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Stories 27th
Annual Convention (7/25/08)
Convention
Lecture Legislation Journal
of the American Naturopathic Medical Association (JANMA) Facts |
Combination of Chinese Herbs Acts as an Aromatase Inhibitor For Estrogen-Related Conditions AIM: Latest Breakthrough For The Treatment of HIV/AIDS And Other Illnesses ANCB: The New Standard In Certification A Call For Validated Research Papers ANMA Photo I.D. Membership Cards ANMA Embroidered Polo Shirts, Tote Bags, & Lapel Pins
To
advertise in the ANMA Monitor or ANMA MONITOR ONLINE
Please take the time to look over our sponsors!
The President's Corner By: Dr. Robert White for Dr. Charles Curtis
With the legislative session in full swing the ANMA office has been very busy. Letters have been sent out and members have responded to the call. I am happy to report that due to quick actions by our members, bills in several states have been dropped. ANMA will continue the watch and if there is a need for quick action, you’ll be notified immediately. The ANMA 25th annual convention is very special and is well underway. Many special events have been planned, and many new speakers are being scheduled. Sunday will include CPR certification for ANMA attendees provided by the American Heart Association. This is an opportunity to gain CPR certification, or to renew your certification as required every two years. An effort is being made to provide one instructor for every ten attendees to this program, so it is very important that you register with the ANMA office early confirming your plans to be in attendance. Along with this beneficial program, you will find many, many workshops to further your knowledge for application in your private practice. If you have not yet registered for this event, fill out the registration form included in this issue of the Monitor right away to secure your place at this important gathering. The following organizations are exhibiting support for ANMA after its 25 years of successful organization and promotion of the natural health care profession: AANC (American Association of Nutritional Consultants) AAQM (American Academy of Quantum Medicine), ANMAB (American Naturopathic Medical Accreditation Board). Graduates and students from many schools will be represented, including Clayton College of Natural Health, Trinity School of Natural Health, Canyon College of Idaho, Global College of Natural Medicine, Institute of Quantum Biofeedback Naturopathic Medicine, Naturopathic Institute of Therapies & Education Nutrition Therapy Institute, The University of Natural Medicine Clayton School of Natural Healing, Herbal Healer Academy, International Naturopathic College. We want to thank them, the many merchants, and ANMA members for dedicated support to ANMA efforts over the last 25 years. ANMA extends special thanks to the Clayton College of Natural Health for their gold corporate sponsorship of ANMA. For information on this type sponsorship call the main office at 702-897-7053. Don’t wait to hear about how exciting the ANMA 25th convention was; be a part of it and see for yourself. Dr. Charles Curtis, ANMA President, Dr. Donald Hayhurst, ANMA President Emeritus, ANMA Board of Directors, and the staff invite you to join us at this special 25th anniversary event.
Foil
To commemorate our 25 years of Success ANMA has decided to offer a new membership certificate that looks as beautiful as a work of art. The certificate is foil stamped with five vibrant and mesmerizing colors. The price is $75.00 and shipping is free of charge. This will be the best looking certificate on your wall. To order please call Julie Morgan at 702-897-7053.
Combination of Chinese Herbs Acts as an Aromatase Inhibitor For Estrogen-Related Conditions By: Tsu-Tsair Chi, NMD, PhD
INTRODUCTION Estrogen-mediated conditions are increasing in incidence, not just in women but in men as well. In an effort to stem this growing problem, many treatments have been developed to either antagonize the effect of estrogen or minimize its production. The former class of drugs is known as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). These drugs override the action of estrogen when it binds to estrogen receptors. Another class of drugs is known as aromatase inhibitors (AIs). Unlike SERMs, these drugs stop estrogen at the source, in a manner of speaking, reducing its production by inhibiting the aromatase enzyme. In the past decade or so, SERMs and AIs have grown in popularity because of their apparent success in controlling estrogen-dominant diseases such as endometriosis, cysts, fibroids, and breast and ovarian cancer. To have a comprehensive understanding of these treatments, it is important to know the sources, mechanism and functions of estrogen. Estrogen is the principal female sex hormone with three naturally occurring forms: estradiol, estrone and estriol. Of the three, estradiol is the most potent and most commonly measured form. It is mainly produced in the ovaries; however, it is also present in small amounts in other tissues such as the liver, adrenal glands and the breasts1. Estrogen is present in significantly higher levels in women of reproductive age. It is also found in men and postmenopausal women, where the main source of estrogen is body fat. The primary role of estrogen is the development of female sex characteristics. It is also an important hormone in childbearing women2 and in maintaining bone strength3. Estrogen also plays a role in cell activity. When estrogen is released, it passes directly into cells throughout the body, binds to receptors in the target cells, and initiates cell activity, determining how they will function for the rest of an individual’s life4. Because estrogen dictates important mechanisms such as protein production and cell division, it is vital to growth processes not just during puberty but in adult life. However, its role in signaling cells to divide and multiply can trigger and promote abnormal growth of estrogen-responsive tissues. The mechanism behind SERMs is based on blocking this signaling in order to stop cell division in target tissues. AIs, on the other hand, prevent the effects of estrogen by reducing its production. An herbal formula consisting of Aralia, Curcuma, Smilax and Cyperus combines these two mechanisms, estrogen receptor modulation and aromatase inhibition, making it a potentially more effective therapy for estrogen-related conditions. In addition to these two functions, this herbal formula also reduces estrogen, increases interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon and the tumor necrosis factor (TNF). In toxicity studies, it was shown to have a lethal dose (LD50) of 10.15 g/kg. Inhibition of the aromatase enzyme Aromatase is a key enzyme in the synthesis of estrogen. Specifically, it converts androstenedione into estrone and testosterone into estradiol (see Figure 1). For instance, evidence shows that breast cancer and prostate cancer tissues over express aromatase5,6. Inhibiting aromatase, therefore, plays an important role in suppressing the deleterious action of estrogen on hormone-related conditions.
An in vivo study shows that the combination of herbs inhibits the aromatase enzyme in the ectopic endometrium and ovarian tissue of rats. Grayscale values obtained through image analysis demonstrate that in both tissues, aromatase expression was very high in the positive control group (108.9 and 149.8, respectively). After treatment with the formula for 28 days, aromatase expression reduced to 34.7 in the endometrium and 47.0 in the ovary (refer to Table 1). This translates to a 100% reduction of aromatase expression in the endometrium and an 85.6% reduction in the ovary compared to the negative control group.
Figure 2 graphically illustrates aromatase expression in both endometrial and ovarian tissues with and without administration of the herbal formula. Reduction of estradiol levels The herbal combination’s estrogen-reducing ability has been evident in both animal and human clinical studies for a number of years. The recent aromatase inhibition study helped explain how it is able to do so. One study performed at the Shanghai Medical School (Figure 3) illustrates the effect of the herbal formula on estradiol levels of mice during pregnancy -- a period when estradiol levels are especially high. Two groups of 12 mice each were used in the study. One group was used as the control. The other group was treated with the herbal formula beginning 15 days into pregnancy. Three days later (on the 18th day of the study), the average estradiol level of the herbal formula group was 7.22 pg/ml, approximately seven times less than the control group. After 6 days of taking herbal formula (on the 21st day of the study), their average estradiol level was 8.81 pg/ml while it was 85.98 pg/ml for the control group.
In another study, 90 female mice were divided equally into three groups. Each group was given the herbal formula for 30, 60 and 180 days, respectively. The average estradiol levels after each period was 50.6, 36.6, and 32.4 pg/ml, respectively. After 180 days, the estradiol level stabilized. These results demonstrate that longer use of the herbal formula achieves the maximum effect on reducing estradiol level with no side effects. A human study involved 60 postmenopausal women with cysts and fibroids (Figure 4). Postmenopausal women were studied because their estradiol levels are more stable than those of premenopausal women. Initially, the average estradiol level was 74.52 pg/ml. After only 10 days on the herbal formula, their average estradiol level reduced to 38.84 pg/ml. The fibroids, cysts and the associated pain gradually reduced.
Estrogen receptor modulation Besides aromatase inhibition and estrogen reduction, the herbal formula also functions like an SERM. It blocks estrogen from binding to its receptor, thereby preventing it from sending the signal that allows cells to divide. In this capacity, it is able to stop estrogen-facilitated abnormal growth. Herbal combination increases interferon, IL-2, and TNF In addition to its other functions, the herbal combination also increases the body’s production of the cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon (IFN) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). IL-2 induces the proliferation of immune cells, enhancing the body’s ability to kill tumor cells7. IFN stimulates natural killer cells and is active against tumors8. TNF destroys some tumor cells and activates white blood cells, helping boost the body’s immune system9. Effect of the herbal combination on cysts, fibroids, tumors Cysts are fairly common in women of childbearing age. While most cysts are benign, they can sometimes be malignant or cancerous. In the United States, approximately 22,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian carcinomas annually. Like myomas, hormones, especially estrogen, can influence their development10. But even postmenopausal women can develop ovarian cysts or carcinomas despite reduced or nonexistent estrogen production from the ovaries. Estrogen can come from other sources such as fat tissue and the adrenal glands. Because of its multiple functions, the herbal combination is effective for ovarian cysts in both pre- and postmenopausal women. In one study from the Chang Hai Hospital in Shanghai, China, 85 female patients with ovarian cysts were involved, with ages ranging from 27 to 64 years old (more than 50% of them between 34 and 45 years old). Out of the 85, 40 cases were related to endometriosis (hyatidiform cyst), 44 cases were simple ovarian cysts and 1 case of ovarian cancer. After 1 to 3 courses of the herbal formula, the cysts and symptoms of 15 patients completely cleared with no recurrence 3 months after the study. In 34 patients, the size of the cyst reduced by 50% and some of the associated symptoms were relieved. In 1994, another study was conducted at the same hospital on 255 women with ovarian cyst and endometriosis. After 5 months, the herbal formula was found to be effective on 147 patients (57.6%). Some improvement was observed on 87 patients while only 21 patients did not experience any effect (Figure 5).
Fibrocystic breast disease is the most common cause of breast masses in women. In men, this condition is called gynecomastia. In both cases, estrogen dominance contributes to the growth of the breast. Table 2. Effect of herbal combination on women with fibrocystic breast
Another study from Chang Hai Hospital included 50 cases of fibrocystic breasts (45 women ages 18 to 52 years old and 5 men ages 62 to 64 years old) treated with the herbal combination. Sixty five percent of the women were under 35 years old. Results of the study revealed that, in 14 cases, the fibrocystic breast completely cleared after one month of taking the herbal formula while, in 16 cases, the fibrocystic breast reduced by 50% in size. Among the 5 men in the study, the cysts cleared completely in 3 cases. Results of the study are enumerated in Table 2. Overall, the effective rate of the herbal formula is more than 60%. In 48 out of 50 cases, associated pain cleared or tremendously reduced (p value < 0.05). Uterine fibriods or myomas are among the most common and frequently observed benign tumors and may cause problems such as infertility, miscarriages, and even cancer. Although affected women may have a genetic predisposition to fibroids, hormones such as estrogen and progesterone have been known to promote growth. In fact, fibroids contain more estrogen and estrogen receptors than do normal uterine muscle cells11. The herbal formula has been shown to be effective for uterine fibroids as well. In a 2000 study at the Shanghai Medical School, this herbal formula was combined with Hemsleya extract and administered to 60 women with uterine fibroids. In just one week, the combination was found to inhibit growth by 69.2% (Figure 6). Combining this herbal formula with sea cucumber extract could potentially have a better growth inhibition rate than the combination in this study due to the latter’s ability to reduce vascularity through angiogenesis inhibition12.
DISCUSSION The importance of AIs and SERMs in the treatment of hormone-related conditions has gained momentum in the past few years. In fact, aromatase inhibitors as adjuvant therapy to prevent recurrent breast cancer was one of the most important stories in 2005. Evidence supports that aromatase inhibitors are "critically important" for improving breast cancer treatment outcomes. Long-term use appears to produce better results13. Studies have shown that increased aromatase expression promotes estrogen production, especially at the site of hormone-responsive tumors such as in breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer14. This results in the proliferation of tumor cells. Aromatase inhibitors help reduce estrogen production, ultimately leading to tumor suppression and apoptosis. According to a large study, longer exposure to aromatase inhibitors apparently produces greater benefits for patients13,15. The increasing use of aromatase inhibitor drugs (Arimidex, Aromasin, Femara) is testament to their effectiveness. The drawback to these drugs, however, is that they are all indicated for postmenopausal women only, not for men or for premenopausal women. The herbal combination of Aralia, Curcuma, Smilax and Cyperus, on the other hand, can be used by men as well as pre- and postmenopausal women, as indicated by the studies. This is perhaps more clearly evident in the results of the studies on men and women with fibrocystic breasts. In three of the five men in the study, their cysts cleared completely. In that same study, 65% of the women were under 35 years old, demonstrating that this herbal combination is not only limited to postmenopausal women. An aromatase inhibitor like this herbal formula can also help reduce abdominal fat. Obesity, especially abdominal obesity, is associated with decreased testosterone levels (or hypogonadanism) and increased estradiol levels. Hypogonadism leads to the deposition of fat in the abdomen. As fat accumulates, aromatase activity increases at the site, causing more testosterone to be converted into estradiol16. An aromatase inhibitor like this herbal formula disrupts this process, reversing testosterone levels and reducing estradiol. As a result, abdominal fat eventually will decrease. The aromatase inhibition mechanism is particularly relevant to men. Evidence supports the idea that elevated estrogen levels and aromatase expression in men can cause abnormalities, especially in the prostate. In men, estrogen is primarily synthesized in fat tissue. This is why men with metabolic conditions (e.g., diabetes) and high body mass index usually exhibit high serum estrogen levels. Some abnormalities that can result include undescended testis, low sperm count/ quality, and decreased testosterone levels17. There is also some proof that fetal exposure to environmental estrogens increases incidence of testicular cancer18. Estrogen depletion and aromatase inhibition, therefore, are important therapies for men as well. Current treatments of estrogen-responsive disorders work either as an AI or SERM. Because the herbal formula works as both and has other functions as well, it can potentially be a more effective formula with a wider range of applications. Although more studies are warranted in order to fully establish it as such, existing studies already provide a strong basis as to its effectiveness. For more information, please call (714) 777-1542.
The Clinical Application of
Naturopathic Alternative By: Eric Scheinbart, MD & Donna Miller, NMD
Carcinoma is the most common neoplasm of the pancreas. About 75% are in the head and 25% in the body and tail of the organ. Carcinomas involving the head of the pancreas, the ampulia of Vater, the common bile duct, and the duodenum are considered together, because they are usually indistinguishable clinically; of these, carcinomas of the pancreas constitute over 90%. They comprise 2% of all cancers and 5% of cancer deaths. Carcinoma of the pancreas has a poor prognosis. Reported 5-year survival rates range from 2.3% to 5.2%. Lesions of the ampulia have a better prognosis, with reported 5-year survival rates of 20-40% after resection. The reported operative mortality rate of radical pancreaticoduodenectomy is 10-15%. The patient is a 73 year old male, retired Jesuit Missionary in South America, in previously good health; went to see his doctor with complaints of blood in his urine. The patient had a CT Scan of Abdomen and pelvis performed, which showed an unremarkable exam for hematouria; however, a lesion within the pancreatic head and dilated pancreatic duct was noted. A CA 19-9 was ordered and was in normal range. There was no other significant past medical or social history. Although, the patients older brother died pf pancreatic cancer at the age of 80. The patient was then referred to a Gastroenterologist for further work-up for the diagnosis of pancreatic lesion, rule out cancer of the pancreas. The patient was scheduled for an elective outpatient ERCP. The indication for this procedure, per Gastroenterologist, was "abnormal CT Scan of pancreatic head, dilated pancreatic duct and weight loss". The ERCP procedure revealed an Interductal Pancreatic Mucinous Neoplasm (IPMN) and dilated duct of head of pancreas. Having periodic CT Scans, there was progressive growth of the pancreatic mucinous neoplasm. The patient was sent for a surgical consult for a possible subtotal pancreatectomy, for chromic obstruction and possible pancreatic insufficiency. Several second opinions suggested to continue to observe and monitor growth for possible future surgery. The patients lifestyle consisting of organic foods, fish and exercising daily by swimming and walking, with good social habits, requested a natural treatment. At this time, the patient declined any thoughts of surgery or other treatments or interventions, and contacted me for Alternative Therapy for his diagnosis. After consultation and review of medical records, I suggested the patient send a urine sample to my colleague in the Netherlands, Dr. Rene Broekhuyse. The patient agreed and understood and the urine was sent. Through special procedures and methods, Dr. Broekhuyse extensively analyzed the patients urine for microbiological and histiological mutations. After evaluation and collaboration there was no true cancer activity found; however, there was mutation of a bacterial growth noted. After discussion with Dr. Broekhuyse, the patient was placed on his patented Homeopathis treatment for this particular bacterial mutation, along with my patented immune stimulating protocol to increase the patients own immunological response to this bacterial mutation. After 4 weeks of treatment, the patient had another CT Scan that he had been pre-scheduled for monitoring growth. It was noted that there was not any growth of tumor, where there previously had been consistent growth, "much to the amazement of the doctors." The patient, who explained to his doctors, that he was taking a "Natural Remedy" was told to "Keep taking whatever it is because there was not much that could be done for him." To date, the patient continues to do well, noting he feels better than he has in years and his family and friends have noted the same. He is able to continue all his activities without exception. The repeat ERCP will be done at time of submission of this case study and hopefully will have a notable addendum by print.
AIM:
Latest Breakthrough For The Treatment of By: Dr. Eliezer Ben-Joseph, N.D., M.D., (MA) and Dr. Malcolm Tollett, D.O.
I have been a practicing Naturopathic physician for over 25 years and since that time I have worked diligently to seek out new and better forms of natural remedies for disease in order to provide my clients with the best health care possible. Over the past two years I have been working with Dr. Malcolm Tollett who is the creator of an amazing new natural medicine called AIM (Advanced Immune Modulator). Over twenty years has passed since HIV/AIDS was first reported in the United States and conventional therapies have changed little as to how they approach the treatment of the disease. Currently available therapies for HIV/AIDS exert their anti-retroviral effects at two post entry stages of viral replication. The nucleoside and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors act to block viral DNA synthesis and the protease inhibitors work at a late step in the process of viral budding from the host cell wall. These medications, as may be expected, because they work in the same way have done little to help find a viable treatment regiment for HIV/AIDS. Perhaps it is time for modern science to set back and take a few notes from Nature itself. Science might start with the simple question, "Why don’t other animals get HIV/AIDS?" In fact it is interesting to note that certain animals seem to have incredible immune systems that make them seem resistant to most all viral infections, cancers, and autoimmune diseases. As reported on the BBC news, "scientists in the United States isolated a powerful agent in the blood of Crocodiles that could help conquer human infections immune to standard antibiotics." These same agents have been isolated from the Kimono Dragon, Great White Sharks and from various carnivorous plants. Looking at these animals closer reveals that they posses the ability to regulate their immune responses much more effectively by producing certain bio-proteins that actually modulate the immune response. These proteins achieve this by regulating the animal’s complex cytokine and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. It has been shown that these same proteins can be purified, sterilized, harvested, and utilized in humans to produce similar cytokine modulating effects. AIM (Advanced Immune Modulator) is a remarkable unique therapy, invented by Dr. Tollett that does just that. AIM is a proprietary, 100% natural therapy that address HIV/AIDS from a new perspective focusing on the inhibition of viral binding and fusion to host cells. AIM has been found to be highly effective either as a single therapy or in combination with conventional antiretroviral medications. In most diseases (including HIV/AIDS) a "cytokine storm" is triggered by the infection. Cytokines, (Interferon, the most widely recognized by the public), regulate the immune system. When released at the right times in the proper amounts they can help fight infections, yet many cytokines are inflammatory and are damaging to the body when present in too high levels or for too long. AIM is composed of 100% natural bio-proteins that modulate the cytokine system in the body and are highly effective in the treatment of viral diseases (HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, and Influenza), as well as many auto-immune diseases (Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Lupus, and Rheumatoid arthritis). I have seen this medicine work first hand and the results seen are nothing less than amazing. It is refreshing to see a medication that yields results not in months or years yet rather in minutes to days. AIM, initially was invented by Dr. Tollett to treat HIV/AIDS over 12 years ago. It inhibits HIV-1 and HIV-2 fusion with CD4+ T-cells by disrupting their ability to interact with the fusion dependent co-receptors CCR5 and CXCR4. It has been shown to demonstrate this activity both in vitro and vivo studies. The bio-proteins used in AIM accomplish this by attaching to and modulating the cytokine receptors thus preventing its interaction with invading organisms. Independent laboratory results show that AIM activity is not mediated by antibodies or exogenous cytokines such as interferon. HOW IT WORKS AIM exerts its effects by modulating the human cytokine system. Cytokines are bioporteins produced by our immune cells that regulate immunity, inflammation, and hematopoiesis. Once the body is invaded by an organism, the immune response we see is regulated by these cytokines. Simply speaking the cytokine system through a series of intricate cascades activates our immune system to attack the invading organism. Most of the time this is a desired response, however in dealing with HIV this activation is the "Trojan Horse" that leads to subsequent invasions of the human T-cell. In order to facilitate their entry into host cells some viruses actually have cytokine like proteins encoded into their genetic structure that stimulate the host cell’s membrane receptors and thus make viral to host cell bonding easier. Once the virus has activated the cellular cytokine receptors, it can then invade the host cell easily. This activation of the host cytokine receptor not only facilitates viral entry but also stimulates a complex cellular cascade known as the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade which in turn seems to facilitate viral replication by "turning on" the host DNA/RNA replication systems. HIV entrance into the targeted CD4+ T cell is a fusion dependant process. HIV must first interact with CD4 and then with a co-receptor. Binding of the HIV gp 120 envelope glycoprotein to CD4 induces conformational changes in gp 120 that create or expose a binding site for a co-receptor. Once available, the co-receptor binding site interacts with a complex, discontinuous region of the co-receptor. The association of gp 120 with CCR5 or CXCR4 then drives additional conformational changes within the host cell membrane, inducing fusion and subsequent entry. The chemokine (cytokine) receptors CXCR4 and CCR5 have been identified as major co-receptors for HIV-1 entry into CD4+ T cells. The majority of primary HIV-1 isolates in early disease use the CCR5 as a co-receptor, whereas during disease progression with the emergence of SI (syncytium inducing) viruses, CXCR4 is also used. AIM uses natural bio-proteins that have been found to effectively block the activation of these two chemokine co-receptors and thus prevent binding and fusion with CD4+ T cells. Thus AIM not only targets those strains of HIV utilizing mainly the CCR5 co-receptor but also addresses those strains that have mutated to use the CXCR4 co-receptor. Amazing as it may seem, patients treated with AIM show no failures to treatment or no reports of mutated strains resistant to AIM therapy. Due to AIM’s unique mechanism of action it has been shown to work very effectively as a single therapy or in combination with existing therapies. Laboratory analysis revealed AIM to show no adverse drug to drug interactions with other medications and to have a very low side effect profile. Drug toxicity studies also revealed AIM to posses a very low toxicity profile. Due to AIM’s mechanism of action, patients treated with AIM display rapid marked relief of constitutional symptoms and a steady marked reduction in viral load with most patients becoming viral load undetectable within 60 to 120 days. P24 antigen is also monitored during treatment phase to assess active viral replication. P24 antigen typically will also be undetectable within the same time frame. Patients are treated with a set protocol based on their initial viral load and CD4 counts. Initial phase of the treatment entails loading injections of AIM on days 1 through 3 of month one and then patients are given a single injection of AIM every month there after for a total of six months. Laboratory evaluation of patient viral load, P24 antigen, blood chemistry, and hematology are monitored monthly as well. After the initial phase of treatment with AIM patients are placed on a standard maintenance dose every three months there after. AIM’s novel mechanism of action, low side effect profile, lack of drug to drug interactions, low toxicity, easy dosing schedules, and ability to eliminate patient constitutional problems make it a realistic and obvious choice in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. In an effort to demonstrate AIM’s effectiveness in the treatment of HIV-1 and HIV-2 viruses, I would like to submit a mini-trial of three patients whose selection criteria and laboratory records will be given pretreatment and throughout their treatment phase (once a month for 6 months). Over this time period AIM’s effectiveness as a viable natural alternative treatment for HIV/AIDS will be demonstrated. Dr. Eliezer Ben-Joseph
ANCB: The New Standard in Certification By: Dan Funsch, Director, ANCB
Since its inception, the American Naturopathic Certification Board (ANCB) has raised the standards for Naturopathic Certification and given practitioners the means to demonstrate their commitment to professionalism, ethics, and integrity. ANCB seeks to prepare the natural health movement for the challenges that lie ahead, first and foremost by increasing the value of our certifications, but also by forging new alliances and building unity amongst our own ranks. This article reviews some of the organizational changes at ANCB and discusses current trends relating to naturopathic certification. New Faces ANCB’s base is a distinguished group of seasoned practitioners. Their experience and commitment is the foundation for many of ANCB’s new initiatives, all designed to keep pace with the changing naturopathic professions. Adding to this base, ANCB is also attracting scores of new candidates for certification: graduates of the leading natural health colleges in this country and beyond. Changes in leadership and staffing round off the picture; with new faces comes a renewed enthusiasm to address the issues of the day. New Certifications — Certified Traditional Naturopath When ANCB phased out the "Naturopathic Doctor (N.D.)" and "Naturopathic Physician (N.P.)" certifications and switched exclusively to "Certified Traditional Naturopath," or "CTNSM" in 2003, a few practitioners disagreed with this approach. Some argued that ANCB had conceded to those "naturopaths" who, in fact, rely on allopathic methods such as invasive procedures, prescribing drugs, and performing surgery. But a careful consideration of ANCB’s decision reveals a more thoughtful approach to the issue. ANCB recognized that what’s been missing from the naturopathic movement is a certification title and an identity that distinguishes us from allopathic doctors. This is one reason ANCB developed our CTN designation. Our esteemed professionals practice traditional healing using natural, non-invasive methods. ANCB’s goal is to provide a credential that identifies the unique qualifications of board certified practitioners. With the CTN certification, naturopaths now have a title that confers distinctiveness and meaning. In addition, of course, they also have a college degree, which is often a Doctor of Naturopathy (ND) degree. The title of CTN defines who we are and serves as a basis for educating the public and policy makers about our unique role in providing health education and services that are urgently needed. Certified in Nutritional Wellness Because so many naturopathic practitioners are turning their focus towards nutritional counseling, therapies and services, ANCB has also developed the "Certified in Nutritional Wellness," or "CNWSM" designation. As with our CTN certification, this title is both descriptive and distinctive; it has fast become a valuable (and popular) credential. Remember, if you are a CTN, you are already qualified to sit for the exam to become a CNW. The two exams are administered together four times each year. New Exams At the core of any meaningful credentialing process is an appropriate certification exam. Both the CTN and CNW exams were developed by ANCB using state-of-the-art education and testing standards, incorporating concepts such as "content domains," "rater judgment," and "psychometric validation." While these might not be household words, they are the fundamental building blocks of a solid testing program such as ANCB’s. Passing the exam and obtaining an ANCB certification of CTN, CNW, or both is something you can truly be proud of! New Policies ANCB has also implemented new policies designed to elevate the standards of naturopathic certification. All certifications must be renewed on a biennial basis (every two years) and practitioners must complete and document Continuing Education (20 hours every two years) along with this renewal process. ANCB’s Code of Ethics represents our movement’s "promise of professionalism" to those we serve, and our Code of Conduct ensures clarity in navigating the complex realm of relationship that defines the provision of health services. The policy even includes a provision for Disciplinary Actions in the (unlikely) event that unethical behavior is documented. New Services Recognizing that certification without service would be a poor foundation upon which to build, ANCB is developing new services to support the practitioners we certify. For the first time, ANCB has begun publishing a printed newsletter and an electronic E-News alert service. The ANCB Bulletin is our quarterly newsletter — it features news, updates and colorful profiles of the practitioners we serve. Our E-News alert service, on the other hand, is a rapid-response means of alerting our practitioners to timely events such as pending state legislation that could affect naturopaths. ANCB will oppose any bill that restricts the rights of our certificate holders to practice, and we will support legislation that protects "health freedom" for practitioners and clients alike. Breaking new ground, ANCB recently published our on-line Directory of Board Certified practitioners. The directory is accessible on ANCB’s web site (www.ancb.net), and allows visitors to search for ANCB Board Certified Traditional Naturopaths (CTNs) and those practitioners who are Board Certified in Nutritional Wellness (CNW). Visitors to the site can check to see if a practitioner is ANCB Board Certified, and they can also search for a Naturopath by name or geographic location. Listing in the directory is free to ANCB Certified practitioners. Conclusion We at ANCB are quite proud of our progress and achievements. Our future goals build on these accomplishments and are designed to elevate the good standing and professional image of our certified practitioners everywhere. We’re planning an ambitious schedule of outreach and networking to educational institutions, professional associations, and product distributors alike. Our message to all these stakeholders will be consistent: we believe in the value and necessity of the healing work done by our community of CTN and CNW professionals and we’ll pledge our part to make sure that public confidence and reliance on natural health practitioners continues to rise, for the good of us all. For More Information Contact:
ANMA
25th Annual Convention Reasons To Attend The Naturopathic Convention of The Year!
When you consider your
future plans for adding equipment and skills to improve your business you should
plan on attending the 25th Annual ANMA Convention and Educational
Seminar. ANMA’s 24th Annual Convention was a huge success
and will continue to grow. This
year ANMA will have over 100 exhibitors representing every possible natural
modality and the latest innovations in therapies and products to improve your
practice. Last year exhibitors hosted a raffle and provided 100’s of free
gifts for convention attendees. Many
merchants also offered convention discounts on orders placed at the convention. ANMA never charges extra for educational seminars like: • Low Level Lasers For Naturopathic Doctors • The Role of Modified Citrus Pectin In The Treatment of Cancer • The Sequence of Breast Disease Using Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging • Anti Aging, Anti Alzheimers and many other interesting subjects. The ANMA convention is always well attended and a great place to network with colleagues. Dr. Curtis (president of ANMA) said he loves meeting the members, "it just makes you feel good to be part of the natural healthcare community with so many people who dedicate their life long careers to helping people." If you choose carefully, quality conferences can be some of the most cost-effective learning resources and the ANMA conference is the largest naturopathic convention in the United States with a wealth of information available. Make the right choice and we’ll be looking forward to seeing you next year for an even bigger and better convention.
A Call For Validated Research
Papers ? Are you a Natural Health Care Professional with a Research paper or Article that you would like to publish? ? Are you a Naturopathic or Natural Health Care student with an excellent class project / or thesis? ? Are you an instructor teaching the most current natural healthcare skills? GET ON TARGET FOR 2006 The ANMA Monitor is a widely distributed newsletter to healthcare professionals and naturopathic students. If you would like to submit an article, or know of someone that would be interested, now is the time to do so! You are invited to submit an article or case study to be featured in the ANMA Monitor. Submit your article according to the following standards: The ANMA Monitor is published quarterly by ANMA, P.O. Box 96273, Las Vegas, Nevada 89193 (702) 897-7053. Deadlines for articles and advertisements are November 20, March 20, June 20, and September 20 . Please submit articles on a IBM compatible 3.5" disk or by e-mail to webmaster@anma.com, clearly identified as an article for the ANMA Monitor. The editor reserves the right to edit any portion of an article before publishing. The editor also reserves the right to refuse articles which he deems inappropriate for this publication. We appreciate those who have already sent in articles. Take advantage of this opportunity to be in print!
ANMA Photo I.D. Membership Cards
ANMA for the first time, offers a remarkably new Photo I.D. Membership Card. The fresh new card will be in full color (including picture) and double sided. The front side will have the ANMA insignia, photograph, membership type, member I.D. number, and date joined. The back side of the card is bestowed with ANMA’s Code of Ethics. In addition, the Photo I.D. card is laminated for long lasting durability. The new Photo I.D. Membership Card cost is $35.00 and shipping is free of charge. For more information or to place an order, please call 702-897-7053 or e-mail us at webmaster@anma.com.
ANMA Embroidered Polo Shirts, As you may already know, ANMA offers a wide assortment of stylish accessories. Many of you have at least one or even two ANMA embroidered polo shirts. In the past ANMA has offered the polo shirts in a variety of colors, white, black, and navy blue. Now, ANMA is introducing two new colors, BURGUNDY & FOREST GREEN. The polo shirts are of excellent quality (heavy 100% cotton with metal buttons) and look absolutely beautiful. In addition, ANMA has black tote bags with our logo embroidered on the side and lapel pins with optional tie chain. The tote bags and lapel pins cost $15.00 and shipping is provided free of charge (tote bags & lapel pins only). Every order will be processed and mailed as quickly as possible. All orders will be shipped Priority Mail to ensure speedy delivery. ANMA offers its polo shirts for only $28.00 plus shipping. The sizes we have range from small to triple extra large. If you would like a 2xl or 3xl, please add $1.00 and $2.00 respectively. If you have any questions or want to place an order, e-mail me at: webmaster@anma.com or call Julie Morgan at (702) 897-7053 or mail to ANMA, P.O. Box 96273, Las Vegas, NV 89193. NOTE: BE SURE TO ORDER NOW BEFORE THE CONVENTION TO GET THE SIZE AND QUANTITY YOU WANT. THE BURGUNDY AND FOREST GREEN POLOS WILL DEFINITELY BE VERY LIMITED OR EVEN SOLD OUT AFTER THE CONVENTION.
The views and opinions expressed in this online newsletter are not necessarily those of the American Naturopathic Medical Association, its officers or its members, nor are they necessarily in accordance or agreement with its policies. ANMA
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