How to Give Back this Holiday Season

Sunday, December 20

Bob, one of my patients, just contacted me on Facebook with a worthwhile query: Bob writes

"As the beneficiary of good health outcomes via natural therapy, I would like an opportunity to express my appreciation. Dr. Hoffman, at this holiday time, is there a worthwhile philanthropy that you endorse to further the goals of nutritional medicine?"

The answer is yes, there are several (and thanks, Bob, for asking!).

One of my favorites is Vitamin Angels (www.vitaminangels.org).

The mission of Vitamin Angels is "to mobilize and deploy private sector resources to advance availability, access and use of micronutrients, especially vitamin A, by newborns, infants and children in need. Vitamin Angels reduces child mortality worldwide by connecting essential micronutrients, especially vitamin A, with infants and children under five. Essential micronutrients enable young immune systems to fight infectious diseases, helping children attain good health and the opportunity to lead meaningful and productive lives."

Or, if you're more into the politics of complementary medicine, the Alliance for Natural Health (www.anh-usa.org) is a good organization to support.

The stated goal of the ANH is "promoting sustainable health and freedom of choice in healthcare through good science and good law. We protect the right of natural-health practitioners to practice and the right of consumers to choose the healthcare options they prefer. Since 1992, we have worked to shift the medical paradigm from an exclusive focus on surgery, drugs and other conventional techniques to an 'integrative' approach incorporating food, dietary supplements and lifestyle changes. This is the way to improve health and extend lives while reducing the costs of healthcare back to a sustainable level."

One of my favorite philanthropies is the American College for the Advancement of Medicine's Education Foundation (ACAMef). I am a former president of ACAM, and it's a great training resource for physicians; they also provide a useful directory for patients seeking scientifically-trained complementary physicians. Twice yearly, I go to ACAM conferences to learn what's new in alternative medicine. Their website is

http://www.acamnet.org/site/c.ltJWJ4MPIwE/b.2073059/k.29EF/Foundation.htm

The stated goal of ACAMef is "to educate and empower physicians, patients and the general public about complementary, alternative and integrative medicine (CAIM). To accomplish this mission, we have a three prong approach; funding medical research for treatments that will support and enhance complementary modalities and integrative therapies, providing assistance for public programs and group forums that champion patient rights through education, information and access to CAIM therapies and providing educational scholarship for medical students from accredited medical schools seeking to enhance their scope of study with programs and seminars in complementary, alternative and integrative medicine."

So this holiday season, if you've benefited from the advice we've provided you on Health Talk in 2009, consider showing your appreciation by giving a little something back to keep this field alive and vibrant. Remember, altruism has proven health benefits--charitable acts can actually extend your life!

Happy Holidays and best wishes in the coming New Year!

Dr. Hoffman