Why we need to make sure SB 352 doesn’t pass

Posted on February 6, 2012 by LMHC

This legislative bill caught my attention though due to its nature; it is seeking to further limit what Chiropractors, “among other healing arts practitioners,” can practice. I received the following in an e-mail and it seemed important enough to share with all of you. I know that in Chiropractic, Naturopath, Acupuncture and other “healing arts” schools, nutrition and allergies are large and important topics. So limiting them in our practices is not reasonable and is greatly harms our professions and our abilities to conduct our medicines. Plus it limits choices you have as patients. So please help take action to make sure this bill does not pass.

Please see a copy of the e-mail below and also a copy of the bill here: sb_352_bill_20120111_amended_sen_v97

Thank you for your time and attention with this.

In health,
Dr. Leach

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

SB352 is a bill that threatens our freedom of choice when it comes to our health options.

This bill has already passed in the California Senate floor, 34 Senators voted to ban allergy elimination from Chiropractors and other healing arts practitioners and ONLY 1 Senator voted in opposition of the bill which would allow allergy elimination.

The bill is now going to the Assembly Floor. We must join together to make our voices known to our assembly members.

Please watch the video below and send out your opposition letter within 7 days, otherwise our freedom of choice will be gone and so will allergy elimination treatments.

(it seems there are technical errors with this, please go to www.youtube.com and search for “SB 352 Allergy Elimination Bill Opposition”)

Please pass this on to all supporter of allergy elimination. This is a concern for the entire nation not just California because if this bill passes, it will be hitting every other state in due time.

Copy and past the following web address to to find your assembly member’s address:

http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers

Send all letters to:
Senator Bob Huff
State Capitol, Room 305
Sacramento, CA 95814

Posted in Legislation | Leave a comment

New Year: being healthy with SMART goals

Posted on January 2, 2012 by LMHC

Happy New Year!

Everyone has their own definition of “health” and what “healthy habits” are. As we step into this new year, knowing what your definition is, is an important first step towards health and wellness improvements.

I’ve asked some of my patients and some of their definitions of “being healthy” are. Some of their (abbreviated) replies were as follows:
* Following a food pyramid based diet
* Eating a diet specific to my health needs
* Going to the gym 5 times a week
* Walking out doors with my dog every morning
* Identifying feels are they arise
* Writing or drawing about experiences

As you can see, everyone can have a different meaning of what “being healthy” is. The important thing is to know what you define “healthy” to be. Without knowing what your definition is, you do not have a starting point to make changes.

How do you make these changing if you are not practicing “healthy” behaviors? A good step would be to make your goals surrounding this change SMART or SMARTER goals. These acronyms help to clarify and solidify goals:

S
Specific Significant, Stretching, Simple

M
Measurable Meaningful, Motivational, Manageable

A
Attainable Appropriate, Achievable, Agreed, Assignable, Actionable, Ambitious, Aligned, Aspirational

R
Relevant Realistic, Resourced, Resonant

T
Timely Time-oriented, Time framed, Timed, Time-based, Timeboxed, Time-bound, Time-Specific, Timetabled, Time limited, Trackable, Tangible

E
Evaluate Ethical, Excitable, Enjoyable, Engaging, Ecological

R
Reevaluate

Making goals achievable and knowing that they are achievable are important aspects to help you ACTUALLY achieve those goals.

So as you step into the new year, setting a good intention for your year can be profound, but making a SMART goal, can make it achievable.

I look forward to hearing about what do you want your health and wellness to look like in 2012 and the SMART goals you have made!

In health,
Dr. Leach

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Packging, ingredients and “red flag words”

Posted on December 2, 2011 by LMHC

Nutrition plays a major role in our health and wellness. The old adage of “you are what you eat” has truth behind it. If you eat poor quality foods for your health needs, if will eventually effect you. However, learning about the ingredients in foods is an important and essential step to eating better. For example, when you read “natural flavoring” do you know what you are consuming? Do you even know what “natural flavoring” really is versus assuming it is a “natural” flavoring?
Read More →

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Gratitue is healthy

Posted on November 1, 2011 by LMHC

Welcome to the unofficial month of Giving Gratitude!

It is the month where we have the Thanksgiving holiday, which is based on assisting each other and helping those in need.

Oriental Medicine (OM) has no separation between emotions and the physical body. What you feel, where and why you feel certain emotions is an important discussion within each OM treatment. Feelings of anger, sadness and joy all play specific rolls with OM Internal Medicine and they can be Internal Causes for Disease. Some people experience one or a few emotions frequently, which others have a greater range of feels experiences.

The middle path, the path where balance is key, is the desired path for all emotions and habits. This way, you have the flexibility to feel and physically experience life but you are not bound to one particular emotion or thing on this path. Gratitude is a balancing emotion; if we can see both sides of the coin (+/-) and appreciate the fact that we even have a coin, our emotional and physical health can make forward leaps by not being bound to one side of the coin.

As you go about your month of gratitude, try and feel how your emotions effect your day. Is there something you can do to improve your health and wellness around your emotional state? If you get stuck, try a healthy attitude of gratitude and see how your day changes.

In health,
Dr. Leach

Posted in Philosophy | Leave a comment

Does acupuncture hurt?

Posted on October 24, 2011 by LMHC

This is a common first question people have when initially considering acupuncture. The simple answer is “sometimes no, sometimes yes.” The “yes” portion should be a temporary sensation, which may feel like a warming or swelling, and should be gone quickly. During acupuncture treatments, it’s important to communicate with your doctor/practitioner. Calmly explain your experience to aid with your treatments.
Read More →

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What is stagnation?

Posted on September 3, 2011 by LMHC

Stagnation is a condition, acute or chronic, that is extremely common within Acupuncture/Oriental Medicine.

But many are left wondering “what is stagnation?”

Simply put, stagnation means that the flow is disrupted. Read More →

Posted in Theory | Leave a comment

Tool Box: Your Medical Team

Posted on August 2, 2011 by LMHC

During treatments I speak to all of my patients about their “tool box.” This isn’t a physical tool box with drills, screwdrivers, etc., in it, it’s a theoretical box of known options that work best for each particular patient. Read More →

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Lotus Medical & Health Clinic’s Blog

Posted on August 1, 2011 by LMHC

Welcome to the blog of Lotus Medical & Health Clinic! I, Dr. Leach, will address questions or topics posed by my patients or those with a curiosity to know more. It is through greater education and with more information that we can make better choices surrounding our health and wellness. So ask away about your health and wellness questions and how it addressed through Oriental Medical and Energy Medicine perspectives.

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