Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Two Experts from Beijing to Talk About Shen (Spirit) in Chinese Medicine

Continuing Education Program for Acupuncturists & Students

Sponsored by New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
10 AM – 5: 30 PM
November 9, 2008
Room 106, 155 First Street, Mineola, NY 11501



Jing (Essence), Qi (Energy) and Shen (Spirit) are Three Treasures described in Chinese Medicine. The doctrine also says that the superior practitioners are focusing their treatment on Shen (Spirit), while general practitioners focus on the Xing (Physical). Recently, most practitioners of Chinese medicine have come to know the importance of Shen (Spirit), but how much this concept is really applied in their practice is still a question mark.

On November 9, two experts from Beijing, China will give you the whole picture and its application in practice. It will be valuable for both students and practitioners.


Prof. Shuangqing Zhai, Academic Dean of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China, will talk about Shen (Spirit) in Chinese Medicine and its Relationship with the Five Zang Organs.


• His Ph.D. instructor is Dr. Hongtu Wang, the recent most prestigious Master of Nei Jing in China,
• The theory of Shen (Spirit) & relationships with the Five Zang organs is really important in clinical practice
• The lecture will help you understand more about stress, depression, anxiety and panic attacks utilizing Chinese medicine theory

The other lecture will be given by Prof. Junhui Kong, Deputy-Dean of College of Management, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine: Clinical Application of TCM Psychology and Herbal Treatment for Mental disorders.

• One of the pioneers in the field of TCM Psychology in China
• TCM Psychology is considered as the frontier of health science
• Body-mind medicine and psychosomatic disorders are hot topics now but TCM Psychology gives a more in depth discussion and is easily applied for us
• Clinically oriented

The lectures will be given in Chinese and translated into English.

Fee for the one-day seminar (both talks): $60 (NYCTCM Alumni: $40; Other acupuncture school students: $20).

You will get 8 points in total of PDA approved by NCCAOM.

For more information about these seminars and the NYCTCM CEU Program, please log on to NYCTCM website CEU page. Or send an e-mail to ceu@nyctcm.edu

To register for this CEU please download the registration form from the CEU page of the NYCTCM website.

Sponsored by New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
10 AM – 5: 30 PM, November 9, 2008
Room 106, 155 First Street, Mineola, NY 11501

Monday, October 27, 2008

Acupuncture Reduces Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI


Acupuncture Reduces Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI

BOSTON – Acupuncture is as effective and longer-lasting in managing the common debilitating side effects of hot flashes, night sweats, and excessive sweating (vasomotor symptoms) associated with breast cancer treatment and has no treatment side effects compared to conventional drug therapy, according to a first-of-its-kind study to be presented Wednesday, Sept. 24 at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology’s 50th Annual Meeting in Boston.

Findings also show there were additional benefits to acupuncture treatment for breast cancer patients, such as an increased sense of well being, more energy, and in some cases, a higher sex drive, that were not experienced in those patients who underwent drug treatment for their hot flashes.

“Our study shows that physicians and patients have an additional therapy for something that affects the majority of breast cancer survivors and actually has benefits, as opposed to more side effects. The effect is more durable than a drug commonly used to treat these vasomotor symptoms and, ultimately, is more cost-effective for insurance companies,” Eleanor Walker, M.D., lead author of the study and a radiation oncologist at the Henry Ford Hospital Department of Radiation Oncology in Detroit, said.

The reduction in hot flashes lasted longer for those breast cancer patients after completing their acupuncture treatment, compared to patients after stopping their drug therapy plan.

Eighty percent of women treated for breast cancer suffer from hot flashes after being treated with chemotherapy and/or anti-estrogen hormones, such as Tamoxifen and Arimidex. Although hormone replacement therapy is typically used to relieve these symptoms, breast cancer patients cannot use this therapy because it may increase the risk of the cancer coming back. As a treatment alternative, patients are generally treated with steroids and/or antidepressant drugs.

These drugs, however, have additional side effects, such as weight gain, nausea, constipation and fatigue. The antidepressant, venlafaxine (Effexor), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is one of the most common drugs used to treat these hot flashes. However, many women decide against this treatment choice because of potential side effects, including decreased libido, insomnia, dizziness and nausea, or because they simply do not want to take any more medications.

The randomized clinical trial compared acupuncture treatment to venlafixine for 12 weeks to find out if acupuncture reduced vasomotor symptoms in breast cancer patients receiving hormonal therapy and produced fewer side effects than venlafaxine. The study involved 47 breast cancer patients who received either Tamoxifen or Arimidex and had at least 14 hot flashes per week. Results show that acupuncture reduces hot flashes as effectively as venlafaxine, with no side effects, and also provides additional health benefits to patients.

For more information on radiation therapy for breast cancer, visit www.rtanswers.org.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Continuing Education Class for Acupuncturists & Acupuncture Students


Continuing Education Class for Acupuncturists & Acupuncture Students

November 9, 10 am

New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Mineola, NY

Seminar 1: Shen (Spirit) as Described in the Nei Jing (Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor)

Shen (Spirit) is a very important factor in the Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor (Nei Jing), which usually mentioned that the Heart is taking charge of the Shen (Spirit). Actually, there were two important concepts about the Shen (Spirit) in the Inner Classic of Yellow Emperor (Huang Di Nei Jing): One is that the heart is in charge of the Shen; and the other is that Five Zang-organs all store the Shen (spirit). These two viewpoints have some connection but the theoretic connotation and basis of arguments are not the same.

November 9, 1:30 pm
Seminar 2: Psychology in Traditional Chinese Medicine and its Clinical Application


Psychology in TCM is based on basic theory of TCM for studying the relationship between emotional factors and health in the practice of clinical TCM. Although psychological thought was formally studied only thirty years ago, it was a good manifestation of traditional oriental culture, originating from the Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi Neijing) and absorbing thoughts from modern psychology and psychosomatic medicine. Some basic theories, such as the Seven Emotions (happiness, anger, worry, thoughtfulness, sadness, dread, and fear) theory and the Five Character theory, in the Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor, have laid a foundation for psychology in TCM, promoting treatment efficacy in clinical practice for more than 2000 years.

Starting from the 1980s, psychological thinking gradually developed into psychology in TCM by combining the modern theories of psychology with TCM. Many books on this topic were published and training courses and national symposiums were held to promote this subject. The course “psychology in TCM” has been opened in almost all universities of TCM all around China for undergraduates. Psychology in TCM was also listed as a subject for Masters Degree students.

This lecture will describe in detail the clinical application of Psychology in TCM.

Fee for one day seminar: $60 (fee includes both Seminars)
NYCTCM Alumni & other acupuncture school students: $40
NYCTCM Student: $20


For details and Registration form, go to NYCTCM website, CEU page

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine - Open Houses


NYCTCM Open House & Guest Student visits

Join us to hear about the exceptional programs at New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine that prepare you for a career in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Go to the NYCTCM Open House page for full Open House schedule. NYCTCM is located in Mineola, Long Island, NY with an auxiliary location in Manhattan.

Prospective students are invited to attend an NYCTCM Open House for an overview of the Acupuncture school & Traditional Chinese Medicine school programs, a tour of the facility, open discussion, and information on the application process.

At Saturday Open House events you are welcome to extend your visit as a Guest Student. You have an opportunity to sit in on classes, meet current students and faculty, speak with our financial aid manager and have an admissions interview. You may also have a complementary treatment in the NYCTCM Teaching Clinic. Contact the admissions office for more information about our Guest Student Program.

If Open House dates do not match your schedule contact the admissions office to arrange a date and time that is convenient for you. A personal admissions appointment can be the best way to have your questions answered and to review your prior studies for transfer credit. Day, evening and weekend appointments are available. The Guest Student option is available on most Saturdays.

Please call NYCTCM or email: admissions@nyctcm.edu