NASH MEMBER UPDATE - July 2006

The North American Society of Homeopaths is dedicated to promote, represent and serve as the voice of all professional homeopaths in North America. NASH aims to develop and uphold the highest level of excellence in homeopathic practice while enhancing the role of the homeopathic profession as an integral part of health care delivery.

Board of Directors

President: Manfred Mueller, CA,
Email: homeopathicassociates@earthlink.net

Vice president: Kate Birch, MN,
Email:  Katebhom@yahoo.com

Treasurer: Julie Mann, CA,
Email:  ma13nn@aol.com

Registrar: Laura Sholtz, ME,
Email:  laurasremedies@hotmail.com

Secretary: Carleen Johnson, ME,
Email:  cjohnson@uninets.net

Canadian Representative: Basil Ziv, Ont.,
Email:  basilziv@rogers.com

Administrator: Liz Bonfig, FL,
Email:  nashinfo@aol.com

Regulation of Homeopathy in Canada

As you may know, the Canadian government has been on the trail of the regulation and registration of homeopathy in Ontario. In order to study the question of statutory regulation of healthcare professions including alternative health professions, the Ministry of Health commissioned an organization called HPRAC to assess issues such as the risk of harm from the profession and the relative interest among professionals in statutory regulation. Various organizations had been called upon for comments and input for the government’s report. The results of this five-year project are detailed in the following link: www.hprac.org/downloads/newdirections/english.pdf

Some of the conclusions drawn from this study are of service to the profession of homeopathy while others offer an incomplete or biased view. NASH has been sifting through the information and has developed a response to HPRAC. Concurrently, this same HPRAC document has been circulated within the Homeopathic Action Alliance. The CHC and CHE have also submitted responses. Please view our attached letter of response to Canada’s Ministry of Health.

NASH is working on a more elaborate response whereby we have surveyed our Canadian members for their input and are developing a task force to review the report with a fine toothed comb. We will then develop a legal response in line with the larger community of homeopaths in Ontario and Canada.

We have talked with representatives from the Ontario Homeopathic Association, The British Institute of Homeopathy, The Devon School of Homeopathy, The Ontario Society of Homeopaths, the West Coast Society of Homeopaths, NUPATH, and more.

We have developed a response to the Ministry of Health whereby we recommend a two-tiered system of regulation for (a) the homeopathic doctor (licensed provider with access to controlled medical acts), and (b) the self-regulated homeopathic professional. The NASH response letters are attached.

The situation in Canada provides an opportunity to look at the many facets of moving homeopathy into a place of recognition in the medical world. It is clear that it won't be a smooth transition, and NASH is working hard to prepare for changes both in Canada and the U.S.

We hope that we can impact some of the decisions HPRAC has made for Canadian homeopaths. While we keep abreast of the situation in Canada, we are working toward developing unity in the U.S. homeopathic community to prepare for the inevitably of the federal governments imposition of a similar recommendation. The work ahead requires a degree of cooperation and unity to build strength in our profession.

AMA Research Project

The AMA has initiated a research project to evaluate the integrity of the education and certification requirements of alternative health practitioners in the United States. The initial report looks like there will be a strong slant to disparage and degrade alternative practitioners to back a report that would be in the favor of medical doctors.

NASH is keeping abreast of this situation while working with the HAA to further develop the unity of the homeopathic profession so that we may present a unified response to the AMA proposal. We will keep you posted on the developments as they come.

The work ahead requires a degree of cooperation and unity to build strength in our profession.

Health Freedom

The experience of the health freedom movement has been that organization has to be at a grass roots level rather than from a top down approach. The path for homeopaths must be discussed and agreed upon by homeopaths otherwise we will forever be at the mercy of powers beyond our reach. NO one will pave a way for us unless we do it ourselves.

To these ends we invite you to become involved locally, in small groups at first and then to participate in the larger picture. Consider becoming a part of a committee in the various homeopathic organizations, running for board positions, and most of all make your voice heard and turn into action.

Thank you for any of the work you have already been doing in this arena. NASH plans to be included in the larger picture and with the devotion and dedication of the current board, we may move into a leadership position in this arena. We need your help and support to grow our organization and to expand this vision.

HAA Update

Recent work in the HAA has been pleasant and productive. Each organization seems to be finding their place in the common world of homeopathy. We all have homeopathy as our unifying force and slowly the differences between those who are licensed, those who practice other modalities and those who are professional homeopaths are dissipating. The HAA is finding a common voice in our support of one another and for outreach projects like the homeopathic survey that everyone should have received and hopefully participated in by now. If you have not received this survey, please follow this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/Users/24585982/Surveys/14352106993/9FD2F2A1-38B2-4907-BADA-.

HAA has been apprised of the HPRAC recommendations in Canada and has made a formal response introducing ourselves. We are also looking at the recommendations HPRAC has proposed and reviewing them to determine their appropriateness or inappropriateness to how we envision the practice of homeopathy here in the United States. Your comments along this line are important for the formulation of a plan of action for our profession prior to the decision of governmental bodies desire to regulate us.

Amnesty Vote Update

Recently, NASH registered members were asked to vote on whether or not to issue a one-time amnesty period to waive the reinstatement fee for lapsed registered members. Results: 70 Yes, 5 No.

Thank you for your participation, comments and suggestions. We are happy with these results. Reinstatement is through the month of January, 2007. Tell your friends and colleagues. All former registered members will be invited this fall to reactivate their RSHom (NA) status.

Welcome New Members

We are delighted to welcome to NASH the following new members:

Registered Members
Siota Belle, California
Carol Boyce, Florida
Melissa Burch, Massachussetts
Orly Coben, Texas
Judy Schriebman, California
Pamela Swanson, Florida

Associate Members
Nadya Dhanani, Georgia
Neeta Jasmin Inamdar, California
Heidi Kistler, Michigan
Stanley Stevenson Madiki, India
Neil Migliore, New York
Barbara J. Slof, Michigan

Student Members
Ela Archinger, Colorado
Sandy Easter, Iowa
June Greathouse, New Mexico
Geraldine Metzger, North Carolina
Wilma I. Sinclair, California
Lillith Walker, California

Elections

It is that time again: The changing of the guards on the board. Each board position is a three year term. Our current treasurer Julie Mann was elected January 2004 and therefore the term expires January 2007. We on the board would like to thank Julie for her indispensable work at balancing the budget and helping us climb out of the financial crisis into which we had found ourselves. This next electoral period we are soliciting nominations to run for this position. The ballot will be completed and sent out by August 30th with votes due by Sept 30th. The new term starts January 2007.

The treasurer is responsible for managing the income accounts, developing a budget for future years, compiling information for tax purposes, and participating in decision making and special projects throughout the year, as well as participating in board meetings which are held every two weeks. Average time commitment is 5-8 hours/week. If you are interested in dedicating some of your time in service to the profession or if you know of someone who would do well in this position, please contact Manfred Mueller, the chair of the nominating committee at homeopathicassociates@earthlink.net .

Also, we need volunteers to assist Manfred with securing the nominations. Please contact Manfred or Liz as soon as possible. Thank you.

Call for Conference Speakers

Next year’s conference in Denver provides a wonderful opportunity for NASH members to present. The title of the 2007 conference is “Diseases of Epidemic Proportions: The Homeopathic Response to Today’s Growing Health Challenges.” We are looking for presentations within this topic, including new provings and case studies. Please contact Dana Ullman at dullman@igc.org with your presentation details.

This year there is a unique opportunity for a poster session whereby those with provings, special research, and case studies can present their work to a close group of people. Typically a poster session is a good opportunity to speak if you do not have enough information for a full presentation, are new to presenting and want to get your name out there or are interested in this networking style of presentation. If you are interested in presenting something in a poster session please submit your topic to Dana.

Advertising Opportunity

Ad space is available in Volume 12 of The American Homeopath due for publication this fall. This highly acclaimed journal is distributed throughout the United States, Canada and all across the world to practitioners, students and supporters of homeopathy.

Advertising in The American Homeopath ensures that your message is reaching an expanding homeopathic community. In addition to our subscription base, the journals are sold at schools, conferences and seminars throughout the year. Demand for Volumes 1-11 continues to be strong so your ad is working for you long after its initial publication.

For as little as $225 you can reach hundreds of potential customers. Call or email Liz for details (954-749-9943 or nashinfo@aol.com).

NASH Library

Did you miss the last conference? Are there other conferences you would like to get caught up on? Visit the website @ http://homeopathy.org/tapeLibrary.html for a detailed listing of available cassettes, videos and cds. Donations are appreciated.

Thank you to registered member Rowan Jackson for her generous donation. The titles (cassettes) will be available soon.

Volunteers Needed

If you have even one hour a month to help us we would really appreciate it. We have many ongoing and future projects from which to choose depending on your schedule. Contact Liz to see how you can help. CEUs are available.

World Homeopathy Awareness Week (WHAW)

The 2007 WHAW date will be April 10th-16th which will coincide with the Second Annual Joint American Conference, April 13-17. The 2007 theme, voted on by the International Board, is "Homeopathy for Women." This is in tune with the background of homeopathic practitioners, patients and supporters being mainly women, as well as the need for feminine energetic balance in the world.

For more information, please go to www.whomeopathy.org .

CEU Opportunity

At the Homeopathic Symposium we offer online interactive video of actual patient cases that were solved using a single remedy, with at least one year of follow-ups. Watch the intake, listen to what the practitioner was thinking, do your own analysis, watch the practitioner’s analysis in the Themes Assistant and Repertorization section, make your prescription on our Virtual Prescription Pad and watch a differential diagnosis of the remedies indicated. Second prescription issues are discussed in the follow-up appointments. Each case is worth 6 hours of CEUs and accredited for the CCH annual requirement. In the Multi-media section there are tutorials on Materia Medica by practitioners like Will Taylor and Jeremy Sherr and a new 3-part series by Rajan Sankaran on his Introduction to the Vital Sensation Method - if you are at all interested in this important work, you owe it to yourself to hear it straight from 'the horses mouth.' All patients have given their written permission to have their cases on the HS website and their confidentiality is carefully protected - the site is encrypted and password protected and each registration is individually verified. Register for free and see what we have to offer. Do the Free Trial case while you are on site and receive 6 hours of CEUs! We look forward to you joining our growing community of satisfied users.

DISCOUNT AVAILABLE TO NASH MEMBERS. Carol Boyce, MCH, CCH, RSHom (NA), Director of Education The Homeopathic Symposium, www.homeopathicsymposium.com

Work Opportunity

We are a chain of homoeopathic clinics by the name of Health and Glow Clinics Private Limited with headquarters in Kolkata (east India). Currently, we have 4 centers in 3 cities. We require assistance in case studies for our patients on an “as-and-when-required” basis. We would require your doctors to review our patient case histories. They will need to suggest prescriptions for the same. We will like to include them in our case review panel. We could work out a monthly/annual or case wise retention charge. Please help us provide world class services to our patients.
Dr Siddhartha Misra, Director
Health and Glow (P) Ltd.
H-30, 3rd Floor, South Extension Part 1, New Delhi-49

Email: Email: info@megaminds.org
Office- 00 91 11 41349709, 55797960, Handphone - 009350681841

Bird Flu Update

by Sally Tamplin, RSHom
Executive Director MHA
Minnesota Homeopathic Association

Dear MHA members and friends,

I have good news to share.

We have been working hard with MHA preparations for possible pandemic flu.

The presentation committee worked to help Jacob to write the power point presentation to the Department of Health. We want them to include homeopathy in pandemic planning and to have all first responders trained in how to use our influenza homeopathic kits. When this was ready Jacob and I took one more look at it along with Professor Donna McCarthy, Bette Jo Arnett and her husband. Jacob and I then sat down one last time and fine-tuned how we would share the presentation. The net result of all this preparation was that on Thursday June 15th we both went to The Minnesota Department of Health and spent nearly two hours speaking for homeopathy and on behalf of MHA. We were kindly supported by Attorney Diane Millar and Greg Schmidt from The National Health Coalition Freedom Movement.

We presented to Kris Ehresmann Section Chief for Immunization, TB and International Health, Lynda Bourdreau, Deputy Commissioner for Health and 9 other members of the Health Department. Kris Ehresmann is in charge of bird flu preparations.

Everyone in the room was focused on the issue for the entire presentation. I talked about the historical data, in particular the performance of homeopathy in all epidemics of the past, but the main focus of attention was drawn to the Dewey Report. I also outlined the MHA plans for a massive public awareness campaign beginning on Labor Day and ending at Thanksgiving.

Jacob talked about the principles of homeopathy and some of his personal cases where he has treated very sick people in the hospital and he drew attention to many studies including the recent study published in Chest Journal and referring to kali bi. We were asked a number of insightful questions and were able to supply some good answers as a result of our level of prior preparation.

This was a good day for homeopathy. We had a captive audience and we spoke with clarity, conviction, professionalism and integrity. At the end of the presentation, we spoke personally with Kris Ehresmann about the strength and professional status of our community. We talked about the fine school of homeopathy, North Western Academy, that we have here in the Twin Cities and about the abilities of its graduates. As a result of these efforts the Department have assured us that they will seriously look into the matter further.

Special thanks to Donna Mc Carthy, speech and communications professor at The University of St Thomas, our coach. Homeopathy has a very strong voice!

On June 16th we continued our presentation and went to Sister Rosalind Gefre's School of Therapeutic Massage. Many of you will be aware of Sister Rosalind and her story. She is popular with the Minnesota press and highly respected all over the world. We spent two and a half hours presenting to Sister and her School Director, Bill Dunn. As a net result of our efforts all staff and students will be trained in the use of the influenza kit and all her schools and clinics will remain open during a time of emergency and will be used for public distribution of genus epidemicus remedies. Sister is keen for us to go to press with this and will endorse the use of her name and public image in the advance of homeopathy. This is a huge step forward for our organization and we hope the first of many such associations. We will notify the press in due course.

I will be contacting the Salvation Army in the near future. Our initial presentation to their Head of Disaster Planning went very well but when I followed up we were told that homeopathy needed to be endorsed by the Department of Health before they would proceed further.

We want to remind everyone that we want as many presentations as possible during the main thrust of our campaign. It is hoped that every homeopath will consider talking on five separate occasions to the general public this fall.

For your presentation The MHA has made available a power point presentation available for purchase. Forfor more information view: http://www.homeopathicmedicalclinic.com/flu/ .

Jacob and I have almost finished our flu book and hope to get it published very soon.

MHA is growing in strength, success and unity, we always welcome new members especially, but not exclusively, students of homeopathy.

Yours in homeopathy,
Sally Tamplin
Executive Director