like the above in place and you’ll be surprised how much time this will save you week over week. For example, if you were able to fit in 1-2 more patients each week, what would that add up to in 50 weeks? Maybe a vacation or something else you’ve been saving for? Or just maybe, an hour more of downtime every week would allow you to get an acupuncture treatment, attend a yoga class, or actually have time for your favorite hobby. Now there’s an idea I could get behind!

Good luck and thanks for reading my blog. For other tips on business, marketing, and clinical success, check out my book Points for Profit: The Essential Guide to Practice Success for Acupuncturists.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

]]> http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/10-tips-to-help-you#comments http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php?tempskin=_rss2&disp=comments&p=969 Acupuncture as Part of the U.S. Escape Fire Plan http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/acupuncture-as-part-of-theu Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:14:00 +0000 Honora Wolfe Honora Wolfe's Blog 968@http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/ <p>Last weekend, CNN aired their film about the serious problems with the American Healthcare System, <em>Escape Fire</em>, for a second showing. Anyone in our profession who has yet to see it should try to catch it online, as it gives acupuncture an important send up! Our strange bedfellow in this film is the U.S. military, which is "trying to figure out how to integrate this service" into all levels of active duty and veteran PTSD care. One of the guys at the top of medical services in the Pentagon, General David Fridovich, states clearly that the military doesn't need more research studies to be convinced that acupuncture works well for PTSD, specifically the NADA protocol, they only are struggling to figure out how to integrate these services (which is probably "code" for figuring out how to pay for them). Another problem is that "acupuncturist" is not one of the coded professions on the list of health care professionals on the EASR-VHP (pronounced "esar-vip") system that allows governmental agencies to hire acupuncturists, understand exactly what we do, and know what our pay scale should be. Getting our profession on that list with proper reimbursement codes would be a major hurdle for us.</p> <p>While I know there are many heroes in this work, two come to mind that I count as personal friends or at least acquaintances. The first of those is Frank Yurasek, Assistant Dean of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at National University of Health Sciences in Lombard, IL, who has single-handedly created and staffed a free clinic for veterans with PTSD through one of the largest hospitals in the Chicago area. They are treating 25-30 per week now and are in negotiations to open two more similar programs at area VA hospitals that will significantly increase the number of patients treated. Frank, now 73 years young, has been tireless in this work, stating that "acupuncture is an idea whose time has come," especially due to the fact that hospitals and the VA have a mandate to find alternatives to using morphine derivatives to ease pain. He is working every day to give us a permanent seat at the integrative-medicine table.</p> <p>Second is Deb Boehme, a veteran and PTSD sufferer herself, Deb has worked hard to get acupuncture included in standard disaster emergency response teams in her home state of New Mexico. She also runs a successful free weekly clinic, open to all veterans and their families, that has been in operation for several years in Albuquerque. Deb, an active member of the New Mexico Medical Response Corps (MRC), has brought her considerable expertise from a life-time of working with the military as well as state and federal disaster response teams to Acupuncture Without Borders, with which group she is a regular instructor.</p> <p>These are just two of those who are called to the service both of trauma sufferers as well as the larger acupuncture community! Think what could happen if we all participated in these efforts?</p> <p>So check out the <em>Escape Fire</em> movie (and no, I won't give away the reason it is called by that name), and think about how you could help this growing awareness and respect for acupuncture in our nation and become even more a part of the solution to our nation's serious medical-care problems than you already are! My commitment is to complete MRC required trainings and certifications to be a part of any local disaster response in my own area.</p> <p>Thanks for reading and best wishes.</p><div class="item_footer"><p><small><a href="http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/acupuncture-as-part-of-theu">Original post</a> blogged on <a href="http://b2evolution.net/">b2evolution</a>.</small></p></div> Last weekend, CNN aired their film about the serious problems with the American Healthcare System, Escape Fire, for a second showing. Anyone in our profession who has yet to see it should try to catch it online, as it gives acupuncture an important send up! Our strange bedfellow in this film is the U.S. military, which is "trying to figure out how to integrate this service" into all levels of active duty and veteran PTSD care. One of the guys at the top of medical services in the Pentagon, General David Fridovich, states clearly that the military doesn't need more research studies to be convinced that acupuncture works well for PTSD, specifically the NADA protocol, they only are struggling to figure out how to integrate these services (which is probably "code" for figuring out how to pay for them). Another problem is that "acupuncturist" is not one of the coded professions on the list of health care professionals on the EASR-VHP (pronounced "esar-vip") system that allows governmental agencies to hire acupuncturists, understand exactly what we do, and know what our pay scale should be. Getting our profession on that list with proper reimbursement codes would be a major hurdle for us.

While I know there are many heroes in this work, two come to mind that I count as personal friends or at least acquaintances. The first of those is Frank Yurasek, Assistant Dean of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at National University of Health Sciences in Lombard, IL, who has single-handedly created and staffed a free clinic for veterans with PTSD through one of the largest hospitals in the Chicago area. They are treating 25-30 per week now and are in negotiations to open two more similar programs at area VA hospitals that will significantly increase the number of patients treated. Frank, now 73 years young, has been tireless in this work, stating that "acupuncture is an idea whose time has come," especially due to the fact that hospitals and the VA have a mandate to find alternatives to using morphine derivatives to ease pain. He is working every day to give us a permanent seat at the integrative-medicine table.

Second is Deb Boehme, a veteran and PTSD sufferer herself, Deb has worked hard to get acupuncture included in standard disaster emergency response teams in her home state of New Mexico. She also runs a successful free weekly clinic, open to all veterans and their families, that has been in operation for several years in Albuquerque. Deb, an active member of the New Mexico Medical Response Corps (MRC), has brought her considerable expertise from a life-time of working with the military as well as state and federal disaster response teams to Acupuncture Without Borders, with which group she is a regular instructor.

These are just two of those who are called to the service both of trauma sufferers as well as the larger acupuncture community! Think what could happen if we all participated in these efforts?

So check out the Escape Fire movie (and no, I won't give away the reason it is called by that name), and think about how you could help this growing awareness and respect for acupuncture in our nation and become even more a part of the solution to our nation's serious medical-care problems than you already are! My commitment is to complete MRC required trainings and certifications to be a part of any local disaster response in my own area.

Thanks for reading and best wishes.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

]]> http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/acupuncture-as-part-of-theu#comments http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php?tempskin=_rss2&disp=comments&p=968 Are You Called to Service? http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/are-you-called-to-service Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:26:00 +0000 shawnkirby Honora Wolfe's Blog 967@http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/ <p><strong>by Honora Lee Wolfe</strong></p> <p>I had the time and privilege to attend a Level 1 Training with Acupuncture Without Borders (AWB) this last weekend, held in the greater Los Angeles area. More than just inspiring, this training is designed to give attendees the tools necessary to go back to their own communities and actually get started in the work of bringing simple acupuncture techniques (notably the well-researched and vetted NADA protocol) to all types of people who are currently or have in the past experienced unresolved trauma.</p> <p>Ways this could be applied are many and varied. Notably, this work is growing in the area of Veterans PTSD Support Clinics, which can happen anywhere there is an adequate community of veterans in need! AWB-affiliated clinics providing this type of service include 35 around the US today! We all know that 100 more of these clinics would still not be enough!! &#160;And, this same type of clinic could be applied to so many other populations in need:</p> <p>&#8226; specifically women Vets who have suffered sexual abuse as well as war-related PTSD</p> <p>&#8226; victims of domestic violence</p> <p>&#8226; populations such as the city of Newtown, CT</p> <p>&#8226; refugees from wars all around the globe</p> <p>This list could go on and on...</p> <p>In addition to the nuts and bolts of how to start and then operate one of these types of clinics for whatever population of people you are called to help, we also learned about AWB's Disaster Relief work and what hoops we acupuncturists will need to clear to be included in Medical Response groups after any and all types of disasters (fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, terrorist attacks). This information is invaluable if we want to be included as part of the standard, automatic response teams in each of our areas.</p> <p>Finally, we learned about AWB's ongoing trainings for health workers in other countries, teaching them to use the NADA protocol in response to all types of trauma and difficulties. This is an ongoing effort in Haiti, Nepal, Mongolia, Chile, Equador, and Mexico...with new programs and needs arising all over the globe.</p> <p>So I encourage anyone with a stirring toward larger service to check out AWB and do one of their trainings. I guarantee you'll be inspired.</p> <p><a href="http://acuwithoutborders.org/">Click Here</a> for more information.</p><div class="item_footer"><p><small><a href="http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/are-you-called-to-service">Original post</a> blogged on <a href="http://b2evolution.net/">b2evolution</a>.</small></p></div> by Honora Lee Wolfe

I had the time and privilege to attend a Level 1 Training with Acupuncture Without Borders (AWB) this last weekend, held in the greater Los Angeles area. More than just inspiring, this training is designed to give attendees the tools necessary to go back to their own communities and actually get started in the work of bringing simple acupuncture techniques (notably the well-researched and vetted NADA protocol) to all types of people who are currently or have in the past experienced unresolved trauma.

Ways this could be applied are many and varied. Notably, this work is growing in the area of Veterans PTSD Support Clinics, which can happen anywhere there is an adequate community of veterans in need! AWB-affiliated clinics providing this type of service include 35 around the US today! We all know that 100 more of these clinics would still not be enough!!  And, this same type of clinic could be applied to so many other populations in need:

• specifically women Vets who have suffered sexual abuse as well as war-related PTSD

• victims of domestic violence

• populations such as the city of Newtown, CT

• refugees from wars all around the globe

This list could go on and on...

In addition to the nuts and bolts of how to start and then operate one of these types of clinics for whatever population of people you are called to help, we also learned about AWB's Disaster Relief work and what hoops we acupuncturists will need to clear to be included in Medical Response groups after any and all types of disasters (fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, terrorist attacks). This information is invaluable if we want to be included as part of the standard, automatic response teams in each of our areas.

Finally, we learned about AWB's ongoing trainings for health workers in other countries, teaching them to use the NADA protocol in response to all types of trauma and difficulties. This is an ongoing effort in Haiti, Nepal, Mongolia, Chile, Equador, and Mexico...with new programs and needs arising all over the globe.

So I encourage anyone with a stirring toward larger service to check out AWB and do one of their trainings. I guarantee you'll be inspired.

Click Here for more information.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

]]> http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/are-you-called-to-service#comments http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php?tempskin=_rss2&disp=comments&p=967 Why "Traditional East Asian Medicine"? http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/why-traditional-east-asian-medicine Tue, 12 Feb 2013 22:06:00 +0000 shawnkirby Bob Flaws' Blog Shawn Kirby's Blog 966@http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/ <p>Everywhere you look in the acupuncture community, you will encounter the word, &#8220;Oriental.&#8221;&#160; One of the diplomas on my wall, earned with blood, sweat, and tears, says that I am a Diplomate in &#8220;Oriental&#8221; Medicine.&#160; Many acupuncture colleges around the country use the term &#8220;oriental&#8221; in their very names.&#160; The word is part and parcel to many of the companies in our industry, to many of the schools that we attend, and even to the very diplomas on our walls.&#160; Why on earth, then, would we want to change something that has been part of our tradition in the West for over 30 years?</p> <p>Simple &#8211; because it&#8217;s racist.</p> <p>When applied to a person the use of the word is a racial slur.&#160; In point of fact, the states of New York and Washington have both banned the use of &#8220;oriental&#8221; from government documents and common usage.</p> <p>New York Governor Paterson said in a statement:</p> <p>&#8220;<strong>The words we use matter</strong>. We in government recognize that what we print in official documents or forms sets an example of what is acceptable. With this legislation, we take action against derogatory speech and set a new standard. The word &#8216;oriental&#8217; does not describe ethnic origin, background or even race; in fact, it has deep and demeaning historical roots. I am pleased to sign this legislation and remove the phrase from preprinted forms and documents.&#8221;&#160; [my emphasis]</p> <p>To quote Frank H. Wu, a law professor at Harvard, &#8220;Oriental&#8217; is like the word &#8216;negro.&#8217; It conjures up an era.&#8221;</p> <p>While some may argue that while &#8220;oriental&#8221; as applied to a person is racist, it is perfectly fine for use as a term for an object, such as an &#8220;oriental rug&#8221;, or for a region.&#160; In this case, wouldn&#8217;t &#8220;Oriental Medicine&#8221; remain perfectly fine?&#160; To quote Mae M. Ngai, the Lung Family Professor of Asian American Studies at Columbia University,</p> <p>&#8220;It&#8217;s only the east if you&#8217;re from somewhere else. It&#8217;s a Eurocentric name... which is why it&#8217;s wrong.&#8221;</p> <p>I first encountered the term &#8220;Traditional East Asian Medicine&#8221; in the introduction to Miki Shima and Chip Chace&#8217;s excellent text, &#8220;An Exposition on the Eight Extraordinary Vessels&#8221; and I immediately recognized what I believe we should, as a community, come to use as our moniker. Not only is the term void of negative racial connotations, its acronym, T.E.A.M., also implies something our profession has at times in its history been sorely lacking &#8211; a sense of friendly inclusion, tolerance, and community.</p> <p>In a recent talk that I gave to a group of students on why they should join the <a href="http://www.aaaomonline.org/">AAAOM</a>, I mentioned the importance of joining together as a community regardless of what tradition we practice.&#160; The simple fact of the matter is, no matter whether you are a practitioner of Worsley Five Element Acupuncture or TCM, whether you work in a hospital or in a community style clinic, whether you are an herbalist who writes bulk prescriptions or a Japanese meridian therapist who hasn&#8217;t prescribed herbs in over a decade, one thing is true &#8211; your license to practice reads the same as mine.&#160; We are all in this together.&#160; For good or for ill, for better or for worse, your future, your ability to practice lies just as much with your fellows of other traditions as it does within your own specialty.&#160; And unless we put aside the petty squabbling about &#8220;authenticity&#8221; and all the other forms of verbal mudslinging that go on ad nauseum on Facebook and in forums across the internet, our future remains uncertain.</p> <p>That is why I love the acronym T.E.A.M. &#8211; it stands for something.&#160; It stands for the future of our medicine, for if there is such a future to be had, it will be had as a &#8220;team&#8221; or not at all.</p> <p><a href="http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/09/law-bans-use-of-oriental-in-state-documents/">New York Times, Law Bans Use of &#8216;Oriental&#8217; in State Documents&#8221;</a></p><div class="item_footer"><p><small><a href="http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/why-traditional-east-asian-medicine">Original post</a> blogged on <a href="http://b2evolution.net/">b2evolution</a>.</small></p></div> Everywhere you look in the acupuncture community, you will encounter the word, “Oriental.”  One of the diplomas on my wall, earned with blood, sweat, and tears, says that I am a Diplomate in “Oriental” Medicine.  Many acupuncture colleges around the country use the term “oriental” in their very names.  The word is part and parcel to many of the companies in our industry, to many of the schools that we attend, and even to the very diplomas on our walls.  Why on earth, then, would we want to change something that has been part of our tradition in the West for over 30 years?

Simple – because it’s racist.

When applied to a person the use of the word is a racial slur.  In point of fact, the states of New York and Washington have both banned the use of “oriental” from government documents and common usage.

New York Governor Paterson said in a statement:

“The words we use matter. We in government recognize that what we print in official documents or forms sets an example of what is acceptable. With this legislation, we take action against derogatory speech and set a new standard. The word ‘oriental’ does not describe ethnic origin, background or even race; in fact, it has deep and demeaning historical roots. I am pleased to sign this legislation and remove the phrase from preprinted forms and documents.”  [my emphasis]

To quote Frank H. Wu, a law professor at Harvard, “Oriental’ is like the word ‘negro.’ It conjures up an era.”

While some may argue that while “oriental” as applied to a person is racist, it is perfectly fine for use as a term for an object, such as an “oriental rug”, or for a region.  In this case, wouldn’t “Oriental Medicine” remain perfectly fine?  To quote Mae M. Ngai, the Lung Family Professor of Asian American Studies at Columbia University,

“It’s only the east if you’re from somewhere else. It’s a Eurocentric name... which is why it’s wrong.”

I first encountered the term “Traditional East Asian Medicine” in the introduction to Miki Shima and Chip Chace’s excellent text, “An Exposition on the Eight Extraordinary Vessels” and I immediately recognized what I believe we should, as a community, come to use as our moniker. Not only is the term void of negative racial connotations, its acronym, T.E.A.M., also implies something our profession has at times in its history been sorely lacking – a sense of friendly inclusion, tolerance, and community.

In a recent talk that I gave to a group of students on why they should join the AAAOM, I mentioned the importance of joining together as a community regardless of what tradition we practice.  The simple fact of the matter is, no matter whether you are a practitioner of Worsley Five Element Acupuncture or TCM, whether you work in a hospital or in a community style clinic, whether you are an herbalist who writes bulk prescriptions or a Japanese meridian therapist who hasn’t prescribed herbs in over a decade, one thing is true – your license to practice reads the same as mine.  We are all in this together.  For good or for ill, for better or for worse, your future, your ability to practice lies just as much with your fellows of other traditions as it does within your own specialty.  And unless we put aside the petty squabbling about “authenticity” and all the other forms of verbal mudslinging that go on ad nauseum on Facebook and in forums across the internet, our future remains uncertain.

That is why I love the acronym T.E.A.M. – it stands for something.  It stands for the future of our medicine, for if there is such a future to be had, it will be had as a “team” or not at all.

New York Times, Law Bans Use of ‘Oriental’ in State Documents”

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

]]> http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/why-traditional-east-asian-medicine#comments http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php?tempskin=_rss2&disp=comments&p=966 White House Petition: Recognize Acupuncturists as Healthcare providers http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/white-house-petition-recognize-acupuncturists Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:39:00 +0000 maliakirby Bob Flaws' Blog Malia Kirby's Blog 965@http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/ <p><strong>by Malia Kirby</strong></p> <p>There are only days left to sign a crucial petition to alert the Obama Administration to the fact that acupuncturists are not currently recognized as healthcare providers under the Social Security Act and, therefore, cannot get reimbursement for services provided to Medicare patients. The Social Security Act does recognize other healthcare professionals such as dieticians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse midwives, and clinical social workers. By changing the compensation structure allowed under Medicare, we can ensure that patients have access to their local acupuncturists.</p> <p>The petition, created on January 11 of this year, needs 25,000 signatures by February 10 to get a response from the White House regarding the inclusion of acupuncturists in the Social Security Act, and at this time, only has 11,677 signatures. We have over 13,000 signatures to go.</p> <p>If you have not yet signed, please do so now.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/recognize-acupuncturist-healthcare-providers/NTNpVFnp"> CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE WHITE HOUSE PETITION. SIGN TODAY!</a></strong></p><div class="item_footer"><p><small><a href="http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/white-house-petition-recognize-acupuncturists">Original post</a> blogged on <a href="http://b2evolution.net/">b2evolution</a>.</small></p></div> by Malia Kirby

There are only days left to sign a crucial petition to alert the Obama Administration to the fact that acupuncturists are not currently recognized as healthcare providers under the Social Security Act and, therefore, cannot get reimbursement for services provided to Medicare patients. The Social Security Act does recognize other healthcare professionals such as dieticians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse midwives, and clinical social workers. By changing the compensation structure allowed under Medicare, we can ensure that patients have access to their local acupuncturists.

The petition, created on January 11 of this year, needs 25,000 signatures by February 10 to get a response from the White House regarding the inclusion of acupuncturists in the Social Security Act, and at this time, only has 11,677 signatures. We have over 13,000 signatures to go.

If you have not yet signed, please do so now.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE WHITE HOUSE PETITION. SIGN TODAY!

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

]]> http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/white-house-petition-recognize-acupuncturists#comments http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php?tempskin=_rss2&disp=comments&p=965 TCTCM and Chinese herbal medicine in the news http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/tctcm-and-chinese-herbal-medicine Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:47:00 +0000 maliakirby Malia Kirby's Blog 964@http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/ <p><strong>by Malia Kirby</strong></p> <p>This little gem from the Texas College of Traditional Chinese Medicine floated through my incoming alternative health news this morning, and it raises a couple of&#160; interesting questions:</p> <p>Should Chinese herbs require a prescription in order for patients to purchase them?</p> <p>Should we increase governmental control in order to protect the public?</p> <p>&#160;</p> <p><div class="videoblock"><object data="http://www.youtube.com/v/1j_Knmi8k5s" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1j_Knmi8k5s"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param></object></div></p> <p>&#160;</p> <p>What do YOU think?&#160; Talk amongst yourselves in the comments.</p><div class="item_footer"><p><small><a href="http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/tctcm-and-chinese-herbal-medicine">Original post</a> blogged on <a href="http://b2evolution.net/">b2evolution</a>.</small></p></div> by Malia Kirby

This little gem from the Texas College of Traditional Chinese Medicine floated through my incoming alternative health news this morning, and it raises a couple of  interesting questions:

Should Chinese herbs require a prescription in order for patients to purchase them?

Should we increase governmental control in order to protect the public?

 

 

What do YOU think?  Talk amongst yourselves in the comments.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

]]> http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php/tctcm-and-chinese-herbal-medicine#comments http://www.bluepoppy.com/blog/blogs/blog1.php?tempskin=_rss2&disp=comments&p=964