NASH MEMBER UPDATE
December 2007

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

Bi-national Liaison: Basil Ziv, Ont.,
Email:  basilziv@rogers.com

Executive Director: Liz Bonfig, FL,
Email:  nashinfo@aol.com, 954-749-9943

Committee Chairs

• Manfred Mueller has been re-elected President
• Cassie Travaini has been elected Vice President
• Carleen Johnson has been re-elected Secretary

We are grateful to Manfred and Carleen for continuing their service to NASH, and we welcome Cassie as she joins them and our current board members Julie Mann, Laura Sholtz and Basil Ziv.

We extend our deepest thanks and best wishes to outgoing Vice President Kate Birch. Kate donated a tremendous amount of time to NASH, and we will miss her enthusiasm and her ability to keep many projects afloat. We are delighted that Kate has agreed to continue serving NASH as the grievance committee chairperson for the next few years.

NASH president Manfred Mueller has compiled some guidelines on how to talk to the media about homeopathy without increasing one’s exposure. The intent of these guidelines is to help our members and other practitioners within the homeopathic community to avoid legal complications. Please understand that these guidelines are meant to educate only and are not intended as legal advice. If you are unable to access the attached Word document, please contact nashinfo@aol.com.

For more information about legal practice issues NASH now offers the book “Legal Guidelines for Unlicensed Practitioners,” by Dr. Lawrence Wilson for $12.95 plus shipping and handling. This practical guide explains in detail the occupational licensing laws. It is designed to help anyone who wishes to stay out of legal trouble and to be able to practice as they wish, within the law.

The journal has been mailed so if you haven’t received it yet, please contact Liz. We hope you are pleased with this special issue, and we look forward to your feedback.

The 2008 membership renewal forms are enclosed with the journal as well as our year-end summary. For your convenience, you may now renew online at www.homeopathy.org.

With record growth this year in all levels of membership -- more than 20% increase in Registered Members – we are very excited about our prospects for the upcoming year. Thank you to all of you who have donated your time this past year. We look forward to working with you in 2008. If you haven’t had a chance to volunteer, please consider donating some time.

A message from Editor Richa Eland, nashjournal@msn.com

We are putting out a call for articles for The American Homeopath, Volume 14. We are in need of several more experienced copy editors. These are people who really know their grammar rules and enjoy nit picking everything from footnotes to comma placements. They love the best use of grammar.

We are in search of a Chief Copy Editor to complete our editorial team. The Chief Copy Editor will coordinate the many drafts of a given piece and will consult with the Chief Editor on each piece as it develops. Organization is key here along with good communication skills. The load is heaviest from May 31 - September 15. If you are interested, please let Richa know. She can be reached at nashjournal@msn.com.

Submissions are being gathered for Volume 14, so if you have a case, proving or discourse on homeopathic philosophy, please consider submitting it for publication. We are also looking for experienced writers willing to take on an assignment and run with it!

We encourage contributions from practitioners and students from all homeopathic schools throughout the US, Canada and abroad. We always need book reviews written. We also need fresh ideas!

Members of the editorial committee are encouraged to attend the 3rd Annual Joint American Homeopathic Conference next April in Rhode Island to meet with Richa. Meeting time TBA.

We would like to increase sales of The American Homeopath. Volumes 1-13 are available. If you run a school, present seminars or attend conferences, please contact nashinfo@aol.com about offering the journals for sale at your events.

RSHom (NA)

• Catherine Castle, IA
• Mary Gordon, CA
• Patricia Kay, WA
• Miriam Mackey, CA
• Deborah Monlux, NY
• Breda Pixley, MD
• Manohar T. Santwani, NY
• Reza Sharifi, AZ
• Mary Ellen Turner, CO
• Angela Walker, PA

• Joette Calabrese, NY
• Elinor Hitchner, NJ
• Mary Lu Nelson, MN
• Hemesh Thakur, FL

• Dawn Bennett, MN
• Mary Bryant, VT
• Syd Delaski, CA
• Andrea Eccard, CA
• Ellen Gaddy, WA
• Clare Holtham, Great Britian
• Suzanne Joyce, MN
• Elizabeth Gale Leigeber, PA
• Susan Morrison, ME
• Jeffrey Parker, CA
• Megan Peabody, ME
• Kit Reno, NH
• Sara Smith, MN

The conference committee, which consists of representatives from the NCH, IAH, HANP, HNA and NASH, has been working hard to review solicited input from our members and other organizations to plan the 2008 and 2009 conferences.

A speaker selection process has begun and we are pleased to announce the pre-conference speaker on Friday will be Andre Saine. He also is the keynote presenter on Saturday morning, discussing his soon to be published book which meticulously chronologs documented homeopathic research and clinical results in the treatment of epidemics for the last two hundred years. Jeremy Sherr will be the Monday/Tuesday speaker with a presentation on the syphilitic miasm, reviewing new and old remedies that address this miasm. Jeremy will also be a keynote speaker on Sunday with a discussion of AIDS cases and noble gases. The breakout session speakers are still being decided.

The NASH annual meeting will be held over lunch on Saturday (April 12th), which will be included in the conference registration fees.

NASH would formally like to thank Sharon Stevenson, NCH’s Executive Director, for her wisdom and diligence as the main coordinator for these much needed community events. We appreciate Sharon’s hardworking staff as well.

NASH invites our members to take the time to invest in attending these joint conferences as a way to facilitate greater unity in the homeopathic community and to share in these community building events. We look forward to seeing you there April 11-15, 2008 in Warwick, Rhode Island at the Crowne Plaza at the Crossings.

A location in the Seattle, WA area will be selected soon for the 2009 conference.

Outgoing vice president Kate Birch will be continuing her work with NASH through the development and chairing of the much needed grievance committee. We are looking for 2-3 volunteers to help with the first 6 months of the implementation of this committee. Please contact Liz in the Main office if you would like to be a part of this committee. Initial work includes bi-weekly teleconferences and the development of the appropriate documentation and processes with which to process complaints. Work is set to begin mid-January.

The NASH Foundation was originally founded in 1999 with the intention of providing a venue to generate funds for education and research. As the year-end approaches there may be some of you looking for places to make a donation. The NASH foundation is a 501(c) 3 organization created to accept tax deductible donations. We are pleased to announce that we have received a very generous gift for our foundation from the Morse Hill Trust at the request of Erica Linen, a student of registered member Nancy Frederick’s Baylight School of Homeopathy in Portland, Maine. This donation will be invested until we generate enough momentum to sustain endeavors in this area. To these ends we are looking for individuals interested in volunteering for the various committees on the foundation to help generate more revenue and evaluate where the money would be best allocated to further homeopathic research and education. Contact Liz for more information.

Thank you to all the NASH members who generously donated to Homeopaths Without Borders. We raised $1,132.50 during 2007. If you would like more information about Homeopaths Without Borders, please contact or visit http://www.homeopathswithoutborders-na.org/

Oct. 18, 2007, Heidelberg, Germany

NASH Vice President Kate Birch attended the meeting as NASH’s representative

Representatives from 29 different countries held a seat at this inaugural meeting, during which we introduced ourselves and listened to reports from registered members. All of the European countries present were represented by the ECCH, the European Community Counsel for Homeopathy. Reports were heard from USA (NASH), Japan (JRAHM), Australia (AROH, ASH), Europe, ECCH and Canada (SPHP).

During the meeting we discussed the constitution of the organization, whereby, we confirmed the name of the group: The International Council for Homeopathy, representing the homeopathic profession from around the world.

A copy of the meeting notes submitted by Petter of the ECCH will be available upon request in the next few weeks. What was amazing was the incredible momentum and energy homeopaths are gathering worldwide for the advancement of the profession of homeopathy. Of all the reports, the Australian’s seem to be in the best position to be fully recognized as an integrated profession by their government, insurance companies and the public alike. What follows is the report from Australia, a model to which we in America can aspire.

There are four homeopathic practitioner organizations. But there is an over lighting organization called the AROH, Australian Registrar of Homeopaths. The AROH has established a standard of education that all homeopathic organizations must uphold for their members. The AROH then has been fully recognized by the federal government as the registering body for homeopaths. As the AROH has set these standards, then every school also must submit their course content for review. In this way, as the standards set by AROH are recognized by the government, all schools teach a governmentally accredited program. The final exam of the schools is then approved by the AROH and no further examination needs to be completed. Then it is required of practitioners to register with a professional organization to practice. In many ways the homeopaths there have been ahead of the wave of the self-regulation of the profession, before initiatives from the government have been established. Therefore, they have circumvented a top down regulation of the profession and have established themselves as a fully integrated profession. The AROH also has a grievance process and sets standards for various levels of competency. The competency exam is also administered by the AROH. They have malpractice insurance and insurance pays for homeopathy.

I bring this model to the forefront because we have the basic construct to create this similar structure in the U.S. The history of homeopathy in the US however is very different than that in Australia and therefore it has impacted the struggles American homeopaths have had to deal with. The Flexner report and the direct attempt by the AMA to eliminate homeopathy has put the practice of homeopathy on the defense from the get go. With this struggle in our history there has always been the conflict between the licensed and unlicensed practitioners. This conflict has then filtered into the directives of the particular homeopathic organizations. We have all been heading in the right direction but have been without an over lighting view to help channel us better. Future work must work toward binging us together more in order to create integrity in the profession. Future work in the US is to further streamline the work of all the homeopathic organizations much as we have been doing for the last few years with our joint conferences and the work of the HAA. Our next big hurdle is to gain recognition and accreditation from state and federal government officials for the viability of homeopathic practice.

The NCH sponsored event at the University of Connecticut Health Center held last October 25th is available at the following website address:

http://mediasite.uchc.edu/Mediasite41/Viewer/?peid=407916ea-6301-4ede-b04f-c3650e4073a7

This event marked the first time a major U.S. medical school examined homeopathy in this depth. The debate between six internationally renowned experts (Iris Bell, M.D., Ph.D., Rustum Roy Ph.D., Andre Saine N.D., Donald Marcus M.D., Steven Novella M.D. and Naduv Davidovitch M.D., Ph.D.) examined the basic science as well as the clinical and historical evidence around this 200-year-old system of medicine. Is homeopathy pure quackery as some contend or perhaps the future of medicine?

The NCH is seeking authors for their publication Homeopathy Today. Contact Managing Editor, Mitzi Lebensorger @ lebensorger@igc.org.

NASH’s certifying body, the Council for Homeopathic Certification, has submitted the following report.

Certification Exam Results for 2007

The Council for Homeopathic Certification is pleased to report the exam results for 2007. There were 82 total applicants for 2007, which was up 9% from 2006. 50 applicants took the exam in September, a record for a single exam cycle!

The exam results for 2007 are as follows:

Homeopathy – 88% pass rate; 58 applicants – 51 pass, 7 fail

Health Sciences – 69% pass rate; 49 applicants – 34 pass, 15 fail

Case Analysis Exam – 63% pass rate; 57 applicants – 36 pass, 21 fail

The CHC board is satisfied that these pass rates demonstrate an appropriate standard and are comparable to other professional exams.

Between January and October of 2007, the CHC certified 27 practitioners, with several more pending. Those who complete the certification process are entitled to use the credential ‘CCH’ – Certified in Classical Homeopathy. This certification is not a license to practice, but is an important step toward defining a national identity for the homeopathic profession. It also assists the general public in choosing appropriately qualified practitioners.

The CHC is half way through the first year of the pilot project they had initiated April 16, 2007 of fast tracking homeopaths through the examination process if they qualified. There are 22 slots still available through April 16 2008. Eligibility for the fast track which by passes the examination process is based on meeting the following criteria

• Minimum of 500 hours homeopathic education
• Minimum of 5 years experience with over 300 new cases taken and 1000 follow-ups.

Individuals with these criteria must still submit 5 written cases with 6 months follow up, write an essay on their practice and participate in an interview. Fast tracking bypasses the CHC exam. However those individuals without a medical license still need to pass the human science portion of the exam. NASH Associate members interested in becoming Registered members who satisfy these requirement may be eligible.

If you have any questions on the certification process, or are looking for a certified practitioner in your area, please visit www.homeopathicdirectory.com or contact the CHC office at 1-866-242-3399.

March 14-17, 2008

Judyth and Bob Ullman will present their "Fascinating and Inspiring Cases,” there will be pre-conference and post conference workshops that promise to be exciting and rewarding, and a Saturday night banquet - spend time with your favorite homeopaths!

You will find additional information on the AMCH website: http://www.amcofh.org/Programs/PostGrad.html. Please also feel free to email Debbie at Conferences@AMCofH.org.

Many years ago, a storage unit was rented in Oakland, CA for NASH journals and other miscellaneous files. We need a couple of volunteers to arrange for shipment or transport to our office in Florida. If you are able to help, it would be greatly appreciated. We spend around $1,500/year for the storage unit and feel that the money should go to more useful things. Please contact Liz for more details.

FIRST UNITED STATES HEALTH FREEDOM ASSEMBLY, OCTOBER 2007.

Marylu MillerPeterson, RSHom (NA), CCH represented NASH at this Assembly and has submitted the following report.

The first United States Health Freedom Assembly and Leadership Training was held October 12-14, 2007 at Willem Mitchell Law School in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was sponsored by National Health Freedom Coalition and co-chaired by Professor John Baker Jr. Director of the Hemispheric Trade Program, Attorney Karen Studders recognized expert on environmental policy and former leader in the Environmental Council of States, and Attorney Diane Miller Legal and Public Policy Director of the National Health Freedom Coalition.

Thirty representatives of organizations and companies that are working in and toward Health Freedom in the United States met to form their resolutions of Health Freedom, and to provide Leadership Training for Health Freedom Advocates. Over the course of the first two days six topics were lively discussed. Codex; Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America and the Trilateral Charter working group between Canada, US, and Mexico on Health Fraud; Current Federal and State bills impacting health freedom; Safe Harbor Exemption health freedom laws; Work being done by FDA on Draft CAM guidance Document and AER compliance; and Strategies to strengthen DSHEA. The third day featured leadership workshops: Texas Health Freedom; Florida Health Freedom; Fundraising; and Health Freedom Issues Regarding Licensure Bills for Dieticians, Naturopaths and Massage Therapists.

The entire three days were videotaped and can be purchased in entirety or by individual sessions either CD or DVD through BackCountry Productions 303.530.3153 or watersink@aol.com.

The keynote speakers were powerful in their inspirations and dedication to Health Freedom. Sandra Duffy J.D. is the President of Consumers for Dental Choice and works tirelessly in the state of Washington to assure Health Freedom for consumers. Clinton Miller, author and moving force behind the “Proxmire Vitamin Bill” of 1976 which stopped the FDA from enacting regulations which would require most high potency vitamins and mineral supplements to be sold as prescription drugs. He did this by moving his family from Utah to Washington DC to serve the National Health Federation from 1962 to 1989 as lobbyist and Executive Director.

Presently six states have Health Freedom Laws: Oklahoma, Minnesota, Idaho, California, Rhode Island, Louisiana. Several are in the process. You can stay updated through the website www.nationalhealthfreedom.org.

It was a powerful weekend to be a participant sharing the joys and sorrows of our nation’s health freedom movement with totally dedicated men and women.

Resolutions passed by the Assembly were:

Resolution: #1: PASS

Citizens Supporting the Sovereignty of American Law

We support the sovereignty of American Law, and the right of the American people to govern themselves through elected representative government; rather than having American agencies and courts following the rulings, standards, and guidelines of international institutions or foreign governments.

Among other things, the sovereignty of American Law is in jeopardy in the following ways with respect to threats to Health Freedom:

I. The CODEX Alimentarius created by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations is developing international standards and guidelines that restrict, limit, and fundamentally change Americans’ rights in health care choices.

II. Americans currently enjoy free access to dietary supplements, in large part because the American model of regulation is: unless something is specifically forbidden, it is allowed. In contrast, the European model of regulation is: unless something is specifically allowed, it is forbidden.

III. CODEX is using highly-restrictive European Union standards to govern food, dietary supplements and healthcare modalities, which are poised to be forced upon the American people.

BE it therefore resolved that U.S. executive and independent agencies shall not bypass the U.S. Congress by adopting or enacting into domestic law those regulations, guidelines, and standards from international institutions or foreign governments.

Resolution #2:PASS

The United States Health Freedom Assembly supports the concept and passage of safe harbor health freedom exemption bills in the healing arts, and does not support mandatory registration, certification, or licensure that would force persons to gain a privilege from the government before they engage in a healing act, when such act does not pose an immanent and significant risk of significant and direct harm to the public.

Resolution #3: PASS

We oppose any law or any interpretation of law that will determine the safety of food and/or dietary supplements based on drug-related, risk- benefit analysis models.

Resolution #4:PASS

With the exception of industrial chemicals added to the food or drug supply, the burden of proof of safety or the lack thereof for any product regulated by the FDA should rest with the FDA.

Resolution #5: PASS

The U.S. Health Freedom Assembly shall establish a committee to investigate and design the establishment of an information coordination center that can rapidly evaluate and disseminate health freedom information, which will employ a central database of health freedom member information and the means to disseminate information to and from via mail, email, fax, phone, and other media outlets to legislators, government agencies,

What to Do From Here:

If you want Health Freedom become involved in Health Freedom. Support your State and National Health Freedom Groups in any way you are able. Become members. Grass roots organizations are the people for the people. They are only built by you.

Establish a personal and meaningful relationship with your congress people. Education is necessary to take the next step in health freedom.

Do not become disillusioned. Stay awake, optimistic, and joyful. Feel the Unity. Consumers are losing good practitioners every day because the laws need to be changed.

And a last quote from Benjamin Rush MD, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and personal physician to George Washington, 1788:

“Unless we put medical freedom into the Constitution, the time will come when medicine will organize into an undercover dictatorship to restrict the art of healing to one class of men and deny equal privileges to others; the Constitution of the Republic should make a special privilege for medical freedoms as well as religious freedom.”

VIDEO TAPES AVAILABLE: The entire Friday and Saturday United States Health Freedom Assembly and Sunday’s Leadership Training were videotaped, and we encourage you to order CD’s and DVD’s of individual parts or the whole weekend. Go to http://www.nationalhealthfreedom.org/ conferences/2007Conference/2007ConferenceTapeOrderForm.pdf or call 303 530 3153.