Course Format


FIRST PHASE: ESSENTIALS OF ACUPUNCTURE
  • Basics of Acupuncture: Anatomy and physiology of acupuncture points, the basics of running an acupuncture practice, and useful information for patients.

  • Acupuncture Theories: Knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the very foundation of successful practice of acupuncture, encompasses many seemingly abstruse concepts such as Yin and Yang, Qi, Five Elements, Meridians, Convergence Points, Remote Actions of Acupuncture Points, Tonification vs. Sedation, Eight Categories, Six Excesses, Organ Phenomena, etc. These concepts will be presented in easy-to-understand modern scientific terms.

  • Acupuncture Diagnostics: Instruction on diagnostic methodology in accordance with TCM principles to enhance successful therapeutic outcomes, such as pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis, diagnosis by palpation, diagnosis by history and observation.

  • Demonstration of Acupuncture Techniques on Actual Patients.

SECOND PHASE: ENHANCEMENT OF CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
  • Research: Presentation on historically important clinical and basic scientific research on acupuncture.

  • Additional Acupuncture Modalities: Instruction in trigger point and acupuncture point injection techniques, using local anesthetics, normal saline, and ultra-low-dose steroids.

  • Clinical Cases Presentation: In-depth discussion on actual clinical cases to illustrate the principles of diagnosis and formulation of treatment protocols.

  • Clinical runs consisting of detailed analysis of diagnostic findings and therapeutic interventions relating to actual patients.

  • Contemporary Explanation of TCM Syndromes: Lectures on the common pathways of the symptom complexes of diverse medical conditions and how such concepts can be used to simplify and facilitate therapeutic approaches.

PRACTICAL CLINICAL AND HANDS-ON TRAINING
  • Acupuncture Techniques: Painful and non-painful medical conditions may vary in their responses to different acupuncture modalities, hence a range of important techniques: traditional body acupuncture, ear acupuncture, needleless techniques such as, cupping and electrical stimulation will be taught and demonstrated in this face-to- face training session. Participants will also have the opportunity to practice various modalities under the supervision of a faculty of experts.

  • Therapeutic approach: Instruction in both the formula approach, based on empirical efficacy, and the analytical approach, based on theoretical reasoning, and their application to a spectrum of common medical conditions will enable participants to more effectively apply their clinical knowledge.

  • Practical experience: Face-to-face clinical instruction sessions, with ample opportunities for hands-on training in acupuncture point locating, needling techniques for body and ear acupuncture, pulse and tongue diagnoses, among other training exercises.