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[08 May 2008|09:03am] blusparrow [ mood | curious ] I was accepted into Tristate College in NYC for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. I plan on starting this summer so that I can take some pre-reqs and get them out of the way. I have been living in Philadelphia for the last 4.5 yrs but was born and raised in NYC ... but I currently don't have a job lined up yet. My question is, what are most people's experiences going to school full time and working? I've read and heard that it's structured a lot like medical school and is time consuming. I'm contemplating loans for the first year so that I can get accustomed to the program and then may be look for a part time job later on, but I also know that some people end up taking out loans throughout the entirety of the program. Any thoughts? 9 comments|post comment

just a few questions [05 May 2008|07:10pm] undercoverfox [ mood | drained ] hi everyone :) my name's rachel and i'm new to this community. i'm still in college due to finish up my bachelors in psychology and sociology next spring. i've always wanted to help people and i've really been turned on by the more natural and holistic approach acupuncture has to offer. i'd really love to go into naturopathic medicine as well as acupuncture and oriental medicine, but there are so many schools to choose from that i feel overwhelmed; i don't even know where to begin! i don't want to fall for a school that turns out to be a beauty school or something not credible, does anyone have any recommendations for accredited schools that offer master and doctoral degrees? or any schools to stay away from?  i've also been looking at Bastyr University in seattle, washington. if anyone goes there, what would you say your education is like? does this school have any negatives?, because it seems like such a dream. and what is it like living in seattle? i'm from san antonio, texas where the only season we have is summer. all the pictures of seattle look beautiful but i've heard all the rain makes it quite a depressing place to live. is that true? sorry for all the questions but anything constructive anyone has to say would be greatly appreciated!  right now i'm like a sponge. thanks! - rachel  p.s. best of luck to anyone out there who's also going through finals this week 9 comments|post comment

New member [05 May 2008|05:27pm] screamsosoft Hi everyone! I am interested in possibly pursuing a career in accupuncture. I am currently employed full-time as a mathematician (so...not related to accupuncture/wellness really at all!). I have been interested in accupuncture for awhile, but I am stuck living where I am right now (Maryland), and didn't think there were any schools around here offering degrees in accupuncture. Well, I just found out that Tai Sophia, which I can see from my office window, is actually a Wellness Institute offering degrees in accupuncture! Very strange and serendipidous. I don't want to get too excited, though, without getting some opinions on this place. Anyone have one? I'm going to attend an open house next week to get some info - just wondering if anyone has any strong opinions one way or the other. Thanks! 12 comments|post comment

information on chai hy long gu mu li wan [28 Mar 2008|12:19pm] voyager640 [ mood | awake ] I went to the acupuncturist and my diagnosis was liver stagnation causing dampness causing heart fire. She recommended an herb called bupleurum dragonbone oystershell or chai hu long gu mu li wan. Other than an ingredients list, I can't seem to find much on it, and she didn't have much information either other than a sentence about it. Does anyone have a book about this formula or a website that you could suggest? @james 3 comments|post comment

[29 Feb 2008|07:46am] sitt_hakim has anyone taken the CA state boards after going through a tutorial/apprenticeship instead of an acupuncture school? what was that like? i am not satisfied with my current school, and i would really like to move back to the central coast (i was marooned far, far away after my former school closed), and i know that is my only option if i were to do that. post comment

Ephedra / Ma Huang. [28 Feb 2008|01:15pm] paledragonwings I seem to recall that the ban on ephedra was OFFICIAL as of July 1st last year. All products containing ephedra (a.k.a ma huang) are not to be sold anymore. It is now illegal to sell. But it seems there may be some exemptions... I'm now suspicious of the popular companies... What are they paying the FDA? (You don't have to answer that. I'm just a little perturbed.) Anyhoo, I've had a hell of a time finding sources of ephedra (NOTE: that is not the same thing as ephedrine. Ephedra is an herb that contains both ephedrine AND synephrine. I want the full herb.) Have any of you been able to find it online or at a store? If not, what brands that contain ephedra / ma huang have you found at the store or online? At what stores and on what websites have you seen it? I take ephedra for allergies, but now I can only find it in combinations for weight loss. =( There's one brand I trust that has just ephedra, white willow, and caffeine (the fewer ingredients, the better), but I'm hoping there's something better out there that's still on the market. Thank you! <3 PS- If you're curious, I have asthma AND allergic rhinitis. I would really like to make what is called a "Kudzu Decoction" -- a blend of cinnamon, ephedra, ginger, jujube, kudzu, licorice, and peony. So far, all I've been able to do is blend that particular brand that contains ephedra, green tea, and white willow bark, with cinnamon, ginger, kudzu, and licorice. I just bought peony tea last time I visited home, but I forgot to buy jujube! In any case, I simply cannot take that blend right now because I developed an ulcer a while back (from taking aspirin or ibuprofen once every four hours when my allergies were killing me) so now I'm at home, avoiding allergens. I can't just stay home until my ulcer goes away! *cries* Sometimes I also just take the ephedra + caffeine + salicylate blend with kudzu in the mornings. (The kudzu is in capsules.) When I don't have an ulcer, that is. Lately, I've been having to depend on kudzu and ginger tea, and sometimes coffee with cinnamon. 15 comments|post comment

acupuncture schools? [19 Feb 2008|02:48pm] castironpan Hi, I'm looking into studying acupuncture in the Seattle area.  I was just accepted into Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine and have yet to complete my application to Bastyr.  Anything, good or bad, that you could tell me about those two schools would be immensely helpful - I need to inform SIOM of decision by March 3.  Thanks in advance! 8 comments|post comment

[14 Feb 2008|11:22pm] pikafumanchu [ music | Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight ] Background: My friend is working on an asylum case for a Chinese Indonesian. They have a note from a doctor their client saw after an incident, and it is written in Chinese. Now, I'm trudging along translating it (thank you to whomever pointed out the wikipedia trick for learning the English of advanced Chinese terms), but I have a question. Off to the side of each ingredient, the doctor wrote what looks like the amount of each ingredient. It's weird, though, because he/she wrote things like 二戈 or 三戈. Is 戈 a measure word that I don't know. I can't seem to find it listed anywhere as such. Or maybe it's written really quickly? Thanks a lot for your help. EDIT: Here's a link to the note. The numbers next to each little bit are for my reference, and yours, if you'd like to help. ( Here's what I currently have ) 8 comments|post comment

Feeling worse during detox [08 Feb 2008|05:22pm] dahliablue I had my first visit with a TCM practitioner last week and she gave me Wu Hua Formula to help detoxify me. I also had my first session of acupuncture. (I have Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, an assortment of immune system issues and joint problems.) I've been taking the capsules for four days and I feel terrible. My knee joints hurt so much, I can barely walk. I've called her office, but they're out on Fridays and weekends. She told me when I saw her that I might feel worse before I get better, but I guess I wasn't expecting to be incapacitated like this. Is this normal for a liver/kidney detox? How miserable is too miserable? I don't know if I should continue the capsules or not if I don't hear from her until Monday. Thanks for any help. 11 comments|post comment

alternative medicine school [07 Feb 2008|12:32pm] abirdsociety   I am thinking about going to school to study alternative medicine, more specifically acupuncture. But my mom doesn't think there are any good job opportunities in it. Have any of you studied alternative medicine or know somebody that has? Any information about careers in the field would be really helpful. 4 comments|post comment

Mild static electricity and acupressure - is it useful? [31 Jan 2008|07:48pm] mindfulness Recently I tried rubbing my hands and fingertips on some material (synthetic was the most powerful) to generate a static charge in them, then stimulated some points like Ren 4, 6, St 36, LI 4 with my finger tips and it seemed to have a very strong and beneficial effect. Not sure how to elaborate on that unfortunately and while it feels good I can't be sure it's all good. I can't recall why I decided to do it, it just seemed to make some sense. Anyone know about this sort of thing and could give me some feedback on? Dangerous, good etc? Does it depend on some factors? Aside from choosing the right points. I imagine a positive charge or a negative charge could have different affects, and I don't know what I'm generating with my hands. I could read up on electroacupuncture or whatever it's called, but some pointers from real people is always good. I'll do some research after dinner. I look forward to any replies. Edit - so far, basic science research tells me I'm generating a positive charge in my fingers and so I suppose this would cause a current to flow towards my fingers from the body. Next I need to find out what kind of charges they use in electroacupuncture. Positive or negative? 8 comments|post comment

OT- Finger Nail Topography [07 Jan 2008|08:12am] crystalplumage [ mood | listless ] I know this kind of study exists,and its not just the typical western stuff, where they say if the nail bed is this ,or the nail grows this way kind of stuff. It has to do with the vertical lines on the nail ,if there are any,and now they correlate to certain organ systems. I read something about it years ago ,when i was in Acu shcool ,but i can find nothing about it ,definatively, on line or anywhere. It had to do with placement of lines, vertically,on the nail .And each area ,corresponded to an organ or ailment ,in said organ ,depending upon what was going on . This is the only place i can even think to ask where someone *might* know something about it. Anyone know what i am talking about ? Any info would be greatly appreciated 4 comments|post comment

Looking for Acupuncture Program for Stroke [04 Dec 2007|09:31pm] thecentuar [ mood | determined ] Hey Everyone, I'm new to the community, but I'm actually a perspective acupuncture student here in NYC. I'm looking to attending PCOM ( Pacific College of Oriental Medicine) this spring. At one of PCOM's open houses I'm pretty sure I heard of a acupuncture program within the NY Metro or Tri-State area that specializes in stroke patients. Unfortunately my father just recently suffered a stroke this past week, and my family is looking to find an acupuncture treatment program in addition to physical therapy. If anyone knows anything at all about such a program please let me know right away! It would mean the world to me, my family and especially my dad to gain information as quickly a possible. Thank you so much for your time Many Blessings Janelle 5 comments|post comment

kidney [14 Nov 2007|03:02am] mysticactive Hello everyone - I am wondering what TCM generally advises to heal the kidneys or to maintain them in good condition. I have becom aware that I have a lot of imbalance there. Thanks!  3 comments|post comment

switching TCM practioners [06 Nov 2007|09:54pm] nrgms i've been seeing a great TCM practioner for a month, but, due to a number of factors, can no longer work around her office hours. I'm either going to have to start taking a fair amount of time off work in order to make it to appointments, or switch practioners to someone closer to my office. is it a mistake to switch this early on? 5 comments|post comment

[26 Oct 2007|04:46am] theophamia [ mood | annoyed ] I already posted this - i think and somebody who seems pretty high and mighty deleted it and sent an e-mail saying spam spamiitty spam spam to me -No profit for him or me which works out to be the same seeing as he is my father. All we care about is helping people and he isn't even practicing (needling) right now anywho but he can share his wisdom and hopefully benefit those who are curious and I was simply telling my little story of My life. So to the anonymous deleter I am insulted and hurt and I hope you will think twice next time before you judge -did you even visit the site? I think a tool around it might just benifit you most of all wow all the questions on this post are great and i know of someone you can ask one on one with an excellent info based website hes got all the answers www.compassionatedragon.com but beyond that the guy who will answer you (the compassionate dragon) did acupuncture on me when i was in my teens after many years of irregular and extraordinarily painful periods and a slew of meds that did everything from give me more pain and acne to full blown depression with suicidal tendencies. after 3 treatments i had a full year of regular and almost painless periods a far cry from the disableing crap i had before and it was the only thing that worked i have also used it for cronic pain, insomnia, edema and mi-grains and it has had some effect on all of these it really is like nothing else out there i am definetly an avid supporter of this wonderful practice but be sure to trust your practitioner 3 comments|post comment

menstrual irregularity [12 Oct 2007|06:01pm] realblonde Has anybody here used acupuncture as a way to regulate menstrual cycles? If so, did you have any success with this method? Any stories, suggestions, opinions, etc. are much appreciated!  22 comments|post comment

How can I use TCM to help me with insecticide sensitivity? [10 Oct 2007|05:50pm] mindfulness [ mood | icky ] I'm moving into a new, *fumigated* flat/apartment and I get quite ill in such circumstances. I've been inside the rooms and already I'm reacting. After exposure to the chemicals I end up with a condition people call brain fog and it leads to aches which are perhaps due to stress, but eventually leads to nausea and general chronic fatigue. So I'm asking about detoxifying these chemicals, and while I have an idea of what to do from Western naturopathy perspectives (as well as just trying to remove the pesticide residues in the rooms), I'm really, desperately interested in suggestions from a TCM one. I don't know how to see this reaction I have in TCM terms. Whether it's a case of excess due to inflammation (I have that which manifests as coeliac/celiac disease and asthma), or deficiency due to the inability to detoxify, or both. Perhaps it is both if the inability to detox is one condition, and the reactions following exposure, are another. And I don't know what organs might be involved. I know my kidneys, liver and spleen aren't the strongest and they are indicated in Western terms in this condition, and the herbs I use are fairly aimed at supporting them. Most of my self treatment with TCM is general tonic based herbs and some meridian stimulation. Herbs I like include ling zhi/reishi, bai shu/white atractylodes, dang shen/codonopsis, rehmannia, eucommia, dioscorea/yam, licorice, schisandra/wu wei tzi, ginseng, jiaogulan/gynostema, lycium/goji, angelica and hoshowu/foti. I've read scutellaria baicalensis and bupleurum might be useful, but I haven't read amounts of the herbs for a decoction. Thanks for any thoughts you may have. 10 comments|post comment

Acupuncture for inducing labor? [04 Oct 2007|03:35am] iswari I'm almost 37 weeks pregnant and my OB plans to induce me if I don't go into labor on my own by my due date, because of gestational diabetes. I prefer not to have pitocin and was wondering about the possibility of getting things started with acupuncture. How effective is this? Also, both because of how late in the game it is and how limited my finances are (I'm a full-time grad student), I'm wondering...how many sessions would this usually involve? 3 comments|post comment

Acne and facial regions [19 Sep 2007|09:24pm] livid_purpose I've cross posted this from naturalliving after a member here suggested to.  I've gone a bit more in depth in this post, but it's still pretty much cross posted. Is there any sort of link between the sides and regions of the face and any sort of Chinese medicine/alternative interpretation/metaphysical significance? I have cystic inflammatory acne and it is the worst in one specific area of my face, even considerable measures to treat it. ( Cut so it won't clog your friends page ) So, after that lengthy background, on to my question: I know that different areas of the hands correspond to different organs or systems and so on in Chinese medicine or reflexology, and the same goes with the feet. Does the face have any similar correlations, and if so, is there a chart or something where I can find out more information about it? ( This is where I explain the areas that I'm concerned about ) Also, can acupuncture, rather than injections by an acupuncturist, help treat facial acne? 12 comments|post comment

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