A Basic Course in Acupuncture

(10 weekend classes, 15 hours each, plus 50 clinical hours = 200 contact hours)

Prerequisites: None except as on Program Overview.

Theory I (28 Contact Hours)                        

• Orientation and Introduction  This section will explore the basics that the student will be expected to learn during these 10 classes and practicum.

• Chinese Medical Theory Yin Yang, the Five Elements, the Eight Principles, Qi, Blood (xue), Body Fluids (jin/ ye), jing (essence), Shen (spirit/ mind), Chinese clock (Circadian rhythm of the body), Cause of Disease (according to Chinese Medicine).

• Yin and yang Understood to be complimentary competitive opposites, yin and yang are independent co-existent polarities which exist in all aspects of nature.

• Five Elements theory Sometimes called "the five phases or the five movements; understood as movements or changes in nature and also understood to relate to different systems in the body.  

• The Eight Principles Theory The theoretical idea of sickness and disease which the Chinese call "Patterns of Imbalance".

• Qi  Qi (Chi, Chee) is sometimes called internal power, vital force, or vital energy. In Chinese it is understood to  mean "essence of the finest matter".

• Blood (xue)  How Chinese Medicine views blood as one of the vital substances in the body, which is used by the body for the nourishment of the organs and tissues.

• Body fluids (Jin/ ye) Body fluids represent certain  vital fluids and their implications in Chinese Medicine.

• Jing (essence) Jing in Chinese Medicine is understood to be the material makeup that determines birth, growth and physical development of a human being.

• Shen (spirit/ mind) Shen in Chinese Medicine represents one's consciousness.

• Chinese Clock Known in Chinese Medicine as the circadian rhythm of the body or the order in which Qi flows in the organs and bowels or meridians.

• Cause of Disease (imbalances in the body) Through empirical observation the Chinese have developed ideas about the causes of disease and ways to remedy them.

• Zangfu organs The  Five Zang -Yin organs are Liver, heart, kidney, lung, spleen). The Six fu Bowels The Six Yang organs are Gallbladder, small intestine,  bladder, large intestine, stomach, triple burner.

• Extra organs Sometimes called extra, odd or strange organs, the brain, Marrow, Uterus, Bone and Gallbladder are mostly understood to have their own functions in the body.

• The Sanjiao/ Triple Burner Viewed as an organ without form which transports and transforms fluids and regulates warming the body.

• The Six Stages (Disease due to cold invasion) This theory developed through the understanding of how dieases manifest when the body is invaded by cold.

• The Four Layers (disease due to heat invasion)  Wei, Qi, Ying, Xue (blood) are viewed as different layers where disease manifests when the body is invaded by heat.

• Etiology six Exogenous factors, Pestilential factors, seven Emotional factors, other Pathogenic factors.

Theory of Channels and Collaterals I

• The Twelve Regular channels

• Pathways and conjunctures

• Exterior - Interior relationships

• Eight Extra channels

• The Fifteen collaterals

• The Twelve Divergent channels

• The Musculotedinous regions of the regular channels

• The Twelve cutaneous regions of regular channels

Chinese Diagnosis I (10 Contact Hours)

The Four Examinations

• Asking

• Looking

• Listening and Smelling

• Feeling

Tongue Diagnosis

Basic Pulse Diagnosis

Techniques I (158 Contact Hours)

Introduction to Acupuncture

• Precautions

• Points contraindicated during pregnancy

Points categories The function or energetic qualities of acupuncture points will help students to understand how points are used to treat various imbalances in the body.

Point Location This course will teach students how to how to locate Acupuncture points. It covers point location on the Du, Ren, Lu, Li, ST, Sp, Si, Ht, Pc, Tb, Ki, Bl, Liv, Gb channels.

Point Selection Selection of Acupuncture points are determined by the information gathered through Chinese diagnosis to determine what pattern(s) of imbalance need to be treated through Acupuncture.

Needling In this course Various needling techniques will be covered which offer patients added benefit from Acupuncture. This will cover: patient placement (table, chair, etc.), proper needle insertion, depth of needle, proper needle manipulation, length of time to leave needles in patients.

Points- Acupuncture Points will be covered in each class A total of 163 points will be taught in the basic Acupuncture class.

Patterns of imbalance Known as the bridge between diagnosis and treatment, students will learn the most common patterns.

Practical application Demonstration/ Practice

Review (2 Contact Hours)

• Chinese medicine in a nut shell

Business (2 Contact Hours)

• Ethics, client relations

• Business, book keeping, taxes

• Insurance and insurance codes

Clinical sessions (50 Contact Hours)

Student clinicals with an instructor- supervisor are to be arranged with each student at his or her pace, and according to the availability of patients at the Bioenergy Clinic. For students coming from out of town to stay for the weekend course, clinicals can be arranged on Fridays and /or Mondays. Fifty (50) hours of internship should be concluded within the 10 months of instruction. Completion within 12 months will be allowed if necessary.

Tuition and Supplies

*****Course content may be subject to change with approval of OBPVS*****