Hill topics
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PAGE 6A MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1997
EVENTS • ENTERTAINMENT • ISSUES • MUSIC • ART
Holistic Healing
Stories by Sarah Chadwick and Ann Premer
a DIFFERENT
to Heath Care
Holistic health care, which has roots in traditional Chinese medicine, is on the rise as people look toward natural approaches to treat ailments. New technology and high-tech medicinal practices make life easier, and yet a growing number of people are reverting back to a 2,500 year old medicinal practice.
What is holistic health care?
Holistic health care encompasses all aspects of the human body by treating the physiological, emotional and spiritual elements of our bodies.
"Holistic medicine helps in the overall health, not just the physical part," said Anna Lunaria, coowner of the Lunaria Health Center. "We deal with the mental and emotional health, as well."
The 2,500-year-old medicinal practice, rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, uses massage therapy, acupuncture, herbal medicine and meditation to bring all aspects of the human body into balance.
"I think there is a real swing towards the natural approach," Lunaria said about the growing popularity of holistic care.
Lunaria said while many spas offer massage therapy, their treatment concentrates more on the physical aspect than the entire well-being.
"One of the differences between holistic medicine and a spa is our emphasis on wholeness, well-being and health, whereas a spa is more focused on pampering and luxury." Lunaria said. "We're working towards massage as a necessary component to health."
Lunaria said massage was a necessary preventive health measure for stress and tension. Stress and tension run the immune system down which causes illnesses, she said.
What does the Lunaria Holistic Health Center offer?
The Lunaria center, which moved to1103 Massachusetts St. in April, offers massage therapy, acupuncture and Chinese herbs, tarot card readings and astrology charts. In addition, the center offers courses in yoga, tai chi, nutrition, medita
tion and massage.
Lunaria started providing services for the Lawrence community in 1993 by herself. Since that time, her demand as well as her staff has grown considerably. The center has thirteen employees and is co-owned by Anne Garlinghouse.
"What we do is in even more demand because there are not very many of us," Lunaria said.
An hour-long massage costs $40 and a half an hour costs $25. The first session of acupuncture costs $55 and follow-up treatments cost $40. An herbal consultation costs $40 the first visit and half that for subsequent visits.
Holistic health care is relatively new to the Midwest so there is not a high supply of providers, she said.
The center offers products to accompany their classes and treatments. Informational holistic care books, homeopathic remedies, aromatherapy and yoga mats are just a few of the items for sale.
A full-body massage at a spa costs anywhere from $30 to $50 for an hour.
An initial visit to the acupuncturists, Richard Morantz and Carolyn Micek, consists of a detailed looks into your health history, lifestyle and complaints.
They ask many questions that may unrelated, like whether or not you like hot or sweet foods, to help them understand the workings of your body. Taking your pulse in three different places and examining your tongue also are different methods of checking the workings of your internal organs. The tongue and pulse points represent different organs in Chinese medicine and help acupuncturists determine proper treatment.
How does acupuncture work?
After extensive review of your medical history, needle treatment begins.
Eight to 10 sterile needles are used in a usual treatment, Mieck said. The needles are not hypodermic needles because they are not meant to pierce the vein, she said.
"People call them treats not treatments," Micek said of acupuncture therapy.
Insertion usually is painless and a sensation of warmth or tingling follows as energy is activated. Bleeding or bruising from is rare, she said.
"Acupuncture works immediately and for acute symptoms," Micek said. "Herbs take longer and have more effects that will stick."
Acupuncture is based on the flow of energy through channels in the body. Meridian points represent the end points of those channels and are the insertion point.
Thin needles are placed into some of the 450 meridian points on the body to open the energy in the channel, Micek said.
Herbs often are used in conjunction with acupuncture. Herbs may be
Herbs often are acupuncture. Herbs may be ingested in three forms; pill, powder or in its raw form.
Micek said most Westerners preferred pill form and that herbal treatment cost about $10 a week. The herbs do not have side effects like pharmaceutical pills do. Micek said.
Watkins Health Center chief of staff Randall Rock disagrees.
"There are potential benefits and potential side effects to everything we do or ingest," Rock said "To make that generalization is incorrect. To herbal medicine, if they have an effect at all in causing relaxation, I say 'are we willing to say it's safe?' I think not."
Chinese medicine is a complete system, Morantz said.
"We look at it in terms of the whole picture and interpret it that way," he said. "Our approach to treating a person is different than a Western doctor."
See WESTERN on page 6A
without a LICENSE
To practice acupuncture in the state of Kansas, acupuncturists must have a healing arts license or practice under a certified physician, according to the Kansas Board of Healing Arts in Topeka.
"The only exception to this is if they are performing professional services under the supervision of a licensed person," said Mark Stafford, general counsel for the Kansas Board of Healing Arts, referring to the state's requirements.
Licensing requirements include a doctorate in medicine, chiropractic medicine or osteopathic medicine and approval by a 15-member-board appointed by the Governor of Kansas.
Kansas does not offer a license to people practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine-acupuncture. There is pending legislation that would set up a licensing board for acupuncturists, but the legislation has not progressed very far. Stafford said.
"I'm sure that there are a number of people practicing in Kansas without a license," Stafford said. "I presume that they are practicing under the supervision of someone who is licensed."
Acupunctureists at the Lunaria Holistic Health Care Center do not practice under a physician and therefore are not legally allowed to practice in Kansas.
Morantz believes that a new college in Wichita specializing in Traditional Chinese Medicine will help gain support for a specific acupuncture license in Kansas.
"The one reason we feel comfortable practicing in Kansas is that we know that our education in acupuncture is extensive," said Richard Morantz, Lunaria acupuncturist. "Hopefully the state will recognize what we do for its value and create a license. Part of that process is in us being here doing that."
Because there is no official licensing in Kansas, the board of healing arts can not take the action of pulling a license, but must go to court to ensue disciplinary actions. Stafford said.
The Kansas College of Chinese Medicine opened August 4. The alternative medical college was approved by the Kansas State Board of Education and is not directly subjected to the rules and regulations of the board of healing arts.
Qizhi Gao, founder of the college and doctor of oriental medicine also has a health clinic that offers acupuncture. He practices under the direction of a medical doctor in accordance with Kansas law.
"We'd have to go to civil court, or criminal court," Stafford said. "That would be kind of extreme in most cases to go to criminal court."
Rules of the State
Kansas has no official licensing for holistic doctors. Therefore, holistic doctors must:
Have a doctorate in medicine, chiropractic medicine or osteopathic medicine.
Get approval from a 15-member board appointed by Kansas Governor Bill Graves.
TopA University of Kansas student receives a message at the Lunaria Holistic Health Center in Lawrence. Above: Acupuncturist Carolyn Mickel relaxes by performing Tai Cha, a practice Holistic medicine promotes as a relaxation technique. Photo by staff photographer/KANSAN
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