Inside

this Issue

Supplementary 2007 International Conference &

Exposition Update

The American Acupuncturist

AAAOMs Official Publication

English
Chinese

Japanese

Korean

Fall 2007
Volume 41

for Practitioners
of Oriental Medicine

Made in the U.S.A.

Pu r it y

Many herbal products made in China have been found to be contaminated with
heavy metals or adulterated with unlabeled pharmaceutical compounds. At Kan,
we have always believed the best way to ensure the consistency, quality, and
safety of our products is to manufacture them ourselves. Kan buys herbs in whole
raw bulk so that we can rigorously identify and control the purity and quality of
each herb.

Q u alit y

We create our own guarantee by testing every incoming lot of herbs for over 200
different pesticides as well as all toxic metals and bio-burdens, such as yeast, mold,
E. Coli, Staphylococcus and Salmonella. Our Certificates of Analysis attest to the
extensive testing our products undergo. We do not leave these critical processes
to another, thereby risking contamination, substitution of herbs, or falsified test
results.

Safet y

Nothing short of these practices will ensure and uphold the highest standards of
quality, purity and safety that Kan has maintained all these years.
Kan Herbals

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Fall 2007
In this issue...

Volume 41

Presidents Message Leslie McGee, RN, LAc, DiplAc & CH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

AAAOM Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
AAAOM 2007 Committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND FURTHER NOTES FROM

THE 2006 NOMENCLATURE DEBATE REPORT
Ergil and Flaws Summary Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Letter to the Editor: Bensky, et al rebuttal Translation of Chinese
Medical Terms, Nigel Wiseman, Volume 40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

OM CLINICAL MEDICINE
Awareness in Chinese Medicine Leon Hammer, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
The Benefits of Sheng Zhen Healing Qigong
Master Li Jenfeng; edited by Holly Ice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Application of Ying Qi and Wei Qi Theory in the Treatment of
Multiple Sclerosis Jamie Qianzhi Wu, DiplAc CI (AOBTA), LAc . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Pediatrics in Chinese Classics Jean Libonate, RN, MP, DAOM, LAc

. . . . . . .22

PORTLAND 2007 CONFERENCE & EXPOSITION

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Endometriosis
Misha R. Choen, OMD, LAc, DiplAc, DiplCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
The Essential Role of Acupuncture Herbs and Related Therapies
in HIV Care Adam Burke, PhD, MPH, LAc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Towards an Integrated Clinical Pathway for the Treatment of
Pediatric Asthma Christopher Huson, LAc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Prenatal and Postnatal Jing Chinese Insights on DNA and the
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Genetics of Cancer B. Evan Ross, LAc, DOM

OM NEWS AND VIEWS

Notice of Annual Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Trudy McAlister Scholarship Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
AAAOM Welcomes Douglas Newton to Our Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
AAAOM-SO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
AAAOM Advertising Contract and Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Resource Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Editorial Procedures
The American Acupuncturist welcomes
article submissions from all Oriental
Medicine practitioners. Articles
embracing innovative Oriental
Medicine ideas and procedures that
include new, real-world case information, supporting research and
advanced conventional wisdom on a
given discipline are given priority. If
you would like to submit an article,
we require that submission be made
via our online interactive form
available on our website at
www.aaaomonline.org, under
The American Acupuncturist.
The ideas and opinions expressed
herein belong to the authors and are
not necessarily those of the AAAOM.
All material is subject to U.S.
copyright laws. Reproduction of contents in any manner, without written
approval and citation, is prohibited.

Advertising Procedures
The American Association of
Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine
(AAAOM) does NOT (a) endorse,
make any warranty, express or
implied, with respect to the use of
products or services advertised in this
publication; nor (b) guarantee the
efficacy, usefulness, medical results or
claims of any product or service,
advertised herein, nor the acceptance
of any liability which might result there
from. Therefore, the American
Association of Acupuncture & Oriental
Medicine (AAAOM) (c) assumes no
responsibility for material or claims
contained in advertisements, and
(d) further reserves the right to reject
or cancel any advertising for any
reason, at any time.
Are you looking for an opportunity to
publish your academic and research
articles? The American Acupuncturist
encourages submissions from seasoned
writers and first time authors.
For information on how to submit an
article, visit the AAAOM website at
www.aaaomonline.org and click on The
American Acupuncturist tab. Feel free to
call the editorial staff with any questions
toll free at 866-455-7999 or email
editor@aaaomonline.org.

Index to Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Membership Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
THE AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURIST

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Message From the President

Maintaining Our Visibility - Staying Engaged
Leslie McGee, RN, LAc, DiplAc & CH, President, AAAOM
The American Acupuncturist is published
quarterly by the American Association of
Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine
(AAAOM),
P. O. Box 162340
(Mailing Address) 909 22nd Street,
Sacramento, CA 95816
Tel: 916-443-4770
Toll Free: 866-455-7999
Fax: 916-443-4766
www.aaaomonline.org
Copyright The American Acupuncturist 2007.

AAAOM BOARD
Corinne Axelrod MPH, LAc, DiplAc
DIRECTOR/CHAIR, MEDIA AFFAIRS/PUBLICATIONS
PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT
ED, MANAGING, EDITOR, Rebekah J.
Christensen, Executive Director, AAAOM
PROGRAM MANAGER, ASSOCIATE EDITOR,
Douglas E. Newton
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES & IT SUPPORT, Brian
Smither
STAFF EDITORIAL COORDINATOR, Lynn B. Eder
ADMINISTRATIVE - ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
COORDINATOR, Tanisha Minor
MEMBER SERVICES ASSISTANT, Angela
Woodward

Editorial Support - Volume 41,

Fall 2007:
The AAAOM would like to extend a
sincere thank you for the editorial assistance of Clinical Editorial Board Members:
Joseph Adams, LAc, MTOM (CA);
Janet Borges, LAc (VA);
Carol DeMent, MAc, LAc (WA); Vivianne
Hipol Gantos, Dipl/OM, LAc, RN (OH);
Sarah E. Rifkin, MS, LAc, Dipl/OM.

The American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

(AAAOM) is the national association representing professional providers
of acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM). Our mission is to promote integrity and excellence in the professional practice of Acupuncture
and Oriental Medicine, and we work to ensure that the AOM practitioner is well represented in the public realm, which includes regulation, legislation, and other policy initiatives. To do this we must stay
involved and be visible in the public arena.
Opportunities and challenges come up all the time that require our involvement. This
past June the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
held a stakeholder dialogue at NIH in Bethesda, Maryland. AAAOM board members Will
Morris and Bill Reddy attended this day-long event and represented the AOM community
in the proceedings. The meeting primarily addressed the long-term vision for research in
CAM therapies, including AOM. Our board members, along with several other AOM professionals in attendance, demonstrated to NCCAM that AOM is here to stay and seeks full
involvement with NIH research planning. We will maintain contact with NCCAM to continue our involvement in this exciting work.
Another important area requiring our participation is analysis of the FDAs Final Rule on
Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) for Dietary Supplements. Our community
has been anticipating the release of this Final Rule for a few years, and this spring and
summer many AOM professionals have expressed deep concern about how this rule will
affect both Chinese herb manufacturers and individual practitioners of Chinese herbal
medicine.
The Final Rules more than 200 pages required careful reading and analysis. The AAAOM
enlisted the help of legal counsel experienced in FDA regulatory issues to give us the
insight we need to advise our membership wisely. The conclusions we can draw from this
rule are, not surprisingly, complex. By the time you read this we will have published our
analysis and recommendations. Id like to thank our very active Herbal Medicine Committee, led by Christine Chang and Claudette Baker, for their leadership in this effort.
The milestone revealed by the FDAs Final Rule is that it explicitly notes the practice of
Asian medicine, acknowledges the extensive training of AOM practitioners, and it considers our training to be a mark of our safe and responsible practice. That such language is
included in an FDA document is a clear sign that our years of effort to stay engaged and
become more visible to the FDA have borne fruit. Enormous challenges remain in our relationship to FDA regulation, but I find it encouraging that FDA regulators know we exist
and are aware of our extensive training. Twenty years ago this wouldnt have been possible,
and it highlights the work of all of usindividuals and AOM organizationswho have
shown up and stayed involved in the process.
The AAAAOM participated in the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) first professional Doctoral Task Force. This work began in 2003 to
develop proposed competencies that could be reflected in future standards for accrediting
first-professional doctoral programs. The representatives of the American Association of
Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) joined the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (CCAOM), Federation of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Regulatory Agencies (FAOMRA), National Federation of Chinese TCM Organizations
(NFCTCMO), World Federation of TCM Societies (WFTCMS), and Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). The event was facilitated by
Department of Education regional accrediting experts, along with ACAOM Chair, Howard
Simmons, past executive director for the Middle States Regional accreditors.
continued on page 25

THE AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURIST

AAAOM EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PRESIDENT

SECRETARY

PRESIDENT EMERITUS

Leslie McGee,
RN, LAc, DiplAc, CH (NCCAOM)

Corinne Axelrod,
MPH, LAc, DiplAc

William R. Morris,
DAOM, MSEd, LAc

lmcgee@aaaomonline.org

caxelrod@aaaomonline.org

wmorris@aaaomonline.org

VICE PRESIDENT

VICE PRESIDENT,
CORPORATE EVENTS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Martin Herbkersman,
MTOM, DAc
mherbkersman@aaaomonline.org

Deborah Lincoln, RN, MSN, LAc

Rebekah Christensen
rchristensen@aaaomonline.org

dlincoln@aaaomonline.org

TREASURER

P. Shane Burras, LAc, DNBAO

sburras@aaaomonline.org

AAAOM ALTERNATE
DIRECTORS
AOMA Past President

AAAOM DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE

Floyd Herdrich
fherdrich@aaaomonline.org

Karen Reynolds, LAc, RN

Travis Buckmaster, LAc, PC

Thomas Haines, PhD (Public Member)

Jeanette Rockers, LAc

tbuckmaster@aaaomonline.org

thaines@aaaomonline.org

jrockers@aaaomonline.org

kreynolds@aaaomonline.org

Regina Walsh, MAc, LAc

rwalsh@aaaomonline.org

Christine Chang, DAOM, LAc, DiplOM

Cynthia ODonnell, LAc, AP

cchang@aaaomonline.org

codonnell@aaaomonline.org

Rachel Toomim, LAc, RT (NADA)

rtoomim@aaaomonline.org

Douglas (Yi) Wang

dwang@aaaomonline.org

Doreen Guo-Fong Chen,

LAc, OMD
dchen@aaaomonline.org

FA L L 2 0 0 7

Bill Reddy, BS, MS, LAc

Lloyd Wright, DNBAO, LAc

breddy@aaaomonline.org

lwright@aaaomonline.org

Scott Cormier, MTOM, DiplOM, LAc

Jeannie Kang, LAc

scormier@aaaomonline.org

jkang@aaaomonline.org

James Turner, Esq. (Public Member)

jturner@aaaomonline.org

AAAOM-SO C0-PRESIDENTS
Rhonda Wilbur, DiplOM,
MSOM, BS, BA, CMT, PFT

Koala Moore,
DiplOM, MSOM, BA

AAAOM-SO Co-President

AAAOM-SO Co-President
AAAOM-SO Development and
Legislative Task Force Member

The American Association of

Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine,
established in 1981, is a
professional organization
representing Practitioners of Oriental
Medicine.
OUR MISSION

AAAOM COMMITTEES 2007

The AAAOM President is on all committees. (Committee Chairs are listed first.)
BYLAWS: Martin Herbkersman, Chair; Scott
Cormier, Floyd Herdrich, Bill Reddy
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE: Deborah Lincoln,
Chair; Shane Burras, Cynthia ODonnell, Karen
Reynolds, Rachel Toomim, Regina Walsh
The AAAOM Annual Conference is the most visible and important event for the associations
membership and the AOM profession. The Conference Committee oversees all activities associated with the conference, including selecting the
topics and speakers, choosing the location,
budgeting, working with the exhibitors, developing conference brochures and materials, and
onsite activities and management.

EDUCATION/CREDENTIALING: Will Morris,

Chair; Christine Chang, Tom Haines, Jeanette
Rockers, Maureen Woyci*
The Education/Credentialing Committee purpose is to provide expertise from within the professional association to accrediting, licensing
and educating bodies, and to facilitate the
development of board certification processes.

ELECTIONS: Jeanette Rockers, Co-Chair,

Claudette Baker, Co-Chair; Jennifer Blahnick,
Deborah Lincoln, Rachel Toomim
ETHICS: Scott Cormier, Chair; Rachel Toomim,
Amanda Troelsen, Jim Turner
The Ethics Committee will serve as an advisor to
the AAAOM on ethical issues within the profession, taking into consideration AOM values and
customs, professional responsibilities, and concepts of correct actions.

FINANCE: Shane Burras, Chair; Christine

Chang, Jeannie Kang, Jeanette Rockers
FUNDRAISING: Bill Reddy, Chair; Jolene
Habeck*, Neka Pasquale, Maureen Woyci*
The Fundraising Committee is dedicated to creating additional funds for the AAAOM beyond the
income generated by our members and products
sold. Specifically the committee will coordinate
with the finance committee to identify the funds
needed to accomplish a set of prioritized goals.
It will also produce a document describing local
and national efforts to generate support from
individuals and corporations.

HERBAL MEDICINE: Christine Chang, Chair;

Claudette Baker, Gene Bruno, John Chen, Bill
Egloff, Dave Molony, Atara Noiade, Bonnie
Povolny, John Scott
INSURANCE: Shane Burras, Chair; Scott
Cormier, Lloyd Wright
MEDIA AFFAIRS/PUBLICATIONS: Corinne
Axelrod, Chair; Mitchel Chalek, Vivianne Gantous, Jolene Habeck*, Jeannie Kang, Melissa
Monroe*, Will Morris, Bill Reddy, Rebecca
Wilkowski
The Media/Publications Committee develops
the communication strategy for the association,
and provides oversight and guidance on all
media and publications, including The American
Acupuncturist, Qi-Unity Report, Action Alerts, the
AAAOM website, correspondence, media packets, presentations, etc.

MEMBERSHIP: Travis Buckmaster, Chair; Jeannie

Kang, Deborah Lincoln
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES: Scott Cormier,
Koala Moore*, Jim Turner, Rhonda Wilbur*
The Policies and Procedures Committee works
with the Executive Director to assure that policies
and procedures are consistent with our mission
and goals and to provide for effective management of the association.

SUPPLIERS: Christine Chang, Chair; Bill Reddy

To promote excellence and integrity in

the professional practice of acupuncture
and Oriental medicine, in order to
enhance public health and well-being.

OUR PURPOSES
To serve as the official representative and
spokesperson for the professional
acupuncturist and Oriental medicine
practitioner in the United States.
To establish, maintain and advance the
professional field of Oriental medicine,
with acupuncture and other modalities,
as a distinct, primary care (ability to
exercise professional judgment within the
scope of practice) field of medicine.
To integrate acupuncture and Oriental
medicine into mainstream
health care in the United States.
To advance the science, art and
philosophy of acupuncture and
Oriental medicine.
To protect the body of knowledge
acupuncture and Oriental medicine.
To advance the professional welfare of
our members.

AAAOM PANELS AND TASKFORCES

BLUE RIBBON PANEL FOR HOSPITAL
CREDENTIALING STANDARDS: Evan Ross,
Co-Chair, Jeanette Painovich, Co-Chair; Adam
Burke, Deborah Lincoln, Leslie McGee
INTERPROFESSIONAL STANDARDS TASKFORCE: Martin Herbkersman, Chair; Gene
Bruno, David Canzone, Farolyn McSweeny,
Will Morris, Marilyn Walkey, MD, Lloyd Wright

To educate legislators, regulators, health

care interests and the public regarding
acupuncture and Oriental medicine.
To develop and maintain standards of
ethics, education and professional
competence, and to promote research
and inter-professional relationships,
nationally and internationally.

AAAOM TASK FORCE REPRESENTATIVES

ACAOM DOCTORAL TASK FORCE:
Adam Burke, Chair; Kevin Ergil, Will Morris,
Bill Prensky, Regina Walsh

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS/NATIONAL:
Lloyd Wright, Co-Chair; Cynthia ODonnell,
Co-Chair; Jim Turner

TRADITIONAL MEDICINE CONGRESS:

Corinne Axelrod, Claudette Baker,

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS/STATE:
Martin Herbkersman, Chair; Kathy Taromina

*AAAOM Student Organization Representative

David Malony

To insure that the public receives high

quality AOM services.
To educate the public.
To serve the public effectively through
improving access to our services.

THE AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURIST

Errata from the 2006 Phoenix Nomenclature Debate Report

William R. Morris

t the nomenclature debates of 2006

in Phoenix Arizona, some presentations by Bob Flaws and Marnae
Ergil were not recorded and as a result their
perspectives were not published in the post
conference review. This piece summarizes
their positions, establishing a fair representation of the viewpoints presented by these
two individuals.
Ms. Ergils points included: 1) the fact that
Chinese medicine has been a text based
practice since antiquity, 2) that distinctive
authorial conceits informed the production
of classical Chinese texts, 3) that the
processes of engaging classical texts from the
linguistic perspective of different historical
periods present specific problems of their
own, and 4) that the contemporary production of marketing of texts both in China and
the English speaking world are distinctively
and historically determined.
She emphasized the use of denotative and
functional translations using standardized
and glossarized terminology in contrast to
connotative translations where terminology
is more loosely glossed, and where the text
is interpreted by the author for his/her perception of the audience that is being
addressed. She further identified issues
present in a review of the literature, these
are non-inclusive:
Texts translated by native Chinese speakers
and published in China: Oversimplification of material; Errors, poor English or
lack of understanding of English words;
Use of biomedical terminology for Chinese medicine concepts
Issues in texts translated by native English
speakers: Scholarly vs. Clinical translations; Free or loose translations (connotative) vs. Formal (denotative)
translations; Interpretive use of language
depending upon context vs. standardized
terminology that refers to a published
glossary
Ms. Ergil emphasized the works of Walter
Benjamin and Eugene Nida highlighting.
Benjamins position is that the audience
should not be considered when making linguistic choices. Further, Benjamin suggests
that the kinship of languages be demonstrated by conveying the form and meaning
of the original as accurately as possible with
the intended effect upon the language into
which he is translating. Whereas, Nida
places the translation process somewhere
between paraphrased work and literal

FA L L 2 0 0 7

works supplemented with notes and commentary. She promotes a formal equivalence
translation that is directly focused on the
message of the original author, both in
terms of form and content.
Ms. Ergil discussed Nidas suggestion that
there are three primary factors informing
translation: 1) the nature of the message,
2) the purpose or purposes of the author
and, by proxy, of the translator, and 3) the
type of audience. Ms. Ergil emphasized that
the technical professional domain is the
area where Chinese medical translations are
focused.
She suggested that it seems most appropriate that the audience being addressed
should be considered to be the specialist
who is highly concerned with the accuracy
and detail of the information being related.
To write for multiple audiences (lay, student, and clinician) leaves all constituencies
unsatisfied. Although driven by different
considerations, the terminological choices
made by both Chinese and non-Chinese
authors and translators of Chinese medicine
texts have greatly affected what students
and practitioners learn and understand
about Chinese medicine. Decisions about
terminology may be based upon extensive
linguistic research, upon the appropriateness of a term for the specific context of a
statement, upon the fact that a term has
been used before and so has become the
accepted norm or because it is the western
medicine translation of the concept. No
matter how or why decisions are made they
affect the quality and usefulness of a textbook, a matter which makes the topic of
terminology and standardization one that
has recently become more important to
publishers, authors and educators.
Bob Flaws makes the argument that there
are a number of reasons for adopting a standard English language terminology for
Chinese medicine. Most important is to
learn more technically accurate, and,
therefore, more clinically effective Chinese
medicine. He goes further, stating that the
logic of Chinese medicine is based on the
logic of the Chinese language. Supporting
this concept, he views Chinese as structured differently from English and other
Indo-European languages. Language affects
the way we construct the world. Therefore,
to understand Chinese medicine one must
be able to read the Chinese medical literature in Chinese. Barring that, one must at

least be able to read the Chinese medical

literature in an English language translation
which captures the logic and technical precision of that literature as closely and as
accurately as possible.
Mr. Flaws also focused on the advantages
of a standard English language translational
terminology to facilitate communication
within our profession and allow cross-referencing of information. With the growing
recognition and acceptance of Chinese
medicine in the larger world around us,
other parties rely on us to use a standard
professional terminology. These other parties include: Governmental and regulatory
agencies, third party payers (insurance
companies), CAM group practices and hospital administrators.
A standard professional terminology is
also needed to research and access information digitally. Computers (at least for now)
are absolutely literal when it comes to
searching a database. Google, Yahoo, and
MSN will only bring up search results that
contain the exact word or words included
in the search parameters.
Mr. Flaws provided criteria for standards.
First, the terminology must be pegged to
the original Chinese terms as written in
Chinese. Secondly, the English terms
should be etymologically accurate in both
languages and specifically accurate in terms
of their Chinese medical usage. Third, the
term set must be large enough to be a
meaningful standard. The term set must be
freely available. Such a glossary, dictionary,
or term set must be primarily created by
native-speakers of the arrival language
which, in this case, means English. Such
native-speakers must be experts in their
language (English), capable of reading the
departure language (Chinese), experts in
Chinese medicine, and familiar with professional standards and techniques for the
translation of technical non-fiction.
He recommends adopting Wiseman et
al.s term set as quickly as possible as the
standard for all teachers and classes pertaining to Chinese medicine. Since such a term
set meeting the foregoing requirements
already exists, it seems a waste of time and
resources to start afresh. Nigel Wiseman
et al. have done and continue to do the
scholarly heavy lifting to create an adequate standard translational terminology. I
strongly suggest we, as a profession, adopt
what we already have as our working basis.

L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R A N D F U R T H E R N O T E S F R O M T H E 2 0 0 6 N O M E N C L AT U R E D E B AT E R E P O R T

Letter to the Editor: Bensky, et al rebuttal

Translation of Chinese Medical Terms, Nigel Wiseman, Volume 40

t the October, 2006, AAOM Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, we presented a paper entitled Toward a
Working Methodology for Translating Chinese
Medicine. A much abridged version of the
paper appeared in the Fall, 2006 (#36)
issue of the American Acupuncturist, and
Nigel Wisemans response to that paper
appeared in the Summer, 2007 (#40) issue.
Our paper outlined a pluralistic perspective
on Chinese medical translation that
acknowledged a variety of approaches in
the spirit of friendly, open dialogue. Our
primary purpose in collaborating on this
paper was to illustrate how translators with
substantially different viewpoints could find
a common ground. Mr. Wisemans subsequent remarks are a willful misrepresentation of our work.
To take just one example, we were careful
to contrast Mr. Wisemans term choices
with our own only as means of making the
point that there is more than one legitimate
way to go about doing translation work. We
further pointed out that there were many
instances in which we disagreed among
ourselves on matters of term choice. That
Mr. Wiseman would construe our preference for one term over another as advocacy
for the Eastland gloss is nothing short of
ludicrous. On the contrary, we explicitly
stated our opposition to the wholesale
adoption of any one term set.
Despite our efforts to define a collegial
perspective that included, but was not limited to, the Wiseman terminology, Mr.
Wiseman continues to insist on defining
the ground of any conversation on translation in terms of his work and his work
alone. Our fundamental disagreement with
Mr. Wiseman lies not with the contents of
his gloss but with his exclusionist, one
term set to rule them all rhetoric.
We stand by our position and we are content to let the professional community
decide its merits. We suggest that interested
readers read our paper in its entirety. It can
be accessed online at http://www.chinesemedicinedoc.com/uploads/File/Translating%20TCM%20Lantern.pdf. We would
then urge you to consider both the spirit
and the content of both our paper and Mr.
Wisemans response to it.
We practice medicine in a spirit of openness and in acknowledgment of the diversity of our medical tradition. We make use
of sometimes conflicting approaches to

patient care because they work for specific

situations. Our approach to this topic is
much the same. It is acknowledgment of
multiple translation strategies that may
each be valuable and that must be assessed,
not on the basis of some absolute standard,
but on an awareness of what may be gained
and lost through each approach. This spirit
is what guides our work and what guided
the writing of our position paper. If our

profession limits itself to a single approach

to Chinese medical translation, it will have
ended the conversation before it has really
begun.
Charles Chace
Dan Bensky
Jason Blalack
Craig Mitchell

THE AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURIST

Awareness in Chinese Medicine

By Leon Hammer, MD
Abstract: Awarenessawakeningis the
single most important quality of life to
healing and growth in all therapeutics,
religion, and philosophy since the beginning
of recorded history. It is central to the
changes we must contemplate in terms of
healing for both patient and practitioner.
Chinese medicine has a great deal to offer
through its diagnostic and treatment
modalities in service to this critical goal.

I. General
It is said that God is not interested in peace,
only clarity. This was Avatar Meher Babas
message when he proclaimed silence and
said, I have not come to teach, only to
awake. In Zen Buddhism, the focus is on
the here-and-now, as it was with Gestalt
Therapy developed by Fritz Perls. Freuds
objective with psychoanalysis was to make
the unconscious conscious, and the Jacobs
ladder of the Kaballah is one of increasing
awareness.
Enhancing awareness has been the center
and focus of every esoteric religion, the
central issue of science, and the central goal
of psychology. The central concern of existentialism is How awake is this person to
the life inside and outside of themselves?
asks Albert Camus in The Stranger.
Nevertheless, even awareness requires caution, for it is said that one does not dare
desire the impossible in full awareness without being psychotic. I have seen this happen
to neophyte meditators isolated in monasteries of various religious persuasions.
It is my thesis that safe awareness is the
primary goal and potential accomplishment
of Chinese medicine. Indeed this is the
opinion of most of the patients I have
encountered therapeutically in the past
thirty-six years. The awakening is in all
areas of life from the most intrinsic knowledge of self to changes in lifestyle.
In one of my nine month courses on Asking Diagnosis, I recommend to my students
that they have several posters on the walls
of their future office. One would say: Terrain and Stress (Is it the bacteria [stress]
or the body condition [terrain])? The second would say: Vulnerability, Vulnerability,
Vulnerability. The third would say: Diagnosis, Diagnosis, Diagnosis and the fourth
Management, Management, Management.
The fifth, in the largest letters of all and

10

FA L L 2 0 0 7

most prominently placed, will be a sign that

says: AWARENESS, AWARENESS,
AWARENESS.

II. Aware of what?

The question arises, aware of what? In an
excellent paper, Lonny Jarrett argues that
the awareness is one of choice that overrides the ego concerned with only itself in
the space occupied by fear (water) and
desire (heart), and responds only to the
unchanging authentic self that has universal concerns. He states Simply put, freedom means free to choose as opposed to
being a slave to the mechanism of a conditioned mind.
Freedom of choice is an issue that leads
down many thorny roads filled with more
questions than answers.
One is Sullivans definition of neurosis
that condemns people to repeat the same
behavior and thought patterns despite their
maladaptive nature. The goal of all interventions ascribed to as therapeutic has been
to break that cycle, one that I address with
regard to Chinese medicine in section V of
this paper.
The second is the dilemma of the individual. I consider Chinese medicine
unique in its ability to provide the tools to
delineate one individual from another,
whatever the CF, Sho, or other ascribed
condition (to be discussed in detail in
another context). It seems as if Jarrett is
saying we need to be aware that we can
make a choice. That may be true but who
would agree on what is universal? The
religious right and people who deny global
warming would not agree on that definition
from Jeffersonian deism and tree huggers
like me. One could argue that these are not
universal but ego-driven values.
This also raises the question, how do we
achieve the state of egolessness required for
a choice based on universal awareness
rather than ego driven values?
A third issue discussed in greater detail
elsewhere is that of containment to which
Jarrett alludes as necessary to make a
choice. I believe that containment is a
major and natural necessary function of the
liver in the service of making choices of
behavior throughout life, and is the positive
aspect of liver qi stagnation. I would argue
that there is too little liver qi stagnation in
our time, not too much, and that the inabil-

ity to bear the pain necessary to maturity,

what Campbell meant by life (see below),
is a major liver qi-yang deficiency in our
time due to the cold substances universally
used in our culture. Containment with liver
qi-yang deficiency is impossible, and containment is necessary to hold an idea until
it can be sufficiently considered to lead to a
thoughtful choice (plan and decision or
direction).
I argue that the goal of what all esoteric
religions and sincere therapeutics mean by
awareness has always been what Jarrett
calls the unchanging authentic self, and
that behavior towards the larger world
(your neighbor) is also an unchanging
measure of that achievement. Eric Fromm
in his eulogy to Harry Stack Sullivan at
Carnegie Hall in 1949 mentioned that cultures are ultimately measured in history by
how the powerful treat the powerless. (Sullivan literally gave his life for this.)
The pursuit of the genuinely spiritual has
been desecrated by new age spiritualism
that embraces the easy road to nirvana
through drugs and weekend workshops.
These are only ways to avoid the pain that
takes a lifetime to experience before we
reach even a modicum of wisdom if we
want to equate that with enlightenment.
Joseph Campbell relates a story in which
a group of young American neophyte Buddhist priests dressed in saffron robes visit
him with the message that he has been
wasting his life exploring religions and
myths and that he should follow them
because they have found the way. After
their endless entreaties he congratulated
them and said that there was one small
sticking point. When asked, Man, what
that could be? he answered, life.
It is also interesting that Jarrett measures
spiritual achievement by behavior and not
by feeling, with which I entirely agree.
What feels good is not always good. This is
at the heart of the Hebrew ethic. Spirit in
the Hebrew tradition has always measured
by what you do, not how you feel.
Lastly, on the subject of aware of what I
would add, without elaboration here, that
we need the capacity to be fully aware of
the great unknown of our existence, our
ultimate insecurity, who and where we are;
and this without the artificial refuge of the
many bearings of power.vi

OM CLINICAL MEDICINE

III. Practice of CM is the Practice of

Awareness
Our senses are our primary tools of
awareness.
In 1919 William Osler, the dean of Western medicine, wrote, Learn to see, learn
to hear, learn to feel, learn to smell, and
know that by practice alone can you
become expert. Medicine is learned by
the bedside and not in the classroom. Let
not your conceptions of the manifestations of disease come from words heard
in the lecture room or read from the
book. See, and then reason and compare
and control. But see first.vii
What do we do?
We ask and listen, especially with the third
ear, not to what people say, but what they
do not say, to what people avoid, and to
what they want underlying the verbiage.
We look with the third eye to see if
body language belies words. We touch
(pulse and palpation), smell, feel, and
with our hearts we intuit and empathize.
With our minds we receive, process with
logic, and integrate. Some of these are
discussed in The Therapeutic Relationship.viii Others will be covered in a forthcoming book on diagnosis other than the
pulse.

IV. Heart Phase

The heart plays the central role in awareness and in all aspects of human psychology. The spiritual force of the heart is
dominant in the development and function
of all the other energetic forces related to
the mind, spirit, and soul. The heart controls the mind: mind affects the heart.
In Oriental terms, the key to subtle
unspoken awareness is an open heart; free
of desire, craving, addiction and its pursuit.
As Claude Larre and Elizabeth Rochat de la
Valle wrote , By nature mans heart is vast
and free like Heaven; always tempted to fill
itself, it must seek to become empty. An
empty heart can receive. What fills the
heart instead is desire, and craving interferes with awareness. Life is spoken of as a
rambling walk directed by the Spirits.
This long life, everlasting vision and rambling walk can be damaged. For life to be
fulfilling one must allow the Spirits guide
the Breaths through life.ix
The pericardium and triple burner
acknowledge and express this awareness
with words.x While the heart is the
emperor, the triple burner runs the empire.
The water grounds us in the here-and-now.
The wood provides direction. The metal,

when healthy, provides flexibility. The

Earth Phase bears the milk of human kindness and fulfills the basic need. This is
the beginning of self-worth. The heart yin is
the medium which enriches that milk
into the cream of human congeniality and
fulfills the basic want. Here is the source
of all joy.
In my book Dragon Rises-Red Bird Flies, I
wrote that Perhaps the most important
consequence of the introduction of
acupuncture into my practice was the flowering of awareness in my patients and my
own appreciation of its significance to
growth and development.x Awareness as
mentioned above is the centerpiece of Zen
Buddhism and is almost synonymous with
the concept and experience of enlightenment.
The heart fire energies are deeply concerned with creative awareness and expression. With regard to awareness I wrote
further that Heart Yin inspires that substance [from Kidney Yin] into awareness
and Heart Yang gives form to the creative
idea.. The dominance of consciousness and
awareness, of creativity and love, by Fire
energies places these energies in the center
of all interpersonal considerations.
Also, in terms of consciousness and
awareness, the Fire Phase contacts the
general energy [Heart], distributes it
fairly [Triple Warmer and Pericardium],
and purifies it [Small Intestine]. On the
level of feelings, and at their supreme
maturation, these energies nourish and
govern the awareness and the expression
of unconditional love, both for self and
for others.
Heart energies are responsible for the
higher, conscious, intellectual mental
investigation of life including: awareness,
symbol formation, and the communication of ideas and feelings. The heart
opens to the tongue and is embryologically close to the throat. There is a Hindu
saying that if one can close off the throat,
one closes off the flow of thoughts. The
heart controls the circulation of ideas
within and between men.
Only through these Heart Yin energies
do the Divine Spirit, Divine Love, and
Divine Will [discussed elsewhere in relation to Kidney Qi, Yin and Yang] come
into conscious human awareness. Divine
revelation is the gift of heart yin. A deficiency of heart yin will manifest as a
lack of awareness and consciousness of
the inner self.. An excess of heart yin
energies involve a greatly enhanced
awareness of both the inner chaotic
world of the unconscious and the con-

stantly impinging sensory and emotional

stimuli from the outer world.xii Too
much of a good thing is destructive.
All of the clinical issues mentioned below
in the language and concept of Chinese
medicine; phlegm, fire, deficient heat,
trapped qi, qi and yang deficiency, closed
orifices, blood stagnation all interfere with
the ability of the heart to fulfill its energetic
function to maintain contact with and sustain full awareness of the outer world of
interpersonal affairs as well as the inner
mental, emotional and spiritual world.
Depending on degree of interference, as
well as other variables such as constitution,
shock, trauma, nutrition work, exercise and
habits (drugs, sex, etc.), there can be a wide
variation in the severity and the nature of
symptoms associated with a loss of awareness due to an impediment of heart and
other fire energies.
Almost all psychological disorders can be
understood as a function of awareness
either in quantity, quality (perception and
distortion) and form. In fact, the Greek
word for insanity is alienation, which is in
fact a loss of awareness of what is coming
to or from the inner world (boundaries).
The principal problems that attend
human relationships fall mostly into the
realm of communication. Fire energies are
all about communication. Heart yang and
pericardium yang, triple warmer and small
intestine energies as discussed in my
bookxiii are all involved in the appropriate
and effective expression of thoughts and
feelings. Where the clarity of communication is involved, all of the distortions
attending maladaptive discourse are rooted
in awareness. They are, therefore, also
ineluctably rooted in the integrity of the
heart and fire phase. Therefore, all human
problems from marital and family conflicts
to the most serious neurosis and psychosis
are to some extent the manifestations of
defects in fire energy performance. (For
more information regarding psychological
disorders related to Heart Function I refer
you to chapter 15 in Chinese Pulse Diagnosis: A Contemporary Approach [pp. 547-8
and the glossary] and Dragon Rises Red Bird
Flies, chapter 14 [pp. 316-319; 333-338].)
(Another paper more closely examining the
Fire-Heart Phase will be forthcoming.)
The herbs that are listed below are critical to that performance in combinations
dictated by an accurate Chinese diagnosis
of the individual.
continued on page 12

THE AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURIST

11

Awareness continued from page 11

V. Vicious Cycle
Prescriptions for enhancing awareness
begin in our earliest history attested to by
archeology and anthropology and by the
history of religion and philosophy. The latest in this long line, which includes meditation of endless sorts, are the modern
psychologies.
With regard to the latter, having studied
and practiced this discipline for over fifty
years, it was clear to me from the beginning
that an intellectual exchange was insufficient to converting intellectual insight into
true living awareness. My professional
odyssey involved a search for a way to
make that conversion that finally centered
on touch but included LSD, when still
available in pure form, as a therapeutic
modality. The methods of touch that I
encountered were all centered on the psychoanalytic concept of resistance embodied
in the musculoskeletal structure and usually involved an assault on that structure
that I would equate with the modern
wars on drugs and terror. This was a
war on resistance that I observed only
deepened rather than resolving it.
In Dragon Rises, Red Bird Flies, I reinterpreted resistance as simply maladaptive
ways of maintaining contact in order to
stay intact. Rather than attack it as
resistance I found identifying the talent
and differentiating it from the distortions
was a more productive approach to maladaption. This was an improvement over
the attack approach; however the tendency for maladaptive behavior in the face
of insight and experience continued to be a
challenge. The vicious cycle of stimulus
and maladaptive response seemed difficult
to break and defied all mental constructs
and techniques. Some vital part of the cycle
was missing from our theory and practice.xiv
Though Freud, Sullivan, and Reich all
used energetic constructs in their theories
and work, only the Orientals developed in
detail what I found to be the missing link
in the vicious cycle. That proved to be
the energetic body through which the cycle
traveled and was influenced, and that lay
outside of Western psychological theory
and practice.
In this paper I will discuss only one small
but significant intervention in breaking the
cycle, the link from insight to meaningful
awareness. I am currently writing a book
greatly enlarging the scope of this work that
began conceptually and diagnostically with
Dragon Rises, Red Bird Flies. It will include

12

FA L L 2 0 0 7

management and treatment illustrated with

one case history per phase delineation,
example: heart yin deficiency, typical of my
experience.

pect that while these inner orifices may be

metaphors of the outer ones, that the entire
picture does involve something more concrete.

VI. Orifice Opening and Related

Herbs in Psychiatric Practice

B. Clinical Considerations and

Pathogenesis
In my practice I used these herb formulas
to treat mild, moderate and severe mental
and emotional disturbances. The principal
differences were in the greater or lesser
weight given to specific herbs and dosages
in the total picture. In Western medical
terms these would include neurosis, depression, bipolar disorders and schizophrenia.
In Chinese medicine the causes could be
any combination of Zang-Fu disharmonies,
pernicious influences and triple burner
pathology. Chinese medicine has been successfully treating these conditions throughout at least two to three millennia without
the Western classification because Chinese
medicine at its best provides the diagnostic
tools to treat an individual not a disease.
The distinction between constitutional,
congenital, childhood and adulthood etiologies is also vital. Still, most important is an
accurate diagnosis of the individual since
the substances recommended for use in this
discussion must be included in a matrix of
treatment that accommodates the entire
entity.
While orifice opening herbs were always
a consideration in treating psychological
disorders, phlegm removing herbs were
included in my practice especially if slipperiness was felt on the pulse, and especially at the left distal and/or mitral valve
positions. Slipperiness on other positions
such as the right distal, and both middle
positions also warranted consideration if
the tongue and symptoms were appropriate.
A vertical center-line on the tongue with
thick coating is a sign of phlegm in the
heart.
Over time I routinely found that including heart phlegm removing herbs was valuable with all emotional-mental issues even
when the signs described above were not
clear. As with all conditions, they exist as a
process even before the body-mind communicates it in the way of symptoms and
signs.
The literature discusses phlegm-cold and
phlegm-heat. The former is associated with
schizophrenia and depression and the latter
with mania. In fact the distinction is not
clear, as I shall demonstrate.
Phlegm accumulates for several reasons,
roughly classified as excess and deficient
etiology. In either case the issue is stagna-

A. Introduction
This section concerns itself with the use of
herbs to treat those psychological disorders
that are rooted in the dysfunction of fire
phase energies in synergy with each other.
While the emphasis here is on the orifice
(cavity) opening herbs, they cannot be considered in isolation from the accompanying
etiologies and disharmonies that inevitably
occur and the herbs which are used to treat
them.
An important first consideration is the
concept of the orifices of the heart.
According to Imgard Enzinger, who has
done extensive work in this area, these
were traditionally identified roughly with
the sense organs, the ears (2), eyes (2),
mouth (1), nares (2) as the outer orifices,
and the inner orifices as a metaphor for
the outer. According to her, the latter were
visualized in the Yangsheng texts or tests
of Inner Alchemy as orifices, holes,
caves, gates or passes, experienced as
a kind of inner sensation, however, there
are no orifices on the visible or touchable
body. Nonetheless they have the concrete
task to control the flow of qi. In my opinion, the seven inner orifices functionally
exist, and in their function in terms of both
shen and qi, they are not reduced to the
blood vessels coming from and going to the
heart.
The orifices associated with phlegm
misting seem to be firmly associated with
the concept of the heart controlling the
mind since treating this condition clearly
affects the mind often in very dramatic
fashion that I have catalogued clinically. My
teacher, Dr. Shen, claimed that he could
identify on the pulse the three great vessels
and four valves of the heart. I can consistently feel the mitral valve, and I and others
have confirmed many times the presence of
mitral valve prolapse (by echocardiogram)
with a slippery quality (phlegm) in this
position. In Western medicine a mitral
valve prolapse condition has been associated with panic attacks and phobias since I
entered the profession fifty-five years ago.
Treating the condition with herbs that are
indicated for removing phlegm from the
heart orifices leads to dramatic results. In
fact, over the years, I came to treat most
emotional-mental problems in this manner
with good results. This has led me to sus-

OM CLINICAL MEDICINE

tion, of qi and less often of blood. Stagnation can occur due to excess of qi (blood)
or a deficiency of either or both. In the case
of excess there is more qi than the heart can
move and with deficiency there is too little
qi (blood) to overcome the stagnation.
An example of excess stagnation in the
heart is with a shock to the heart when the
left distal position (heart) is either flat or
inflated. This can happen in utero, birth,
childhood (usually flat) or at any time during life (usually inflated). An example of
deficiency creating stagnation would be any
impairment of heart qi or blood for any reason that interferes with the movement of
either, through the heart, lungs, and chest.
The organism abhors stagnation and
brings metabolic heat to move it, first from
the organ itself and later from the general
reserve. If the stagnation moves then there
is no further concern. If the metabolic heat
cannot move the stagnation the heat accumulates, a condition unacceptable to normal functioning, and the organism sends
fluid to cool the heat. This consumes yin of
the organ and later of the kidneys. As the
heat and fluid accumulate the heat congeals
the fluid that we call phlegm.
Therefore, phlegm (heat and fluid) is
always ultimately present with stagnation,
and in all cases of phlegm, heat is
involved whether the cause is deficiency
(phlegm-cold) or by excess (phlegm-heat).
Ultimately all unsuccessful efforts to
overcome stagnation lead to qi and yang as
well as yin deficiency for the reasons
described. The final state of exhaustion is
when the heart yin and yang separate, leading to a severe state of chaotic function.xvi
It is important to monitor the heat
removing herbs in these formulas since
their continuation after the heat is removed
can weaken the qi and yang of the heart.
Likewise the damp draining and phlegm
removing herbs will damage heart yin if not
carefully monitored. Excessive use of formulas such as Cattle Gallstone Pill to Clear
the Heart (Niu Huang Qing Xin Wan) can
damage heart qi and yin.
C. Comments
Since the traditional herb formulas that
clear heat and open the orifices are no
longer available as described in the literature in their original form, due to the
unavailability of substances from endangered species or considerations of toxicity,
other combinations of substances are
required at this point.
The original formulas include: Vesica Fellea Bovus and Secretio Moschus (Niu Dan,
She Xiang), Vesica Fellea Bovus and Rx.

Curcumae (Niu Dan, Yu Jin) Cornu

Rhinoceri and Succinum, (Xi Jiao, Hu Po),
Styrax Formula (Su He Xiang Wan), Fr.
Gleditsiea and Hb. cum Radice Asari, (Zao
Jiao, Xi Xin), Cornu Rhinoceri and Cornu
Antelopis, (Xi Jiao, Ling Yang Jiao), Escape
Restraint Pill (Yue Ju Wan), Guide out the
Phlegm Decoction (Dao Tan Tang) and
Unlock the Orifices and Invigorate the
Blood Decoction (Tong Qiao Huo Xue Tang).
Substitutes from among the available
substances are listed below must be made
depending on the diagnostic indications
with regard to and blood deficiencies and
in particular with regard to phlegm and
heat, blood stagnation and the need to
settle the spirit. Again, Chinese medicine at
its best treats an individual and not a
disease.

VII. Classification of Herbs Affecting Heart Function

A. General
In my practice there were several classes of
herbs that functioned for this practice. One
is simply orifice opening, one is phlegm
removing, one is heart astringing, one is
blood moving, one is yin nourishing, one is
heat removing, one is blood nourishing,
one is spirit settling and one is qi nourishing. The yin nourishing herbs have been
especially important where shock has been
one aspect of etiology. (Generate the Pulse
Powder [Sheng Mai San]) The blood tonifying and spirit settling herbs are those most
valuable for mild to moderate emotional
instability or calming the mind.
B. Orifice (Cavity) Opening Herbs
The following are herbs known to open the
heart orifices:
Rz. Acori Gramanei, Cornu Antelopis,
Lingnum Aquilariae, Rx. Aristolochiae
Fangchi, Benzoinum, Borneol, Calculus
Bovis, Cinnabaris, Fl. Caryophyii, Rx.
Curcumae, Cx. Albizziae Julibrissin, Rz.
Cyperi Rotundi, Carapax Eretmochelydis
Imbricatae, Fr. Gleditsiae Sinensis, Jin Bo
(Gold), Gummi Olibanum, Secretio
Moschus,, S. Persicae, Caulis Piperis
Futokadsurae, Rx. Polygalae Tenuifoliae,
Realgar, Cornu Rhinoceri , Styrax Liquidis, Succinum, Secretio Bufonis and Yin
Bo (Silver) (shi chang pu, ling yang jiao,
chen xiang, guan fang ji, an xi xiang, bing
pian, niu huang, zhu sha, ding xiang, yu
jin, he huan pi, xiang fu, dai mao, zao
jiao, , jin bo, ru xiang, she xiang, tao ren,
hai feng teng, yuan zhi, xiong huang, xi
jiao, su he xiang, hu po, chan su, yin bo).

C. Phlegm (Turbidity) Reducing

The following aromatic substances vaporize phlegm as well as open orifices:
Rz. Acori Gramanei, Calculus Bovis,
Carapax Eretmochelydis Imbricatae,
Realgar and Cornu Rhinoceri (shi chang
pu, niu huang, dai mao, xiong huang, xi
jiao)[not available].
Other substances that assist in removing
damp and phlegm include Succus Bambusae, Caulis Bambusae in Taeniis, S.
Perillae Frutescentis, Fr. Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae, S. Trichosanthes, Concretio
Silicaea Bambusae, Concha Cyclinae
Sinesis, Calculus Macacae Mulattae, Rz.
Pinnellae, Arisaema, Rx. Aconiti Coreani,
Rx. Platycodi Grandiflori, Fr. Gleditsiae
Sinensis, Hb. Agastaches, Hb. Eupatorii
Fortunei, Cx. Magnoliae Off., Rx. Polygalae Tenuifoliae, Rz. Atraclylodis, Fr.
Amomi Rotundus and Fr. Amomi. (zhu li,
zhu ru, zi su zi, chuan bei mu, gua lou ren,
tian zhu huang, hai ge ke, hou zao, ban
xia, tian nan xing, cao wu, jie geng, zao jia,
huo xiang, pei lan, hou po, yuan zhi, cang
zhu, bai dou kou, sha ren).Many of the
above assist by improving spleen function and others by expelling phlegm from
the upper burner, especially the lungs.
D. Heart Astringing and Calming
Heart astringing herbs include Os Draconis, Concha Ostreae, Dens Draconis, S.
Nelumbinis Nuciferae, S. Tritici Aestivi
Levis, Cinnebaris, Margarita, Fluoritum
and Succinum (long gu, mu li, long chi,
lian zi, fu xiao mai, zhu sha, zhen zhu, zi
shi ying, hu po).
E. Blood Moving
Blood moving herbs for the heart include
Rx. Salvia Miltiorrhizae, Rx. Curcumae,
Rx. et Caulis Jixueteng, Rx. Ilicis Pubescentis, Rz. Curcumae Longae, S. Persicae,
Flos. Carthami Tinctorii, Rml. Cinnamomi Cassiae, Rx. Paeoniae Rubra, Seu
Steleophaga Eupolypaga and Seu Eupolypaga Opisthoplatiae (poisonous), Gummi
Olibanum, Hb. Artemeisiae Anomalae,
Sanguis Draconis, Lingnum Sappan, Rx.
Achryanthis, Cx. Mouton Radicis, Hirudo
seu Whitmania and Fr. Cnidii Monnieri
(dan shen, yu jin, ji xue teng, mao dong
qing, jiang huang, tao ren, hong hua, gui
zhi, chi shao, di bie chong, tu bie chong, ru
xiang, liu ji nu, xue jie, su mu, huai niu xi,
mu dan pi, shui zhi, she chuang zi).
F. Yin Nourishing
Rx.Ginseng, Rx. Rehmania Preparata,
Gelatinum Corii Asini, Rx. Pseudostellarcontinued on page 14

THE AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURIST

13

Awareness continued from page 13

iae Heterophyllae, Tuber Ophiopogonis,

Sclerotium Poria Cocos Pararadicis, Fr.
Schizandrae Chinensis, and Bu. Lilii (ren
shen, shu di huang, e jiao, tai zi shen, mai
men dong, fu shen, wu wei zi, bai he).
G. Blood Nourishing
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis, Arillus Longan,
Fr. Jujubae, Polgala Tennuifolia, Polygoni
Multiflorum, S. Biotae Orientalis, Rx.
Polygoni Multiflori, Rx. Rehmania
Preparata, Gelatinum Corii Asini , and S.
Ziziphi Spinosae. (dang gui, long yan rou,
da zao, yuan zhi, ye jiao teng, bai zi ren, he
shou wu, shu di huang, e jiao, suan zao
ren).
H. Qi and Yang Nourishing
Rx. Ginseng, Sclerotium Poria Cocos
Pararadicis Rx. Pseudostellariae Heterophyllae, Placenta Hominis, Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae, Rx. Glycyrrhizae
Praeparara and Rx. Aconiti Praeparara
(ren shen, fu shen, tai zi shen, ze he che,
gui zhi, zhi gan cao, he fu zi).
I. Heat Removing
Rx. Scutellariae, Calcitum, Plumula
Nelumbinis, Fr. Forsythiae, Hb. cum
Radice Violae Yedoensitis, Hb. Andrographitis Paniculatae, Rx. Diochorae
Febrifugae (Poisonous) and Rx. Sophorae
Subprostratae (huang qin, fang jie shi, lian
zi xin, lian qiao, zi hua di ding, chuan xin
lian, chang shan, shan dou gen)
J. Trapped Qi
By trapped qi (and heat) I am referring to
conditions in which energy either cannot
escape from an organ (inflated pulse quality) or cannot enter an organ (flat pulse
quality). These are discussed above.
Herbs for the inflated qualityinclude Bu.
Allii, Fr. Trichosanthes, Rx. Ligustici Wallichii, Citrus Aurentium I, Tu. Curcumae,
Rz. Cyperi Rotundi and Fr. Liquidambaris
Taiwanianae, Fr. Schisandrae Chinensis
(xie bai, gua lou, chuan xiong, zhi shi, yu
jin, xiang fu, lu lu tong, wu wei zi).

For the flat quality remove Fr. Schisandrae Chinensis (wu wei zi) and add Fl.
Caryophylli, LignumAquilariae (ding xiang,
chen xiang).
K. The Formulas
1. Heiner Fruehaufxvii
My Shanghan lun teacher, Dr. ZengRongxiu, paid great attention to singular
slipperiness in the heart pulse position,
and used the formula Guizhi Fuling Gancao Dazao Tang to treat it (Cinnamon

14

FA L L 2 0 0 7

twig 9, Poria 15, Jujube 9, Licorice 6). I

often use this very simple (food based)
remedy when people with palpitations
and/or anxiety manifest with this pulse,
and am very satisfied with the result. The
heavy use of Sclerotium Poriae Cocos
and Rz. Acori Graminei (fu shen and shi
chang pu), both geared at removing
phlegm from the heart orifice, has been
described in detail by the 17th century
physician Chen Shiduo in his Shishi Milu
(A Secret Record From the Stone Chamber).
In this book on clinical cases and
strange diseases, he wrote about the
treatment of dementia, using formulas
containing up to 90g/day of these two
ingredients, waking people from what
from a modern perspective appears to be
an Alzheimers state.

2. Current
Currently I use the base formula of Bamboo
and Ginseng (Zhu Ru Wen Dan Tang) when I
wish to remove phlegm-fire from the heart if
there is also liver-gallbladder involvement
(also Pinellia and Magnolia [Ban Xia Ho Pou
Tang], and Bamboo and Hoelen [Wen Dan
Tang]) if there is no liver involvement.
In addition I add whatever herbs are available from the above list of orifice-opening and
phlegm-fire removing herbs.
A general formula for the heart that I have
recently developed is as follows. Additions and
subtractions can occur depending on the diagnosis, including opening heart orifice herbs
and removing phlegm-fire. The following is
suggestive, not all-inclusive.

Heart Shock and Heart Yin Deficiency (Sheng Mai San)

Panax (American)
xi yang shen
9gm
Ophiopogon
mai men dong
9gm
Schizandra
wu wei zi
6gm
Calm Heart and Nourish Shen (Blood and Qi)
Zizyphus Seed
suan zao Ren
9gm
Biotae Seed
bai zi ren
3gm
Polygonum
ye jiao teng
6gm
Euphoria
long yan rou
6gm
Albezzia
he huan pi
9gm
Poria Cocos
fu shen
10 gm
Craetegus Fruit
shan zha
6gm
Placenta
zi he che
4.5 gm
Os. Draconis
long gu
9gm
Ostrea
mu li
12 gm
Dens Draconis
long chi
9gm
Succinum
hu po
1gm
Glycyrhiza
gan cao
5gm
Triticum
fu xiao mai
20-50gm
Ziziphus Fruit
da zao
5-20gm
Build Heart Qi
Panax
ren shen
9gm
Panax (Korea)
ren shen
4.5mg
Codonopsis
dang shen
15 gm
Build Heart Yang
Aconitum
fu zi
0.25gm
Move Heart Blood
Cinnamomum
rou gui
3gm
Salvia
dan shen
6gm
Curcumae Tuber
yu jin
6gm
Ligisticum
chuan xiong
9gm (circulation to the brain)
Move constrained Liver Qi and Liver Wind
Cyperus
xiang fu
6gm
Citrus
zhi ke
2 gm
Uncaria
gou teng
4gm
Haliotis
shi jue ming
3gm
Gastrodia
tian ma
6gm
Bupleurum
chai hu
3gm (very cold and drying especially in women)
Open Orifices and Remove Phlegm
Acorus
shi chang pu
6gm
Calculus Bovis
niu huang
0.1gm
Polygala T.
yuan zhi
9gm
Remove Excess Heat
Scutellaria
huang qin
6gm
Coptis
huang lian
1.5gm

OM CLINICAL MEDICINE

VII. Case re: Phlegm Misting the

Orifices from Dragon Rises-Red
Bird Flies:

There are many versions of this formula

to include kidney, spleen, lung and other
diagnostic considerations to be published
elsewhere.
This formula includes Generate the Pulse
Powder (Sheng Mai San), classically used
for heart yin deficiency, and which I use to
treat heart shock that causes heart yin deficiency. This is observed on the pulse as a
rough vibration on first impression (using
both radial pulses simultaneously), rapid
rate (recent), flat or inflated and often slippery quality at the left distal position or a
spinning bean quality. According to Dr.
Shen it is better to use American Ginseng
than Ren Shen because the former protects yin.
The history of shock can go back as far
as insults to the fetus at conception, in
utero, at birth and throughout life, both
physical and emotional. Combining the
above herbs with Painthera External Analgesic (Yunnan Bai Yao) has resulted in
remarkable changes in mental and emotional states in short periods of time that
are described elsewhere.

An example is a 63 year old woman, F. had

been in and out of mental hospitals for
about sixteen years. During this period of
time she had every type of diagnostic
workup to no avail, and her treatment
included many drugs and several courses of
electric shock therapy that did not help. Her
hospital diagnosis was Chronic Schizophrenia. At the time that we first met she
walked around the room in circles and with
considerable speed, collapsing suddenly, and
frequently breaking bones in the course of
the fall. Her explanation for her behavior
was that someone was controlling her mind
and forcing her to do this. The someone
was not clear at first. It was known that she
had lived a life of service to her family and
to her husband, who controlled her throughout the marriage.
At our first meeting, F. was running and
falling as described above. I managed to feel
her pulse briefly when she fell and noted
clear-cut slipperiness on the left distal position (heart pulse) and observed a thick coating on her tongue. I prescribed an herbal
formula (Cattle Gallstone Pill to Clear the
Heart, Niu Huang Qing Xin Wan) to remove
the mucous and heat from the heart and
open the heart orifices.
Within three days she stopped the running and falling, and within a week she
reported that she was no longer being controlled. The slipperiness on the pulse disappeared and the tongue coating diminished.
She was placed on a diet that minimized
mucus-producing foods, and her gastrointestinal function was treated with herbs. Her
improvement continued for one and one half
years until she was convinced to stop her
herbs by her sister who was a religious
fanatic. While she did not revert to the running and falling, she once again felt controlled and was violent towards her husband.
Resumption of treatment was to no avail.

VIII. Conclusion
Awareness is the critical attribute whose
presence is the single most important factor

Another formula addressing primarily phlegm misting the orifices is the Guide Out
Phlegm Decoction (Dao Tan Tang).
[Source: Formulas to Aid the Living: Ji sheng fang)]
Citri Erythrocarpae [Rubrum]
ju hong
3g
Rz. inelliae Ternatae
ban xia
6g
Sclerotium Poriae Cocos
fu ling
3g
Rx. Glycyrrhizae Uralensis
gan cao
1.5g
Fr. Immaturus Citri Aurantii
zhi shi
3g
Rz. Arisaematis
tian nan xing
3g

in health and whose deficit is the single most

important factor in emotional, mental and
spiritual disharmony.
I have attempted to explain the essential
link between this critical awareness and the
integrity of heart and fire energies that make
these herbs so important to our well being.
I have used the orifice opening and phlegm
removing herbs together with the other classes
of herbs listed above to treat the entire spectrum of psychological misery from the least to
the most disturbed.
The subject is vast, addressed in other
writings past, present and certainly future.
References
i. Purdom, C.B. (1971). Meher Baba; The Universal Message. The God-Man, pp.343-344. Meher Spiritual Center,
South Carolina.
ii. Camus, A. (1989) The Stranger. New York: Vintage
Books
iii. Jarrett, L. S. (Spring/Summer 2007) The Awakening
of Choice. California Journal of Oriental Medicine,
Vol. 18 No.1.
iv. Fromm, E. Eulogy to Harry Stack Sullivan at Carnegie
Hall in 1949
v. Campbell, J. Unavailable at this time.
vi. Hammer, L. (1992) The Chinese healing art/science
and power. American Academy of Acupuncture Review;
Vol 4, No. 1,
vii. Osler, W. Unavailable at this time.
viii. Hammer, L. (2006) The Therapeutic Relationship [for
Chinese Medical Practitioners]. DRCOM
ix. Lingshu, The spiritual pivot. chapter 8
x. Hammer, L. (2005) Dragon Rises Red Bird Flies; chapter 10. Seattle: Eastland Press.
xi. Ibid
xii. Ibid
xiii. Ibid
xiv. Ibid
xv. Enzinger, I. Personal Communication. July 27, 2007.
xvi. Hammer, L. (1966) Towards a Unified Theory of Chronic Disease. Oriental Medical Journal, Vol 6, No. 2 & 3.
xvii. Fruehoff, H. Personal Communication. June 29, 2007.

Dr. Leon Hammer is a medical doctor, psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst who has studied,
practiced, and taught Oriental medicine for
35 years. He is currently chairman of the
Governing Board of Dragon Rises College of
Oriental Medicine where he teaches and
writes. He is the author of many articles to be
found at: www.dragonrises.edu, and of Dragon
Rises Red Bird Flies and Chinese Pulse
Diagnosis: A Contemporary Approach
(Eastland Press). For further information please
contact www.leonhammer.com

THE AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURIST

15

The Benefits of Sheng Zhen Healing Qigong

By Master Li Junfeng; edited by Holly Ice

i is the essence of life. Qi is the

origin of life. With qi, everything
grows. Without qi, everything dies
or ceases to exist. Qigong means the qi and
qi exchange between our bodies and the
universe. Through this exchange, the qi
works in the body to promote health.
Sheng Zhen Healing Qigong is a form of
Sheng Zhen Wuji Yuan Gong. All the forms
of Sheng Zhen Wuji Yuan Gong are good for
health and healing. The movements of
Sheng Zhen Healing Qigong are easy to
understand and to learn. Since the
movements are done sitting on a chair, the
person practicing does not get tired or
fatigued. Its good for all ages, including the
elderly and the young; the healthy and the
ill. Practice can be anywhere, indoors or
outdoors, and does not require a large
amount of space.
The two components that are most
important are to relax the physical body
and to be happy. Happiness comes from
enjoying your life with love.
Sheng Zhen Healing Qigong movements
stimulate qi to flow throughout the body
relaxing it throughout. Practicing in a
relaxed way by focusing your mind on the
philosophical roots of relaxation and happiness, you will open your heart. Opening the
heart is the most important factor in attaining positive changes from healing qigong.
Through Sheng Zhen Healing Qigong, you
can open your heart and change your
personality and attitudes about life.
Through this change, the quality of your
life improves, automatically leading to
improvement in your physical health.

Why is opening the heart so

important?
In our society today, changes happen at a
rapid pace. There is so much competition
and conflict in all phases of life. Our lives
have become so very busy. When our lives
fill with too many nervous and stressful
thoughts, the heart can become closed.
When the heart is closed, or not open
enough, the flow of qi is not smooth and
can become a health problem. Through
Sheng Zhen Healing Qigong practice the
heart is opened to allow healing and promote health.
In traditional Chinese medical thought it
is believed that qi is the commander of
blood. When qi flows, it can lead the blood,

16

FA L L 2 0 0 7

so circulation improves. Sheng Zhen philosophy also states that the heart is the commander of the qi so your heart can lead
your qi to flow. When your heart is not
open enough, qi flow is not optimal. When
a person allows their heart to open more,
their chest is expanded to more easily handle life events. This leads to a reduction of
stress or anger and a return to feelings of
happiness.
Happiness is important to our lives. True
happiness comes when we release all of our
worries. Through Sheng Zhen Healing
Qigong practice, your heart opens, qi flows
easily, worry and stress decreases, and
immune system function improves. When
the heart is open, patients with diseases
experience healing. For healthy people,
opening the heart helps to prevent disease.
New diseases arise on the earth mainly
because the qi has become stagnant and
murky from negative emotions like hatred,
stress, worries, nervousness, sadness, and
jealousy. To make the qi clean, you need to
open your heart, which will make you happier and healthier. When more people open
their hearts, there will be more connection
of qi all over the world, and the earth will
improve.
Sheng Zhen means unconditional love.
We believe qi and love are never separate.
Life comes from qi, and qi comes from love.
When you feel and project love, the heart
opens with unconditional love. Especially
now, when science and technology are
evolving at a rapid pace, unconditional love
is even more important. If higher technology is not used with love, it may be used
negatively to increase pollution and harm
our environment. With unconditional love,
users of technology will consider and revere
the environment of the earth and not
destroy it, thus it will be preserved in better
condition for future generations.
With love, you can accept and forgive
others when they do something you do not
like or that is hurtful to you. With love, its
easy to open the heart. Unconditional love
means not only loving ourselves and our
family and friends: it means loving everyone, including your enemies. By using your
power of love, you can transform your enemies into friends.
In summary, Sheng Zhen means sacred
truth or unconditional love. This is the

basis or essence of life that came before the

existence of all things, including qi and
yin/yang. It is the love of God.
Remember that Sheng Zhen practitioners
bodies become healthy, but even more
importantly, they experience a transformation to a happier life, full of love for all
people.
In the long term, considering the big picture of life, we can choose to love ourselves, family members, friends, place of
employment, country, and the whole world,
including the natural environment. Open
your eyes to see the beauty all around you
in nature and see that all people are brothers and sisters. Expand your unconditional
love to all the people of the world. Then
you can experience the wonderful feeling of
glowing well-being, leading to perfect happiness and optimum health. You can smile
towards all people you encounter. You can
enjoy every moment of your life, with a
sweet smile on your face, and live in a state
of ease.

Master Li Jun Feng has been the head coach

of the world-renowned Chinese National
Wushu (Marital Arts) Team, consistently winning first place for over 12 years. During
those years Master Li also achieved international fame as a martial arts film actor and
director. One of his most famous students is
Jet Li. Master Li serves as advisor to the
World Academic Society of Medical Qigong
and the Qigong Science Research Association of China. Residing in Texas, he teaches
Medical Qigong at the Academy of Oriental
Medicine. Master Li travels extensively
around the world, sharing how he has been
transformed by this remarkable practice.

OM CLINICAL MEDICINE

THE AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURIST

17

Application of Ying Qi and Wei Qi Theory in the Treatment

of Multiple Sclerosis
By Jamie Qianzhi Wu, DiplAc CI (AOBTA), LAc

oth ying qi and wei qi play important

roles in Chinese physiology, and
correlate with the defensive and
bio-clock systems. Drawing in large part
upon classical citations from Chapter 18 of
the Ling Shu Jing, this article will define
ying qi and wei qi, and their relationship to
the shenhen. Ultimately these concepts will
be elevated from theoretical constructs to
become practical tools to approach the
treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Theoretical Bases of Ying Qi and

Wei Qi
In this discussion from Ling Shu Jing, Chapter 18, one observes that, both ying qi and
wei qi derive from food qi. Ying qi is the
nutritive part of food qi while wei qi is the
active part of food qi:
The refined energy of a man stems from the
refined substance transformed by the cereals
received, when the cereals enter into the
stomach, the transformed refined substance
will be transferred to the five yin organs
and six yang organs. In the refined energy,
the lucid part is called the ying qi, and the
turbid part is called the wei qi, the ying qi
flows within the blood vessels and the wei
qi flows outside of the vessels, and they circulate in the whole body unceasingly.(1)

The Functions of Ying Qi and Wei Qi

Wei qi warms the body and fills the soft tissues with qi: it controls the opening and
closing of the sweat pores. Wei qi also nourishes the couli, which includes the interstices, and connecting tissues between the
skin, muscle, and organs. The ying qi nourishes the internal organs, the body tissues,
and is an ingredient of the blood. In the Precious Mirror of Hygiene, (1343) Luo Tianyi
states, the Wei qi has functions of warming
muscle, nourishing skin and hair, replenishing striae of skin, and controlling the opening and closing of sweating pores. (2)
We gain further insights again from
Chapter 18 of the Ling Shu Jing, regarding
the issue of distribution and operation of
ying qi and wei qi:
The energy in middle Jiao separates the
clear from turbid and steams the body fluids and transforms them into refined energy.
Then the refined energy is sent up to the
lungs and is transformed into blood to

18

FA L L 2 0 0 7

Wei qi warms the body and fills the soft tissues with qi: it
controls the opening and closing of the sweat pores. Wei qi
also nourishes the couli, which includes the interstices, and
connecting tissues between the skin, muscle, and organs. The
ying qi nourishes the internal organs, the body tissues, and is
an ingredient of the blood.
nourish the whole body. Flowing inside the
channels, this energy is the most precious to
human body and therefore is called ying
qi. (3) The chapter 71 of Ling Shu Jing said,
the ying qi secrets body fluids and pours
into the channels, it turns into blood to
nourish the four extremities outside and
pours into the solid and hollow organs
inside. (4)

The flow of Ying Qi and Wei Qi

The ying qi flows inside blood vessels, following the twelve primary channels, beginning with the lung channel, and ending
with the liver channel. Chapter 16 of the
Ling Shu describes this movement:
The ying qi starts from the hand taiyin
channel of Lung, it runs along the
inner side of the arm, pours into
the Hand yangming channel of
large intestine, then ours into the
foot yangming channel of stomachthen it ascends along the
liver channel to teach the liver,
pours into the lung from the liver,
ascends along the rear of the
throat to reach behind the inner
orifices of the noseanother
branch ascends to teach the forehead, runs along the centre of the
top of head, descends to the neck,
runs along the spinal column and
enters into the sacral bone where
the du channel passes, then it
passed the ren channel, communicates with the external genitals,
passes the pubic hair margin and
enters into the navel, then ascends
to enter the supraclavicular fossa, then,
descends to pour into the lung, then it
begins to circulate again from the hand
taiyin channel of lung. This is the traveling
route of the ying qi. (5)

Returning to chapter 18 of the Ling Shu

Jing we see that wei qi flows outside the
blood vessels. The wei qi runs twenty five
cycles in the yin portion and twenty five
cycles in the yang portion. Its circulation
splits evenly between day and night. This
circulation starts from the head which
belongs to yang and terminates by the yin
channels of hand and foot. (6) Clearly ying
qi and wei qi have differing functions, but
later in chapter 18 of the Ling Shu Jing, we
are told that, Both ying qi and wei qi circulate in the body unceasingly, circulate
without stopping. Figure 1 shows the flow
of ying qi through the primary channels
along the organ clock system. It then enters
the du and the ren.

Figure 1
The wei qi flows from the eyes to the feet
during the day along the taiyang, shaoyang
and yangming returning through the yin. At
night, the wei qi travels deeply to enter the
kidney, Figure 2.

OM CLINICAL MEDICINE

Applications of Ying Qi and Wei

Qi: Theory in the Treatment of
Multiple Sclerosis
Ying and wei qi qi theory is commonly
applied to explain the mechanism and treatment of many diseases such as: taiyang diseases, bio-clock disorders, induced
insomnia, epilepsy, and migraine headaches.
The primary focus of this article is the
application of ying, and wei qi theory for
the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Biomedical and Epidemiological

Considerations
Figure 2
Figure 2 demonstrates the flow of wei qi
during both the day and the night.

Ying and Wei Qi as They Relate to

the Shen, and the Extremities
In Chinese medicine, shen is connected
with mental activity, involving concentration, thinking, and memory, and also the
feeling, sensation, and movement of the
extremities. Many question how the heart
controls the shen because it is located
deeply inside the chest. The simple answer
is that the heart controls shen through
channels and collaterals, which, in addition
to their very practical functions, also act as
passages for sensations and feeling.
The channels and collaterals can be
viewed as inanimate anatomical structures,
similar to water pipes or concrete roads that
connect interior with exterior. These channels and collaterals dont cause movement,
but much like electricity passing through
electrical cords, facilitate the moving substances within them.
The tingling, numbness and dysfunction
of extremities result from ying qi and wei qi
disorders. In chapter 34 of Plain Questions,
(On Maladjustments), The Yellow Emperor
asks, There are people whose muscles are
numb and tough, they have no sensation
even when their muscle touches clothes or
cotton. What is this disease? Qibo
answers, When ones ying qi is asthenic,
his skin and muscle will become numb,
when ones wei qi is asthenic, his limbs can
hardly move; when both ying qi and wei qi
are deficient and weak, numbness and
debility occur and the muscle will be tough
and numb all the more. If ones mind and
body are separate, he will then die.
Similarly in chapter 43 of Plain Questions,
titled, (On Bi disease), it is made clear, If a
patient has numbness but has no pain, it is
due to the deep penetration of the evil
when the disease is protracted which causes
the obstruction of the circulations of the
ying qi and wei qi. (11)

The relationship between Qi,

Blood, Ying Qi and Wei Qi
There are several relationships between qi,
blood, ying qi, and wei qi. Qi and blood are
the substantial foundations for ying qi and
wei qi. Wei qi is the active part of the general qi. While ying qi is an ingredient of
blood, both depend on the replenishing and
nourishment of yuan qi, food, qi and blood.
As fluid-like energy, ying qi, particularly
blood, are substantial, visible entities.
Ying qi and wei qi are also the spiritual
part of qi and blood, and as described previously, carry the shen. Through the unceasing flowing of ying qi and wei qi, the
exterior and interior are connected, and all
their information is sent to the heart. All
relevant information is sent to the extremities from the heart.
Lastly, the ying qi and wei qi are the most
genuine parts of qi and blood.
The Su Wen, (Plain Questions), chapter
43 states:
Ying qi is a refined qi which is transformed
from water and cereals. It harmonizes the
five solid organs and spread energy to six
hollow organs; it can enter into the channels and can circulate through the whole
body to connect five yin and six yang
organs. The wei qi is a rough qi which is
transformed from water and cereals, its
urgent and slippery, therefore it can not
enter into the channels and can only move
through soft tissues. (12)

Diagnosis of Qi, Blood, Ying Qi

and Wei Qi
The symptoms associated with disorders of
qi and blood may include: bruises, masses,
swelling, edema, pain and aversion to
touch. Sensation and movement disorders
involve symptoms such as: numbness, or
diminished sensation, tingling and pain,
any hot or cold sensation in local area,
weakness of extremities, and dysfunction of
limbs.

Multiple sclerosis is a progressive, degenerative disorder of the central nervous system

(CNS) involving the optic nerve, brain, and
spinal cord. There are between 250,000 and
350,000 cases in U.S. with 200 new cases
diagnosed each month (recorded in 1995).
The condition happens in populations
between the ages of 20 and 40. Twice as
many females as males have MS. Similarly
twice as many Caucasians contract MS than
minorities. Further, people in temperate climates are five times as likely to develop MS
as people living in the tropics. Lastly, the
incidence of MS appears higher in higher
social classes. (13)
During an attack of MS, the inflammation
occurs through myelin degeneration in the
white matter of CNS with random patches
called plaques. As a result, the neurological
transmissions are slowed, or even completely blocked, resulting in diminished or
lost body function.
The symptoms may include: blurred
vision, weakness and heaviness of one or
both legs, jerking of the legs, double vision,
vertigo, vomiting, incoordination, a feeling
in the arms and legs like suffering an electric shock, numbness or tingling of limbs,
urgency or hesitancy of urination, and
impotence.
It can be difficult to diagnose MS in the
initial stage since the symptoms tend to be
vague. Appropriate diagnosis requires a
complete medical history and a neurological examination. Other relevant diagnostic
studies include MRIs that demonstrate
scarred lesions or lumbar puncture with
elevated gamma globulin levels in the
spinal fluid.
The symptoms of MS can be classified
into five groups including sensation disorder, motor dysfunctions, psychosocial disorders, urinary, and reproductive tract
conditions. Sensation disorders include
optic neuritis, double vision, perception of
a band in the abdomen, tingling, numbness
continued on page 20

THE AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURIST

19

Multiple Sclerosis continued from page 19

of extremities and heaviness of the extremities. Motor dysfunctions include tremors

and spasms, ataxic gait, increased deep tendon reflexes, Babinskis sign, hemiplegia
and paraplegia. Psychosocial dysfunctions
include stress, forgetfulness, hysteria and
mental confusion. Urinary problems may
include frequent urination and incontinence. Reproductive weakness may include
sexual dysfunction, impotence, decreased
libido, infertility, and sterility.

Chinese Medical Treatment of

MS Using the with Ying Qi and
Wei Qi Theory
MS falls into a class of diseases that are
described in the Chinese literature as wei
syndrome. Wei syndrome is often translated
as flaccidity syndrome. MS is a typical
example of ying and wei qi disorder, resulting in motor and sensory disorder of the
extremities. All of the symptoms of MS can
be explained through ying and wei qi theory
and circulation.
When inflammation occurs in the white
matter of the CNS, plaque, and myelin
damage occurs. Under these circumstances,
neurological transmissions are slowed, or
even completely blocked. This can result in
diminished or lost body function. The
result is flaccidity syndrome with numbness
and dysfunction of extremities. This is consistent with a blockage of the pathway of
ying qi and wei qi.
Through the flow of ying qi and wei qi,
the head, brain, and kidney, urine bladder
and uterus are all connected together. Many
symptoms, such as sensory and motor disorders, directly reflect disorders of ying qi
and wei qi. These relationships are highlighted in, Figure 3.

The Interrelationship of Symptoms

The Application of Needling

Techniques
One can achieve great clinical efficacy using
techniques and skills based on ying and wei
qi theory. Various manifestations of MS can
be treated with these acupuncture techniques. Based on relevant chapters from the
Neijing, the flow of ying qi and wei qi can be
used to explain the application of needling
techniques in clinical practice. We begin
with a global representation of the depths
as they relate to wei qi, ying qi, and yuan qi,
and then give specific needling techniques.
As we can see in Figure 1, wei qi is in the
first layer, while ying qi and yuan qi are
located at progressively deeper layers, Figure 4. One should feel the difference at the
wei qi, ying qi and yuan qi when performing
acupuncture.
Figure 4

Treatment Methods Using the Spine

Dragon Insertion for Regulating
Ying and Wei Qi
Here we will examine spine dragon insertion for regulating ying and wei qi. The
points include: dragons eyes, (GB 20),
dragons mouth, (DU 14), dragons body,
(Located .5 cun lateral to the depression
below the spinous process of T 1 - L 5)
and dragons tail (DU 3 & DU 4).
These are the techniques for the spine
dragon insertion for regulating ying and wei
qi. Needle obliquely towards the spine
using 1 to 1.5 cun needles at a depth of 0.5
to 1 inches. Begin from the left, then the
right on the next vertebra, 7 on each side.
The next treatment may start from right,
then the left on the next vertebra. GB 20,
BL 14, DU 3 and DU 4 should be chosen
each time.

Explanation

Figure 4 demonstrates the flow of ying qi,

wei qi and yuan qi at the various depths.
Appropriate needling technique involves
needling to the corresponding depth.

The intention of these points is to stimulate

the appropriate spinal nerves. Its said that
stimulating the du is to work on the central
nervous system. The du channel is the sea
of yang and the pathway for flow of wei qi
and ying qi. Stimulating the du channel can
treat the sensation and motor dysfunctions
of extremities, while also adjusting internal
organ function.
Alternately, puncturing points on the12
regular channels, works on the peripheral
nervous system.

Duration and Frequency

Sustain the needles in the points for 20-30
minutes each time, 1-3 times a week. Base
this on the symptoms and signs. Ten treatments is one course of treatment, take 1-3
days off before starting the next course of
treatment.

Auxiliary Methods
There are auxiliary techniques for the treatment of the ying qi and wei qi. If there is
more wei qi deficiency, then moxibustion
can be added. Usually moxa is applied, up
and down the spine 9 times. If there is a
ying qi disorder then slide-cupping technique along the spine is applied, up and
down for 9 times.
Endnotes:
(1) Wu, N.L, & Wu, A.Q., (1997), ch. 18 of Ling
Shu Jing, The issue of distribution and operation
of Ying Qi and Wei Li, p. 600, Yellow Emperors
Canon Internal Medicine, China Science & Technology Press

Figure 3

20

(2) Zhu, C. (1987), Precious Mirror of Hygiene by

Luo Tianyi (1343), p. 1767, The Chinese English
Medical Dictionary, Peoples Hygiene Press
FA L L 2 0 0 7

OM CLINICAL MEDICINE
(3) Wu, N.L, & Wu, A.Q., (1997), ch.18 of Ling
Shu Jing, The issue of distribution and operation of
Ying Qi and Wei Li, p. 600, Yellow Emperors Canon
Internal Medicine, China Science & Technology
Press
(4) Wu, N.L, & Wu, A.Q., (1997), ch. 71 of Ling
Shu Jing, Retention of the Evil, p. 770, Yellow
Emperors Canon Internal Medicine, China Science
& Technology Press
(5) Wu, N.L, & Wu, A.Q., (1997), ch.16 of Ling
Shu Jing, Ying Qi, p.595, Yellow Emperors Canon
Internal Medicine, China Science & Technology
Press
(6) Wu, N.L, & Wu, A.Q., (1997), ch. 8 of Ling
Shu Jing, The issue of distribution and operation of
Ying Qi and Wei Li, p. 600, Yellow Emperors Canon
Internal Medicine, China Science & Technology
Press
(7) Wu, Q. (1986), Discussion on Ying-Wei Qi controlling the Shen, Liao Ning, TCM Journal, pp. 2123
(8) Wu, N.L, & Wu, A.Q., (1997), ch.18 of Ling
Shu Jing, The issue of distribution and operation of
Ying Qi and Wei Li, p.600, Yellow Emperors Canon
Internal Medicine, China Science & Technology
Press
(9) Zhu, C. (1987), The Complete Effective Prescriptions for Women by Ziming Chen, (1237). p.
1606, The Chinese English Medical Dictionary, Peoples Hygiene Press
(10) Wu, N.L, & Wu, A.Q., (1997), ch. 34 of Plain
Question, On Maladjustments, p.172, Yellow
Emperors Canon Internal Medicine, China Science
& Technology Press
(11) Wu, N.L, & Wu, A.Q., (1997), ch. 43 of
Plain Question, On Bi Disease, p.210, Yellow
Emperors Canon Internal Medicine, China Science
& Technology Press

Take Your Career toNew Heights

Pacific
Symposium
2007

Thursday, November 8 Sunday, November 11, 2007,

(36 CEUs pending)

The Catamaran Hotel, San Diego, CA

Featuring Japanese Acupuncture plus special tracks

emphasizing acupuncture technique, massage and herbs!
Presenters Include:

Toyohari Acupuncturists: Michio Murakami and

Haruhiro Kasumi Matt Callison, Kiiko Matsumoto,
Felice Dunas, Honora Lee Wolfe, Volker Scheid, Bob
Flaws, Jean Giblette, Nigel Dawes, Angela Wu, Dan
Bensky, Wei Liu, Effie Chow, Richard Gold, Yue-ying Li,
Alex Tiberi, Mark Kastner, Z'ev Rosenberg, Paul Schell,
Bill Helm and Justin Ehrlich.

Post-Symposium Events - November 12 & 13, 2007, (14 CEUs pending)

Featuring: Matt Callison: 2 day workshops
Toyohari Accupuncturist: Michio Murakami and
Haruhiro Kasumi: 2 day workshops

Information: (800) 729-0941 www.PacificCollege.edu

(12) Wu, N.L, & Wu, A.Q., (1997), ch. 43 of

Plain Question, On Bi Disease, p.211, Yellow
Emperors Canon Internal Medicine, China Science
& Technology Press
(13) National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Compendium of MS information, New York, NY: 1996

Jamie (Qianzhi) Wu, LAc, DiplAc CI

(AOBTA), BS, MS (China), was a professor
in Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese
Medicine. Dr. Wu has been teaching and
practicing acupuncture and Chinese medicine for over 22 years. He is an international author and lecturer and has presented
seminars in China and across Germany,
Austria and the United States. Dr. Wu currently serves as the faculty dean at AOMA.

THE AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURIST

21

Pediatrics in Chinese Classics

By Jean Libonate, RN, NP, DAOM, LAc

ppropriately, children have never

been considered to be small adults
in Chinese medicine. Pediatrics is,
in fact, one of the oldest specialties in Chinese medicine. (1) The earliest records of
pediatrics come from writings from the
Shang dynasty, (1500-1000BC). Bones and
tortoise shells were found with inscriptions
of childrens health problems.(2) Two books
from the late Han Dynasty, (late 200s CE)
Zhang Zhong-jings, Jin Gui Yao Lu, (Essentials of the Golden Cabinet) and Wang Shuhes Mai Jing, (Pulse Classic) have pediatric
chapters.(3)
The Ling Shu or Spiritual Pivot, (Warring
States period, approx. 200 BCE) states,
Childrens flesh is fragile, their body is
scanty, and their skin is weak. Eight hundred years later, in the Zhu Bing Yuan Hou
Lun (Treatise on the Origins & Symptoms
of Various Diseases), Caho Yuan-Fang
rephrased the statement to, Childrens viscera and bowel qi is soft and weak. In the
Song dynasty, Qian Yi was quoted in the
Xiao Er Yao Zhen Zhi Xue, (A Collection of
Essential Pediatric Patterns and Treatments)
to state: The five viscera and six bowel are
made but not complete...are complete but
not strong. The Xiao Er Bing Fang Lun,
(Treatise on the Origins of Pediatric Diseases & Their Treatments) restated, The
skin and hair, muscles and flesh, sinews
and bones, brain and marrow, the five viscera and six bowels, the constructive and
defensive, and the qi and blood of children
as a whole are not hard and secure.(4)
These statements all assert that children
have weak and immature physical and
physiological constituents.
In the Song dynasty there was a new
surge of interest in medical studies. Pediatrics became a specialized, independent
branch of medicine.(5) Qian Yi, of the Song
dynasty, is considered a founder of pediatric
TCM and the father of TCM pediatrics. He
was born in 1032 AD in Yuncheng, a small
village in Shandong province. His father was
an acupuncturist and a traveler, who was
said to go wandering one day, never to
return.
Shortly after his fathers disappearance
Qians mother became ill and died. He was
adopted by his fathers sister, whose husband was a respected physician, and began
learning medicine from his uncle. Qian

22

FA L L 2 0 0 7

studied medical books on the different

schools of thought, and he studied with the
current teachers of the various schools. His
medical skills became well recognized, and
he was eventually invited to treat members
of the Imperial Court. He was primarily
interested in pediatrics and devoted forty
years to this specialty. After Qians death
one of his students, Yan Xiaozhong, published his writings.(6)
Xiao Er Yao Zhen Zhi Xue, (A Collection of
Essential Pediatric Patterns and Treatments),
attributed to Qian Yi and published in 1114
AD, is a three-volume work. Volume one
deals with treatments for pediatric syndromes, including measles, chicken pox,
scarlet fever and smallpox. Volume two is a
report of 23 cases treated by Qian. The
third volume is a listing of commonly used
formulas, including the formula principle
and administration method.(7)
According to Qian, the most important
diagnostic procedure for children was
observation, especially through assessing
the liveliness of the infant by their complexion, and the appearance of the eyes. He
believed that the internal organs, (zangfu)
of the infant are not fully developed and
can easily become weak. An infants five
zang and six fu organs have come into
shape but are not fully developed, or are
fully developed but not yet strong. Therefore, the infant is prone to problems of deficiency or excess, cold or heat, etc. These
disorders would be manifested in the shen
and appearance of the child, particularly in
the face. In treatment, he knew it would be
inappropriate to use strong purging herbs
and strong tonic herbs for children. Instead,

he used a balance of gentle purging and

gentle tonifying as the principle of his formulas. He relied mostly on herbs that were
mild and moist in nature and chose herbs
that would, regulate the functions of the
stomach and spleen and benefit the kidney. He focused on treating those organs
involved in the nourishment and development of the child.(8)
Practitioners still use Qian Yis formulas
today for pediatric and adult patients. They
include:
Dao Chi San, (Powder to Guide out the
Redfor urinary tract infection with
bleeding)
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, (Pill of Six Ingredients - for kidney deficiency leading to
impaired maturation of infants). Qian
mainly used this formula for treating a
group of developmental disorders called
the five delays: delay in standing up,
delay in walking, delay in growth of hair
on the head, delay in development of the
teeth, and delay in speech development.
This formula was also used for delay in
closure of the fontanels.(9)
Although books containing pediatric
information were written prior to Xaio Er
Yao Zheng Zhi Xue, it is the earliest pediatric text that is preserved in its original
form from China. It was known as a
great reference for pediatrics for many
centuries until modern time. Wan Mizhai, (1495-1585) a famous pediatric
physician of the Ming dynasty,
expounded on Qian Yis theory of differentiation of syndromes in infants according to the zang organs. Wan also placed

OM CLINICAL MEDICINE

emphasis on nourishing the spleen and

stomach and advocated using purging
and tonifying at the same time.(10) He
stated that children should get adequate
sunshine and fresh air, be protected from
being frightened, and shouldnt over eat
or receive too much medicine.(11) His
most famous writings on pediatric medicine were Dou Zhen Shi Yi Xin Fa, (Heart
Methods Handed Through Generations
for Poxes and Rashes), You Ke Fa Hui,
(An Exposition on Pediatrics), and Yu
Ying Jia Mi, (Family Secrets in Pediatrics).(12)
None of these classical works have been
translated into English. Today, however,
we do have pediatric TCM texts that
cover contemporary issues and ailments
as well as modern approaches to treating
them. Although the classical texts are
outdated, it is wonderful to read and
marvel at the insights the ancient physicians understood, so long before the
advent of modern allopathic medicine.

Footnotes
(1) Flaws, B. (1997). A Handbook of TCM Pediatrics, Boulder, CO: Blue Poppy Press.
(2) Jing, S. TCM Pediatrics. Lecture presented on
May 2, 2003
(3) Flaws, B. (1997). A Handbook of TCM
Pediatrics, Boulder, CO: Blue Poppy Press.
(4) ibid.
(5) Pediatricians and Gynecologists in Song
Dynasty. retrieved November 14, 2004, from
http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/shen-nong/history/five/five.htm

Jean Libonate, RN, NP, DAOM, LAc,

began her healthcare career as a pediatric nurse. She holds a doctorate degree
in acupuncture and oriental medicine
from Emperors College and a masters
degree as a pediatric nurse practitioner
from University of Virginia. Jean has a
private practice in Marina del Rey,
CA,and also provides clinical supervision
for acupuncture interns at UCLA.

(6) Dharmananda, S., Rehmannia Six Formula,

Retrieved November 14, 2004, from
http://www.itmonline.org/arts/rehm6.htm
(7) ibid.
(8) ibid.
(9) ibid.
(10) ibid.
(11) Loo, M. (2002). Pediatric Acupuncture, London: Churchill Livingstone.
(12) Flaws, B. (1997). A Handbook of TCM Pediatrics, Boulder, CO: Blue Poppy Press.

THE AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURIST

23

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Endometriosis

By Misha R. Cohen, OMD, LAc, DiplAc, DiplCH
Endometriosis Defined

ndometriosis is a widely prevalent

gynecological disease defined by the
presence and growth of uterine
glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. While the cause of endometriosis is not
well understood, the most widely accepted
view of endometriosis etiology from a Western perspective is the theory of retrograde
menstruation, described by JA Sampson in
the 1920s. Endometriosis affects about 10%
of all reproductive-aged women and the
prevalence rises to 20-50% in infertile
women.
Endometriosis is a progressive disease
that is often is often associated with infertility. It is estimated that the incidence of
endometriosis is 30-45% in women with
infertility. The precise cause-effect relationship between endometriosis and infertility,
however, proves controversial.
Both medical and surgical therapies have
been offered for alleviation of symptoms
associated with endometriosis and the treatment of infertility. Western treatment of
endometriosis-associated pain has been well
studied, and all major medical therapies
appear to be superior to placebo. However,
in the treatment of infertility, medical therapy has not shown any benefit, in contrast
to surgical treatment that may improve
infertility outcomes in all stages of disease.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) and various hormonal therapies
are prescribed to alleviate pain associated
with endometriosis. There are many side
effects of the varying drug therapies from
androgenic effects, endometrial atrophy,
nausea, weight gain, hot flashes, vaginal
dryness and more.
Surgery via laparotomy or laparoscopy is
a common form of therapy used in
endometriosis treatment to remove
endometrial implants and adhesions as well
as reduce pelvic pain and future adhesion
formation. Surgery has its own after-effects
such as post-operative pain and scarring.
In this context, additional agents with
higher efficacy and lower side effects are
desirable. There is growing evidence that
medicinal Chinese herbs with anti-inflammatory and pain-alleviating properties may
be utilized in the treatment of endometriosis and infertility.

24

FA L L 2 0 0 7

History of documented Use of

Chinese Herbs
Records describing Chinese herbal treatment of infertility and miscarriage date
back to 200 C.E. The first book devoted to
obstetrics and gynecology, entitled The
Complete Book of Effective Prescriptions for
Diseases of Women, was published in 1237
C.E. Since then, Chinese herbs have been
used by many generations in China and
throughout the world.
Several herbal products are available on
the market to treat endometriosis and infertility. Traditionally, Chinese herbalists prescribe combinations of herbal formulas with
multiple ingredients. The idea is that each
individual herb will work synergistically to
treat the disease process. The design of the
formula varies, but when treating
endometriosis and infertility, certain ingredients overlap. Herbs may be consumed in
a variety of forms including pills, tablets,
granules, or decoctions (teas). While some
formulas are taken once, others are taken
regularly at various times and in particular
combinations. Chinese herbs should be prescribed by a licensed health professional
trained in Chinese herbal medicine who
determines which formulas and regimens
are best for a particular set of symptoms.
The practice of Chinese traditional medicine has been evolving for thousands of
years as practitioners have optimized and
updated therapy, based on the raw and
processed ingredients of plants and their
derivatives. Historically, Chinese medicine
has relied heavily on herbal treatment for
many gynecological illnesses.

Endometriosis Theory in Chinese

medicine
Within Chinese medicine, endometriosis is
primarily viewed as a Blood (Xue) Stasis
resulting in the formation of internal
lumps. The condition of blood stasis is
associated with a phenomenon where small
vessels are not capable of carrying normal
blood flow, thus causing clotting, bleeding,
resulting severe lower abdominal pain, and
infertility. There are multiple causes of
Blood Stasis, particularly syndromes of (1)
Qi Stagnation (2) Accumulation of Cold
causing Blood Stasis, (3) Heat Congestion
with Blood Stasis and (4) Qi and Blood
Vacuity with Blood Stasis.

Infertility Theory in Chinese

Medicine
There are seven physically-based types of
infertility in women according to several
theories in Chinese medicine. These
include Jing Deficiency, Qi and Xue Deficiency, Heat Injuring the Channels, Stagnation of Qi and Xue, Kidney and Liver Yin
Deficiency, Cold Uterus/Yang Deficiency,
and Extraordinary Channel Disturbances.

Misha Ruth Cohen, OMD, LAc, DiplAc,

DiplCH, has practiced Asian medicine for
30 years. She is director of Chicken Soup
Chinese Medicine, research and education
chair of Quan Yin Healing Arts Center and
assistant researcher in Integrated Medicine
at the UCSF Institute for Health and Aging.
Dr. Cohen is the author of three popular
Chinese medicine books, several book chapters and numerous scientific and lay articles.
Since the mid-1980s she has conducted
herbal and acupuncture research. Misha
Cohen will speak on this topic at Expo
2007, Workshop bb. on Sunday, October
21, from 8:00 AM - 12 Noon.

PORTLAND 2007 CONFERENCE & EXPOSITION

Presidents Message continued from page 5

Your continued AAAOM membership

and the membership of your colleagues is
vital. But just as important is participationthe degree to which each of us shows
up, attends meetings, writes letters, visits
our legislators, and asks our patients to
write lettersis what makes us who we are
today. Lets keep communicating and strategizing about our present and our future to
assure our continued success as a profession in this country.
In closing, we hope to have you join us
in Portland at Expo 2007. Not only does
this event mark the 25th Anniversary celebration of the national AOM organizations,
inclusive of the AAAOM, but this time
together presents all of us with the opportunity explore our professional challenges
in the context of developing tangible outcomes, expand our clinical base of knowledge as practitioners, examine the products
and services supporting the profession,
renew old friendships and acquire new. We
hope to see you there. Complete registration information is available online at
www.aaaomonline.org.

CEU Courses that Can Save the

Lives of Your Patients
by Dr. Harvey Kaltsas, Past President AAAOM;
approved by the Florida Board and NCCAOM*

$30 - Infectious diseases - Before Bird Flu and

Beyond* 3 Hours
Nobel Laureate Dr. Josh Lederberg on pandemics, the
balance microorganisms strike with their human
hosts, and nosocomial infections

Buy them
online at
ww

w.kaltsas
ceu.com

or call
941

-366-111
0

Visa/MC
accepted
.
By mail,
add $15
for s/h.

Send che
cks to:
The Heali
ng Centr
e
456 Ave
nida De
Mayo
Sarasota
, FL 3424
2

$20 - Medical Errors 2 Hours

Patient safety and the practice of acupuncture, specifically, infections from needles,
FDA requirements, and the Hepatitis B epidemic in China caused from reusing needles

$100 - Medical Imaging - Ionizing Radiation and Human Health* 10 Hours

The most important information I have learned in my 32 years of practice. Get crystal
clear how ionizing radiation (from nuclear power plants, weapons, and especially from
medical X-rays) co- creates 75% of the cancer and heart disease in the USA. All
acupunctursits and their patients should be armed with this knowledge.

$80 - Lab Tests - Urinalysis and Iodine Levels* 8 Hours

Describes the simple and inexpensive protocol and rationale for iodine testing and
use perhaps the single most effective way to improve your patients thyroid health
and prevent fibrocystic breast disease, breast cancer, and ovarian cysts. A must.
$80 - Treatment of Cancer with Electro-Acupuncture* 8 Hours
Based on the pioneering work of Drs. Yu-Ling Xin, Bjrn E.W. Nordenstrm, and
Friederich Douwes, who have successfully treated many thousands of cases. The statistics will amaze you. Includes very graphic photos of cancer cases, before and after
treatment with electro-acupuncture therapy, cases that would otherwise be untreatable

$40 - Medical Ethics in China and the West* 4 Hours

A cross-cultural and cross-centuries comparison, this course meets the requirements
needed for NCCAOM recertification

$20 - Florida Laws and Rules* 2 Hours

For Florida Licensed Acupuncturists seeking relicensure

$110 - Florida Laws and Rules 20 Hours

For endorsement candidates for licensure

$30 - HIV/AIDS 3 Hours

Now only required for new Florida licensees, not for those renewing

THE AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURIST

25

The Essential Role of Acupuncture, Herbs and Related

Therapies in HIV Care
By Adam Burke, PhD, MPH, LAc

ased on the ongoing urgency and relevance of the AIDS pandemic in

Africa and beyond, the editors of the
American Acupuncturist choose to republish this unflinching inquiry into what specific approaches may be brought to bear
against this world health issue. (First published in Volume 33, Fall, 2005).

HIV Morbidity and Mortality

HIV/AIDS is one of the worlds most important contemporary public health problems.
According to a UNAIDS report, the international HIV/AIDS rates for the year 2004
were an estimated 39.4 million people currently living with HIV/AIDS, 4.9 million
newly infected, and 3.1 millions deaths
attributed to the disease (UNAIDS, 2004a).
In Sub-Saharan Africa, where AIDS is now
the number one cause of death, there are
currently 25.4 million adults and children
living with AIDS (UNAIDS, 2004b). Health
officials are now expressing concern for the
regions of Southeast Asia and India where
the epidemic is spreading among large, vulnerable populations. The toll on the
resources of developing countries is significant in terms of economic productivity,
health care expenditures and socio-political
stability (UNAIDS, 2004c). Compared with
five years ago, the epidemic is also increasingly affecting women and girls, who now
comprise half of all people living with HIV
(UNAIDS, 2004a).
In the United States there was a rapid
increase in AIDS cases and deaths during
the 1980s, reaching a high of 150,000 new
cases per year. By the late 1990s, these
numbers had declined significantly to only
approximately 40,000 new cases per year
(Valdiserri, 2003). Beginning with the first
reported case of AIDS to the year 2003,
there have been an estimated 929,985 diagnosed cases and 524,060 deaths in the
United States (CDC, 2003). It is estimated
that between 850,000 and 950,000 persons
in America are currently HIV positive,
including 230,000 who do not know they
are infected (Fleming et al, 2002; Valdiserri,
2003). Although initially a disease of white
men, today AIDS primarily affects
racial/ethnic minorities, with African Americans accounting for 50% of new HIV/AIDS
cases in 2003. Between 2000 and 2003,

26

FA L L 2 0 0 7

diagnoses of HIV/AIDS increased for both

male-to-male sex (MSM) partners and heterosexual adults. In 2003, 45% of new cases
were MSM and 34% were heterosexual contact. New cases decreased during this
period for injecting drug users (IDUs).
From 1999 through 2003, there was an estimated 15% increase in AIDS cases among
females and 1% among males (CDC, 2003).

HIV and HAART

During the period 1996-1997, a notable
decline in both AIDS incidence and mortality was reported in the U.S. indicating success with new treatment regimens. One of
the reasons for the dramatic change was the
advent of new pharmacological treatments
using highly active antiretroviral therapies
(HAART). The rate of deaths dropped 49%
among individuals involved in male-to-male
sex, and for injecting drug users there was a
45% decline among men and 33% among
women. Deaths for all racial/ethnic populations declined, as did deaths for women
(32%) (CDC, 1998). These medications
have changed the nature of HIV, transforming it from an essentially fatal illness to one
with significantly improved prospects for
survival. For example, data from a New
York study of 700 HIV positive individuals
reported a 50% reduced risk of mortality
due to HAART drugs with populations that
traditionally had poor access to high quality
health care (Messeri, 2003).

HAART Side Effects

Unfortunately, the successful use of HAART
therapy is complicated by several factors.
AIDS patients often receive numerous drugs
for treatment and adverse reactions are
common. They must deal with side effects,
drug interactions, accumulated toxicity,
drug intolerance and the potential to
develop drug-resistant viral strains. HIVinfected individuals are also more susceptible to adverse reactions to various drugs
used in treatment than are non-HIV
patients. Numerous metabolic disorders
have been reported in a significant proportion of patients receiving HAART drugs,
including hypertriglyceridemia, insulin
resistance, hypercholesterolemia, elevated
fasting glucose and diabetes. All of these
disorders may predispose patients to coronary heart disease (Fantoni et al, 2003).

Quality of Life
Despite improved therapies and reduced
mortality, HIV-infected individuals still deal
with a host of issues that affect and challenge their well-being. One study examining gay men in four industrialized countries
found that respondents were generally not
optimistic in spite of new drug therapies.
This finding was independent of their HIV
status (International Collaboration on HIV
Optimism, 2003). Nilsson-Schonnesson
(2002) suggests that the issues facing HIVinfected individuals are quite similar to preHAART concerns. According to an NIH
panel on clinical practices for the treatment
of AIDS, the ideal treatment goals should
include the optimal suppression of viral
load, restoration of immune function,
reduced HIV-related morbidity and mortality, and improved quality of life (Dybul et
al, 2002). Data suggests that important predictors of quality of life for HIV positive
populations include the impact of symptoms, drug treatment, social support, spiritual well-being, coping strategies and
psychiatric co-morbidities (Douaihy &
Singh, 2001).
One study examined four QOL factors physical, social role, functioning and
fatigue. Severe pain was associated with
lower QOL on all four measures (Vosvick et
al, 2003). Pain has also been associated
with increased depressive symptoms in HIV
patients (Singer et al, 1993). In the HIV
Cost and Services Utilization Survey 2,836
respondents were assessed for physical and
role functioning. Limitation in complex
roles, such as employment, was more prevalent than in specific physical tasks. A
French study surveying 887 HIV patients
found fatigue and gastro-intestinal problems to be the most frequently cited complaints (Bertholon, Roser and Korsia,
1999). Fatigue was also found to be related
to depressive symptoms independent of
AIDS diagnosis and medication status (Millikin et al, 2003). One report by Sullivan
and Dworkin (2003) abstracted 13,768
medical records on HIV patients in over
100 U.S. clinics. They found that fatigue
persistent or severe enough to prevent work
was reported by 35% of patients as the primary cause of medical visits. Fatigue was
more common among individuals with clinical AIDS, anemia or depression.

PORTLAND 2007 CONFERENCE & EXPOSITION

The Growth of Complementary and

Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
(CAM) use continues to be a significant
part of consumer health seeking behavior in
the US. The recent 2002 National Health
Interview Survey (NHIS) provided interview information from over 31,000 adults.
It reported that 36% of the respondents
used CAM during the past 12 months.
That figure rose to 62% if prayer used for
health purposes was included in the definition of CAM (Barnes et al., 2004). Annual
out-of-pocket expense for CAM products
and services is estimated to exceed $27 billion (IOM, 2005). In addition to use by the
general public, individuals dealing with
complex and serious health problems, such
as cancer, chronic pain and other complex
conditions must manage a variety of troubling symptoms, side-effects from toxic
drug therapies, ineffective treatments,
desire for more diverse treatments, and
other concerns. Cancer patients report high
use of CAM products and services (Bernstein & Grasso, 2001; Dy et al., 2004; Henderson & Donatelle, 2004). Chronic pain is
another condition highly associated with
CAM use (Rao et al., 1999; Sherman et al,
2004). One study observed highest use
among patients with osteoarthritis,
fibromyalgia and severe pain. Ineffectiveness of prescription medications was
reported as a significant reason for CAM
use by almost half of these respondents
(Rao et al., 1999). With certain conditions,
such as fibromyalgia, no successful western
medical treatment currently exists and
prognosis is generally poor, motivating
patients to pursue other options such as
CAM (Kennedy & Felson, 1996; Ledingham, Doherty & Doherty, 1993). CAM
treatments for pain conditions include
acupuncture, mind-body therapies, exercise, relaxation, cognitive behavioral therapy, manipulative therapies, biofeedback
and neurofeedback (Berman & Swyers,
1997; Berman & Swyers, 1999; Buckelew et
al., 1998; Sim & Adams, 1999, 2002;
Wright & Sluka, 2001).

CAM and HIV

Individuals dealing with HIV-related health
problems must similarly address numerous
issues, such as drug side-effects, pain and
depression. These problems may be symptoms of the illness or result from the use of
Western medications which may not be
well tolerated. This can make the use of
CAM a desirable alternative therapy. One
survey of 180 HIV patients found that 68%
used herbs, vitamins and supplements; 45%

used CAM providers; and 24% used marijuana to manage weight loss and other
symptoms. Patients using CAM providers
made an average of 12 visits to those
providers versus 7 to their primary care
providers. The majority of respondents
reported CAM to be very helpful in addressing their needs (Fairfield et al., 1998). One
large national CAM survey conducted with
HIV positive men and women reported use
of 1,600 different types of CAM therapies,
substances and providers. The most commonly used CAM providers were massage
therapists (49%), acupuncturists (45%),
nutritionists and psychotherapists (37%
and 35% respectively). The most common
CAM activities were reported to be aerobic
exercise, prayer, massage, needle acupuncture, mediation, support groups, visualization and imagery, breathing exercises,
spiritual activities, and other exercise (Standish et al., 2001).(Agnoletto et al., 2003)
found in a sample of 632 HIV-infected subjects from seven European countries that
124 used nutritional substances, and 116
received psychophysiological therapies
such as acupuncture. In a review by Wootton and Sparber (2001) it was reported that
significant improvement in conventional
therapies for HIV has resulted in increasing
use of CAM use in conjunction with conventional medical HIV treatment.

Acupuncture and Oriental

Medicine and HIV
There is a clear role for AOM and related
therapies in the treatment of HIV-infected
individuals. AOM is effective in reducing
pain, such as neuropathic pain, and
improving quality of life (e.g. Abuaisha et
al., 1998; Call et al., 2000; Phillips et al.,
2004; Usha et al., 2003). Acupuncture has
also shown promise in the treatment of
insomnia with HIV patients (Phillips and
Skelton, 2001). Agnoletto et al., (2003)
found in a sample of 632 European HIV
positive subjects that of CAM methods
used, acupuncture was commonly used by
patients to treat general malaise. There is
increasing evidence that Chinese herbal
remedies may have positive immunomodulatory effects and serve as useful co-therapeutic agents in treating HIV infection
(Lam & Ng, 2002; Shaw, Lee & Wong,
2005; Usha et al., 2003). Acupuncture and
moxa have been found to be promising
treatments for chronic diarrhea (Anastasi &
McMahon, 2003). Studies on acupuncture
and depression have shown positive benefit
with response and relapse rates comparable
to other validated treatments. Acupuncture
plus pharmacological treatment has been

shown to produce superior outcomes for

depression compared to treatment with
drugs alone (Roschke et al., 2000). Indeed
there are many areas where AOM can assist
individuals with HIV/AIDS to have healthier, vital lives. More funding and research is
needed in this important area of HIV care.
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Parazzini F. Reasons for complementary therapies
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Read J, Witty TE, Hewett JE, Minor M, Johnson
JC, Van Male L, McIntosh MJ, Nigh M, Kay DR.
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Call SA, Klapow JC, Stewart KE, Westfall AO,
Mallinger AP, DeMasi RA, Centor R, Saag MS.
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continued on page 28

THE AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURIST

27

HIV Care continued from page 27

Douaihy A, Singh N. Factors affecting quality of
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Dybul M, Fauci AS, Bartlett JG, Kaplan JE, Pau
AK. Guidelines for using antiretroviral agents
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Intern Med 2002 Sep 3;137(5 Pt 2):381-433.
Dy GK, Bekele L, Hanson LJ, Furth A, Mandrekar
S, Sloan JA, Adjei AA. Complementary and alternative medicine use by patients enrolled onto
phase I clinical trials. J Clin Oncol. 2004 Dec
1;22(23):4810-5.
Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL, Appel S,
Wilkey S, Van Rompay M, et al. Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990-1997:
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Eisenberg DM, Kessler RC, Foster C, Norlock FE,
Calkins DR, & Delbanco TL. Unconventional
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Fairfield KM, Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Libman H,
Phillips RS. Patterns of use, expenditures, and perceived efficacy of complementary and alternative
therapies in HIV-infected patients. Arch Intern Med.
1998 Nov 9;158(20):2257-64.
Fantoni M, Del Borgo C, Autore C. Evaluation and
management of metabolic and coagulative disorders in HIV-infected patients receiving highly
active antiretroviral therapy. AIDS. 2003 Apr;17
Suppl 1:S162-9.

Messeri P, Lee G, Abramson DM, Aidala A, Chiasson MA, Jessop DJ. Antiretroviral therapy and
declining AIDS mortality in New York City. Med
Care. 2003 Apr;41(4):512-21.
Millikin CP, Rourke SB, Halman MH, Power C.
Fatigue in HIV/AIDS is associated with depression
and subjective neurocognitive complaints but not
neuropsychological functioning.
J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2003;25(2):201-15.
Nilsson Schonnesson L. Psychological and existential issues and quality of life in people living with
HIV infection. AIDS Care 2002 Jun;14(3):399-404.
Phillips KD, Skelton WD. Effects of individualized
acupuncture on sleep quality in HIV disease.
J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2001 Jan-Feb;12(1):
27-39.
Phillips KD, Skelton WD, Hand GA. Effect of
acupuncture administered in a group setting on
pain and subjective peripheral neuropathy in persons with human immunodeficiency virus disease.
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2004; 10(3): 449-455.
Rao JK, Mihaliak K, Kroenke K, Bradley J, Tierney
WM, Weinberger M. Use of complementary therapies for arthritis among patients of rheumatologists. Ann Intern Med. 1999 Sep 21;131(6):409-16.
Risa KJ, Nepon L, Justis JC, Panwalker A, Berman
SM, Cinti S, Wagener MM, Singh N. Alternative
therapy use in HIV-infected patients receiving
highly active antiretroviral therapy. Int J STD AIDS.
2002 Oct;13(10):706-13.
Roschke J, Wolf C, Muller MJ, Wagner P, Mann K,
Grozinger M, Bech S. The benefit from whole body
acupuncture in major depression. J Affect Disord.
2000 Jan-Mar;57(1-3):73-81.

Ferguson TF, Stewart KE, Funkhouser E, Tolson J,

Westfall AO, Saag MS. Patient-perceived barriers to
antiretroviral adherence: associations with race.
AIDS Care. 2002 Oct;14(5):607-17.

Shaw PC, Lee KM, Wong KB. Recent advances in

trichosanthin, a ribosome-inactivating protein with
multiple pharmacological properties. Toxicon. 2005
May;45(6):683-9.

Fleming P, Byers RH, Sweeney PA, et al. HIV

prevalence in the United States, 2000. Presented at
the Ninth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Seattle, WA; February 24--28,
2002.

Sherman KJ, Cherkin DC, Connelly MT, Erro J,

Savetsky JB, Davis RB, Eisenberg DM. Complementary and alternative medical therapies for
chronic low back pain: What treatments are
patients willing to try? BMC Complement Altern
Med. 2004 Jul 19;4(1):9.

Henderson JW, Donatelle RJ Complementary and

alternative medicine use by women after completion of allopathic treatment for breast cancer.
Altern Ther Health Med. 2004 Jan-Feb;10(1):52-7.
Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
(IOM). (2005). Complementary and Alternative
Medicine in The United States. Washington, DC:
The National Academies Press.
International Collaboration on HIV Optimism.
HIV treatments optimism among gay men: An
international perspective. Journal of Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndromes. 2003; 32, 545-550.
Kennedy M, Felson DT. A prospective long-term
study of fibromyalgia syndrome. Arthritis Rheum.
1996 Apr;39(4):682-5.

Sim J, Adams N. Physical and other non-pharmacological interventions for fibromyalgia. Baillieres
Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 1999
Sep;13(3):507-23.
Sim J, Adams N. Systematic review of randomized
controlled trials of nonpharmacological interventions for fibromyalgia. Clin J Pain. 2002 SepOct;18(5):324-36.
Singer EJ, Zorilla C, Fahy-Chandon B, Chi S,
Syndulko K, Tourtellotte WW.
Painful symptoms reported by ambulatory HIVinfected men in a longitudinal study. Pain. 1993
Jul;54(1):15-9

Lam SK, Ng TB. Pananotin, a potent antifungal

protein from roots of the traditional chinese
medicinal herb Panax notoginseng. Planta Med.
2002 Nov;68(11):1024-8.

Standish LJ, Greene KB, Bain S, Reeves C, Sanders

F, Wines RC, Turet P, Kim JG, Calabrese C. Alternative medicine use in HIV-positive men and
women: demographics, utilization patterns and
health status. AIDS Care. 2001 Apr;13(2):197-208.

Ledingham J, Doherty S, Doherty M. Primary

fibromyalgia syndrome--an outcome study. Br J
Rheumatol. 1993 Feb;32(2):139-42.

Sullivan PS, Dworkin MS; Adult and Adolescent

Spectrum of HIV Disease Investigators. Prevalence
and correlates of fatigue among persons with HIV

28

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infection. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2003

Apr;25(4):329-33.
Tindle, HA, Davis RB, Phillips RS, & Eisenberg
DM. Trends in the use of complementary and
alternative medicine by US adults: 1997-2002. Alt
Ther Hlth Med. 2005;11(1), 42-49.
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Accessed at: http://www.unaids.org/wad2004/EPIupdate2004_html_en/epi04_00_en.htm, 2004a.
UNAIDS. Global summary of the HIV and AIDS
epidemic in 2004 (December 2004). Accessed at:
http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/epidemiology/e
picore.asp, 2004b.
UNAIDS. UNAIDS questions & answers II: basic
facts about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and its impact,
November 2004c.
Usha PR, Naidu MU, Raju YS. Evaluation of the
antiretroviral activity of a new polyherbal drug
(Immu-25) in patients with HIV infection.
Drugs R D. 2003;4(2):103-9.
Valdisseri R. Preventing new HIV infections in the
US: what can we hope to achieve? In: Program and
abstracts of the 10th Conference on Retroviruses
and Opportunistic Infections; Boston, MA, USA.
Plenary lecture, February, 2003.
Vosvick M, Koopman C, Gore-Felton C, Thoresen
C, Krumboltz J, Spiegel D. Relationship of functional quality of life to strategies for coping with
the stress of living with HIV/AIDS. Psychosomatics
2003 Jan-Feb;44(1):51-8.
Wootton JC, Sparber A. Surveys of complementary
and alternative medicine: Part III use of alternative
and complementary therapies for HIV/AIDS.
J Altern Complement Med 2001 Aug; 7(4):371-7.
Wright A, Sluka KA. Nonpharmacological treatments for musculoskeletal pain. Clin J Pain. 2001
Mar;17(1):33-46.

Adam Burke PhD, MPH, LAc, is the senior

research advisor to the American Association of Oriental Medicine Board of Directors.
He is an associate professor in the Department of Health Education and the co-director of the Institute for Holistic Healing Studies
at San Francisco State University (SFSU). He
is a published author and researcher with
interest in cross-cultural studies of traditional
medicine (India and China), curricular innovation in the areas of holistic health, and
studies on meditation and imagery. He also
serves as the co-chair of the Alternative and
Complementary Health Practices Special
Interest Group for the American Public
Health Association (APHA) and is on the
APHA Governing Council. Dr. Burke may
be reached at 415-338-1774 and
aburke@sfsu.edu. Adam Burke will speak at
Expo 2007, Class F. Improving Health
Outcomes on Friday, October 19 from
2-6 PM, and will facilitate Class K, Charting the Future of OM on the evening of
Friday, October 19.

PORTLAND 2007 CONFERENCE & EXPOSITION

Towards an Integrated Clinical Pathway for the

Treatment of Pediatric Asthma
By Christopher Huson, LAc

ccording to the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, Over 9 million U.S. children under 18 years of
age (13%) have ever been diagnosed with
asthma, and 6.5 million (9%) still have
asthma.(1) Most children with asthma in the
United States are managed by conventional
medical care. However, a treatment plan
integrating conventional medicine (CM) and
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) may
prove to be more economical than standalone CM care. By using the outcome measurements designed for the assessment of
conventional medicine we can compare the
long-term and short-term effects of including
TCM in the treatment model.
The Western medical approach to pediatric asthma is well established. Childrens
asthma is managed by the use of bronchodilators to treat acute attacks and by
corticosteroids for control of symptoms
during chronic (remission) periods. Allergic
triggers in diet and environment are identified and avoided. TCMs approach to pediatric asthma is also well-established:

G O

T O

patients are assessed through differential

diagnosis and treated with a combination of
acupuncture, herbal medicine, medical
massage, dietary therapy, and exercise.
It appears there may be enough similarity
between the two (TCM/CM) systems differential diagnosis and treatment of pediatric
asthma to allow for the development of an
integrative clinical treatment pathway featuring both TCM and CM. Comparative
efficacies can be determined by existing
standards of outcomes measurement. These
include: peak expiratory flow metering,
pulse oximetry, spirometry, use of asthmarelated health care services, use of antiinflammatory medications, changes in
functional status, quality of life assessment,
and measurement of total or asthma-related
school days lost.
The American healthcare marketplace
measures medical efficiency through costeffectiveness. Integrative approaches for the
treatment of knotty public health dilemmas
are not only being defined, theyre being
funded! If, through the development of an

T H E

integrative clinical pathway for the treatment of

pediatric asthma, we can prove that it is beneficial to employ both TCM and CM together
then this integration may prove beneficial both
to our children and to our profession.
Endnote
1. Summary of health statistics for U.S. children:
national health interview survey (2005).
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Hyattsville, Maryland, p.4

Christopher Huson, LAc, has been treating

children for the last 10 years. In 1997 he was
a founding partner at Seattle Pediatric
Acupuncture with Julian Scott and Teresa
Barlowe. Since then he has further specialized
in the treatment of asthmatic children with
TCM. When hes not performing healthcare,
Chris is the ringmaster for a local Seattle fire
circus, the Cirque de Flamb. Christopher
Huson will speak on this topic, Class G, on
Friday, October 19 from 2-6 PM.

H I G H E S T

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by Clinical Experts
I Broad Core Program Followed by Three of Five

Specializations
I Clinical Experience With TCM and Western

Masters

U P C O M I N G D O C TO R A L C E U M O D U L E S
November 23

TCM Research
November 45 TCM Medical Qigong
December 710 Integrative Psychology &
Counseling
January 45
Integrative Urology & Nephrology
January 67
Integrative Pediatrics

Five BraNches
UNIVERSITY

I Explore the Latest Integrative Medicine Research

Graduate School of Traditional Chinese Medicine

I Flexible Program With Monthly 4-day Modules

3031 Tisch Way, San Jose, CA 95128 (408) 260-0208

www.fivebranches.edu doctoral@fivebranches.edu
THE AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURIST

29

Prenatal and Postnatal Jing Chinese Insights on DNA and

the Genetics of Cancer
By B. Evan Ross, LAc, DOM

hen Oriental medicine came

into existence some three thousand years ago, the forefathers
of our medicine obviously didnt know of
the existence of DNA. Still, they clearly
understood the nature of genetics and its
effect on the body.
The Nan Jing (Classic of Difficult Issues),
stipulates that if ones prenatal jing
(essence) is damaged, then that persons
body is more likely to develop disease.
Western science would label this prenatal
jing deficiency a congenital abnormality,
constitutional weakness, or genetic predisposition to a specific disease such as hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, cancer,
diabetes, or even ulcerative colitis. According to Chinese medical theory, patients with
weak constitutions catch colds more easily
and require more sleep to feel rested,
thereby appearing less substantial physically. As we know, however, Chinese medical theory specifies that taking care of ones
postnatal jing can offset disease even when
one has a weak constitution.
This can be accomplished by taking care
of ones gu qi and da qi to create stronger
zhong qi, and thus manifest stronger ying
and wei qi. Western medicine might call
this a process of reducing environmental
stressors. Indeed, some three thousand
years after the advent of Chinese medicine,
we are now proving scientifically what the
Chinese have known for centuries to be
truethat environmental stressors can, in
fact, contribute to the disease process. In a
landmark study done at UCSF in 1988, Dr.
Dean Ornish demonstrated that heart disease could be prevented and even reversed
in patients with a familial (i.e. genetic) history of heart disease by following a program
that diminished environmental stress. He is
now applying that data to cancer studies.
It seems then, that the Chinese understood the concept of genetics long before
Watson and Crick discovered the existence
of Deoxyribonucleic Acid. Today, research
at some of the most prestigious institutions
in the world such as Johns Hopkins, Harvard University, UCLA, UCSF, Cedars-Sinai

30

FA L L 2 0 0 7

According to Chinese medical theory, patients with weak constitutions catch colds more easily and require more sleep to feel
rested, thereby appearing less substantial physically.
Medical Center, and Indiana University suggests a direct correlation between the onset
of cancer and existence of identifiable
mutations in an individuals DNA. In other
words, the likelihood that a person will
develop cancer correlates directly to that
persons genetic makeup. More importantly,
however, research funded by other
renowned institutions such as the National
Brain Tumor Foundation and the National
Institutes of Health shows how diet, complementary medicine modalities, and
lifestyle changes directly link to the likelihood that one can and will survive cancer,
as well as prevent recurrence of the disease.
Since it will take many years before we
can adequately test for predispositions to
the wide range of existing cancers, it seems
important to use the knowledge of the
Ancients to insure a healthy life by learning
to identify a patients prenatal jing deficiencies. Practitioners may then instruct
patients how to offset these deficiencies by
managing their postnatal jing.
These prenatal jing deficiencies can be
likened to minefields imbedded within ones
DNA. The weaker ones constitution, the
more bombs there are, and the larger they
are likely to be. Thus, the more time we
spend playing in the minefield, the more
likely we are to explode a bomb. How do
we play in the minefield? We tax our ying
qi and our wei qi by eating food that isnt
good for us, breathing air that isnt clean,
maintaining relationships that arent
healthy, refusing to set boundaries with
other people at our own expense, and continuing to do things even though they dont
make us happy. Then, by not taking appropriate care of our gu qi and da qi, the body
goes into overload and begins to break
downin other words, environmental
stressors bring about the disease process.

Sometimes, if were paying close attention, we can anticipate a mine we approach

in the field and can change paths to avoid
it. But this requires careful attention to
ones inner voice, and a willingness to
swiftly make changes in ones life. The spiritually cultivated individual is able to
behave in this mannerfor he or she is
mindful enough to hear the voice of Spirit,
which is pure and always has our best
interest at heart, and avoid the mine. Other
times, we may see it coming, but its too
late, as our kidneys have already been
exhausted and simply cant muster the zhi
to make the changes we need to. Still other
times, we may be so preoccupied and oblivious that we simply never see it coming.

Consider the following two

examples:
Example 1: Identical twins, obviously with
the identical DNA, journey off on their separate ways after college. One begins work at
a job he hates, has a relationship that
causes him stress, eats poorly, and drinks
heavily. After a few years of living in this
manner, he awakens one night at 3AM with
a cardiac arrhythmia. He meditates, and in
doing so realizes that he is unhappy. The
following day, he sets about finding another
job, decides to leave the relationship, alters
his diet, and stops drinking. The arrhythmia disappears. His brother is also in a situation that causes him immense stress, and
he too experiences an arrhythmia that
night. Meditating, he comes to the same
realization, but changes only his diet. He
struggles for many years and eventually
develops hypertension, which leads to arteriosclerosis, and ultimately requires Western medical intervention. There is no
constitutional difference between these two
brothers. The difference lies in how each

PORTLAND 2007 CONFERENCE & EXPOSITION

one chooses to change as a result of the

warning shot fired across their bow.
Example #2: Consider another set of identical twins. This set of young ladies both test
positive for the BRAC gene. At age 35, one
twin takes very good care of herself, is
involved in a loving relationship, gets plenty
of rest, enjoys her work, and has a positive
outlook on life. The other overindulges in
food and sexual activity, stays up late dating
men who treat her poorly, and harbors a
general sense of anger and bitterness toward
life. The first patient develops breast cancer at
age 50 and successfully beats it using a combination of conventional and complementary
medicine treatments. The first, unfortunately,
succumbs to breast cancer at age 40. Once
again, there is no constitutional difference
between these sisters. The only thing that
differs is how each one chooses to care for,
or not care for, her postnatal jing.
When treating the patient with cancer in the
integrative setting, it is important to help the
patient understand that it is not their treatment that will cure them. Rather, it is their
approach to their illness which will allow their
body to heal. We cannot fix the congenital
weaknesses, deficiencies, and abnormalities
that reside within the code of our prenatal
jing. We can, however, make choices about
how to take care of our postnatal jing, which
can in many cases mean the difference
between life and death, whether dealing with
cancer or other chronic degenerative diseases.
Autumn is the season of letting go. Thus, I
implore all of us to stop to consider the
choices we make, and to release those choices
which we find counterproductive to the conservation and promotion of our own prenatal
jing. It could easily change not only our own
destiny, but the destiny of all humankind. For
if we restore ourselves to a state of health, we
restore order to the chaos that emanates from
within us and our patients into all eternity.

Evan Ross, LAc, is a graduate of Emperors

College of Traditional Oriental Medicine in
Los Angeles. He serves on staff at Cedars-Sinai
Medical Center and maintains a privatepractice there as well. He is a frequent lecturer
at integrative medicine symposiums around the
country. Dr. Ross will speak in a 2-Part Panel
on Integrative Medicine, Class cc & ff on
Sunday, October 21 from 8 AM - 12 Noon
& 2-6 PM.

American Association of
Acupuncture Oriental
Medicine (AAAOM)
Notice of Annual General
Meeting of Members
The Annual General Meeting of Members of
the American Association of Oriental
Medicine, Inc. will be held at the Portland
Hilton, Portland Oregon, United States on
Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 8:00 A.M.,
local time, for the following purposes:
To consider and act upon adoption of
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of
Incorporation of the Corporation.
To consider and act upon adoption of
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the
Corporation.
To elect Directors of the Corporation
To elect two Alternate Members of the
Board of Directors.
To consider and act upon such other
matters as may be properly brought
before the meeting.
Annual General Meeting Agenda
1. Call to order.
2. Present list of members.
3. Confirm giving of notice.
4. Appoint inspectors of election.
5. Establish quorum and convene
meeting.
6. Reports of Officers and Committee
Chairs.
8. Election of Directors.
9. Election of Alternates.
10. Other Business; Questions.
11. Adjourn.

Leslie McGee RN, Lac, DiplAc/CH

President, AAAOM

THE AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURIST

31

Trudy McAlister Scholarship Fund

n the fall of 2005 Trudy McAlister received the Patient of the Year Award from
the AAOM for her philanthropic work. Earlier that year Mrs. McAlister made
generous contributions that led to the establishment of a scholarship fund for
students of Oriental medicine. Trudy also endowed the fund with a percentage from
her final estate.
In May of 2007 the Trudy McAlister Fund completed the final legal organization
establishing it as a non-profit charitable corporation. Trudy has already contributed
thousands of dollars to the fund. In March of 2007 another grateful acupuncture
patient by the name of Mary Hecht included the Trudy McAlister Fund as a recipient
of a large portion of her estate. Donations to the Trudy McAlister Fund are tax
deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
The East West College of Natural Medicine, in Sarasota, Florida, has recently made
a large donation to the scholarship fund. This is the first college to contribute to the
TM Fund.
This Fund is established to support students in the field who show promise of
making significant contributions to clinical practice and/or to the understanding of
the role of traditional Oriental medicine in a modern context. The scholarships are
divided into two categories:
1. Basic support scholarships for students who have completed at least one full
academic year of their professional training and who, in the opinion of both their
faculty and the advisors of the Fund, show unusual promise in the practice of
this medicine.
2. Support for students who have entered the last phases of their clinical training or
who have undertaken post-graduate studies in Oriental medicine and who are,
in the opinion of their faculty and the fund advisors, most likely to:
a. Contribute to the successful integration of OM into modern American medicine,
and
b. Insure that such integration preserves the historical and classic character,
philosophy and practice of OM as it is integrated into this modern context.

Applications will soon be available online at www.triskeles. Applications will also

be sent to each ACAOM accredited school. The fund will allow each school to recommend a maximum of 3 students for scholarships. Only students fully matriculated in
schools accredited by ACAOM will qualify. Gifts will be made to the school(s) for the
winning eligible recipient(s).
The Fund has an Advisory Committee: Gene Bruno and William Prensky are
the permanent advisors. Doreen Chen, Martin Herbkersman, and Pamela Lee are
the term advisors. These advisors will make the recommendations to the Triskeles
Foundation for final approval of scholarships. The Triskeles Foundation oversees
the Funds assets.
The Advisors encourage individuals and organizations to make donations to
the Fund.
All donations should be sent to:
The Triskeles Foundation - Trudy McAlister Fund
c/o The Triskeles Foundation
224 Nantmeal Rd.
Glenmoore, PA 19343

For more information about the Trudy McAlister Fund contact Gene Bruno at
acudoc27@aol.com

AAAOM
Welcomes
Douglas
Newton to
Our Staff
Dear Members and Advertisers:
My name is Douglas Newton. I have
recently returned from more than a
decade in Taiwan to serve as Program
Manager for the AAAOM, its Board
and its members, and Associate
Editor of The American Acupuncturist.
In Hualien, Taiwan I worked as
Managing Editor for the bilingual
monthly, Highway 11. My connection to Asia makes me all the more
enthusiastic to summon the skills
and experience I cultivated in Asia
into the service of America.
I look forward to helping Rebekah
Christensen, the AAAOM Board, our
members and our advertisers collectively assert the rightful place of
alternative health in the public
health care provider landscape.
Michael Moores movie Sicko
demonstrates the popular frustration
many have experienced in the
absence of meaningful health care
choices in America. This fuels a
general urgency for genuine change.
In turn, this overwhelming public
interest in new health care directions
will continue to generate opportunitiestogether with tremendous
responsibilityfor practitioners of
acupuncture and OM: those who
continue to offer a better-informed
public a progressive approach to
health and living. How exciting to be
part of such a meaningful movement,
headed in the right direction!
I look forward to assisting members, authors, the Board, and our
advertisers to continue to important
work of both the AAAOM and The
American Acupuncturist. I invite you
to contact me you're your feedback
on what we might do to achieve our
collective goals.
Yours,

Douglas Newton

32

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OM NEWS AND VIEWS

AAAOM-SO Update
Catch the Orient Express to Portland with the AAAOM-SO
& Join the Fast Lane to Your Successful Professional Future!

he AAAOM Portland Conference & Expo is fast approaching! Bigger and brighter
opportunities are still being offered to AAAOM-SO student members. The
national AAAOM-SO Student Caucus will be held in conjunction with the
AAAOM Portland Expo on Saturday, October 20, 2007. Students at the Caucus will have
the opportunity to voice their opinions, brainstorm together, become acquainted with
national issues, join a National Task Force, run for national office, experience the firstever award of the Trudy McAlister Student Scholarship, network, gain licensing and practice tips, have a lot of fun, and make new friends.

AAAOM-SO Mission Statement

Promoting communication and cooperation between Acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine students, professionals, and
government agencies in an effort to
insure optimal standards of care and
integrity in the professions of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

AAAOM-SO Action Statement

The AAAOM-SO represents and advocates on behalf of all Acupuncture and
Oriental Medicine students nationwide
for the opportunity to provide quality
health care to the public, advance competent research and public awareness,
and preserve the equitable and just interests of all practitioners of Acupuncture
and Oriental Medicine.

AAAOM-SO national elections will be held during the Student Caucus meeting. All
AAAOM-SOC (Board of Directors) positions are up for election. Please see the AAAOM
website (Student Services Section) for AAAOM-SO bylaws and board position details at
www.aaaomonline.org. The AAAOM-SO welcomes students from all AOM colleges to
bring their voices, ideas, and talents together to create an even more dynamic national
AOM Student Organization and to direct the future of our profession.
The AAAOM-SO is delighted to be working jointly in partnership with the AAAOM on
the Portland Expo silent auction, which will be held during the Conference weekend.
Oregon students will cooperate with the AAAOM-SO Board on this exciting project.
Volunteer work study opportunities abound for all students nationwide through the
AAAOM to help offset the cost to attend the Conference. Please visit the AAAOM website
www.aaaomonline.org for more details. Room Share/Ride Share opportunities are also
posted on the Student Services section on the website.
ALL ABOARD!!! All students of AOM nationwide are encouraged to attend the
AAAOM National Conference and to jump on the Orient Express with the AAAOM-SO
for the ride of your life. Here is your ticket to a well-connected and successful future!
We can't wait to see you there!

AAAOM 2007 International Conference & Exposition

strength through unification

Hilton Portland & Executive Tower
Portland, Oregon

...historically, professionally
and soulfully unforgettable!

October 18-22, 2007

Check out the student services section at www.aaaomonline.org
for Room Share/Ride Share opportunities

THE AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURIST

33

ADVERTISING RATES WILL INCREASE IN 2008, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 31, 2007!

Receive a 5% discount by signing up

for any 4 ads at one time!
Business Members: Receive an extra
5% discount, for a total of 10% by
signing up for any 4 ads at one time!

2007 Advertising Contract

The American Acupuncturist (Readership 18,000+)
Name

Title

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Address

Email

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Signature

Space Reservation

Non-Members Annual Contracts:

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(PLEASE USE A SEPARATE SHEET FOR EACH AD)

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SIZE/COLOR (Check One)

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INSERTIONS (Check One)

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you contract
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Classified (50 words = 1 Unit) (2.3)

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One Time

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$2,250

Placement and Art Submission Deadlines

ISSUE

SPACE REQUESTS MUST BE

ART MUST BE

RECEIVED BY

RECEIVED BY

December 2007

September 15, 2007

September 30, 2007

March 2008

January 15, 2008

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March 15, 2008

March 30, 2008

September 2008

June 15, 2008

June 30, 2008

*Classifieds:
American
Acupuncturist
Only - 50
words/per unit
**Members
Only Benefit

CLASSIFIED & CALENDAR OF EVENTS SUBMISSIONS: Classified and Calendar of Events

text must be submitted via our online submission
form, by the art deadline. All other ads must be
received on digital media by the art deadline.
PAYMENT: Ad Contracts must be accompanied
by payment. Please make checks payable to
AAAOM.

Payment Information

CANCELLATION POLICY: No cancellations will

be accepted after the space request deadline.

The advertiser agrees to pay, and will assume the responsibility for payment by the advertisers authorized
agent, for all space used in accordance with this Advertising Space Request Form. No cancellations will
be accepted after the space request deadline for the appropriate issue. The advertiser agrees that new
ads for contracted space must be submitted by the art submission deadline, or copy appearing in the previous issue will be inserted. The editors reserve the right to reject any advertisement that does not meet the
standards of The American Acupuncturist. Ad material will not be returned unless specifically marked.

ART GUIDELINES: ACCEPTABLE MEDIA and

FORMATS: CD or e-mail, Adobe Illustrator,
Adobe Photoshop (300dpi; CMYK; JPG, .TIF or
.EPS), Quark or high resolution PDF. Include all
fonts and graphic components.

Send to:
PO Box 162340
Sacramento CA 95816
Tel: 916-443-4770
Fax: 916-443-4766
Toll Free: 866-455-7999
www.aaaomonline.org
editor@aaaomonline.org

34

FA L L 2 0 0 7

Sub-Total Amount:__________________________________ Check

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Credit Cards Accepted:

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Card #: __________________________________________________________________ Exp Date: ____________________

Name on Card: ________________________________________________
Signature: ______________________________________________________

Rev. 8/2007

RESOURCE DIRECTORY
AAAOMAmerican Association
of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine
P. O. Box 162340 (Mailing Address)
909 22nd Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
PHONE 916-443-4770
TOLL FREE 866-455-7999
FAX
916-443-4766
EMAIL
info@aaaomonline.org
www.aaaomonline.org

Thank you AAAOM Advertisers

In the same way that your business depends on us as practitioners, our business is
made possible by the products and services you offer. AAAOM extends heartfelt
appreciation to those advertisers that have traveled the distance in giving your support,
and we extend a sincere welcome to those of you that recently joined our family. Were
grateful that were all in this together!
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
American Acupuncture Council .25, 38
1-800-838-0383
Blue Poppy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

ACAOMAccreditation
Commission for Acupuncture
and Oriental Medicine

1-800-487-9296
C.A.I. Industries Corp. . . . . . . . . . .17
1-800-234-8583

Maryland Trade Center #3

7501 Greenway Center Drive
Suite 820
Greenbelt, MD 20770
PHONE 301-313-0855
FAX
301-313-0912
www.acaom.org

Five Branches University . . . . . . . . .29

1-408-260-0208
Golden Flower Chinese Herbs . . . . .23
1-800-729-8509
Kan Herb Company . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
1-800-543-5233
Lhasa Medical Inc. . . . . . . .Back Cover

CCAOMCouncil of Colleges of
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

1-800-722-8775
Mayway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

3909 National Dr Suite 125

Burtonsville, MD 20866
PHONE 301-476-7790
FAX
301-476-7792
www.ccaom.org

1-800-2-MAYWAY
Pacific Symposium . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
New York Chiropractic College . . . .37
1-800-234-6922
NYCC Career Development Center .21

FAOMRAFederation of
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Regulatory Agencies

1-315-568-3039
Seirin America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
1-800-337-9338

4201 Patterson Avenue

Baltimore, MD 21215
PHONE 410-764-4766 800-530-2481
EMAIL
contact@faomra.com
www.faomra.org

The Healing Centre . . . . . . . . . . . .25

1-941-366-1110
Tronex Pharmaceutical . . . . . . . . . .38
1-800-833-1181
UPC Medical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
1-800-790-4888

NCCAOMNational Certification
Commission of Acupuncture and
Oriental Medicine
76 South Laura Street, Suite 1290
Jacksonville, FL 32202
PHONE: 904-598-1005
FAX
904-598-5001
EMAIL
info@nccaom.org
www.nccaom.org

SARSociety for Acupuncture

Research
825 South 8th St, Suite 1106
Minneapolis, MN 55404
www.acupunctureresearch.org

CLASSIFIED
Practice For Sale
For sale in booming Brandon, Florida 1 hour from beach: a 14-year practice
in a Clinic/House completely remodeled 1917, filled with beauty, charm and
ambiance. Transitional training available in use of High tech analysis,
biofeedback equipment. LSA, and other successful treatment modalities if
desired. Well established clientele. Income over $300,000 Yearly. Will hold
mortgage with lease option. APPROXIMATELY $4000 per month buys you a
home and furnished office.
Call 813-661-7010
THE AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURIST

35

Please support the schools, businesses, and associations which support the AAAOM through their membership!
AcuTech International, Inc.
416-633-7947 www.acutechmed.com
American Acupuncture Council
800-838-0383
Apex Energetics Inc
949-251-9067
Blue Light, Inc.
607-275-9700 www.treasureofeast.com
Blue Poppy Enterprises
303-447-8372 www.bluepoppy.com
CollegeBound Network
718-761-4800 x42 www.collegebound.net
Crane Herb Company
508-539-1700 800-227-4118
Evergreen Herbs & Medical Supplies
626-333-1101
Far East Summit
323-933-9237 www.fareastsummit.com
Golden Flower Chinese Herbs
505-837-2040 www.gfcherbs.com
Golden Sunshine USA, Inc
714-223-0425 www.golden-sunshine.com
Healing Light Seminars
321-728-9700 www.healinglightseminars.com
Health Concerns
510-639-0280 x101
www.healthconcerns.com/pro
Heel, Inc
505-293-3843 www.heelusa.com
Helio Medical Supplies, Inc.
408-433-3355 www.heliomed.com
Honso USA, Inc.
480-377-8787 www.honsousa.com
Kairos Institute of Sound Healing LLC
505-587-2689 www.acutonics.com
KAN Herb Company Inc
831-438-9450
KPC Products
949-727-4000 www.kpc.com
Lhasa OMS Inc
781-340-1071 800-722-8775
www.lhasaoms.com
Maryland Academy of Trad. Chinese Medicine
410-518-6368
Mayway Corporation
510-208-3113 x 135 www.mayway.com
Miridia Technology, Inc.
208-846-8448 www.miridiatech.com
nuherbs Co.
510-534-4372 800-233-4307
www.nuherbs.com
PleoMorphic Sanum
602-439-7977 www.pleosanum.com
Seirin-America Inc
781-331-0255 x38 800-337-9338
www.seirinamerica.com
Tronex Pharmaceutical
973-335-2888
UPC Medical Supplies Inc.
626-285-1600
The Wood Insurance Group, Inc.
800-695-0219
www.woodinsurancegroup.com

Academy of OM - Austin
512-454-1188 ext. 201 www.aoma.edu
American College of Trad. Chinese Medicine
415-282-7600 x12 www.actcm.edu
Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine
954-763-9840
Bastyr University, School of AOM
425-602-3120
California Union University
714-446-9133 www.calunion.edu
Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine
352-371-2833 www.dragonrises.net
Edgewood College of Georgia-School of OM
770-234-0733 www.edgewood-college.com
Five Branches Institute
831-476-9424 www.fivebranches.edu
Florida College of Integrative Medicine
407-888-8689 www.fcim.edu
Grant MacEwan College - Acupuncture Prog.
780-497-4736 www.gmcc.ab.ca
Institute of Taoist Education & Acupuncture
720-890-8922 www.itea-school.com
Minnesota College of Acupuncture and OM
952-885-5435 www.nwhealth.edu
National College of Naturopathic Medicine
503-552-1531 www.ncnm.edu
New England School of Acupuncture
617/926-1788
New York Chiropractic College
315-568-3268 800-234-6922
www.nycc.edu
New York College of Trad. Chinese Medicine
516-739-1545
Oregon College of Oriental Medicine
503-263-3443 www.ocom.edu
Pacific College of Oriental Medicine
800-729-0941 www.pacificcollege.edu
Trad. Chinese Medical College of Hawaii
808-885-9226 www.tcmch.edu
Tri State College of Acupuncture
212-496-7514
University of Bridgeport Acupuncture Institute
203-576-4122 www.bridgeport.edu
Worsley Institute of Classical Five Element
Acupuncture
434-984-3080 www.worsleyinstitute.org
Acupuncture and Integrated Medicine Specialists
415-626-2341 www.aimsaction.org
Acupuncture and OM Society of Oregon
503-692-9680
Acupuncture and OM Society of Minnesota
651-641-0467
Acupuncture and OM Society of Massachusetts
800-444-1565 www.aomsm.org
Acupuncture Association of Colorado
303-572-8744 888-383-0011
www.acucol.com
Acupuncture Association of Missouri
573-635-6044
Acupunture Associaton of Rhode Island
401-434-3550 www.PrevMedCenter.com
Alabama Association of Oriental Medicine
251-626-5066 www.acuphysician.com

American Organization for Bodywork Therapies

of Asia (AOBTA)
856- 782-1616 www.aobta.org
Association for Professional Acupuncture in
Pennsylvania
888-626-9782 www.acupuncturepa.org
California State Oriental Medical Association
800-477-4564 www.csomaonline.org
Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine
301-313-0870 www.CCAOM.org
Florida State Oriental Medical Association
800-578-4865 www.fsoma.com
Idaho Acupuncture Association
www.idahoacupuncture.org
Illinois Association for Acupuncture and OM
312-962-0333 www.ilaaom.org
Indiana Association of Acupuncture and OM
317-255-3030 www.iaaom.org
Maine Asso. of Acupuncture and OM
207-945-5586 www.maaom.org
Maryland Acupuncture Society
Michigan Asso. of Acupuncture and OM
248-737-7126
www.michiganacupuncture.org
Nevada Oriental Professional Medical Asso.
702-240-2287
New Jersey Asso. of Acupuncture & OM
973-660-0110 www.njaaom.org
North Carolina Asso. of Acupuncture & OM
919-967-4259 www.ncaaom.org
Ohio Association of Acupuncture and OM
937-277-5989 www.oaaom.org
Oklahoma Acupuncture Association
918-456-2292 www.okacupuncture.org
Oregon Acupuncture Association
503-236-4383
www.oregonacupuncture.org
Oriental Medicine Association of New Mexico
505-796-9347 www.omanm.org
Rhode Island Society of Acupuncture & OM
401-941-5120 www.risaom.org
Tennessee Acupuncture Council
423-239-7044
The Acupuncture and OM Asso. of Alaska
907-830-0273 www.acupuncturealaska.com
United Alliance of NYS Licensed
Acupuncturists, Inc
212-686-8689
US Korean Acupuncture and Herbs Association
of Metropolitan Washington
703-263-2689
Utah Acupuncture Association
801-263-9380
Vermont Association of Acupuncture & OM
802-253-8483 www.vaaom.org
Washington Acupuncture & OM Association
206-329-9094 www.waoma.org
Wisconsin Society of Certified Acupuncturists, Inc.
608-236-4500 www.wisconsinacupuncture.org

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Become an

Acupuncturist.
Our three-year, clinically oriented
Masters degree programs in Acupuncture
and Oriental Medicine prepare students
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For more information on the Master of

Science in Acupuncture (MSA), Master
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THE AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURIST

37

We let the dogs out!

No one expects to be sued for malpractice. But when an
attorney wrongfully attacks you with a spurious claim, you want
a strong defense team that will take the offensive. Too often legal
opportunists will try to extort money from qualified providers
without any regard to your reputation or career. Thats when we
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We have the knowledge and experience that can only come from
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38

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