THE THERAPIST
The Therapist is IAMTS' newsletter and is issued four times per year. However, due to the time and expense involved to produce The Therapist, it has temporarly out of print. We are currently working on the possibility of future newsletters for a minimal fee to cover postage. Regardless, we will continue to offer Therapeutic Perspectives online free of charge.
The Therapist will consider publishing articles written by our members in the field of
Complementary and/or Conventional Medicine.We wanted to start out by sharing the following article with you. Why we believe that IAMTS is an organization whose time has come.
Why Another Organization?
As you know the momentum is building in complementary medicine fields. Take a moment to read some of the exciting things that are being reported.In his article "Why Complementary Medicine?", People's Medical Society Inc., 1998, Charles B. Inlander found in recent studies that approximately 60% of all medical doctors recommend complementary therapies to their patients; and almost half of those doctors report using complementary therapies themselves.
A growing number of physicians are successfully combining traditional medicine with the healing potential of complimentary therapies. Twenty years ago, few physicians would have advised patients to take folic acid to prevent birth defects, vitamin E to promote a healthy heart, or vitamin C to bolster their immune systems. Yet, today, doctor and patient alike know of these vitamins lifesaving benefits. Twenty years ago, Acupuncture, Visual Guided Imagery, and Therapeutic Touch were considered outright quackery. Now, however, in clinics and hospitals around the country, non-traditional therapies are gaining wider acceptance as testimonials and studies report more and more success when using them to treat such chronic maladies as back pain and arthritis.
A Stanford survey found that conventional and complementary medicines are becoming more compatible with one another in the eyes of consumers. According to a study done by Dr. David M. Eisenburg of Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital in 1990, 80 million people in the United States had used one or more forms of complementary health care. This group spent more than 14 billion dollars out-of-pocket for this care. Recent studies continue to support this trend. According to the Chemist & Druggist, March 14, 1998 v249 n6128 p23(2), a speaker at a recent seminar on complementary health said that the term "integrated health care" may soon be used instead of alternative and complementary medicine.
In the article, Courses Involving Complementary and Alternative Medicine at US Medical Schools. Wetzel, Miriam; Eisenberg, David; and Kaptchuk, Ted; JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association, Sept 2, 1998 v280 n9 p784(1). Many medical schools offer courses on alternative and complementary medicine. A 1997-98 survey of 117 US medical schools found that 64% offered an elective course in alternative medicine or included information about alternative medicine in a regular course. 68% of the courses were stand-alone courses whereas 31% were part of a required course. Topics included Chiropractic Treatments, Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Herbal Therapies, and Mind-Body Techniques.
Even in government things are changing . . .
Professional and public interest in the field of alternative care has grown to such a degree that in 1992, the U.S. government established the Office of Alternative Medicine within the National Institute of Health (NIH). Their mission is to "speed up the discovery, development, and validation of potential treatments". This will enhance or complement our current healthcare system.
The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Health System in Kentucky has trained 40 nurses and Pastoral Care Counselors in the use of Healing Touch as an adjunct to pain management techniques and is planning an Institute of Mind-Body-Spirit for its six hospitals in Kentucky, Arkansas, and Tennessee. The Institute will train and certify practitioners in Reiki, Herbs, Reflexology, and other Alternative Medicine healing methods.
Complementary Medicine is
booming worldwide...
Many countries differ in popular usage and their regulatory approach to alternative medicine, such as acupuncture, chiropractic and herbal medicine, hypnotherapy and homeopathy but the numbers utilizing such methods continues to grow.
In Russia . . .
Both ancient procedures and modern western medicine are a part of life. As of 1996 non-conventional medicine had become more popular with both patients and physicians.
In Britain . . .
In The Guardian, May 16, 1998, an article stated that they had estimated 45,000 people would turnout to attend the Mind Body Spirit Festival in London, England. Also, the market for complementary medicine almost doubled between 1991 and 1996 and is estimated to be worth 72 million pounds sterling or British dollars. British Airways and Midland Bank are among a number of companies said to have brought in Feng Shui consultants to redesign office space.
One in 10 people in Britain consults a
practitioner of complementary medicine
each year according to a recent survey by the Research Council for Complementary
Medicine. The most popular branches being Acupuncture, Chiropractic Treatments,
Osteopathy, Homeopathy, Herbal Medicine, and Hypnotherapy.
In France. . .
More than a third of people use some form of alternative medicine according to a recent survey. Again, the most popular forms are Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Phytotherapy, Thermalism, Osteopathy, and Chiropractic Treatments.
In Japan . . .
The distinction between Western and Complementary medicine is blurred with two thirds of Tokyo's inhabitants claiming to use non-conventional treatments. This is partly related to the widespread practice of traditional Japanese medicine, introduced some 1000 years ago from China. By contrast, Western medicine has only been practiced in Japan for around 200 years. The leading alternative treatments in Japan are Herbal Medicine, Acupuncture, and Acupressure or shIAMTSu.
In Australia . . .
A recent survey from the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Health Commission wrote that one-third of the population regularly visits a Natural Therapist and two-thirds regularly take vitamins and other "natural" treatments.
In Canada . . .
The Tzu Chi Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Center is being established by using contributions from the hospital, the Canadian Cancer Society, the British Columbia government, and a $6 million grant from the Taiwan-based Tzu Chi Foundation, a Buddhist organization. The Institute will conduct clinical services as well as research.
What this means to you, the complementary therapist. . .
In the 20th century, medicine has, in many ways, catered to the desires of patients. The patient of old wanted a quick fix and to be sent on his way to do battle yet another day. Today, more informed consumers are looking for preventative medicine and a system that incorporates all of the dynamics that exist in a person who is moving into the next millennium. Finally, the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health are ALL being recognized in an emerging picture of wellness. A balance of these systems leads to and maintains health. People, everywhere, want healthcare that empowers them and provides the opportunity for them to be part of the healing team. A place where they can create a healing path that includes their input into a complete formula.
What does all this mean to practitioners of complementary modalities, health care providers, and distributors of products and services related to helping and healing people?It means the time has come for our organization, The International Association of Medical and Therapeutic Specialists (IAMTS), to bring together practitioners of all modalities. We offer practitioners, retailers, and consumers alike, a place where one and all can come and find benefit in having choices. There are many organizations in existence but many are self-serving; none offers the variety of benefits found in IAMTS.
IAMTS
As an organization we are committed to helping practitioners of emerging modalities and conventional medicine come together in a complementary fashion. Modalities such as Acupuncture, Aromatherapy, Ayurvedic Medicine, Therapeutic Massage, Reiki, Hypnotherapy, and Mind/Body Medicine working hand-in-hand with Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Preventative Medicine.
We are more than a member organization. We are an Educational Institution who provides members and consumers of the services an opportunity to learn from one another. We make credible information available to a greater audience and increase public awareness of conventional and complementary therapies. We are a powerful marketing platform. The general public can access our organization through our website and find informative articles written on a variety of topics; gaining access to information on a large scale, in one locale. This benefits practitioners by giving them access to an unlimited client base through their member listing in the IAMTS website. In addition, there is the opportunity to write articles for Submission to our newsletter which further enhances your opportunity to promote and network!
We offer two types of memberships. As an Associate member of IAMTS you may choose to be listed in our International Directory with free e-mail. As a Registered Therapist you will also receive a free web link to your web page AND a one page web presence hosted on the IAMTS website to further promote your services. These are tools that are vital to a successful practice! You can join IAMTS at any time and for a limited time Associate Membership is free.
If you are a practitioner now is the time to ask yourself "Do I want to become a part of this momentum?" or "Do I want to stand by and watch it happen?" If you are a healthcare consumer, you are welcome to place yourself on our mailing list to avail yourself of many upcoming events, offers, information and opportunities.
Why another organization . . .
Consider membership as an investment in your future.
Consider us your organization!
