Summary: For many of us, this weeks' "integrative health policy week" in Washington, DC actually began with the robust Integrative Healthcare Symposium (IHS) in New York City last week where a multidisciplinary gathering of 1300 met to explore policy, practice, science and business issues. Nancy Gahles, DC, CCH, RSHom (NA), an advisory board member for IHS, offers her review of pros and cons of the meeting. She explores roadmaps-for-the-future policy panels which included Wayne Jonas, Josephine Briggs, Mary Jo Kreitzer, Bill Benda and others. Some of what she experiences she celebrates. At the same time, Gahles, president of the National Center for Homeopathy, challenges the MD-centrism of much of the content and wonders whether these roads will take us "back to Rome?" It's a thought provoking, homeopathic-centric review. If you attended, what did you think about the inter-disciplinary balance at the IHS?

Nancy Gahles, DC, CCH, RSHOM(NA)

Last week featured the most significant, multidisciplinary integrative health symposium of the year. I was told that 1300 souls attended the February 19-21 Integrative Healthcare Symposium (IHS) in New York City, up from 850 in 2008, a remarkable turn-out amidst the economic downturn. Nancy Gahles,

Plenary policy panel "very encouraging"

The first panel, Leadership and Policy-National Policy and Integrative Practice: Roadmaps for the Future with Wayne Jonas, Josephine Briggs and Mary Jo Kreitzer was encouraging. Wayne [director of the Samueli Institute] understood that the current policy is still addressing how do we get more of what we have now and that we know that is a broken system.  He knows that prevention and wellness have to be in the language in a way that addresses comprehensive lifestyle care. He understands that CAM delivery isn't easy because people do not want to take personal responsibility and that this is a cultural challenge  that needs to be addressed. He said that in the medical industrial power struggle the patient is at the bottom rung and this needs to be changed. Hear, hear! He also spoke about looking into placebo as a key to how healing happens.

Josephine Briggs [director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine] spoke from her heart as a nephrologist and the way in which she saw high tech medicine lose track of the patient. Fusing with mind body medicine could enhance the emotional interaction between doctor and patient and that would be a good thing for healing. She talked about placebo studies and intentionality of healing.

I spoke with her personally about the challenge for homeopathic studies without the hospital/institution availability and the need for NCCAM to fund more clinical and community studies and she agreed. I also mentioned that I had co-authored a grant to the NCCAM about homeopathy and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Of course we were turned down as it was our first time and we have since lost our hospital affiliation as the CAM program was cut. She said keep trying and that IBS lends itself particularly well to homeopathy and she was much in favor of a study like this.

Mary Jo Kreitzer [director of the University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality and Healing] spoke about spirituality and the need to rethink the education model. To have healthcare homes instead of nursing homes, to educate consumers. She sees consumers as change agents. Much from the nurses prospective of patient-centered care.

Green pharma: 'very allopathic model in much of the symposium"

The remainder of the symposium was disheartening. Very allopathic model . Mostly presentations from MD's, ND's and RN's who use nutriceuticals (functional medicine) instead of prescription drugs and so they fancy themselves as integrative practitioners. There were no practical models of integrative practices that work.  Like a DC/MD relationship or a MD/homeopath relationship.That's because no one does it.

	"The MD's STILL do not refer to DC's or, God forbid, homeopaths.  Remember the kid's song on the playground when you wanted to exclude someone? Tick tock the game is locked and nobody else can play." - Nancy Gahles

The MD's STILL do not refer to DC's or, God forbid, homeopaths.  Remember the kid's song on the playground when you wanted to exclude someone? Tick tock the game is locked and nobody else can play. The limiting belief systems about personal responsibility that Dr. Jonas brings up with regard to cultural changes that are needed also must address the prejudice, ego and economic greed that characterize the exclusionary tactics of the dominant medical profession in the healthcare arena as it now exists.

The second policy panel, "National Policy and Integrative Practice: Building the Road," reflected this state again.  Lots of thought leaders for change. All from the medical community...no one from the homeopathic profession.*

I should have been there to represent the NCH and our membership and our vision for the future of healthcare and the ways in which we could form alliances and empower the patient.  NO chiropractic colleges or association representatives either.* Academic consortium people who don't have any "alternatives" in their programs because they aren't allowed.  The very well intentioned and articulate David Seckman [director of the Natural Products Association] even shared the story of developing his alternative center within a medical school which was not going to be allowed to proceed if he brought in  an herbologist.  Puh-leeze!  Building the road?? Hmm? Where is the change?? Where oh where is this road going to take us?? Back to Rome?  Why are we not engaging the talents in other fields? Einstein told us that no problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it.  We need to take

"I did take a bit of  hope away from both panels as those who were there did see the bigger picture and effectively voiced the real challenges and concerns that face us. "Janet Kahn [director of the Integrated Healthcare Policy Consortium] for one, immediately extended an invitation to the NCH to join her organization." - Gahles

a different perspective.  Unless and until we include the "others"  I am staying off this highway.  I will reset my GPS for the destination that I believe in.  I will continue to build the road of freedom of choice, of options and patient empowerment through education about homeopathy. I am a gourmand, I like a full menu. I want 1 from column A and 1 from column B and maybe even another from column C in my healthcare protocol. We cannot afford to sing Johnny One Note any longer. There are huge gaps where conventional medicine has nothing to offer. There are "other" systems on the edge of the abyss that can be used to bridge that gap. Clearly, this is a matter of territorialism within the medical/industrial complex. I did take a bit of  hope away from both panels as those who were there did see the bigger picture and effectively voiced the real challenges and concerns that face us. Janet Kahn [director of the Integrated Healthcare Policy Consortium] for one, immediately extended an invitation to the NCH to join her organization, Partners for Health, as soon as I introduced myself. I will venture to say it must be simply a matter that no one knows that homeopathy is alive and well in America.

The rest of the symposium was disheartening. I was an exhibitor for the National Center for Homeopathy and as I looked around the exhibit hall from my booth, it could well have been a medical convention. Only the pills were vitamins, supplements instead of drugs and those passing by my booth were mostly MD's and nurses.  The standing room only presentations were from functional medicine docs who swear by environmental toxins as cause of inflammation and supplements as the answer. External factors as aggressors ..again..where is homeopathy? What about strengthening the constitution of the person so that they are able to function in the presence of external factors and regain homeostasis because they are healthy?

From my perspective as a homeopath - a brief rant

All this from my perspective as a homeopath, of course. I hear with those ears. I listen for where the word, homeopathy, may be present and always, it is not even on the radar. It is always relegated to the "others" right after acupuncture, massage therapy, YOGA and , the "others".  My job is always to speak up and say, "What about homeopathy?" The "other" medical system. The second largest medical system. The "whole system of medicine" as it is listed on NCCAM's page. The system that you are all talking about and looking for a model of is right there. Homeopathy DOES  take into consideration the whole person, body/mind/emotion/spirit.  Homeopathy DOES engender a sincere practitioner/patient relationship.  Homeopathy DOES encourage patient responsibility as the health of the patient strengthens so does their consciousness and their ability to see the world in a healthy way and hence the desire to become an active participant in their own lives. Homeopathy DOES use minimal dose, IS cost effective and PREVENTS chronic disease. Homeopathy speaks to the essence of self care and thereby engenders personal responsibility.  Homeopathy can be used by individuals in self limiting conditions thereby relieving the burden on the ER visits, Doc visits for coughs, colds and flus,etc.  Homeopaths have used placebo for 200 years as an adjunct to practice and so is a fertile ground for studying the effects of placebo in healing.  Homeopathy HAS a complete system of medicines that are FDA approved for use.  And there are PLENTY of studies to back up this 200 year old art and science.  No need to reinvent the wheel. Simply open the door to include another option of HEALTHcare into the system.  We need options, choices in healthcare and the people need to be empowered to use it and to make educated choices as to whom they want to partner their care with.

That's wellness and that's a wrap. Or maybe that's a blog.

Off to DC for the [Institute of Medicine] Summit! Sending wellness and strength your way, as always!

Nancy Gahles, D.C., CCH, RSHom(NA)
Director, Health and Harmony Wellness Education
President, National Center for Homeopathy
Columnist, The Wave newspaper
Ask The Experts: Mothering Magazine, Natural Health.com
Ordained Interfaith Minister

Note: Gahles is currently completing a book which should be out shortly which, among other things, addresses issue in patient engagement in their own wellness.