Sunday, September 29, 2013

World Changing Book - Do You Believe in Magic by Dr. Paul A Offit

This book is the package insert that should come with any alternative medicine treatment. 

A must read for any medical professional today. 

Don't misunderstand, the book discusses the potential and sometimes scientifically validated benefits of some alternative therapies. However, like any form of treatment there are always benefits AND risks. 

Even as the holistic veterinarian I work with knows, just because something is called "natural" doesn't make it safe. 

As this book describes, just because something was the way people did things for a long time doesn't mean it was the right way to do things. He cites statistics that less than 18% of Chinese rely on alternative therapies, and acupuncture is almost exclusively used by the rural poor. 

Any treatment should not be based on whether it is "natural" or whether it is ancient but on its own merits - what are its risks and does it work or not?

The book describes what big business alternative medicine is, what lobbyists they have to support them, and what tools they use to prey on the vulnerable - especially individuals with cancer and parents with sick or autistic children. He describes clear set of guidelines for when alternative medicine has crossed the line from something "probably not harmful" into true exploitation. 

He talks quite a bit about supplements specifically and especially how the 1994 supplement act has crippled the FDA's power to protect us. 

Since the FDA cannot require safety studies, cannot recall products, cannot require label changes, or require the company give warnings about product dangers, the FDA has *less* ability to protect us from supplements than they can protect us from unsafe foods. 

He describes the system that so often drives patients to alternative therapies. He suggests that one of the biggest draws of alternative practitioners is their ability to comfort patients and make them feel like they are getting individualized care in a medical system that feels ever more like an assembly line. 

We have to remember to be healers of people not just of diseases. 

He also talks about the very real power of the placebo effect and how we might harness that power to help people without exposing them to the potential risks of some alternative therapies. 

An absolutely compelling book and vital for anyone willing to know the whole story about alternative medicine. 

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Is Your Pet Sitter a PSI Pet Sitter?

This weekend I was honored to attend the Pet Sitters International (PSI) annual convention "Quest for Excellence".  There, I gave a speech called "Worms, Bites, and Scratches Oh My! Occupational Safety for Pet Sitters." Learn more about how I got involved with this group in this post: "The Complicated Contracts of Dog Walkers Continued"

These pet sitters' kindness and passion for animals absolutely blew me away and I had to tell you more about this organization.

What is Pet Sitters International? It is the largest professional group of pet sitters, run and founded by Patti Moran author of Pet Sitting for Profit.

We have a similar organization in veterinary medicine. Veterinarians who want to excel and hold themselves to a high standard seek American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) membership and accreditation.

Pet sitters who want to be the best join PSI and become PSI Certified Professional Pet Sitters (CPPS).

PSI provides education to member pet sitters through free monthly webinars, their Pet Sitters World magazine, and Quest, the conference I just attended. Ranging from business education to Pet First Aid certifications, PSI resources help pet sitters run their businesses better and keep the pets safer.

PSI makes background checks, insurance, and bonding available to their pet sitters so pet owners know they are dealing with someone they can trust.

But PSI members aren't just skilled, they are also compassionate.

PSI wants to leave a positive "pawprint" on each city that hosts their convention. Every year, the Quest conference puts on a charity auction and chooses a local non-profit shelter or humane society to receive all the proceeds.

Not only was the charity auction a BLAST - Rob the Auctioneer and Owner of Decadent Dog in Nedham, MA had us barking on command and singing rounds of "How Much is that Doggy in the Window" - but the amount of money they were able to raise was mind-blowing.

Since they started doing their charity auctions they have raised more than $105,000 for animal charities.

Pet sitters are not known for rolling in dough but in 3 hours I saw a group of about 150 pet sitters raise $15,115 for charity. They were bidding $300 on a $99 set of animal pillows for the fun of it and for the benefit of pets in need. Or over $500 for a $120 set of cat toys.

The auction even made the local news - see the coverage here or in the video box below.

After working with this group, I would highly recommend choosing a PSI pet sitter for your pet. My next blog entry will be about how to choose a pet sitter. In the meantime check out PSI's directory at http://www.petsit.com/locate/


(You might spot me around 1:28)