Dear Fellow Chiropractor: We've heard this phrase many times beforeÉthe time is now. We've heard it in regards to unity within our profession, to gather a grassroots momentum to help our profession, etc. We've also heard from many esteemed chiropractors that if we don't do something now that the MD's will position themselves as the leaders in preventative and wellness care. Those chiropractors were right, the time is now. Here is a call to action that cannot wait. For those who haven't had the opportunity to view the videotape of hearings on the Hill, Senators Mikulski (MD), Enzi (WY) and Harkin (IA), listened to testimony on integrative health by Mark Hyman, MD, Dean Ornish, MD, Andrew Weil, MD and Mehmet Oz, MD. The title for the testimony was called Integrative Care; A Pathway to a Healthier Nation and convened on February 26th, 2009. You can view this video at http://help.senate.gov/Hearings/2009_02_26/2009_02_26.html To sum up the hearings, it started on a very positive note (from a chiropractor's viewpoint). The Senators expressed a concern about the health of our citizens and seemed to have a terrific understanding that the problems emanate from the pharmaceutical industry's approach to a quick fix without getting to the cause of the health problem. Senator Harkin discussed how a good friend of his was helped many years ago by "alternative" health. The three senators expressed a real need for change in our health care system and that the time is now. Dr. Mehmet Oz was the first to testify. For those that haven't heard of him, he is Oprah's medical guru and is frequently her guest on the Oprah show. He is also a cardiac surgeon who founded HealthCorps (see www.HealthCorps.net ). HealthCorps¨ is a national network of high school peer-mentoring programs to transform the health of America. HealthCorps¨ is a 501(c)(3) non- profit "Peace Corps" for health education and activism. During the testimony, he spoke not only about the importance of wellness as a fundamental issue, but spoke repeatedly about his HealthCorps program to be a front line measure to educate today's youth about making healthier nutritional choices. Dr. Hyman, an MD whose focus is on Functional Medicine and the author of the "UltraWellness Health Program" was the next speaker. His message was about having a new paradigm for health and that in fact, the medical system was a sick care system and not a health care system. He was promoting lifestyle changes, prevention and wellness as a path to better health. He has developed a program to train MD's in this approach to health. Dr. Hyman also recommended that the Committee develop an Advisory Board to offset the $30billion in advertising and promotion that the pharmaceutical industry spends per year. (As many of you know, chiropractors and naturopaths have been integrating Functional Medicine into their practices for years by utilizing training methods and products by Standard Process, Nutri- West and others. ) The next speaker was Dean Ornish, MD, founder and president of Preventative Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, CA. I first heard of Dr. Ornish at least 30 years ago because of the natural treatment to a heart problem that my father was having. He is well- respected both within the medical community and outside of it. If you go to his website at http://www.pmri.org/ you will find his approach is with healthy eating, exercise and stress reduction. His "team" includes MD's, Ph.D's, RN's, RD's and yoga teachers. Dr. Ornish discussed the importance of treating the cause of a health problem and not just the symptom. That given the opportunity, the body has the ability to heal itself. Sound familiar? HmmmÉsounds like what chiropractors have been saying for generations. While I have a lot of respect for Dr. Ornish and believe has been a pioneer in the medical establishment for using lifestyle changes and nutrition, but I felt like the rug was just pulled out from under me. Lastly, Andrew Weil, MD testified. As I'm sure many of you know, Dr. Weil is the founder and president of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. He has published many books and some of the modalities he encourages are changes in diet and breath work. If you go to his site http://integrativemedicine.arizona.edu/index.html, you'll see the following: "The Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine is leading the transformation of healthcare by creating, educating & actively supporting a community that embodies the philosophy and practice of healing-oriented medicine, addressing mind, body and spirit." They focus on education and empowering their patients. Another piece of the institute is to train MD's in working with their patients using their model. Dr. Weil discussed the importance of prevention and wellness and that the transformation of medicine will be by moving away from hi-tech methods and towards low-tech methods. He stated that high tech methods of evaluation and treatment were only useful in a small number of situations. He recognizes that physicians (medical) are not trained in low tech methods and his focus is to train the medical community in techniques such as breathing and yoga. Laughter therapy is also taught at his institute. They are training a "new generation of doctors and nurses" in these methods. Dr. Weil stated that it was important not to look at just the physical aspects of the person but other aspects. He also stated a concern that the dispensing of health information had moved to other practitioners, particularly health food stores and should be brought back to the pharmacists. If you go to his site, you'll find that at his center there are only medical doctors. If you look at his referral directory, in California alone, there were only MD's or RN's. The Senators summed up the meeting by stating that they wish they could put these doctors in a position of power so that they can dictate the health care reform movement. They asked how they could use their knowledge and all the doctors offered to be available to help out in any way. While one of the MD's suggested that the Senate create an Office of Health Education to help push this effort, Senator Mikulsky offered that while there was a compelling need for change and that it should be done in a grassroots effort. She stated, "The moment is now" and that they are looking for specific recommendations that they can start implementing immediately. Tell, me who is better equipped to start teaching kids about health but chiropractors. Haven't we been teaching our patients about making lifestyle changes, eating healthier foods, the importance of getting sleep and drinking water for decades? As I see it, we have an opportunity that has not existed before to make a difference in the health of all Americans. This is OUR time, we just need to make sure the senators understand what we are all about. While some chiropractors might only treat neck and back pain, most have seen patients experiencing health miracles every day by the adjustment, in their offices throughout the world. What we need is to guide this Committee and show them how Chiropractic is the answer to a healthier nation. What I am suggesting is that every chiropractor write to each Senator about the miracles that they have witnessed in their offices. Have your patients write to these Senators as well. We have to move and we have to do it NOW. We can't wait for someone to take the lead, we all have to lead in our community. While you are writing, please include a paragraph recommending at least four high profile chiropractors that you feel would serve well on a Committee and to testify about the philosophy of Chiropractic. This isn't a time for egos or choosing people that we like, it's about getting the job doneÉplain and simple. Suggesting Chiropractors who understand the science of Chiropractic but also can communicate it in a way that everyone "gets it", I believe is most important. I would suggest someone like Dr. Guy Reikeman, who in my opinion, is an excellent communicator of the philosophy of Chiropractic. I've been fortunate to have had the opportunity to see him speak on several occasions. The first was while I was a student at NYCC, he spoke for a NY Chiropractic association in front of thousands of people. Another choice, in my opinion, should be Dr. Jeanne Ohm, the President of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA). I've seen her interviewed many times and she can handle herself under pressure and is a great advocate and communicator for pediatric chiropractic. As the ICPA runs many research projects, she is also well-versed in the scientific studies as they relate to children and pregnant women. Plus, she runs a terrific Pediatrics program. Tedd Koren, DC, who has stood up to the FDA to defend the philosophy of Chiropractic, and has produced excellent promotional materials that are well referenced, is another terrific choice. He can communicate the philosophy of Chiropractic very well in a way that any lay person can understand. My last recommendation for someone on a panel of this nature would be Christopher Kent, DC. Again, he has the research on the Vertebral Subluxation Complex at his fingertips and makes a very compelling case for Chiropractic. As a woman whose aunt was a survivor of Nazi Germany, I grew up with the phrase, "Never Again". I'm concerned, if we don't act now that we might be saying that too. Or maybe, our inclusion in a national health care plan will only be for neck and back pain. Millions of Americans will miss an opportunity to heal from the inside out. With President Obama wanting to get a change to our health care system this year, we cannot wait on this issue. We cannot afford to take a "wait and see" approach. This is the time to fight for our profession, and to choose people who will not give up in the fight. The time IS now for Chiropractic. Let's pull together and get this done. Nancy L. Tarlow, DC To reach to Senator Barbara Mikulsky, her address is: 503 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510. Her fax number is 410-962-4510. Her web address is: http://mikulski.senate.gov/ To reach Senator Tom Harkin, his address is: 731 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510. His fax is 202-224-9369 and his website is: http://harkin.senate.gov/. He is the Chairman of the Health and Human Services appropriations committee. For all of you students in Davenport, he has an office there, so please, knock on his door and educate him about Chiropractic. To reach Senator Michael Enzi, his address is 379A Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510. His fax number is 202- 228-0359 and his website is: http://enzi.senate.gov/public/.