Caring for your pets with homeopathy

Caring for pets with homeopathy is a very satisfying experience. The secret is simple: Treat your animals like people.

Your pets are part of your family. They have their own character, personality, and quirks—and individualism, it just so happens, is the foundation of homeopathy.

Yet, unlike other family members, pets cannot answer your questions while you are examining them. So, you must be very observant and sensitive to your pet’s change in appearance, attitude, and demeanor.

Establish the norm. What is your pet’s normal temperature, pulse, average number of breaths per minute, and typical appearance.

Law of Similars

The Law of Similars, or “like cures like,” is the foundation of homoepathy and a universal law of nature. Remedy involves small doses of substances that would produce symptoms of illness in healthy people when given in larger doses.

Most house pets are mammals, and they have similar metabolisms to people. Yet, there will be differences in how they react to homeopathics. For that reason, when caring for your pet, use mineral remedies with herbivores when possible.

Homeopathics

To administer the remedy, it is best to mix a few drops into fresh water. Yet some pets prefer tablets. See what works best in your house.

For guidance about administering homeopathics to your pets, consult a book like Treatment of Cats with Homeopathy by Sheppard.

For more information about specific homeopathic remedies to use with your pets, visit the Bach Flower Essence website, where you can ask a practitioner for guidance: http://www.bachflower.com/Pets.htm/.

For more information about homeopathy for personal use, Click Here.

JJ Virgin & Associates is Hiring World Class Health Coaches

Calling all ACHS grads...trained health coaches needed by JJ Virgin and Associates.

JJ Virgin, is a 25 year veteran of the health and fitness industry, and has worked in nearly every aspect of the business, including numerous network television appearances as a nutritionist, fitness expert and health show host, including and E! Modern Girl’s Guide to Life, NBC’s ivillage Live and Extreme Makeover, where she was part of The Extreme Team on the show’s season finale. She was also a Nutritionist on The Dr. Phil Show for two seasons, assisting the contestants of the Dr. Phil Ultimate Weight Loss Challenge with their nutrition challenges. She recently filmed two pilots for ABC for the international hit show, You Are What You Eat.

Today, JJ Virgin integrates her educational background of nutrition, exercise physiology, psychology, functional medicine and laboratory evaluation into her work as a nutritionist and fitness expert, writer, professional speaker, and television and radio personality.

The Job...

JJ Virgin and Associates is looking to add part-time health coaches to our growing business. Work in tandem with National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP) President and health expert JJ Virgin and our Director of Health Coaching, Miriam Zacharias, utilizing a holistic point of view to provide health coaching, counseling, and consultation to our clients on a variety of health conditions. Our ideal candidates will be highly organized, demonstrate superior and proactive communication skills, and convey professionalism in working with our high-caliber clients.

Our Health Coaches must be very comfortable in a virtual coaching environment, and be well-versed in telephone and computer communication protocols. We expect all Health Coaches to maintain professional membership in the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP) and to pass the board certification in holistic nutrition exam within 6 months of hiring.

Minimum Skills and qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in health education, health science, food nutrition, dietetics, fitness or related field and at last 1 year experience + Masters in a Health related discipline OR equivalent experience working with clients or patients in a health setting as a RN, nutritionist or fitness professional. You may be located anywhere within the U.S., and be able to work independently with limited direction or supervision.

For more information on this opportunity, please send along your resume and cover letter to Miriam Zacharias at mirzacharias@jjvirgin.com.

Check out JJ Virgin's new website, www.healthprovt.com, an online virtual training site for health care professionals.

Three Tips for Optimism: Positioning Health Products Amid Recession

With the economy hurtling downward, it's not a question of if the economy will affect your business - but to what extent. However, if you're selling health products, you've got some reasons to be optimistic. In fact, the health product market has a history of staying strong despite dips in the economy. And the reasons behind this staying power bodes well for health products today.

A recent survey conducted by Nutrition Business Journal and Avero Research found that 98% of American households spend at least a portion of their budgets on healthy foods. And better yet, on average consumers reported spending 51% of their household food budget on healthy foods.

Now admittedly, this survey was conducted in May 2008, before the real financial travails started, but when you look deeper into consumer thinking, you'll find three significant reasons to feel more positive about your health business' prospects over the next few months.

Furthermore, these 3 reasons provide great ways to position your products for the altered consumer mindset:

1. People see health as a wise investment: This election showed more than ever that people are hurting financially as a direct result of health problems. And as the Avero poll above demonstrates, people are using health, specifically preventative health, as a criteria for where to put their dollars.

Even more telling, people see better health as an investment in their careers. As Cara Morrison reported in her extensive report for Packaged Facts, Sport Nutritionals for Active Lifestyles in the U.S., sports nutrition products are not only used by people for sports performance improvement but increasingly for better performance outside of the gym. The benefits of increased energy, higher acuity and even better physical appearance resonate with consumers seeking to perform better at work.

And on the corporate side, corporations are rewarding employees for good health and investing in personal trainers and gyms to help them achieve it - because they know how much this pays off.

Positioning Tip: Position your product [or services] as a smart investment, an investment that will never be at the mercy of global economic fluctuations, investment scandals or government interventions. Place value on your product by comparing it to the costs of more costly interventions - prescriptions, medical bills or time lost from work.

2. People latch onto health as something they can control: In 2001, the Hartman Group, a Seattle-based market research organization that focuses on the natural health consumer, found to their surprise that sales of organic foods was not declining, despite the economic problems.

When they started to look into why organics had staying power, they found out that consumers did not perceive them as luxury items, but as essentials. But even more interesting, consumers reported again and again that purchasing healthy food was a way of maintaining some feeling of control in their lives when everything else seemed so out of control.

Positioning Tip: Position your product [or services] as something that gives your prospects' control over their lives. When they choose to take care of their health, they are making themselves invulnerable to whatever comes along. With good energy, strength, alertness and stamina, they can take on the changes up ahead and find a way to tackle problems. They are not held hostage by the fears of medical bills, or debilitating chronic disease. And within the health care world, they can advocate for themselves better with better information and be smarter consumers as a result.

3. Health care items can be smart and satisfying indulgences: With a tightening budget, consumers are putting off old rewards like big vacations, a new car or the latest electronics. But consumers are still looking for ways to feel good and treat themselves - even more than ever. As green marketing expert, Darrin Duber-Smith explained, with troubling financial times, people tend to nest more, taking care of themselves and their immediate retreat - their homes. Many health care products - from natural personal care items to tasty but healthy desserts - strike a chord with consumers looking for a guilt-free way to reward themselves and put a soothing balm on their stress-filled days.

Positioning Tip: Emphasize the nourishing, sensual nature of your products [or services]. If you sell a lotion, don't just talk about how good their skin will look, but talk about the scent, the feeling of putting it on, the experience of using it. If you have a wonderfully-flavored whey protein, suggest using it in a delicious smoothie treat when you get home from work. Promote a new cookbook as a replacement for those restaurant meals consumers have been cutting out of their spending habits.

© 2009 Ezine Articles: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Health-Product-Market-During-a-Recession---Three-Tips-For-Optimism-and-Product-Positioning&id=1699080

Health Freedom Updates for March

Many states have started their legislative sessions and are going strong. Make sure you check your state update to see if there is anything new.

I have also set up a health freedom website so you can see what is new. This website address is: www.fyhf.synthasite.com.

I also have the yahoo group set up so that you will receive important alerts as they are released. Just send a blank email to: FYHF-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

We all have friends, relatives, customers, etc. in other states. This is a good way to pass along information to people you know in other states.

Please remember that each state has different laws and regulations regarding what you can and cannot do when it comes to complementary and alternative health care.

There are currently six states that have health freedom laws. These are: Minnesota, California, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Idaho. If you live in one of these states, you need to know the laws regarding health freedom, what you can and cannot do, and what disclosures you may need to provide to your clients.

There are 15 states and the District of Columbia that license or regulate naturopathic physicians. If your state is one that regulates naturopathic physicians, you need to know what that law says in regards to what you can and cannot do. These states are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia. Minnesota just passed a registration bill for naturopathic physicians that should take effect July 1, 2009.

For questions about health freedom in your state, contact Kim Sharples at kimberlysharples@msn.com or call (719) 390-1979. Kim Sharples, HHP, was the 2008 ACHS Famous Alumni of the Year.

For state-by-state information, CLICK HERE.

ALASKA
Alaska has introduced a Naturopathic Physician bill, SB70: http://www.aksenate.org/index.php?bill=SB70

For more information, contact Boyd Landry at boydlandry@naturalhealth.org.

CALIFORNIA
Prop 65 is proposed regulation that wants to classify all beneficial nutrients with above-RDA potencies as cancer-causing agents under unless proven otherwise.
For more information, please go to this website: http://www.thenhf.com/press_releases/pr_12_may_2008.html

There is also California Health Freedom Coalition: www.californiahealthfreedom.com and
California Citizens for Health Freedom: www.citizenshealth.org or email: frank@citizenshealth.org.

HAWAII
House bill 1196 has been introduced. This bill has amendments to the Naturopathic Physician Act. For more information, contact Boyd Landry at boydlandry@naturalhealth.org.

IDAHO
Idaho has a bill, S1014 that will repeal the Naturopathic Physician Licensing Act. This has passed the Senate and is now in the House. For more information about Idaho, contact Boyd at: boydlandry@naturalhealth.org or info@naturalhealthidaho.org. You can also visit the website for Idaho CNH at: www.naturalhealthidaho.org.

ILLINOIS
HR0095 creates a task force on the licensure of Naturopathic Physicians: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=0095&GAID=10&GA=96&DocTypeID=HR&LegID=44565&SessionID=76

For more information, contact Boyd Landry at boydlandry@naturalhealth.org

IOWA
From Iowa Health Freedom Coalition: Our work for 2009 has already begun. Our website improvements include a PayPal button that will make donating or renewing membership a breeze. Check it out at: http://www.iowahealthfreedom.org/join.html.

We now have a Speakers Bureau where groups can request a speaker on many topics relating to health freedom, access to holistic wellness, and current laws or legislation relating to holistic, integrative wellness. Please visit the site and line up a speaker for your event.

IHFC will have a booth at the Iowa Holistic Expo, March 14th and 15th at the Polk County Convention Center. This was a wonderful event last year and this year promises to be as well. Please plan to attend! More information can be found at: http://www.edgelife.net/expos/iowa/index.htm

As we shape our activities for the year, we want to hear from you: your concerns, your experiences, and your questions. The more we know about what is going on throughout Iowa, the better we can serve you. Please be our eyes and ears! And we will be a more effective representative for you at the Capitol. We are also expanding our organization and are looking for people to fill leadership roles or just help out; let us know if you’d like to join us and what you are interested or willing to do. Our email: info@iowahealthfreedom.org.

We have introduced the Iowa Access to Wellness bill once again in the Iowa Legislature. It has not been assigned a bill number yet, but look for an update soon! Or check the website in the next week or so: http://www.iowahealthfreedom.org.

MARYLAND
Alternative Health care bill HB 1380 has been introduced. Here is the link to view the bill : http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/bills/hb/hb1380f.pdf.

You may find contact info and email of the HGO committee and Senate EHEA committee members. It will be very useful to send an e-mail to these members in support of the bill. Ask your friends to do the same.

Senators by name: http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/05sen/html/senal.html
You may want to track the bill for next few weeks for hearing dates.

HGO committee members
http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/com/05heal.html
Delegates by name: http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/hseal.html
Members of the Senate EHEA committee
http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/05sen/html/com/02eco.html

MISSOURI
The Coalition for Natural Health was able to stop attempts made to attach amendments to bills moving through legislature last year. House Bill 750 has been introduced and relates to the practice of naturopathic medicine: http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills091/biltxt/intro/HB0750I.htm.

For more information, contact Boyd Landry at boydlandry@naturalhealth.org.

NEVADA
SB 69 creates the Board of Complementary Integrative Medical Examiners: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/Bills/SB/SB69.pdf.

For more information contact Boyd Landry: boydlandry@naturalhealth.org.

NEW MEXICO

A Health Freedom bill, HB 664, has been introduced in New Mexico: http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/_session.aspx?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=%20664&year=09

And also the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine bill, HB 492: http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/_session.aspx?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=%20492&year=09

For more information contact Boyd Landry: boydlandry@naturalhealth.org or the NMCAAMP website at www.nmcaamp.org.

NORTH CAROLINA
From North Carolina Citizens for Healthcare Freedom: Citizens For Healthcare Freedom (CHF) has been working to protect your rights to natural and complementary healthcare in North Carolina since 1995. This year, CHF will be working with North Carolina legislators to pass the Consumer Health Freedom Act.

What is the Consumer Health Freedom Act? An amendment to the NC medical licensing law to protect the right to choose nutritional supplements and access alternative, holistic, complementary, or natural health providers or practitioners. The legislation would protect the right of health care providers to offer their services legally and safely, without fear of being prosecuted for "practicing medicine without a license" in NC.

For more information on this proposed legislation and CHF, visit: www.ncchf.org.

Support us! It's imperative we raise funds immediately to cover the costs and expenses needed to pass The Consumer Health Freedom Act in the 2009-2010 Legislative Session. CHF is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization supported solely by membership dues and donations. All donations are 100% tax deductible. Please support our vision of a health freedom state and a sustainable community by becoming a CHF member or by making a donation. To join or contribute with a credit card, visit our website: www.ncchf.org.

OHIO
There are 2 health freedom organizations in OHIO: The Ohio Health Freedom Coalition (www.ohiohealthfreedom.org) and the Ohio Sunshine Health Freedom Coalition.

1. The Ohio Health Freedom Coalition was originally formed in 2004; OHFC is a nonprofit organization that advocates for changing Ohio law to allow for greater access to complementary and alternative health care services. OHFC’s members believe that complementary and alternative health care options should be available to members of the public, that citizens should have the freedom to select the practitioner who delivers them and that the state should not prohibit access to natural health services.

Just in time for the New Year the Ohio Institute of Energetic Studies & Bodywork is hosting a FREE Holistic Health Expo in Cleveland, Ohio and Columbus, Ohio. Come out and meet our Executive Director, Sara Donlon. For more information or questions regarding the Ohio Health Freedom Coalition please call: (614) 888-7351.

2. Ohio Sunshine Health Freedom Coalition (www.ohiosunshinehealthfreedom.info). To learn more, please contact Linda Murray (hertouch@juno.com).

OKLAHOMA
Health Freedom Action Network: contact information: information@oklahomahealthfreedom.org or their website: http://www.oklahomahealthfreedom.org.

OREGON
Oregon Health Freedom Website: www.oregonhealthfreedom.org or
email: john@oregonhealthfreedom.org.

VIRGINIA
Virginia Chapter of Certified Natural Health Professionals: HB1744 Natural Health Care Providers bill (Health Freedom Bill) has been tabled by the Health, Welfare and Institutions committee. What exactly does this mean for us? Over the last few weeks, I have been talking with Delegate Pogge and others to decide what action we can take with a tabled bill. We have decided that for the present time we should not do anything with it, not because we don't want it passed, but the likelihood of passing it this year is slim. We just don't have enough support.

So, here is what we need to do in preparation for next year:
-Form local constituent groups for each of the delegates and senators to educate them about the need for a Health Freedom Bill.
-Arrange for your group to meet face to face with your delegate and senator to let them know your concerns to pass a Health Freedom Bill in the 2010 legislative session and build a relationship with them over this next year. It's an election year for delegates so helping them with their campaign could put you in a position of favor. If they know you personally they are more willing to help you out.
-Arrange a meeting with local supervisors/city council, mayor etc to educate them of the need for a Health Freedom Bill and ask them to contact the delegates and senator that serve their district.
Your local officials know these delegates and senators and have influence.
-Talk with other groups or individuals that may have an interest in our cause; Home school groups, holistic minded groups, your clients.

I am willing to help educate and train the leaders of the constituent groups so they in turn can educate and motivate their groups. I am also willing to go with you when you speak with your representatives. Our message to our officials must unify, so teamwork is a must. If
we are going to be successful we will need many leaders to reach each of the 100 delegates and 40 senators. If you are interested in being a team leader please contact me, let's move forward together.

Sharon E. Hrichak for
Virginians for Health Freedom, a project of the Virginia Chapter of Certified Natural Health Professionals
P.O. Box 316, Chesterfield, VA 23832-0005

WASHINGTON STATE
There are several bills in Washington:

HB 1638 refers to Colon Hydrotherapy: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1638&year=2009

HB 2007 pertains to Naturopathic Doctors:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2004&year=2009

For information on these bills, contact Boyd Landry boydlandry@naturalhealth.org.

Health Freedom: The bill was heard on the Senate floor on Friday, January 30. It has been assigned a number: Senate Bill 5755 2009-10. The best way to easily stay updated is to use the following website address: www.leg.wa.gov/legislature and use the "Bill Search" tab near the top of the page (enter 5755).

According to the website: The "short title" of our bill is "Concerning alternative health care practitioners" In reading SB5755 as it is posted on the website, Section 1 says: "This act may be known and cited as the health care choice act."; The direct-access URL is: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5755&year=2009.

After the bill was heard, it was referred to the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee. The next step for our bill is that it will have to be scheduled for a hearing before the H&LTC Committee. Senator Karen Kaiser is the chair of this committee. Our discussions with her have not been promising; she does not intend to hear the bill. That would kill it for this session. We need to convince her to hear the bill. What people can do-call/write their senators and members of the Senate Health Committee. Contact Kaiser requesting that she hear the bill.

For more information, go to the Washington Health Freedom website: http://healthfreedomwa.org/ or email: healthfreedom.wa@gmail.com or call (360) 357-6263.

Hawthorn, known for its show-stopping bright-red berries, is an all-star performer in the winter garden. But, did you know...

Hawthorn is your heart's best friend.

Native to northern temperate zones in East Asia, Europe, and eastern North America, hawthorn fruit has been used as food and medicine in Europe for centuries. But, why...

Hawthorn has been shown to increase coronary blood flow and reduce oxygen consumption.

Medicinally, research shows hawthorn is beneficial for use with congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary circulation problems, and arrhythmias. It is also used to increase cardiac output reduced by hypertension or pulmonary disease, to support hypotension and hypertension, atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, and Buerger’s disease.

In addition, hawthorn can also be used as a sedative, antispasmodic, astringent, and diuretic. It is also used for gastrointestinal conditions like indigestion, enteritis, epigastric distension, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

For more information about hawthorn, including clinical studies, download a free monograph from the ACHS Apothecary Shoppe.

To help fortify your heart, save 30% off featured heart healthy products from the Apothecary Shoppe.
CLICK HERE.

Now, let's turn to the FDA

In our view, health care reform is a lot like the fable of the 6 blind men with the elephant. Nobody sees the whole picture.

There are different endings to that fable. In one version, the blind men turn their very-real individual experiences into something more complete and useful. In the other version . . . well, it hasn’t ended; they’re still arguing.

In the case of health care, both versions are familiar. The first, more hopeful version has felt for years like it’s just around the corner. But the second version more persistently holds our attention. Reconciling these versions of the story when it comes to health care is no small matter. Health is where many diverse realms meet:

• Where self-responsibility meets government regulation;
• Where personal choice meets the professional healing relationship; and
• Where the subjective experience of wellbeing meets objective, medical science.

We’ve worked together the past few weeks to put natural health front and center in the conversation about the elephant that is health care reform. And we thank you again for your contribution to this effort. Now, we dig a little deeper and in a more specific way. The FDA is obviously part of this elephant. And it’s to the FDA that we now turn our attention.

There are several formal FDA reform efforts going on right now. One that we’ve announced in the past, and continue to support, is the American Association for Health Freedom’s “Reform the FDA” petition. We’ll be addressing this petition more in the coming weeks. For now, learn more about this petition here.

Another interesting site to explore about FDA reform is at FDAreview.org. This is a detailed site that has some interesting and controversial ideas. Even if you don’t agree with everything you find there, at the very least, this site will make you think.

Indeed, while we may not agree with every detail of every approach to FDA reform, we do agree that there is a need right now for new, critical thinking about health care reform generally, and about FDA reform specifically. And lest you think that Non-Governmental Organizations are the only ones making this call, consider this letter to President-elect Obama from Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI).

Also, we acknowledge that with any major change comes both risk and opportunity. Forces that oppose natural health could actually take advantage of FDA reform and make things tougher for us if we are not committed, diligent and persistent. With that in mind, the campaign that we are about to announce has the following goals:

• Build sustainable awareness and activism about our grassroots power as citizens and consumers.
• Establish measurable outcomes for our efforts.
• Expand the collaborative efforts of natural health supporters and associations.

So, here it is. Natural health care isn’t just the promotion of natural products and practices. It’s also protection against harmful products and practices that are being allowed in the name of commerce. In both cases, it’s up to us to hold the FDA accountable.

Many of you are familiar with the situation with Splenda, the trade name of sucralose as used by the self-described “health care” company, Johnson & Johnson. Beginning immediately next week and continuing for a few weeks, we’ll build a series of Action Alerts on the Splenda matter that will be directed to the FDA. For now, please inform yourself by reading this press release from Citizens For Health Chairman James S. Turner about new and urgent findings on sucralose.

The FDA is about to undergo an overhaul, one way or another. Even though this Splenda Action is just an example, it’s a very important example to the “new” FDA and others. Let’s show them by this Action Alert what we can do together.

Keep an eye out for next week’s Splenda Alert. Share this news as much as possible. And as always, thanks for your support.

© January 2009: http://www.citizens.org/elephant-story

January Health Freedom Update

Monthly Column From Kim Sharples, HHP, 2007 Alumni

Happy New Year!

A lot of states will be starting their legislative sessions in January. If you haven’t already, check with the health freedom group in your state, and sign up to be notified of any important developments. Bills to watch for would include Dietitian/Nutrition, Naturopathic Physicians, and Massage Therapy.

If your state is trying to pass a health freedom bill, contact them and see what you can do to help. Groups are always looking for volunteers and need donations. Any amount of time or any donation would be appreciated. Please remember that each state has different laws and regulations regarding what you can and cannot do when it comes to complementary and alternative health care.

Remember that each state has different laws and regulations regarding complementary and alternative health care.

There are currently six states that have health freedom laws. These are: Minnesota, California, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Idaho. If you live in one of these states, you need to know what you legally can and cannot do, and what disclosures you may need to provide to your clients.

There are 15 states and the District of Columbia that license or regulate naturopathic physicians. If your state is one that regulates naturopathic physicians, you need to know what that law says in regard to what you can and cannot do. These states are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia. Minnesota just passed a registration bill for naturopathic physicians that should take effect July 1, 2009.

There is a yahoogroup that was just set up for those interested in health freedom across the United States. Just send a blank email to: FYHF-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.


NATIONAL HEALTH FREEDOM ORGANIZATIONS

• Coalition for Natural Health: www.naturalhealth.org or Boyd Landry at boydlandry@naturalhealth.org
• Health Keepers Alliance: www.healthkeepers.net
• Citizens for Health: www.citizens.org
• Sunshine Health Freedom Foundation: Contact person: Troy Bledsoe at herbalsurvival@cox.net or www.sunshinehealthfreedomfoundation.com.
• National Health Freedom Action/Coalition: www.nationalhealthfreedom.org

For questions or more information about health freedom in your state, please feel free to contact me: kimberlysharples@msn.com or 719-390-1979.

HEALTH FREEDOM INFORMATION

CANADA
The Canadian Parliament adjourned for the summer without debating or passing bills C-51 and C-52, bills that could have overturned long standing legal precedent protecting Canadians’ health freedom. For more information, click here.

CALIFORNIA
Prop 65 is proposed regulation that wants to classify all beneficial nutrients with above-RDA potencies as cancer-causing agents under unless proven otherwise.
For more information, please go to this website.

COLORADO
Colorado was successful in stopping a monopolistic naturopathic physician bill. A Health Freedom bill was also introduced, but was not successful. A Massage bill was introduced and passed. This bill contained exemptions for those who do energy work such as Reiki.

Colorado For Health Freedom has a yahoo group you can join by sending a blank email to CO4HFG-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. You can also contact Kimberly Sharples at kimberlysharples@msn.com or 719-390-1979.

CONNECTICUT
Connecticut Health Freedom Coalition: Craig Respasz at crepasz@hotmail.com.

IDAHO
Just when we thought Idaho was settled, Senate Bill 1425 was introduced by the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare on February 11, 2008. The bill, as introduced, would have transformed the law from what was an agreeable, accommodating law under which all natural health practitioners benefited, to a restrictive licensing law favoring “naturopathic physicians.” The bill progressed quickly through the Senate and The Coalition jumped into the fray with both feet to protect the language in the bill that allowed for multiple pathways to licensure. With the help of the Idaho Coalition for Natural Health and others, the bill was amended, thus minimizing the effect on the law in Idaho. We will continue to monitor the activities of the Board of Naturopathic Medical Examiners as they work towards promulgation of rules.

For more information, contact Boyd at: boydlandry@naturalhealth.org. You can also visit the website for Idaho CNH at: http://www.naturalhealthidaho.org/.

IOWA
Iowa introduced Health Freedom language in 2008, but was not successful. To learn more about the Iowa Health Freedom Coalition, you can access their website: www.iowahealthfreedom.org.

LOUISIANA
Louisiana’s focus this year was to introduce a total Health Freedom Bill in the 2008 Louisiana Legislative Session. They held a statewide membership meeting in March with 3 excellent speakers: Senator Sharon Weston Broome (Sponsor of the bill), Dr. John Baker, head of LSU Law School (health freedom advocate), and Boyd Landry, Executive Director of CNH.

They also held several statewide meeting to attract new members as well as enlighten the member that reside outside the Baton Rouge area of their intentions to introduce a bill in this year’s 2008 session; as well as meeting with legislators at the Capitol Rotunda several times.

They hired a Lobbyist to work with us to amend Acts 655 and 334, which were bills we passed in the 2006, and 2005 sessions. With lobbyist Kathy Chittom and Senator Broome’s influence, they were able to pass a bill in this year’s 2008 Legislative Session. The Governor signed the bill into law at the end of June (Act No. 524). They now feel as though Louisiana finally has a Total Health Freedom Bill.

Their board meets the last Monday of each month, and they have a conference call number for those who cannot attend in person.

If you live in Louisiana and would like to help, please contact Cynthia Reed, ND, President of the Louisiana Health Freedom Coalition at 225-756-8400 or herbs-etc@cox.net.

MARYLAND
Maryland introduced a health freedom bill in 2008, but it was not successful. Contact Dr. Mishra for more information regarding Health Freedom in Maryland: mishra13505@yahoo.com.

MINNESOTA
A Naturopathic Physician registration bill was passed in Minnesota that will not go into effect until July 1, 2009. During this time a Naturopathy Work Group has been assigned to study the regulation of Naturopathic Doctors. Their recommendations must be turned in no later than December 15, 2008, and the Commissioner of Health will report these findings to Legislators by January 15, 2009. You can read about this bill and work group here.

Another group has formed in Minnesota - Minnesota Advocates for Complementary and Alternative Practices, MNACAP. The President is Katie Murphy, and you can email her at: 4healinginsights@comcast.net.

MONTANA
Montana has a health freedom group that wants to introduce a Health Freedom Bill next legislative session. For more information, you can contact: Debra Kimmet deb@debkimmet.com or 406-251-9704 or visit their website.

NEW JERSEY
A Dietitian/Nutritionist Licensure bill has just been introduced in New Jersey and been referred to the Senate Commerce Committee. This bill could limit nutritional advice to only those dietitian/nutritionists licensed by the state of New Jersey. You can view the bill here. Please contact me for more information: kimberlysharples@msn.com.

NEW YORK
There were three restrictive bills introduced in New York, which could have prohibited traditional naturopaths from practicing. Boyd Landry with CNH worked at killing these bills and they are monitoring legislation for the remainder of 2008 and into 2009. You can contact Boyd for more information: boydlandry@naturalhealth.org.

NORTH CAROLINA
There was restrictive naturopathic medicine bills introduced this year in NC. Fortunately, these bills died in committee. The North Carolina Citizens for Healthcare Freedom has a health freedom bill introduced and they are hoping for it to be heard in the long session, starting in January. At this time they need assistance with signing petitions (on their website), volunteering and donations. For more information, you can go to their website: www.ncchf.org. Their contact person is Claiborne Holtzman: Claiborne@ncchf.org.

OHIO
The Ohio Sunshine Health Freedom Coalition has introduced a health freedom bill, H.B. 580. You can read the bill here. The OSHFC Steering Committee recorded a phone call updating the Ohio situation. If you would like to listen, please call 641-715-3409 and enter PIN 288597#. They are also asking for help in calling, Emailing or faxing members of the committee that the health freedom bill is assigned to. To learn more, please contact Linda Murray: hertouch@juno.com or go to their website: www.ohiosunshinehealthfreedom.info.

TENNESSEE
Two identical restrictive licensing bills were entertained this session. Fortunately, both of these bills died in committee. They expect similar legislation to be introduced in 2009. For more information, please contact Boyd Landry at: boydlandry@naturalhealth.org.

TEXAS
The Texas health freedom bill author, Rep. Frank Corte, has filed HB 40, their 2009 health freedom bill. The bill text can be viewed at the following link: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/.

They also have discovered that the Texas Dietetic Association has hired a lobbyist to attempt to push through their exclusionary licensing agenda for the 2009 legislative session. They will need your help to defeat this legislation that could take away practitioners rights to give out nutritional advice.

There are installments of “WAKE UP AMERICA” on their website, on the right side under “Recent Posts.” Their website has been updated so please visit www.texashealthfreedom.com to see the “WAKE UP AMERICA” video series and other health freedom information.

Texas needs volunteers and donations--If you can help, please visit their website or contact Peter McCarthy at texascam@earthlink.net.

VIRGINIA
The Certified Natural Health Professionals of Virginia Health Freedom Group is collecting signatures to oppose HB 784, the monopolistic naturopathic physician bill. You may hold the original signed letters or send them to the Virginia Chapter of Certified Natural Health Professionals at P.O. Box 316, Chesterfield, VA 23832-0005.

They will use these letters to demonstrate opposition to any naturopath licensure bill that might be introduced in the 2009 session. If you have questions regarding the gathering of signatures on these letters or their strategy please contact Becky Hanks at the Herb Basket at 804-862-HERB (4372) during the daytime on Tuesdays through Saturday. To learn more, please visit their website: www.cnhpva.org.

WASHINGTON
Washington has a health freedom bill introduced, Senate Bill 6886, and was referred to the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee. To read this bill, go to: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/.

Preserve your Freedom of Choice in health care! 2009 Health Freedom Advocacy Day. Our freedom to choose the type of health care and health practitioners that we want is in jeopardy! Come and advocate with legislators. We’ll help you! Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, 10 am-4 pm - Cherberg Bldg, Rooms A/B/C. For more information, go to the Washington Health Freedom website: http://healthfreedomwa.org/, email healthfreedom.wa@gmail.com, or call 360-357-6263.

WISCONSIN
Act Now! The Wisconsin Health Freedom Coalition (WIHFC) is a grass roots lobbying organization dedicated to preserving health care access for natural therapies and access to nutritional information in Wisconsin. These freedoms are under threat by special interest groups lobbing in Madison.

Check out their website http://wihfc.com/about_us.htm to read about the upcoming introduction of our exciting Consumer Health Freedom and Access Act. This proposed legislation would protect the rights of Wisconsin Citizens to access natural, herbal and alternative health care.

Also, please check out the website http://wihfc.com/about_us.htm to read about the WDA (Wisconsin Dietetic Association) proposed legislation that would limit your access to nutritional information. WDA seeks licensure to monopolize nutritional information that is bought and paid for by large corporations, which are interested in profit and not your health. Unfortunately we have to solicit for donations http://wihfc.com/donate.htm.

If you are able to help, please contact Syncha Maniscalco at syncha@gmail.com or go to www.wihfc.com.

Kimberly Sharples, HHP
Health Freedom Activist
kimberlysharples@msn.com
(719) 390-1979