Dr. Russell DesMarais
Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)
Diplomat of the American Board of Chiropractic Internist (DABCI)
Registered Accupuncturist (R.Ac)
Beginnings [top]
Dr. DesMarais was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, located across from the river
from the historic city of Boston. In 1967 Dr. Russell DesMarais
graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Science degree in
education. Dr. DesMarais studied from 1967 to 1972 with Michio Kushi at
The Kushi Institute in Boston, MA. From Michio Kushi, he personally
received extensive training in Classical Oriental Medicine, including
macrobiotic nutrition and acupuncture.
In 1977, Dr.
DesMarais graduated from Northwestern College of Chiropractic and
became Board Certified in Acupuncture. He continued advanced training
in Classical Chinese Medicine with Dr. Jack Worsley in Oxford, England,
and later at the Center for Traditional Acupuncture in Baltimore,
Maryland.
In 1978, Dr. DesMarais founded Turtle Island Health Center in St. Paul,
the first integrated alternative natural healing center in the Midwest.
Later, from 1985 through 1988, Dr. DesMarais also completed two
three-year postgraduate programs in Nutrition and Internal Disorders at
Northwestern College. These trainings resulted in his certification as
a Chiropractic Internist in 1988 with an emphasis on nutritional
approaches to health and healing.
Ongoing Clinical Training [top]
Additionally, Dr. DesMarais has a long-standing, active involvement in
energy medicine, metaphysical study, and parapsychological research.
Beginning in 1980 and continuing for over 10 years, Dr. DesMarais
studied and trained throughout the country in the areas of psychic
development, auric reading, and in the Twin Cities, with Susan Viera in
advanced chakra diagnosis. In 1989, he trained with John David and was
certified by the John-David Institute of Carlsbad, California, in
psychoimmunology and sound technology, which are used in stress
management and whole-brain learning.
QiGong In Practice [top]
In 1990, Dr. DesMarais again expanded his training in Traditional
Chinese Medicine by studying QiGong (or energy emission healing), an
advanced form of Traditional Chinese Medicine. During the fall of 1993,
in the spring of 1995, and again in the fall of 1996, Dr. DesMarais was
privileged to study privately in China under the direction of Chinese
doctors and master teachers including Masters Su Jian Wan, Duan, Chen
Guoguang and Miao Shen. In 1995, after completing extensive training
with Master Sun-Jie, Dr. DesMarais was certified as an International
QiGong Doctor and Master teacher through the National Science and
Research Center for applied QiGong in Benxi, China.
In 1995, Dr. DesMarais founded Three Rivers Crossing Center for QiGong
and International Institute for Oriental Healing. Through the Center he
shares his experiences of these self-healing and therapeutic methods
with his patients, the public and other professionals. The center
offers a two-year training program leading to certification in QiGong
healing and teaching. Dr. DesMarais is a founding board member and
after serving as the secretary of the NQA in 1996, Dr. DesMarais
organized and hosted the Inaugural Conference of the National QiGong
Association in Minneapolis, MN, in the summer of 1997. At that
conference, Dr. DesMarais became the first democratically elected
president of the NQA.
In 1995, as conventional western medicine began investigating and
seeking experienced practitioners in the field of
complementary-alternative medicine, Dr. DesMarais' clinical and
visionary expertise was sought by the two largest health maintenance
organizations in the Twin Cities. Dr. DesMarais was appointed to
consultant positions for both Allina Health Systems of Minneapolis and
Health East Systems of St.Paul. He has acted as a consumer advocate and
expert in the field of complementary medicine, voicing his concern for
the need of conventional medicine to support and reimburse patients in
their choice to seek alternative care. The Turtle Island integrated
team approach using alternative methods of diognostic treatment in
causing the underlying illness have been explored as a model for future
health care within these conventional systems.
In January of 1998, Dr. DesMarais gave presentations in QiGong and
Traditional Chinese Medicine at the World Congress on Alternative
Medicine sponsored by the Zoroastrian College in Bombay and Southern
India. Dr. DesMarais traveled to Sri Lanka in the fall of 1998 to
present and teach at the 36th annual Alternative Medicine Conference.
At that time, he also traveled again to India, visiting and teaching in
Hyderabad and Bombay.
During the fall of 1998, Dr. DesMarais was invited to present papers
and teach at the first European QiGong Federation Conference in
Marbella, Spain. Later, he traveled and taught QiGong in Nante, Cannes
and Paris, France.
As Former Director of Turtle Island Health Center, Dr. DesMarais is
primarily involved in reviewing the intake process of each new patient
and providing a Report of Findings and the Treatment Plan designed to
best resolve the presenting problems or optimize health goals. These
plans are based on the Turtle Island model of care using an integrate
team approach to healing. He continues to provide his expertise and
help as needed or requested by either staff or patients in their
treatment. The main focus of his clinical work is in advanced care
involving energy medicine, acupuncture, and QiGong. Dr. DesMarais also
assists patients in their personal development and lifestyle planning,
as well as offering teaching and guidance in spiritual health and
wellness.
Dr. DesMarais remains committed to his vision of integrating the most
modern Western natural healing methods with the most ancient approaches
in Ayurvedic and Oriental Medicine into the care, self-healing and
spiritual development of each patient at Turtle Island.