Essence & Qi
Month
And at #7: the Power of Placebo, featuring Ted Kaptchuk–Pacific Symposium 2013’s keynote speaker and a longtime PCOM associate!
“ 32 - Because joining a ragtag band of fellow travellers, cooks and guides as I trekked back from La Ciudad Perdida in Colombia reminded me of the joy of sharing your journey with others.”
In 404 CE, the first foreign medicine was imported into Japan from Korea, which has been deduced as being mostly herbal in nature.
During this time, waves of migration from the Korean peninsula brought Chinese technology and writings to the island nation. It was through these transplants that the native Japanese learned of Chinese medicine and acupuncture. As passageways between China and Japan became more open, the first formal introduction of acupuncture in Japan occurred in 562 by a Chinese monk name Zhi Cong. He made the trek across the Sea of China east and brought with him medical treatises on herbal medicine and acupuncture meridians including the Mingtang tu, also known as the Illustrated Manual of Channels, Collaterals, and Acupuncture Points.
David Rich Sol, Dean of Asian Holistic Health and Massage of PCOM’s Chicago campus, talks extensively about this method to reduce pain and tension.
Smudging- or the ceremonial and ritual burning of medicinal and fragrant herbs and resins of specific plants for spiritual cleansing, is an ancient practice that has been honored and carried out the world over in cultures spanning the centuries. It is also one that is finding a great surge of added popularity in many non-indigenous cultures and circles in the modern world.
The basic concept is that by burning particular plants parts and resins, the energetic blueprint or spirit/intelligence of that plant is released, producing a medicinal smoke. The smoke is then utilized to cleanse the energy of individuals, groups, spaces or object. Herbs like Sage, Palo Santo, Copal, and Sweet-grass are common smudging herbs that are widely used for healing and to remove unwanted energetic and spiritual buildup and also to instill blessings.
Everything your patients ever wanted to know about their spleen qi (with artwork from
thespicedoc.com/content/glossary
)
PCOM-NY department head is featured in today’s Epoch Times article on remedies for hay fever!
“Usually it’s not one thing. Yes, the pollen will trigger it. But people will start to notice that they have symptoms when they’re not getting enough sleep, under stress, drinking too much coffee, and not eating really well,” she said. “Really it’s a compounding of all of those factors that creates the problem.”
Hi PCOM Community,
For those of you who aren’t aware, I was diagnosed with Diffused Large B Cell Lymphoma, an aggressive non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in February 2013. Two years ago, after my biopsy, I was in dire health and nearly died. I was able to regain my strength and much of my health through all the various integrative/holistic and complementary treatments I’ve been receiving. Today, in April 2015, I still have lymphoma, but for the most part have been able to contain and manage it fairly well and my oncologist is supportive of my current treatment choices. At this point, my only major complaint is localized pain at the site of my tumors which happens to be on my penis. Yes, you heard that right. Due to the location, I have had to deal with two recent infections and extreme pain due to a localized, open wound when wearing clothing, walking and urinating. At this point, I am undergoing immunotherapy and may need to consider chemotherapy depending on how my current treatment progresses. Outside of this health issue, I have no other health related conditions. I have energy, strength and overall feel optimistic.
In addition to myself, my wife Misha has also been diagnosed with cancer. She too has lymphoma; her diagnosis is Classic Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Both my wife and I and our children have been exposed to some environmental toxins. It is well known that most lymphomas are caused either through environmental pollutants such as benzene or viral infections such as the Epstein Barr Virus. We have been monitoring our children and they seem fine to this point.
In terms of Misha’s treatments, she too attempted all the various holistic treatments that I did; however, instead of feeling better, she only continued to get worse. Eventually, in March 2015, she ended up in the emergency room at our local hospital with extreme shortness of breath, severely high pulse and blood pressure and feeling weak. To receive proper medical care, she was admitted into the hospital and spent 12-days inpatient. She has had a large cancerous mass obstructing her superior vena cava which also produced 5 liters of fluid that had been compressing her left lung. Due to the dire nature of her situation, her fluid was drained and she was started on standard chemotherapy protocol for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma while still in the hospital. Currently, she has received two rounds of chemo and continues to experience both adverse effects from the treatment and her cancer.
Misha’s oncologist believes that she would benefit more from what’s called monoclonal antibody therapy which is a second-line treatment option for her type of lymphoma. The problem is that in order for her to qualify to receive this treatment she first needs to “fail” her current chemotherapy protocol. In other words, insurance will not pay for the treatment unless she first goes through 6 months of chemo and fails to get better. Now, please understand, her oncologist believes the monoclonal antibody therapy would work better for her and have less adverse side effects while improving the odds of complete remission. However, in order for us to get those drugs, we would need to pay for them ourselves—out of pocket. Misha would need two treatments a month for approximately 5-6 months. Each treatment costs approximately $6,000 for a total of $12,000 a month. This amounts to at least $60,000-$72,000 just to pay for these drugs.
One of my students at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in Chicago heard about our situations and wanted to help. So, she organized with the help of other students, faculty and administrative staff a celebration and fundraising event scheduled for this Saturday, April 11, 2015 at the college. We were able to raise $1687 toward medical expenses! If you’d like to follow our updates, you can go to www.RallyForMisha.com or friend me on facebook.
An Ayurvedic prescription for wellness makes you accountable for your choices.
Surviving cancer and taking charge when you’re in remission. That’s our taking action for your health report tonight! We’ve been looking at ways you can improve your wellbeing and the new procedures that may give you a better quality of life. Tonight we’re showing you how integrative oncology can help patients manage stress and improve their mental and physical health.
When Keith Mitchell, the former NFL linebacker turned yogi stopped by Yoga Shanti in Manhattan recently, he showed us a few moves (featured below) to help create space in the lower back. He teaches
PCOM alumnus Dr. Jaime Ralston-Wilson, who played a major part in the development of one of the first full-time in-patient acupuncture programs in a hospital in the US, demonstrates acupuncture for the local news.
Hot flashes and night sweats are well known signs of menopause, but other lesser known issues can also crop up. Understanding why and what is happening can help make the transition easier.
While many foods taste great, they are also powerful healers in a vibrant multicolor disguise. The best healing remedies also taste fabulous (I can’t say that about any prescription medications). Plus, foods won’t cause the nasty common side effects that most drugs cause.
Tomorrow morning, PCOM alumnus Daniel Hsu will be performing acupuncture on the Live with Kelly & Michael Show–don’t miss it!
If you thought dying of loneliness was just an old wives’ tale, or that genetic inheritance is fixed – think again, writes Michael Brooks
Creatine, DHA, passionflower, and L-theanine are 4 dietary supplements that offer nootropic effects, including improving memory and decreasing anxiety.
Seattle Children’s is one of just a few top pediatric hospitals in the U.S. with an inpatient acupuncture program. Here anesthesiologists and acupuncturists at Seattle Children’s talk about how it can benefit patients.
Friday, January 9 | Streaming Online, or San Diego Campus, Room 101
8:30a-9a Bagel Time, 9a-10a Listen to the Experts
Karie Kaufmann is a certified Business Coach, providing business help, advice, coaching, and mentoring services to small and medium sized businesses. She has a passion for helping businesses grow and become profitable. Karie helps business owners deliver results using proven tools, methodologies and systems, tested and perfected on thousands of businesses worldwide for more than two decades.
In this talk, you’ll discover how to:
Please click on the link below to join the webinar.
The Feng Shui Master Certification early bird discount of $300 has been extended to January 15th .
Also, Amanda Collins has a new article out about space clearing and the New Year !
“The New Year is one of many powerful times to create fresh new energy in your home, to welcome positive energy and let go of the old. Space Clearing is the art of cleansing and consecrating spaces. It is a profound and effective technique for clearing and revitalizing the energy in buildings.”
Studies support the benefits of massage for colicky infants, stimulating melatonin secretion and rest-activity rhythms in full-term infants: to quote, “massage therapy by mothers in the perinatal period serves as a strong time cue, enhancing coordination of the developing circadian system with environmental cues.” In essence, massage helped relax infants and urge them to sleep, observing the natural circadian rhythms.
Congratulations to PCOM-Chicago alumnus Stephen Semptimphelter, EAMP, LAc, on his
Acupuncture Today article–Chinese Medicine: The Natural Way to Children’s Wellness
!
Also see the printed December 2014 issue.
Alex Tiberi’s Memorial Reception will be STREAMING LIVE on Thursday, December 11 from 5:00 - 7:00pm PST.
Alex was an inspiration to generations of students and practitioners in the field of TCM and one of the early pioneers of TCM in the United States, a Buddhist, an accomplished mounted archer, and a lifelong student.
“You’d think that I, being in the profession of healing, wouldn’t fall prey to the ever-present threat of stress. Well, I do. And I’m sure you do too.”
Nursing faculty member Fern Baudo has just released a book on advanced care planning and the importance of end of life planning, called “If I Only Knew: Making Educated Medical Decisions as we Navigate Through Life’s Journey”.
Congratulations, Fern!
Check it out on Amazon !
San Diego campus: next Thursday, Dec 11, 5-7pm
Reception in Room 100; Altar/Prayer Space in Room 103
Please join us in remembering Alex Tiberi, one of the founders of the College, who passed away on November 18th of 2014.
Alex was an inspiration to generations of students and practitioners in the field of TCM and one of the early pioneers of TCM in the United States, a Buddhist, an accomplished mounted archer, and a lifelong student.
We would appreciate your help in building an altar and prayer space for the evening. Please bring items to contribute. The altar will remain up for 24 hours. We are currently brainstorming how to best create a permanent memorial piece. Contributed items left will be incorporated into the memorial or donated to a local Goodwill.
We will also be creating a slideshow to show at the event. Send your favorite photos and memories of Alex to media@pacificcollegeblog.com by Monday, December 8th.
The highest levels of feng shui are profound, but are based on the most basic principle: patterns of yin-yang.
Color therapy, or chromotherapy as it is called, involves using color to affect different areas of the human brain. Colors have a physical and emotional effect on a person, and also evoke memories, both positive and negative.
Research has shown that turmeric has hundreds of molecular constituents – anti-microbial, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory – an all-around healing spice.