The role of TCM in today's healthcare system

[Guest guest]

In order to promote and clarify TCM in the publics mind, we, as practitioners

need to

address a few fundamental issues. The state of TCM in the U. S. is still one of

confusion

and/or ridicule in the viewpoint of many citizens. In my opinion, this is the

result of

complacency on the part of practitioners, state and national organizations, and

schools in

the face of what appears to be a concerted effort on the part of the FDA,

pharmaceutical

companies, and the conventional allopathic medical community to discredit our

profession, truncate our pharmacoepia, and limit our continued growth as a

viable

healthcare paradigm.

The progress made over the last three decades is being eroded by these forces.

Patient

demand has driven most of that progress, but we cannot rely on our patients to

fight for

TCM.

Most state organizations are either in competition with organizatins within

their own state

or are hampered by limited funds and/or will. I must confess that I, myself,

have been

reluctant to join my state organization and remit dues that may serve no real

purpose. I

am hoping that will change soon.

I realize that most practitioners are not exactly confrontational types, yet

this issue

requires confrontation (peacefully, of course) with the powers that be. I urge

all DOM's,

OMD's, AP's, LAc.'s, AP's, etc. (this disparity of licensure illustrates part of

the problem) to

engage in a concerted effort to educate, collaborate, and design better working

relationships with each other and their state/national organizations.

I invite all interested parties to enter into this conversation here or at

www.acupuncturemed.blogspot.com so that we may collectively arrive at workable

solutions for these problems.

Sincerely,

dr.w