Sichuan earthquake relief effort
Hey everyone,
Just a brief update on the earthquake in China. We have learned that the Master of our Qigong lineage is safe as are the families of our doctors - we are most grateful for this. However, as you have seen in the news, thousands have lost their lives and many, many more are injured, in need of food and shelter and are doubtless extremely emotionally distraught.
Further, two Daoist monasteries that NCNM has affiliation with - 1000-2000 year old Mt. Qingcheng and Yuntai Guan have been, sadly, destroyed. These are places of unimaginable beauty and spiritual cultivation and their loss is a great blow. Our visiting professor, Dr. Liu Lihong, has agreed to take any and all donations directly to the abbots of those monasteries. If you feel inspired to donate to this cause, please use the donation button below and I personally guarantee that I will get the money where it needs to go. Otherwise, you can use the Mercy Corps link that I provided in my previous post.
Any amount of money would be very helpful in helping to restore people and places to some state of normalcy. Your compassion is appreciated greatly.
Eric
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Tags: china, community, compasion, daoism, donation, serviceRelated posts
With compassion
I have a lot to write today about the visit of Dr. Liu Lihong, and will be releasing those posts over the next few days. I also have a guest post from Yael over at Chinese medicine notes on the topic of pregnancy in texts of Chinese medicine. However, I didn’t want to let any more time go on without acknowledging the terrible tragedy still unfolding in China. The area hit by the earthquake includes Chengdu, where many of my professors learned and practiced medicine. I do not know how they will personally be impacted by this event, but I do know that we are all affected when great suffering occurs in the world. This, so hot on the heels of the cyclone in Burma/Myanmar, truly should make all of us pause to - at the very least - send our energy and compassion to those who suffer.
I am reminded of the Guan Yin chant we do at school - excellently done on the chanting CDs that Heiner Fruehauf offers over at his site. I will be chanting this as much as I can for many days. It seems fitting… I believe the Chinese for the chant is…
南无觀世音菩薩
nā mó guān shì yīn pú sà
I believe this roughly translates as I pay homage to Guan Yin (the most perfect Compassionate one). But when I have chanted it I have always felt that I can send healing and internal power to those who need it, including myself. I feel the world needs plenty of that right now.
If you feel moved to donate to help those in need, please follow this link to Mercy Corps, who have a team in Sichuan and are already attempting to mobilize resources to help. Mercy Corps is, without any doubt, one of the most efficient and honest international aid organizations currently operating. If you give them money, they will get it to people who need it.
May the suffering lessen soon.
Eric
Tags: china, compassion, eventsRelated posts
Classical Chinese Medicine events in Portland, OR
I know not everyone is lucky enough to live in or around Portland, OR. ;) I would still like to announce these events - they are more than worth the travel cost and time, I assure you. Click on the flyers for bigger versions, you should be able to click on the flyer when it opens in another window to zoom in even more.
If you’re having a hard time seeing the flyer, you can go to the NCNM Continuing Education event website and scroll down the page to May events.
For those experiencing trouble, here’s a quick summary:
1. Dr. Liu Lihong and Dr. Tang Nong
- Classical Chinese Medicine in Modern China
- Pearls of Wisdom from the Shanghan Lun
Date: May 10, 2008 9:30 – 5:30 // Location: NCNM Ross Island Campus; Portland, OR, Great Hall
This 2-part,1-day seminar will feature the combined genius of the two founders of China’s first official research institute for the clinical application of classical Chinese medicine. Professor Tang, chair of the Institute at Guangxi College of TCM, is the charismatic leader who made deadlines as China’s youngest hospital director. Dr. Liu, co-chair of the Institute and its medical director, is the author of the highly influential “Sikao Zhongyi” (”Contemplating Chinese Medicine”), the best-selling plea for a renaissance of classical Chinese medicine that has reached more readers in China than any other modern Chinese medicine publication during the last century. Both are veterans of the Chinese medicine machine in China, who have a clear view of the limitations as well as the potential of TCM in our time.
2. Dr. Manfred Kubny
An Introduction to Chinese Medical Astrology
Date: May 24-26, 2008 930am -530 pm // Location: NCNM Ross Island Campus; Portland, OR, Great Hall
“Chinese Medical Astrology: A Systematic Introduction” May 24-26 (9:30am-5:30pm each day). This pioneering 3-day workshop will present, for the first time in the U.S., the highly sophisticated model of Chinese constitutional and medical astrology as researched and synthesized by the West’s leading authority, Professor Manfred Kubny (University of Berlin).
If you’re interested in other events pertinent to Classical Chinese Medicine you can check the following sites - note that events are all over the US and Europe:
1. Events page at Arnaudversluys.com
2. Events page at Classicalchinesemedicine.org
3. For the five-element acupuncture fans among you, check out the Portland based home of David Ford and David Berkshire - asomseminars.com
4. NCNM’s Continuing Education Department page
Tags: Acupuncture, classical-chinese-medicine, events, news, Portland, portland oregonRelated posts
The development of first professional doctorate degrees in Chinese medicine
I must confess that the issue of accreditation of programs, levels of education within the acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine profession(s) and all related issues sometimes evade my understanding. While the degree that I will get at the end of my training is a Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine, I will obtain a certification that will give me the title of Licensed Acupuncturists (LAc). At this point, further education is possible in accredited DAOM (Doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) but it brings with it no further licensure benefits. At this point, all Doctorate programs require the student to have their Masters degree and have some amount of clinical experience before they are considered for entry. The standards vary as to how much clinical experience is required. The Doctorate is clinically based and generally requires some amount of clinical research to be done.
NCNM, the school I attend in Portland, OR, has been working to create a first professional doctoral degree that focuses on Classical Chinese Medicine. I’m unclear as to whether other schools are seeking something similar. It’s been a long road, one that was started down long before I came to the school. Students, faculty, staff and community practitioners have been involved in the creation and refinement of the program. Most of the students currently in the MSOM program had high hopes that ACAOM (the Chinese medicine accreditation organization) would create a set of standards for first professional doctorates in time for us to complete our “first professional doctorates.” To that end, we have been taking the extra coursework necessary for our proposed Doctorate program. Some of us have been quite active in the process, attending committee meetings and submitting comments to the ACAOM in support of a certain set of standards.
On February 8, ACAOM released their recommendation - which is essentially that they feel they can make no recommendation because of lack of consensus in the community. If you would like to read the official document, read it at ACAOM’s website. I’m unclear what, exactly, this means for our program at NCNM. Almost certainly those of us in our third or fourth year that were hoping to graduate on time with our Doctorate will not be able to do so. That’s not my biggest concern - I’m simply interested in understanding what the essential disagreement is in the community.
So, I would like to hear from my readers. What is your stance on First Professional Doctorates? What do you feel needs to be in place before a program like that goes through? Do you have other thoughts about how education and licensing works in the Chinese medicine profession in the United States? Let us know in the comments.
Eric
Tags: acaom, Acupuncture, chinese-herb, classical-chinese-medicine, doctorate program, education, licensed acupuncturists, licensing, ncnm, organization, professional doctorates, studentsRelated posts
How to be sure you’re getting safe Chinese herbs
I’ve read numerous articles recently about the alleged dangers of Chinese herbs. One such article, not focused specifically on Chinese herbalism, can be read here. You know, I get a surge of irritation every time I read one of these articles which quickly dies down to be replaced by an interest in discussing the topic. I want to answer a few of the common questions about Chinese herbs as best as I can - with an eye towards helping people to be sure they’re not hurting themselves more than they are helping themselves by seeing a Chinese herbalist.
1. Be sure your Chinese physician is well trained
I’ve talked in prior articles about finding competent Chinese medicine physicians and/or acupuncturists. In short, find out where your doctor was educated and do the best you can to investigate their training. In general, accredited schools in the US require a basic knowledge of Western physiology, pathology and phytochemistry. We are trained to recognize the basic signs of Western diseases, how to take blood pressure, do CPR and make referrals to Western physicians should we find it to be necessary. In China, doctors receive even more extensive Western training because of the obsession of the TCM sector with thoroughly Westernizing Chinese medicine.
What is FAR more important is that your physician has received top notch supervised training in Chinese herbalism. Let’s be frank. Chinese herbalism has been practiced for THOUSANDS OF YEARS with much documentation of its toxicology (as such), efficacy and implementation. Assuming that people are using the whole plant, assuming they are following the principles of herb combination, assuming you are informing them of Western medications you are taking — Chinese herbalism is absolutely safe.
Please - allow me to repeat myself - when the physician is trained appropriately, Chinese herbalism is absolutely positively without any doubt in the universe SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE. Ok?
2. Be sure your physician sources pesticide and heavy-metal free herbs, preferably organic
Now, the concerns about the state of Chinese herbs themselves are well founded. China is undergoing an industrial revolution, in case you haven’t heard, and there have been documented cases of Chinese herbs being contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides and even Western pharmaceutical drugs. Your should feel free to ask your doctor what distributor he goes through to get his herbs and check up on that distributor. There are many excellent companies that subject their herbs to testing more rigorous than the FDA requires: Spring Wind Herbs and Evergreen herbs both come to mind as reputable companies with great quality materials. Be willing to pay premium prices for the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your herbs come from people who care about people and the land.
3. Follow all of the instructions your herbalist gives to you
Particularly when you are asked to take an herbal formula home to boil yourself, you need to be absolutely clear what you must do to prepare the herbs safely. Some toxic herbs are used and, when boiled and combined with other herbs, their toxic effects are eliminated. Other herbs will lose their effectiveness if cooked improperly. So, if your doctor doesn’t provide you with explicit instructions, ask her for some. These instructions should include not only information about how to prepare the herbs, but also when to consume them, how often, and when to stop taking them. Be sure you understand and don’t worry about feeling “stupid.” We’re not born knowing how to prepare Chinese herbal medicine. :)
You must also listen to your Chinese medicine doctor when they tell you to avoid certain foods and substances while you are taking your formula. Finally, be absolutely sure you have disclosed all Western pharmaceuticals you are taking to your doctor. There are precious few cases of negative interaction among pharmaceuticals and Chinese herbs, but there are a few and your doctor can’t protect you if you don’t give her the information she needs.
4. Be sure to go to follow up appointments
If your doctor doesn’t ask you to come back (bad business sense!) be sure to ask if you need to have a follow up visit. You shouldn’t keep taking a formula for a long period of time without returning to the physician to be re-evaluated. Chinese herbal formulas are highly individualized and conform to your body’s state as it is presenting. As time goes on and your body changes, your prescription will too. Sometimes your acupuncturist may have you on a prescription for a long period of time to treat a constitutional weakness, support your body in a healing process or to ward off flare ups of a particular pathology. Just be sure you know how long you should go between appointments and under what conditions you should stop taking the prescription.
5. With the exception of teas, avoid taking Chinese herbal supplements without a Chinese medicine doctor’s approval
This isn’t going to make me super popular with people who might otherwise advertise on my site. But, personally, I think it’s a mockery of Chinese medicine that people are able to buy full strength herbal formulas in pill or tablet form without a prescription. Some formulas might be alright, because their action is weak enough that any negative effect is minimized. But, then, why take them? They aren’t enjoyable like tea is and they are frequently expensive! Chinese medicine is medicine, not supplementation. You shouldn’t be taking a formula or single herb that a doctor hasn’t asked you to take and you shouldn’t take it for any longer than they recommend.
I think it’s okay to drink teas made of Chinese herbs so long as you don’t go to special lengths to concentrate them. I’ve already talked about how much I love Gou Qi Zi + Ju Hua tea and the only effects I’ve observed from this practice has been positive. I also enjoy ginger, mint and other single herb teas - sometimes in response to particular pathological states and sometimes not. I feel that these low strength efforts fortify me as well as tasting good and providing me with something to warm my belly on cold nights.
6. Be sure to tell your Chinese medicine doctor your experiences while on an herbal formula
Some people are embarassed to tell their doctor that their herbs gave them diarrhea or some other symptom. This effect is not going to make your doctor think they are incompetent or make them think badly of you. Sometimes the formula isn’t quite perfect and needs to be shifted in one direction or another. In fact, your report back to your herbalist will help them to further understand your pathological state! You can feel free to call your doctor if you have a particularly strong reaction - they will be more than happy to help you understand if this is expected or unusual. Don’t stop taking the herbs simply because you have a mildly negative reaction - call your doctor to let her know and follow her advice explicitly.
If you follow these simple rules you will be safe - and that’s that.
Eric
Tags: chinese-herb, chinese-herbs, chinese-medicine, professional-development, safety
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