June 2006
In This Issue:
What we do outside of Merritt Acupuncture:
- Braille project
- Study in Japan
- Speaking to practitioners from around the world at University of Texas at Austin
- Studying Applied Clinical Nutrition
- Trade in miles for stress relief and healthcare !
Welcome to the first edition of the Merritt Acupuncture Newsletter! We are excited to share new possibilities for your health, in a series of articles each month. This being our first of many newsletters, we would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to our two-person team of licensed acupuncturists.
Marlene Merritt has been seeing patients, massage and acupuncture, since 1991. She has taught the Texas Massage Curriculum for 8 years, and Anatomy and Physiology for the Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin since 1997. She specializes in several things, including stress management and cosmetic Face-lift acupuncture. Her commitment to her patients in evident in the time she spends with them, formulating individual treatment plans and long-term goals. An avid long-distance cyclist, she has ridden across the United States, up the East Coast, and has plans already in place for races next year.
Will Mitchell is president of the Texas Toyohari Association, a Japanese Acupuncture association. Will specializes in Japanese acupuncture and is well practiced in many Chinese methods as well. Will's knowledgable background and cheery disposition make for a great combination when treating our pediatric patients. Will is originally from Delaware, but has called many U.S. cities home over the years before graduating from the Academy of Oriental Medicine in Austin (AOMA).
Married in 2002, our practitioners bring a holistic approach to health and well-being that is rarely equaled in the healthcare industry.
Both of our practioners are avid cyclists and partake in many bicycle trips around the nation. In July they will be participting in a two-week trip cycling the highways of Alaska.
Braille project - Will Mitchell has been coordinating a multinational cooperation of acupuncturists who are converting our text books to Braille for upcoming English speaking blind students. In Japan, blind people have been trained to practice acupuncture since 1600. This is the beginning of bringing that practice to non-Japanese cultures.
Study in Japan - Will spent a few weeks last summer in Tokyo (think Houston weather with less A/C) and again this past March studying some of the refined styles of acupuncture developed there directly under 75 year old masters.
Speaking to Scholars and Practitioners from around the World at UT - The International Association for the Study of Asian Medicine held its conference for the first time in the US at UT! Will spoke about the global effort of acupuncturists that helped him translate a Japanese acupuncture in to English braille. The audience was composed of professors of sociology, anthropologists, medical historians, presidents of acupuncture schools and practitoiners from several continents.
Applied Clinical Nutrition - Marlene and Will are both studying to earn a certification in Applied Clinical Nutrition. The two year study offered by the Texas Chiropractic College is a study of using nutrition to heal the body. More than just learning the basic nutrients needed to keep from getting sick, this study teaches us how to optimize your health to overcome and resist ailments.
We have patients who find themselves globetrotting for their business and have an abundance of frequent flyer miles. Many of these people are not interested in traveling more for a vacation. In fact, many of these business travelers are happy to trade their miles for stress relief to decompress from work. On the other hand, we find ourselves traveling quite a bit every year. Usually to the East Coast for family, across the US, and to Asia for study and maybe a week of pure vacation as well. We are always happy to trade for miles - give us a call if you want to talk to us about it. We've done this trade many times before and know how to easily set it up.
