The Role of Standardised Textbooks and Learning Acumoxa in Contemporary China Cinzia Scorzon This article is an extract from the author's MSc dissertation. It examines the function of standardised Chinese medicine (CM) textbooks in contemporary China. In her thesis, she investigates how standardised textbooks of acupuncture and moxibustion1 were initially written, introduced and used in the TCM universities in contemporary China. The first edition of these textbooks was compiled at the end of the 1950s; since then they have been used as course material in CM universities nationwide in the teaching of undergraduate courses on which written examinations are based. The textbooks are regularly revised and updated and the most recent sixth edition was introduced in the late 1990s. What is the role, however, that these contemporary textbooks play in learning CM?
The Cultivation of an Acupuncturist Alan Hext The author reflects upon his own professional development and growth as an acupuncturist and how the practice of acupuncture affects not only patients but how the activity also has an influence upon the practitioner.
Pillow Needles and C Scores as Reflections on Growing an Acupuncturist Susanna Dowie This article is the author's exploration of what it means to be an acupuncturist, with reflections on how and why the profession has changed over the last 25 years, and the development of professionalism. The article examines how far an acupuncturist is born and how far they can be grown, with particular reference to the means whereby suitable students can be selected for training. Also considered are the roles of the therapeutic relationship in successful practice and that of continuing professional development in the never-ending journey towards mastery of Chinese medicine Read the whole article
Retirement Alan Rouse This is a story of one acupuncturist who has recently graduated to a successful retirement. He writes: millions are not saving enough. Research reported in May 2002 found people were out of touch and had little idea of how big a savings fund they needed on retirement. 15 per cent thought a pot of between £100,000 and £200,000 was enough for a comfortable retirement. 14 per cent thought they would be able to retire with a fund of £20,000-£50,000. People are retiring earlier and living longer and are not saving enough to compensate for this. Experts think you need a pot of £700,000 for a reasonable pension plan. To attain this a 35-year-old would need to save £675 a month and a 45-year-old £1,490.
How to Grow an Acupuncturist Nancy Holroyd-Downing This is a very personal view from a practitioner, using the wonderful analogy of gardening, on growing and developing as an acupuncturist, and how in her belief we 'grow' each other.
Prescribed Drugs and Chinese Medicine Dr Stephen Gascoigne The author explains that this article is not anti-drug and not anti-doctor but cautions practitioners to consider that prescribed drugs, although sometimes helpful, are frequently over used and often lead to uncomfortable symptoms and feelings of ill health. He provides comprehensive information on costs, and information, of prescription drugs, their side effects, addiction, the energetic view of prescribed drugs and herb - drug interactions. There is a wonderful table on the energetics of prescribed drugs in terms of Chinese medicine, and a case history which includes acupuncture and Chinese herbal prescriptions.
Boost and Harmonise Your Qi with Tai Chi and Qi Gong John X Zhang In this article the author share his experience of practising tai chi and qi gong. He also provides some suggestions on how to practise tai chi. He introduces in detail 12 qi gong movements and some meditation techniques which are easy to follow and which have beautifully named movements, e.g. To touch the sun, The playing tiger, Hands in the clouds, Fly in the moonlight.
What is the Sanjiao, Triple Burner? An Exploration Stephen Birch The sanjiao, triple burner, is an elusive yet important and central concept in traditional East Asian Medical (TEAM) and acupuncture theory. A number of modern authors have attempted to explain what it is, conjuring up a wide range of different and often contradictory ideas about it. The historical texts have also evidenced a wide range of different ideas about the triple burner. Perhaps such differences are best explained by Nathan Sivin: 'the authorities of any medical tradition, if we read those of different times side by side, contradict each other in many ways. The synthesis that makes a classical system possible reconciles these differences'. This article attempts to support such a synthetic reconciliation (if it is at all possible with the triple burner) through a brief examination of many of the functions and concepts ascribed to the triple burner entity.
Mentoring Acupuncturists Isobel Cosgrove In this article the author expands on the contribution that she sees mentoring making to the broader subject of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). She sees mentoring as being like Chinese medicine – it exists to promote 'healthy professional life', to prevent a build up of imbalance or disharmony in our practices, to diagnose the early signs of ill health in our work situations, to offer support and encouragement, to grow self esteem, and a sound structure inside of which we can develop our sense of accountability. Mentoring covers issues of confidentiality, boundaries, projection and transference, building support networks, contracts, time and money management, and how to prevent burn out.
Study on Essential Hypertension and Traditional Chinese Medicine Nick Johnson, Dominique Joire, James Tomkinson, Sammy Reid, Lola Boix, Alex Murray and Paloma Sparrow This study observes and monitors the effect of 6 months of traditional Chinese medicine on a group of NHS patients with essential hypertension. The management was in both terms of symptomatology and blood pressure levels. It provides a background, treatment protocol and results, along with specific reports on 8 patients.
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