Well, it’s finally come to this - the final quarter of my formal institutional training in Classical Chinese Medicine. Wow. I mean, really, wow. There are quite a few of you out there who are in the same boat I am – looking graduation in the face. It’s exciting, yes, but it’s also a little hard on the nerves. In my case, I have a number of personal and professional obligations criss-crossing through my schedule. They all have to be satisfied if I am going to end my NCNM career with a bang. I spent several hours today thinking about how best to approach the sheer cliff that is my next twelve weeks.
Along with my normal class obligations, my Student Government (SGA) duties, my family life and my thesis writing (and a whole lot more I won’t list here) – I have to get ready for my NCCAOM board exams. My plan is to have all the exams done before I graduate so I can get licensed as soon as humanly possible. I already have a clinic to move into which makes my desire to be done even more acute. However, this is an additional complication, as I also have a variety of duties related to the clinic as I am a primary manager and strategizer.
It may sound funny, then, that I plan to add just one more obligation to the pile – a weekly (at least) post to this blog. The post will cover particular material that I am reviewing. The reviews will nominally be “for boards,” but will also serve as a way for me to prepare for my clinical exit exams and just generally keep the material I’ve accumulated over four years fresh and memorized. I’ve received a few emails from students and practitioners saying that they want to see some of the “good old days” posts that cover pretty simple topics germane to the practice of Chinese medicine. In specific, people have requested discussions of herbal formulas and a classical view on acupuncture. I think this effort on my part will serve to satisfy the desires of my clamoring public. ;)
So, how shall I proceed? I’ve devised a structure based – perhaps predictably – on the organ clock. Each week, I will use one section of the organ clock to structure my boards/general study. This will also serve to keep that material fresh and refreshed, be a wonderful marker for the passing time AND help me to produce posts. I’ll write each week about the formulas and/or channels that I’m studying, perhaps going into depth with one point or formula, or doing an overview of some general topics. I may or may not weave in board (read: TCM) material in an explicit way. I may or may not weave in the ways that the organ systems manifest in my experience of the whirlwind that my life has become. Regardless, it should be informative for all. :) I’m also hoping that seeing, in some detail, how I manage these diverse obligations and the crushing time pressure will help others in a similar situation find some inspiration. Details below:
Week 1 (April 6-12) : Bladder organ system + Guizhi formula family
- Special information for context: End of this week is a first draft of thesis deadline, I will continue to work even after turning it in. I am fulfilling some community service hours by hanging out at the Oregon Association for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine conference. Study for biomedicine board exam. Daughter starts back to school – several big projects due within 10 weeks which will require my helping her out.
Week 2 (April 13-19) : Kidney organ system + Fuzi formula family
- Special information for context: Biomedicine board exam during this week. This weekend is the last time we meet for Arnaud Versluys’ Canonical training.
Week 3 (April 20-26) : Pericardium organ system + Shengdi formula family
- Special information for context: Hope to get a case presentation slot for this week. Study for theory board exam.
Week 4 (April 27 – May 3) : Triple Burner organ system + Formulas with Xie Bai
- Special information for context: Study for theory and points board exams. Will use the relative lack of huge deadlines to work hard to push through a few Watershed (clinic) projects, particularly around marketing.
Week 5 (May 4-10) : Gallbladder organ system + Chaihu formula family
- Special information for context: Will most likely take CM theory board exam this week. Study for points board exam.
Week 6 (May 11-17) : Liver organ system + Danggui formula family
- Special information for context: My final draft of thesis due to readers/advisor. Study for points board exam. I’m going to need a lot of Liver this week. :)
Week 7 (May 18-24) : Lung organ system + Mahuang family
- Special information for context: Hope to get a case presentation slot this week. Study for points board exam. This weekend there will be a seminar with Brandt Stickley, LAc that I hope to attend.
Week 8 (May 25-31) : Large Intestine organ system + Dahuang formula family
- Special information for context: There are two important student government events this week/weekend. Craig Mitchell will also be teaching an all day seminar and I’m his main contact and will be attending his class (FREE TO THE PUBLIC, LIMITED SEATING, EMAIL ME IF YOU ARE INTERESTED – exciting! Study for points board exam.
Week 9 (June 1-7) : Stomach organ system + Stomach counterflow formulas (like Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang)
- Special information for context: I defend my thesis this week (what better time to study formulas for throwing up?) SGA elections will be prominent in my world. Study for points board exam.
Week 10 (June 8-14) : Spleen organ system + Ganjiang formula family
- Special information for context: Will most likely take points board exam this week. My daughter finishes 6th grade this week – so time becomes even more constrained. Awesome timing! I figure my Spleen will be pretty taxed by this time, so when better to immerse myself in the world of Ganjiang and Spleen 3?
Week 11 ( June 15-21) : Heart organ system + Formulas where Gancao is dominant (like Zhigancao Tang, which I will likely need at this point…)
- Special information for context: Likely will have our SGA handover retreat to usher in the new administration. Which means, in some ways, that my SGA duties diminish to some degree. Make sure everything is in place for applying for licensing in Oregon.
Week 12 (June 22-29): Small Intestine + Formulas for dysenteric conditions
- Special information for context: Last week of school at NCNM ever! Will be a lot of wrapping up SGA stuff, making sure requirements are finished, ordering transcripts and board exam passing certificates, and as soon as I am able – apply for licensing. I do plan to “relax” after this point, whatever that means for me.
** Note 1: I tried to pick formula and channel pairs that made sense, but not all of them are perfect. Sue me!
** Note 2: I’ll be limiting myself to approximately 6 formulas per week so I can dive deep, but there may be situations where several related formulas are included. I will also be focusing on the most commonly used points on channels so that I can leave time for learning about the rest of the channel system (luo, divergent, sinew, etc).
** Note 3: I will be using a variety of methods for study during this time, and if it strikes me, I will post about those methods. A lot of them I have already discussed on the blog. I will be using special memory techniques (like Roman Room) as well as iFlash flashcards on my computer for memorization. I will also be using all of my senses to deeply know both Chinese herbal formulas and acupuncture points and channels.
Tags: formulas, herbal formulas, Learning, study, Chinese herbs, Organ systems, organs, graduation
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Have I told you this week that you are entirely too motivated and organized for the safety of the space-time continuum?
Glad to be of service, fire eye.
E
Thats Kal Torak to you, son.
You are totally crazy and deeply inspiring. We will send you all our spare restful energy, and look forward to seeing you after the term is over.
Much love.
I think you must secretly enjoy being superhuman. And yes, inspiring is a good word. Looking forward this fall to starting the crazy journey you’re finishing up (and even then, only finishing one little leg of the journey).
Hello,
I find it amazing that a student is using blogs as a new way to share their learning experience. I hope people learn and start their own blogs. Great learning technology blogs are!
Eric! You are a HOSS and you will certainly do well in your exams/practice/life. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us! You elevate the willing, and for that, I am grateful.
As a long time reader here, you have been an inspiration to me – good luck with your exams – I know it’s a tall order, but it will be worth it eventually!
I’m sure you can make it.Twelve weeks is very short compared to the number of years you study hard.
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