Presentation by Cindy Mason, CMT, Ph.D. Stanford Research Associate, former fellow Stanford School of Medicine at Palo Alto Veterans Administration. Discussion of growing evidence and effectiveness of cheap and accessible alternatives to care for growing populations.

1. Copyright, 1996 © Dale Carnegie & Associates,
Integrating Modalities of the EastIntegrating Modalities of the East
into Western Life and Medical Practiceinto Western Life and Medical Practice
Cindy Mason, Ph.D., CMT
www.21stcenturymed.org
State Certified in Acupressure, Health Education
Future Health Technology Institute
www.fhti.org

2. We are Witnessing the GlobalizationWe are Witnessing the Globalization
of Health Care in the U.S.of Health Care in the U.S.
• Health practices from all corners of the globeHealth practices from all corners of the globe
have reached American shores, and we havehave reached American shores, and we have
an opportunity to benefit, reaching goals.an opportunity to benefit, reaching goals.
• Best practices from other cultures - things thatBest practices from other cultures - things that
have worked for centuries often costing veryhave worked for centuries often costing very
little by comparison, fill in the gaps of ourlittle by comparison, fill in the gaps of our
current system.current system.
• We must be humble and aware of theWe must be humble and aware of the
strengths and weaknesses of our currentstrengths and weaknesses of our current
system in order to improve it.system in order to improve it.

3. Cultural and Social Aspects ofCultural and Social Aspects of
Health and HealingHealth and Healing
• Healing is not just about medicineHealing is not just about medicine
• Dying is not just about medicineDying is not just about medicine
• Cultural Beliefs, Family, Personal, ReligiousCultural Beliefs, Family, Personal, Religious
• Environment, Relationships, Work, HomeEnvironment, Relationships, Work, Home
• Community, Story Telling, Love, TrustCommunity, Story Telling, Love, Trust

4. Eastern Medical PhilosophyEastern Medical Philosophy
• Practitioners Use Relations As Central IdeaPractitioners Use Relations As Central Idea
• Patient and Healer (very important)Patient and Healer (very important)
• Person and Environment, CommunityPerson and Environment, Community
• Feelings, Mental Occupations, Body, SpiritFeelings, Mental Occupations, Body, Spirit
• Food and Blood,Food and Blood,
• Organ Relationships (e.g. Liver, Kidney, Spleen)Organ Relationships (e.g. Liver, Kidney, Spleen)
• Breath and Body,Breath and Body,
• Breath and Mind,Breath and Mind,
• Herbs Support Organ Relations, Each OtherHerbs Support Organ Relations, Each Other
• Practitioners “support the health of the patient” notPractitioners “support the health of the patient” not
“fight germs” or “fight disease” - a different approach.“fight germs” or “fight disease” - a different approach.

5. Eastern Health Modalities -Eastern Health Modalities -
Philosophy andPhilosophy and
PracticePractice
• Treatment and Diagnosis Emphasize Individual CareTreatment and Diagnosis Emphasize Individual Care
• Herbal formulas address individual needs such as otherHerbal formulas address individual needs such as other
conditions, family history, mental and emotional state, is adjustedconditions, family history, mental and emotional state, is adjusted
and checked as neededand checked as needed
• Self Care is a Large Part of this System: Responsibility of healthSelf Care is a Large Part of this System: Responsibility of health
falls on the individual much more so - Self Care is part offalls on the individual much more so - Self Care is part of
everything: food, movement, internal development practice sucheverything: food, movement, internal development practice such
as meditation, acupressureas meditation, acupressure
• Old culture: Families live and pass down houses located whereOld culture: Families live and pass down houses located where
herbs grow that support genetic tendencies of disease that occurherbs grow that support genetic tendencies of disease that occur
in a familyin a family

6. Eastern Health Modalities -Eastern Health Modalities -
Philosophy andPhilosophy and
PracticePractice
Nature Inspired Models of Health, Disease, andNature Inspired Models of Health, Disease, and
TreatmentTreatment
• Herbal treatments rely on roots, stems, seeds, leaves,Herbal treatments rely on roots, stems, seeds, leaves,
berries, flowers or animals picked at special times inberries, flowers or animals picked at special times in
special locations for their medical propertiesspecial locations for their medical properties
• Movement therapies based on imitation of animals,Movement therapies based on imitation of animals,
awareness of the Earth’s electromagnetic field,awareness of the Earth’s electromagnetic field,
seasonsseasons
• Life is based on Change and Living Systems mustLife is based on Change and Living Systems must
Move and Flow to be HealthyMove and Flow to be Healthy

7. Eastern Health ModalitiesEastern Health Modalities
Philosophy and PracticePhilosophy and Practice
A Practitioner’s Core Beliefs About Life Include the IdeaA Practitioner’s Core Beliefs About Life Include the Idea
that Organs, Fluids, Emotions and Everything About Athat Organs, Fluids, Emotions and Everything About A
Person Are Constantly Changing, Moving - Things thatPerson Are Constantly Changing, Moving - Things that
are ALIVE, move - have life force (QI). When changeare ALIVE, move - have life force (QI). When change
or movement is reduced or blocked, this createsor movement is reduced or blocked, this creates
conditions ripe for diseaseconditions ripe for disease
• Patient is constantly changing: sleep, feelings, fluids,Patient is constantly changing: sleep, feelings, fluids,
relationships, reaction to herbs, ability to function, etc.relationships, reaction to herbs, ability to function, etc.
• Practitioner creates Herbal Formulas and Self Care DirectionPractitioner creates Herbal Formulas and Self Care Direction
dynamic in response to Change and Flow - frequently seedynamic in response to Change and Flow - frequently see
patients every 3 days, or 1xweek.patients every 3 days, or 1xweek.
• Diagnosis/Treatment include terms like Excess/Deficient,Diagnosis/Treatment include terms like Excess/Deficient,
Dry/Damp, Heat/Cold, Increasing/DecreasingDry/Damp, Heat/Cold, Increasing/Decreasing
• Self Care Exercises prescribed to increase flow or removeSelf Care Exercises prescribed to increase flow or remove
blockage to flow, increase or decrease fluids, etc.blockage to flow, increase or decrease fluids, etc.

8. In the WestIn the West
– Excellent diagnostics of the bodyExcellent diagnostics of the body
– Pharmaceuticals, surgical methodsPharmaceuticals, surgical methods
– Awareness of Public Hygiene and CleanAwareness of Public Hygiene and Clean
WaterWater

9. In The West - Science andIn The West - Science and
Health Care are PartneredHealth Care are Partnered
• In Western Culture, Reality must be measured.In Western Culture, Reality must be measured.
• Decade of the Brain Research gave us the technology and theDecade of the Brain Research gave us the technology and the
philosophy to discover and understand health and the diseasephilosophy to discover and understand health and the disease
process as it relates to the mind.process as it relates to the mind.
• Inventions like FMRI, allow us to “see” thoughts and feelings, toInventions like FMRI, allow us to “see” thoughts and feelings, to
measure changes in brain chemistry like never before.measure changes in brain chemistry like never before.
• The experiments with FMRI and meditation, acupuncture,The experiments with FMRI and meditation, acupuncture,
visualization, etc. give us the proof we need to have confidence invisualization, etc. give us the proof we need to have confidence in
going forward with integration of medical practices from othergoing forward with integration of medical practices from other
systems of healing.systems of healing.
• However, knowing the mind plays a role in health can change manyHowever, knowing the mind plays a role in health can change many
aspects of our health care system and culture as we now know it.aspects of our health care system and culture as we now know it.
• In eastern terms, the heart and mind are one concept.In eastern terms, the heart and mind are one concept.

10. Positive Scientific Experiments andPositive Scientific Experiments and
Historical Evidence ShowHistorical Evidence Show
Eastern Medical Practices WORKEastern Medical Practices WORK
In Universities and Research Settings
NIH, NIA, Harvard, U Wisc, etc.
In practice
Hospital Settings, Clinics, Comm. Ctr

11. Proposal for the US Health System:Proposal for the US Health System:
A Marriage Between East and WestA Marriage Between East and West
• India has educated physicians to workIndia has educated physicians to work
with both systemswith both systems
• China has both systems, but not soChina has both systems, but not so
integrated as Indiaintegrated as India
• German national health insurance nowGerman national health insurance now
covers acupuncturecovers acupuncture

12. APPROACH: Focus On SelfAPPROACH: Focus On Self
CareCare
– Blind to SocioEconomics/LocationBlind to SocioEconomics/Location
– No insurance necessaryNo insurance necessary
– CheapCheap
– Quality of Life (40 Million Chinese Can’t Be Wrong)Quality of Life (40 Million Chinese Can’t Be Wrong)
– Emotional AspectsEmotional Aspects
– Engages IndividualsEngages Individuals
– Helps Overburdened System and PractitionersHelps Overburdened System and Practitioners
– Shifts Health Responsibility More to Prevention andShifts Health Responsibility More to Prevention and
to the Patient EMPOWERS PATIENTSto the Patient EMPOWERS PATIENTS
– Requires little immediate change to PhysicianRequires little immediate change to Physician
institutions or educationinstitutions or education

13. Integrate Self Care intoIntegrate Self Care into
American Healthcare andAmerican Healthcare and
CommunitiesCommunities
• Insurance Industry as PartnerInsurance Industry as Partner
• Media - Newspapers, MagazinesMedia - Newspapers, Magazines
• Community - Program Directors, HospitalCommunity - Program Directors, Hospital
Directors, Medication CentersDirectors, Medication Centers
• MoviesMovies
• Personal StoriesPersonal Stories