Archive for December, 2007

The Complexity Of A European Unions Marketing Plan

Monday, December 31st, 2007

By Kadence Buchanan Many marketing experts argue that marketing is a logical process with a natural structure that can be viewed primarily as a method of understanding the marketing environment; using the marketing mix; developing a marketing plan -based upon the use of the marketing mix; implementing a plan based on the selected strategy; and finally, using a control method to ensure that the strategy is adhered to. This marketing process is reviewed and evaluated regularly and modifications are made to the use of the marketing mix tactics in order to take into account any possible market change that might impact upon an organization’s competitiveness. This view of marketing seems to suggest that many of the marketing theories employed by multinational enterprises are international in scope and have global consequences. The EU market constitutes a different marketplace if examined in terms of the various cultures that co-exist, the multiple levels of competition, and the organization strategies used in order to penetrate its markets. Although these differences and their implications interfere with business planning, the E.U. is considered as an opportunity by numerous companies that decide to expand to other markets by using the appropriate internationalization strategies and competing with major global players in terms of sales, profits, market shares and organizational momentum. A core issue in marketing theory is the growth and importance of networking and interaction. According to experts, the way in which administrative units, companies, and non-profit organizations (NGOs) develop, is directly related with their type of interaction and consequently the networks formed to gain commercial advantage in domestic or foreign markets. These networks can use similar subcontractors or components, share research and development costs, or operate within the same governmental framework. Clearly the EU, a trading block with no internal barriers, creates its own elite sub-networks. Collaborations in aerospace, vehicle manufacturing or engineering have all sponsored the development of a European outlook, which is based upon each participant’s abilities and expertise. This recently adopted approach of networking and marketing interoperability between companies demonstrates how important it is today for any type of manager or project coordinator to know who takes the decisions in the E.U. level and who can be approached from the E.U. administrative units, in order for a specific network to adequately present its interests and work towards their accomplishment. The E.U. is a rich, diverse market, with a vibrant and varied cultural heritage. This means that although there has been a harmonization process within the 25 member states as a result of the E.U.’s formation, great differences still exist and help shape everyday practices and processes. Rather than businesses being simpler as a result of this economic and trade union, it is recognized that due to heavy regulation and bureaucracy, the E.U. needs to communicate itself effectively to all, as a unique supranational player of our global village. The new E.U. profile has not yet been introduced successfully and due to the audiences’ diverse backgrounds, any attempt can prove to be highly complex. Especially if someone considers that Europeans tend, in general, to have their cultural differences recognized and most of their political and social networks are based on extremely important historical instances, the firms that recognize this challenge and adequately “package” their offer have a good chance of developing a successful marketing plan to meet the diverse E.U. citizens’ needs. Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Science, Employment, and Nutrition Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kadence_Buchanan http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Complexity-Of-A-European-Unions-Marketing-Plan&id=305724 non prescription phentermine buy phentermine online no rx buy phentermine pay cod cheap phentermine overnight delivery

Restaurant and Bar Lucrative Business Secret Revealed!

Sunday, December 30th, 2007

By Kubajo Ha I love foreign delicasies. Those oriental delights are some of the tastiest snacks I have ever eaten here in North America. Imagine the peanuts and chips you find at restaurant and bar scenes. Now what if you discover the joys of your local restaurant and bar are no longer restricted to the consumption of alcohol. North America is growing and so too are the ethnic communities within it. Visit any Chinatown, Little Italy or India etc. and the sight of exotic snacks becomes just as common as the familiar beer and peanuts in your local restaurant and bar. The restaurant and bar scene is hot in immigrant neighbourhoods and is expanding to include every exotic cuisine that visitors could ever dream of. The sushi restaurant and bar is a great example of how the most successful restaurant and bar entrepreneurs incorporate traditional Eastern and Western cuisine in their menus. It often proves to be quite lucrative for their restaurant and bar business. Opening a restaurant and bar is a giant financial risk. However, the chances of your success can greatly improve with the introduction of a few exotic delicacies. In fact, this single act may be the difference between an early retirement or having to declare bankruptcy on your restaurant and bar. Kubajo Ha is the founder of Restaurant and Bar Organization and webmaster of RestaurantAndBar.org. Please visit the restaurant and bar organization’s website for a wide assortment of successful restaurant and bar listings. His website is for sale through Sedo. Sedo has a minimum $60 offer requirement from buyers. Act now and make your offer at Sedo to become the new owner of this brandable domain name. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kubajo_Ha http://EzineArticles.com/?Restaurant-and-Bar-Lucrative-Business-Secret-Revealed!&id=69697 cheap phentermine online consultation buy phentermine online cod buy phentermine phentermine 37.5 mg without prescription

Preventing Gel Nails from Peeling and Lifting

Sunday, December 30th, 2007

By Rebecca Hombroek There are a variety of reason why nails lift, and many of them are the resultof improper application methods. Make sure that you follow all of the applicationsteps correctly, and if you are still having lifting problems it may just bethat you need a little extra help with an additional product like the IBD Dehydrate.First read all of the handy hints below. Hopefully you will recognise where youmight be going wrong. Don’t use too much Bonder. The nail should not look shiny after applyingthe bonder. If it does, gently dab the nail with a clean nail wipe so thatyou have a matt grainy appearance. Using too much Bonder can be the main reasonfor lifting. For extreme lifting you can cure the Bonder for 3 minutes. While preparing your nails make sure thay you file the entire nail in onedirection only. The entire surface should have the shine removed. Take specialcare to file all nail edges. Make sure that all nail and gel filings are removed with Cleanser Plus anda Nail Wipe before applying Bonder. The nail must be thoroughly clean, dryand particle free. When you first start preparing your nails you use Nail Prep Spray, whichnot only sanitises your nails but also dehydrates them a little. This is animportant step. Some people however might need a little more help to dehydratetheir nails. This might be because your have particularly oily nail beds, haveyour hands regularly in water (from swimming, washing dishes etc), or it couldjust be a temporary change like pregnancy that is effecting how well your nailsstay on. You have a couple of options if this is the case. You can use a strongernail primer, like those that are used for acrylic nails, or you can use IBDDehydrate. IBD Dehydrate is a quick and effective product which is simply brushedon 3 to 4 seconds before you apply your Bonder. It doesn’t need to be cured. Avoid washing your hands during the whole application process. You need tokeep your nails completely dry. Ensure that after applying the gel you run around the nail edge with a CuticlePusher, or any other object with a pointed end like a tooth pick, to ensurethat the gel hasn’t run onto the skin. Confine your application to the nailplate only. Gel cured on your cuticles or surrounding skin will cause lifting. Don’t apply the gel too thinly at the edge of the nail. Make sure you use a top coat and cap the end and edges of the nail. Thiswill help prevent moisture seeping between the natural nail and gel layer. If you are applying gel polish you must use a topcoat. (see handy hint on’Coloured Gel Polish is peeling’) Use gloves when washing up and house cleaning. Rebecca Hombroek http://www.nailsdirect.com.au/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Hombroek http://EzineArticles.com/?Preventing-Gel-Nails-from-Peeling-and-Lifting&id=256165 buy phentermine com phentermine no prescription necessary buy generic phentermine where can i buy phentermine online

How To Treat A Cold

Saturday, December 29th, 2007

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Manolito_Montala] Manolito Montala The common cold is a frequent and expensive disease, striking some people as many as 12 times a year, and leading to some 15 million days lost from work annually in the U.S. alone. Children catch a cold the most six or eight episodes a year. In contrast, adults average two to four episodes a year, with a greater frequency found in those with children. What’s a cold? A cold is a self-limiting viral infection of the respiratory tract typically marked by a scratchy, sore throat, followed by sneezing and a runny nose. A person suffering a cold would usually have a body temperature that is normal or only slightly elevated. A mild cough may develop several days later. The cold virus can be spread easily. Tiny droplets in the air, such as from a cough or a sneeze, carry the virus from person to person. Direct personal contact, such as hand- shaking or kissing, transfer the virus as well. Most colds strike in the fall and winter in temperate countries, and during the cooler rainy season in tropical countries. Researchers at the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) say that this is probably due to the greater time spent indoors in cold weather, increasing the opportunity for viruses to spread among people. Also, the lower humidity during the colder months helps viruses thrive and may dry the lining of nasal passages, making people more susceptible to infection. Smoking, which destroys the mucosal lining of the respiratory tract, greatly increases the frequency of colds in adults. Conventional treatment amazingly, modern medicine has not yet developed an efficient way to kill- cold viruses once they have invaded the body. Also, we do not acquire useful resistance to these viruses because there are over 200 of them, constantly mutating. The best way to handle a cold is to prevent it. If despite precautions, you do get a cold, doctors advise that you take an over-the-counter medication to relieve symptoms such as a runny nose and cough. Most non- prescription cough-cold remedies contain a combination of ingredients to relieve multiple symptoms. These combination products often contain anti-pyretics to reduce fever and analgesics to relieve minor aches, pains, and headaches. Many people rare convinced that taking vitamin C can prevent colds or relieve symptoms. There is no conclusive evidence of this, but the vitamin may reduce the severity or duration of symptoms, according to the NIAID. A word of caution: Taking vitamin C in large amounts over long periods can be harmful. I. What a medical doctor will tell you: => Take an antipyretic and analgesic if your temperature is over 102 F or if you experience severe muscle pain or weakness. Rest. =>Take lots of fluids. Water and chicken soup relieve symptoms, Avoid sweetened drinks and milk products. =>If you are clogged-up, take a decongestant such as pseudoephedrine or oxymetazolIne. =>If you have profuse nasal discharge, take an antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine to dry up secretions. =>Take lozenges to relieve sore throat, zinc lozenges will stimulate immune system and destroy viruses. =>Take extra Vitamin C and A. Try taking garlic, Echinacea, and essential fatty acids to relieve symptoms and shorten course of illness. =>To avoid a cold, wash hands frequently and avoid humid, crowded plates, Do not touch nose, eyes, and mouth. Get into a good nutritional program. II. What A Naturopathic Doctor Will Tell You =>If you have a fever, get lots of rest and Increase Intake if fluids Take multivitamins avoid cold, damp places Keep away from cold drinks. =>Take lots of fluids such as water and soup Drank juice from fresh pine apple, citrus fruit, or lime avoid sweetened drinks. =>If you are clogged-up Inhale steam from mixture of water and essential oil containing menthol or eucalyptus =>If you have profuse nasal discharge, help It along by Increasing fluid Intake to expel phlegm and nasal discharge =>For sore throat take lozenges with eucalyptus and sip chrysanthemum tea or ginger ale to boost Immune system =>Take buffered vitamin C for better absorption. Take Echinacea. =>Take herbal supplements. Consult an alternative medicine doctor on other methods to maintain well being. Manolito Montala is a webmaster and one of his interests is collecting local [http://www.filipinoherbshealingwonders.filipinovegetarianrecipe.com/] medicinal plants information which can be found in Filipino Herbs Healing Wonders. You can also visit his site in [http://www.filipinoherbshealingwonders.filipinovegetarianrecipe.com/] http://www.filipinoherbshealingwonders.filipinovegetarianrecipe.com/ Article Source: [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Manolito_Montala ] http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Manolito_Montala [http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Treat-A-Cold&id=265943 ] http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Treat-A-Cold&id=265943 phentermine 37.5 tablets no prescription where can i order phentermine cheap phentermine online without prescription phentermine 37.5 tablets no prescription

How Effective Is A Diet Pill In Reducing Your Weight?

Friday, December 28th, 2007

By Jitto Jose There are n number of ways for an individual to lose weight. The market today is teeming with various weight loss products such as diet plans, exercise programs, pills, surgery, etc. What you opt from all of the afore mentioned methods will not only affect your body but may also change your general lifestyle. Lets take a look at one of the means to lose those extra kilos the diet pill. Diet pills are oral supplements taken along with a diet plan & exercise regime or without any of these for weight loss. They are available in a range that includes prescription diet pills, over-the-counter diet pills & herbal diet pills. Prescription diet pills: These pills are available only with a doctors prescriptions. Pills such as Meridia & Xenical are examples of prescription diet pills. Their use is usually supervised by the prescribing doctor. Over-The-Counter diet pills: You wont require a doctors prescription to buy OTC diet pills. They are locally available in any drugstore, health food store or supermarket. Diet pills such as Dexatrim & Relacore come under this category. Herbal diet pills: These, too, are available without a prescription. These herbal pills are available through the internet & you will also stumble upon a huge variety of these in health food & nutrition stores as well as in regular supermarkets. These herbal weight-loss diet pills utilize diverse processes to aid in dieting & weight loss. It is pretty apparent by now that there are hordes of diet pills accessible out there; all offering quick weight loss in one way or another. But how many of these actually work without causing any damage to your health? Most Prescription & OTC diet pill manufacturers claim that their product will show you miraculous weight loss without any diet or exercise. These claims are very enticing & to some extent true. But there is always a catch to things that seem too good to be true. You will end up paying more than the price mentioned on the label for many of the Prescription & OTC diet pills. Yes, these pills will offer quick results but at a very heavy cost…your health. These pills have known side effects that, when not monitored & taken in the proper dose, can prove to be fatal. Some side-effects that come along with these pills are mentioned below: These diet pills differ in their ingredients, so their effects may vary, too. Fat blockers such as orlistat (Xenical) eliminate excess fats via the intestines. Side-effects of this drug may cause uncomfortable cramping, gas & diarrhea. You may need to take a regular multivitamin supplement along with Xenical since these drugs also diminish the body’s assimilation of necessary vitamins & nutrients. Appetite suppressants like Sibutramine (Meridia) stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, which usually raises the blood pressure & heart rate of an individual. This in turn increases the risk of heart attack & cardiac arrest. This is all the more predominant among people who suffer from high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat or heart disease. Other than the ones mentioned above common side effects include constipation, headache, dry mouth & insomnia. So what is your best option when it comes to diet pills? Your best option would be to go for a Herbal diet pill. These diet pills are completely natural & most of them have no known side-effects. They are easily available & are quite economical as compared to the other pills. Consult your physician before buying any weight loss pill. Maintain a healthy, balanced diet & practice simple exercises along with your diet pill to obtain positive weight loss. To know more about herbal diet pills & weight loss, visit: www.dietpills4free.biz Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jitto_Jose http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Effective-Is-A-Diet-Pill-In-Reducing-Your-Weight?&id=286477 where can i order phentermine buy phentermine no prior cheap phentermine without prescription www buy phentermine

2007 Wedding Trends: Flower Colors and Styles

Thursday, December 27th, 2007

By Michele Kraus Congratulations You must be newly engaged and planning wedding details such as silk wedding flowers and unique reception centerpieces. This is such a wonderful, exciting, and challenging time in your life and, if youre like many other brides-to-be, you want everything perfect. Planning your wedding will be a major undertaking and we equate the process to another full time job. You will have many decisions to make from big things to small things and so much in between! Youll also have a budget to consider or, if youre lucky, your parents will have the budget to consider and the timeline to get everything done! Certainly, this is not an easy task so we have simplified the process of selecting flowers, choosing your bouquet style, and developing ideas for unique table centerpieces and gifts for the special family members and friends in your wedding. The good thing is that you can combine some of these and minimize the checklist you have in front of you. We take a lot of time and effort to identify wedding colors, wedding flowers and dcor trends from year to year and really focus on perfecting the silk flower products that are custom made for you. Our research and current orders for 2007 are proving that there are clear color and style trends for this year. To make the process a bit easier for your planning purposes, weve outlined what those trends and styles are beginning with overall wedding trends: Brides are primarily still wearing white for their wedding. Wedding gowns with color havent really caught on and brides are shying away from those styles. However, for more casual, destination weddings brides are becoming more daring and are adding very pale pinks, lavenders, and blues in the embroidery of their dresses subtle touches that are gorgeous for more relaxed weddings. Bridesmaid color trends are beautiful, rich jewel tones in aquamarine, magenta, a variety of pinks, amethyst, and deep reds. Black is out and Chocolate Brown is very much in. Brides-to-be are requesting colorful, large, trendy bouquets ranging in styles from tussie mussies, to hand-tied bouquets and other non-traditional pieces. Its all about individuality and creativity this year and our brides-to-be know what they want. Bouquet accessories are hugely popular and range from clear and colored Swarovski crystal embellishments to semi-precious jewels and other specialty picks. Brides are also requesting that designers incorporate special family keepsakes like fabrics, heirloom jewels, and other important things the bride-to-be or groom-to-be treasures into the bridal bouquet. discount phentermine no prescription paradise pharmacy phentermine order phentermine online no prescription where to buy the lowest price phentermine

Payday Loan - An Overview

Tuesday, December 25th, 2007

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Andy_M]Andy M Payday loan can be used as the immediate option to meet your emergency cash requirement. Payday loan is the easily available short term loan, which is popular in various other names such as cash advance and check loans. The immediate availability of payday loan will be a boon at many times. The payday loans were easy to avail from the earlier times and it was considered as one of its most remarkable feature. However, with the introduction of online payday loan companies, the process has become a very easy task and an eligible borrower can get their money within no time. The loan processing time and approval time are significantly lowered with the help of developments in the information technology. Payday loan overview narrates about the possibilities of gaining a payday loan. Payday loan is available from many lenders. The conditions for applying for the payday loan seem to be very lenient and most of the criteria are affordable for any working person. The payday loan is structured to be a very short pattern, maximum up to the next payday. When the loan is approved, the amount will be credited into your checking account and you do not have to involve any tensions about the loan amount. The collateral security of the payday loan is a postdated check, which has to be cleared on the payday. The check must carry the tenure amount and the particular finance charges and the lender will directly send the check for clearance. The easy clearance is an added advantage, which avoids the hassles in the repayment and debt clearance. Payday loan is appreciated by many people since it does not involve any intensive credit checking. The bad credit people can also be able to avail payday loan, irrespective of their credit. For the approval of the payday loan, the borrower must be of 18 years age and must be employed for the last 6 months, with a minimum income of $1000. Some of the payday loan lenders are lenient about the regulations and provide relaxation for employment to 3 months and monthly salary of $800. The payday loan seems to be the shortest loan period and it varies depending on 14 days to 30 days, according to the payday duration. In most cases, if you are dealing with the same lender, they may gradually provide more credit. The borrower must also posses a valid credit checking account to make the transaction easier. Getting into payday loan must not be a recommended practice as the interest rates of the payday loan is very high. The APR rate of the payday loan is projected to be around 390 to 780% of the traditional loan. The payday loan has to be closed within a month, on the payday rate. However, most of the payday loan lenders provide roll over for the payday loan as the borrower will not be able to the repay the amount in time. In roll over the interest rate of the payday loan will be accumulated into the loan amount and it can be repaid in monthly repayments. However, the interest rate of the roll over payday loan will not be affordable for every person. Payday loan can be reviewed as an emergency loan, but availing the payday loan has to be done carefully. Andyem’s website contains expert articles written about Payday Loans, Home Equity Loans, Car Loans, Personal Loans, Student Loans. This blog is updated every hour and we also recommend which loan companies to get your payday, home equity, student, car and/or personal loans from. Please visit [http://paydayloanblog.net]Payday Loan Blog for more information. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_M http://EzineArticles.com/?Payday-Loan—An-Overview&id=341434 120 buy cheap tab tramadol buy hostinghelpscom link tramadol tramadol cheap fast no prescription tramadol ultram buy tramadol buy ultram

Long Hair and Updo Hairstyles

Monday, December 24th, 2007

By Stuart Simpson You have long hair and you are ready for an updo or long hair service and you go to a full service salon and what they dont offer long hair service. Guess its not so full service after all. So you go to another beautician and they dont know what to do either. Why is that? Some of the reasons hairstylists dont offer long hair or updo service is because: None of their clients have long hair Never learned how Takes too long Learned, tried it, but got out of practice and forgot Too confusing To the hairstylist, watching is easy. But when you are actually doing the work, it becomes confusing. Its hard for a hairstylist to get and keep clients. If you are able to offer total hair services, including long hair, then youll be keeping new clients instead of sending them away. One way to help you get over some of the points listed above is to practice on a wig or mannequin. When you are in-between appointments, this will offer you practice to gain confidence and allows you to display your work to your customers. If you are good at long hair, then you need to be the hairstylist that your competitors send their customers to. Advertise that you do long hair. There are plenty that dont do long hair and this approach may get you the client list you need. Let the bridal shops know you are available, along with the formal dress shops. Girls going to prom always want fancy hairstyles. Offer your services free to the bridal show as a promotion for your business. This helps you gain more updo customers and helps the bridal shop. Win-win. You can also create a photo album of the mannequins you have been practicing on, or on customers. This will give prospective customers your ability and creativity level. Another idea is to work with a clothing store on their special event or sale days and offer your services to attract customers. You can make these books up inexpensively with a digital camera and color copies. Have them bound with some of your business cards and ask if you can display them at the bridal shops. Complimentary cards are very good, too. You can offer a discount on the back of the card. When a client gets their hair done, then give them some cards to hand out when they are asked where they got such a cute hairstyle. This works especially well at high schools before proms and dances. As always, if they dont need long hair services, they will probably pass the card onto a friend. How much should you charge or expect to pay for long hair or updo services? Well, its different all over the country, but in general, the price should be at least $5 over the normal hairstyle whether its a shampoo and blowdry. Be prudent in your pricing as if you get a client that will only require 15 minutes for a braid or a quick updo, then you may not want to charge more. Stuart Simpson Pictures of Updo hairstyles at: http://www.formal-tuxedo.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stuart_Simpson http://EzineArticles.com/?Long-Hair-and-Updo-Hairstyles&id=35306 buy ultram pay by cod 50mg-buy-ultram best buy tramadol ultram online without prescription

How To Keep Your PIN Secure

Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

By Peter Kenny Banking and card security is becoming more and more of an issue as identity thieves and fraudsters find new ways to get hold of our money. If you are concerned about your credit card security, then the best thing you can do is to keep your PIN secure. Keeping your PIN secure will limit the ways in which a thief can use your card. Here are some useful tips on how to keep your PIN secure. Take care at ATMs One of the most common ways that people can get hold of your PIN is by seeing you type it in at an ATM. Make sure that you always shield your number whilst you type it in, and that you look behind you to make sure that no one is watching you. Also, look out for anything suspicious at the cash machine such as small cameras or electronic devices. Never tell Keeping your PIN secure requires that only you know the number. Although you might give your PIN to friends or family that you trust in order to take money out for you, this is a bad idea. The more people who know your PIN, then the more likely you are to have the PIN discovered. Also, never give your PIN out over any communications such as email, as your bank will never ask you for this. Keep your PIN private and it should stay that way. Dont keep records Although you might have a number of cards and it might be hard to remember the PINs for all of them, make sure that you dont write down the number anywhere at all, especially on your person. If you have your PIN written down then you are more likely to have the number stolen. Change it regularly Although many people keep their PIN the same for years, this can be dangerous. In order to keep your card secure you should regularly change your PIN. This means that even if your PIN is found out, the thief will not be able to use the card for a long time. Changing your number every few months is a sensible idea. Destroy documents When you first receive your PIN through the post, you should learn the number quickly and then destroy the document. If the letter looks to have been tampered with then you should immediately request a new number. Once you have the number learnt you should go to a cash machine and change the number to something you can easily remember, although avoid numbers that are obvious like 1234 or 0000. Report anything suspicious If you believe your PIN might have been stolen or intercepted, then you should report this immediately. Even if it has not been stolen, it is better to get a new PIN from your bank than run the risk of having your money used illegally. As long as you are sensible with your PIN and take precautions, your card should remain secure and safe. Peter Kenny is a writer for creditcards-gb.co.uk Please visit us at Credit Cards UK and Compare Credit CardsVisit http://www.thriftyscot.co.uk Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Kenny http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Keep-Your-PIN-Secure&id=422093 buy soma 2c order tramadol 2c order soma 2c ultram prescription and drugs tramadol injection tramadol no prescription needed keywords buy tramadol

Alternative Medicine, Complementary, Integrative, Wellness, Holistic - What Do They All Mean?

Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

By Daryl Kulak Alternative medicine has grown in so many ways in North America. More people are visiting alternative medical practitioners than Western medical doctors. People spend more money on alternative medicine than they do out-of-pocket on Western medicine. Another way that alternative medicine has grown is in the different labels. We have so many! What do they all mean? All these terms refer to a wide variety of healthcare practices originating from various countries and cultures. They include acupuncture, yoga, herbs, vitamin therapy, nutrition, exercise, reiki, reflexology, polarity and many, many other therapies. However, each label also has its own unique twist when referring to this set of practices. Let me take the labels one-by-one and give you a short description. Please note that these are my descriptions for each term, and other people may not agree. But I think I’m using the most widely-used definitions here. Alternative Medicine The term alternative medicine is probably the oldest and most widely used term. Unfortunately, it is also the most misleading. Alternative medicine means that these healthcare practices (acupuncture, yoga, etc.) are used instead of Western medicine. A patient swears off any type of pharmaceutical drug or surgical technique and uses only Chinese medicine or homeopathy or whatever. This hardly ever happens. Few patients are so myopic to close themselves off from all Western medical treatments. It really isn’t advisable. I know many, many holistic practitioners and I’ve never heard any of them advise a patient to close themselves off from Western medicine. How silly! Western medicine has its own benefits to offer too, why ignore them. But, that is the real definition of alternative medicine. You can see why it is being phased out slowly. Complementary Medicine A newer term is complementary medicine. This means that the practices I list above may be used as a complement to Western medicine. You go to your doctor, and he prescribes some drugs and/or surgery, then if that doesn’t work, he asks you to try some other complementary approaches. Or, it may also mean when the above practices are used side-by-side with Western medicine. An example of this is when acupuncture is used for chemotherapy cancer patients to relieve the nausea and pain. This would be considered complementary medicine. Be careful of the spelling here too. Complementary means a side-by-side approach to medicine. Complimentary means that it is free, no charge. Integrative Medicine A term pioneered by Dr. Andrew Weil from the University of Arizona is integrative medicine. This means that physicians (Western and otherwise) have an integrated system of medicine that involves certain pieces of Western medicine and certain parts from the Chinese, Indian, etc. therapies that I listed above. All the therapies intermix and you have the best possible super therapy as a result. As much as I like and respect Dr. Weil, I have to say that my experience says that truly integrative medicine does not yet exist anywhere yet. I’ve never seen a physician or any kind of practitioner who has an integrated plan for his patients that includes little bits of Western medicine and bits from multiple holistic practices. This is probably the Holy Grail of medicine, but I think it will be a long time coming. The clinics that proclaim themselves to be integrative medicine centers are usually just a collection of different practitioners who share the rent together in one building. True integration would be great, I just haven’t seen it happen. Wellness If the previous terms have been misleading or overly optimistic, this term is really succinct and accurate. The term wellness applies to everything a person does to stay well. It is all about prevention and achieving the greatest health a person can achieve. This is extremely accurate in describing the Chinese or Indian systems of medicine. And it is the best possible advice for patients, to get them on the track of staying well, rather than fixing illnesses. But, as you might guess, this term has a problem too. (Don’t they all?) Wellness has been hijacked as a label for early detection of disease. Many hospitals have a Wellness Center where they conduct cancer screenings and do unnecessary MRI scans to look for problems or potential problems. These are great profit centers for the hospitals, but unfortunately they have ZERO to do with wellness. Wellness is about eating right, getting enough sleep, exercising, taking the right herbs and having great relationships. It is NOT about early detection of disease. That doesn’t help you stay well, it just allows you to jump on an illness before it has the chance to become life-threatening. Valuable, sure, but it is not wellness. Holistic Health Finally, we come to the term holistic health. You could also call it holistic medicine or holistic practices. It is also sometimes spelled wholistic. Holistic comes from the whole. It means to take a person as a whole being. The Chinese and Indian healing systems see a person, not just as a physical body, but as a body-mind-spirit. Their healing practices allow for all parts of the person and treat all parts equally. They have methodologies for solving problems in all three areas, and especially for finding problems that crisscross between body, mind and spirit (which most health problems do). Holistic health is my favorite term. It too has problems, though. Sometimes, holistic health is perceived as a New Age term, evoking angels and witches and crystal balls. These off-beat practices can certainly be included as part of holistic health, but they are not at its center. Practices like naturopathy, homeopathy, Chinese medicine, Indian ayurveda are truly about holistic health. But it will be hard to shake the New Age association for people who use the term holistic health. There’s your whirlwind tour of definitions for alternative medicine. I hope this has been helpful. Use the definition that makes most sense to you. And be well! Daryl Kulak is the author of Health Insurance Off the Grid, a book that provides a simple, effective plan to reduce insurance costs for the self-employed, unemployed and underinsured. The book puts the new Health Savings Account (HSA) together with alternative medicine to create a workable, cost-effective plan for many Americans. 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