Healthcare reform is once again among the many controversial topics in Washington D.C., and, as always, little movement is occurring toward a cohesive plan to provide more coverage for more people and to reduce healthcare costs.

President Obama has outlined eight key health principles that should be met in a revised U.S. healthcare system:

■Protect families financial health
■Make health coverage affordable
■Aim for universality
■Provide portability of coverage
■Guarantee choice
■Invest in prevention and wellness
■Improve patient safety and quality of care
■Maintain long-term fiscal sustainability
There are safe and effective therapies that can reduce the need for long-term use of expensive pharmaceuticals, ongoing doctor visits and possibly hospitalization, as well as meet the eight principals outlined by President Obama; one of them is the oldest continually-practiced form of healthcare in the world: acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (OM).  (How Passing HR 646* Supports President Obama’s 8 Health Principles)

One enormous contrast between the philosophy of acupuncture/OM and the American medical system is that acupuncture’s philosophical focus is on prevention of disease first and treatment of disease second. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, written at least 2500 years ago, offers this foundational principal: Maintaining order rather than correcting disorder is the ultimate principle of wisdom. To cure disease after it has happened is like digging a well when one already feels thirsty or forging weapons after the war has begun. 

In China, the word for Doctor is DaiFu, or, “healer teacher” and the scope of acupuncture/OM includes teaching the precepts of healthy living to prevent illness and to treat it. In addition to utilizing acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulary medicine, the Acupuncture Physician teaches patients to use food for healthy living and healing, teaches relaxation and exercise therapies like qi gong, tai chi and relaxation breathing, and what we now think of as home decorating, Feng Shui, is really environmental medicine; how your home, work, community and the people around you affect your health.

Acupuncture/OM is preventive medicine, and long before Andrew Weil and others were vouching for Eastern practices, acupuncturists were practicing and teaching wellness and helping patients rediscover health through safe and natural care.

It is important to know that the underlying philosophy of this medical system does not separate the body into unrelated parts as allopathic medicine does, but considers the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of self to be integrated energetic aspects of who we are. Acupuncture/OM is holistic medicine that works to restore homeostasis (balance) to the whole person regardless of which aspect presents as the dominant imbalance, all may be affected by the other and nourished by the other.

Acupuncture is receiving more attention as more scientific studies are validating what patients and Acupuncture Physicians have know for at least 2500 years, that acupuncture/OM works for many health conditions and helps to prevent illness. According to Special Report: AOM In The US, written cooperatively by the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) and the Society for Acupuncture Research (SAR): “Numerous surveys show that, of all the complementary medical systems, acupuncture enjoys the most credibility in the medical community.” (Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in the U.S.)

This report features the history of acupuncture in the US and further details the many studies showing the efficacy and cost savings vs. medical intervention, some of which are astounding.

One long time believer and supporter of acupuncture is United States Representative Maurice Hinchey of New York who has been working for many years to include acupuncture under Medicare and Federal employee health coverage.

The “Hinchey Bill” as it is often referred to, is titled HR646 Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act. The American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is making it easy for you to ask your U.S. Representative and Senators to support HR646 by using its RALLY CONGRESS link to easily enter your zip code and name to have a letter sent to each of them in your name.

You have the power to push Congress as much as the lobbying firms do. Your vote keeps your representative in Washington or sends them packing if they don’t listen to you. Make your opinion known, and tell Congress you want to have access to the oldest form of preventive medicine and healthcare in the world. Support HR646 and experience the wonderful health benefits of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. When Medicare covers Acupuncture, more private insurance companies are likely to include acupuncture in their plans as some already do. Show your support by using the RALLY CONGRESS link. Then find a practitioner near you (a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.), Acupuncture Physician (AP), Doctor of Oriental Medicine (DOM)-titles vary by state) and experience the wonderful healing system that has worked for millions of people all over the world for well over 2500 years.

Thomas Bailey