During the recent A4M conference in Las Vegas it was my great pleasure to meet and talk with so many practitioners and exhibitors. Especially supportive was to hear: “Carolyn, wow. It’s so good to see you again” from docs who had been members in years past and were renewing their connection to OIRF after long time work within our field. Also encouraging were the “networking” possibilities with colleagues and supporters. As a result of those new and re-newed connections it is my great pleasure to announce two new members [...]

Tuesday, 20 January 2015 Dear Colleagues, Friends and Supporters of OIRF, As we assess 2014 and get set to begin another new year, I trust that you are filled with optimism and plans that will take your practice to the next level of success. It has certainly been an interesting year here at Occidental Institute as we successfully instituted the many changes on our “to do lists” from this time last year. I am thrilled to be working with practitioners and researchers who have endeavored to present us with [...]

As I finalized my preparations for the forthcoming 41st Biological Medicine Tour to Germany, I was reminded of the many amazing practitioners and researchers that have presented their work and findings to the groups over the years. We have seen and heard so many of the “greats” that it is almost impossible to remember and list them all. One of our greatest challenges in organizing these tour programs is to make sure that we separate the wheat from the chaff (as the saying goes) to ensure that the participants [...]

Occidental Institute Celebrates 40 Years Advocating Biological Medicine Abstract: Occidental Institute was founded in 1972 as a traditional Chinese acupuncture training organization. In spite of harassment from the medical authorities, it has developed into an internationally recognized research and support organization for practitioners of biological medicine. Finally settling in Penticton, British Columbia Canada, under the corporate structure of a nonprofit research foundation, Occidental Institute is able to continue acting as an information and technology bridge linking Germany with English speaking practitioners around the world. In [...]

Wednesday, 15 January 2014 Dear Colleagues and Friends of OIRF, As we assess 2013 and get set to begin a new year, I trust that you are filled with optimism and plans that will take your practice to the next level of success. It has certainly been an interesting year here at Occidental Institute and I am thrilled to be working with practitioners and researchers who have endeavored to present us with the latest and most in depth information. You have read many times before that the only constant [...]

IMPORTANT NOTICE to former OICS students: As most of you know, Occidental Institute first opened its doors in Weston, Ontario Canada on July 2, 1972. We began our journey to today’s non-profit research organization offering continuing education training to an international group of practitioners as a unique and groundbreaking “school” for traditional acupuncture. Through the years of struggle with the orthodox medical organizations the Institute underwent a series of changes in our business format as we maintained the confidentiality of our member and customer lists. After a number of [...]

I must admit that it is somewhat bittersweet to close this final 2012 edition of “The Bridge” in this format. Although we will be invading your Inbox on a regular basis, this newsletter will have a considerably different look. By discontinuing our paid subscription, we are endeavoring to bring this information to a much wider readership without the restriction of membership. We thank our long standing members who have supported us over the years. To all of our colleagues and friends of OIRF, it is your continued support that [...]

As we approach the end of another year and suffer the loss of yet another pioneer, I felt compelled to repeat once again why those tried and true methods that Dr. Walter Sturm used in his busy but highly specialized practice continue to be recommended so strongly by OIRF. And primarily, it is because these are the methods and techniques that have allowed so many practitioners to build a long term successful practice! Join with me as I take you on a verbal tour of Dr. Sturm’s office and [...]

The Crisis in Biological Medicine in North America Over the past few years we have witnessed the continuing losses of the men and women who pioneered this field of Biological Medicine, and who have struggled so hard to find, research and apply those methods which are most effective. However even in light of these losses, I cannot yet see where the “next generation” – the “younger” practitioners – are stepping forward to take on the research work necessary to support the continuation of these methods into the future. Think [...]

Stuart Craig Wagstaff, ND * March 15, 1955 – † September 27, 2012 This year Craig celebrated 30 years of naturopathic practice. He was a rare and gifted man who positively influenced the lives of thousands of people with his knowledge, wisdom and caring. He humbly gave of his time, scholarship and mentorship to any and all he encountered. Craig was a lifelong learner who travelled the world seeking knowledge that would benefit his patients. Craig was a specialist amongst naturopaths and was a sought after lecturer and teacher [...]