Calendar of Events and Announcements

UPCOMMING CNT CLASSES

SCUHS- Whittier
Registration Deadline: September 22, 2009

Class Date: November 22, 2009

This is a notification that, according to the publisher (the National Acupuncture Foundation), the newest edition of the Clean Needle Technique Manual will be available for purchase sometime during the month of October of this year. For purposes of the CNT course, we will transition to the new 6th edition of the Manual during the months of November and December of this year. Students taking the CNT course this November and December will be encouraged to purchase the new 6th edition; however, those students who have already purchased the 5th edition will be allowed to use the 5th edition for those classes. Please be aware that beginning in January of 2010, all applicants for the CNT course must purchase the new 6th edition.

All students must complete Clean Needle Technique before beginning their Practice Internship. CNT applications and schedule of classes are available on the council of Colleges web site: http://www.ccaom.org/. See web site for out of state classes or classes/exams in Korean or Chinese.


UPCOMING CALE DEADLINES

http://www.acupuncture.ca.gov/
Any students taking the California Licensing Exam on February 16, 2010 should make note of the following deadlines:

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Deadline to request that your official Yo San transcripts be sent to the state board. Yo San can not send copies of transcripts from other schools. You must request that official transcripts from any applicable schools be sent directly to the State Board.

October 16, 2009

Complete applications*, necessary documents, and a $75.00 application fee must be postmarked no later than October 16, 2009. Any applications postmarked after this date will not be accepted. In addition, all required forms requesting special accommodations must also be filed by October 16, 2009. (no exceptions made) Forms are available on the website at http://www.acupuncture.ca.gov/students/spec_accom.shtml

Week of November 23, 2009

Acupuncture Board to notify you as to whether you qualify or do not qualify for the February 16, 2010 CALE. Preparation guides will only be sent to those applicants who qualify. At this time you will be asked to submit the $550.00 examination fee.

December 18, 2009

$550.00 examination fee for all examination candidates must be postmarked no later than December 18, 2009. Fees received with a postmark after this date will be returned and your application will be rejected.

December 12, 2009

All coursework, including clinic shifts, must be completed.

December 31, 2009

Deadline to notify, in writing, Yo San administration if you will no longer be taking the state board exam on February 16, 2010. You must also contact the state board.

Week of January 25, 2010

Examination information on the test site and scheduling will be mailed to exam candidates who have met all requirements.

Tuesday February 16, 2010

Written Examination – Ontario Convention Center – Ontario, CA 9176

* Any applications received without the required fee or any fee received without the required application, will be returned the same day it is received.
Please check the web sites for details regarding the above dates and requirements.

August 11, 2010

CALE Exam Summer 2010

WEEKEND CLASSES

Founders Seminar: October 31st and November 1st, 2009
Biomedical Acupuncture: October 31st and November 1st, 2009

Who are our students?

By Ed Mervine

How would you describe the typical Yo San Student?

That question could be answered statistically- 70% female, 79% between 25 and 35 years in age, 69% white, 76% from California, and 76% with BA or higher degrees.

Yet ‘typical’ at Yo San is not always what you expect. Yes, there are some generalizations you could make from looking around the halls. It is clear that a majority of our students are women, well educated in their 30s. We have a few expectant mothers and a bunch of Yo San’ers who have been professionally involved in various aspects of the health field. But for me, it gets really interesting when you start to notice the individual characteristics that are so unique and unusual.

There are always a few MDs or PhDs walking around. You’ll also meet some martial artists, more than a few massage therapists, yoga or qigong instructors, personal trainers, artists, actors, musicians and school teachers.

Occasionally, you’ll run into a real estate agent, marketing director, business man, accountant, veterinarian, mechanic, engineer, scientist, film maker or web designer. On auspicious days, you could meet a former football player, nun, monk, bio-medical engineer, midwife or didgeridoo player.

Welcome Albert Vaca, Yo San alum and our new Clinic Manager.

Albert Vaca L.Ac. graduated from Yo San in 2006. After completing the Lerner Acupuncture Orthopedics course, he went to work treating patients in various pain clinics. Fate had it that an opportunity opened up to practice as a Post Graduate Fellow in the YSU Clinic. The Assistant Supervisor position further expanded his love of mentoring. When the opportunity to lead the clinic was presented to him, he knew what he had to do

As a practitioner working with his own patients, he knows the importance of excellent customer care and is happy to bring what he has learned back to the Yo San Community. "The success of the Yo San University Clinic, and the experience of the fine interns working here, is very important to me. I appreciate any feedback and suggestions you may have to make this a great place to learn and grow.”

Albert currently has an acupuncture practice in Westwood focusing on pain management and adrenal fatigue issues. He has been married four years and has his first child on the way in January. Needless to say, he is very excited about his new adventures.

The President’s Message

By Lawrence J. Ryan, Ph.D.

The fall term is a time of optimism, energy and renewal as faculty and students begin a new cycle of teaching and learning in our classrooms and clinic consultation rooms.

The mood at Yo San University is exciting, and every inch of our building is buzzing with activity. With our entering class of 31 fresh and eager new faces combined with our returning learners, we have reached a record enrollment figure of 155 students.

Now that Labor Day has passed all the trappings of academia pervade the YSU campus. A walk down the halls provides scenes of instruction, demonstration, inquiry, bookstore browsing, numerous faculty-student and student-to-student interactions, quiet and synchronous movements in Qi classes and reflective study in the library.

All of those scenes cumulate to provide the basis for the development of effective and responsible healers and the foundation for sound professional practice that will endure for years and will be passed on in turn to subsequent generations of aspiring healers.

The 2009 fall trimester at Yo San will be a memorable one. Besides the dozens of scheduled academic and Qi courses, this fall term will also mark the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the founding of YSU. The celebration will culminate in an October 15th celebrity-studded gala fund raising event to be held at the Beverly Hills home of Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman. The regular ticket price to the event is $350, but it only costs $100 for Yo San students and faculty members. It will be a Chinese themed event with lots of fun and the inaugural presentation of the annual Robert Graham Visionary Award.

Another “must” event for the fall 2009 trimester is the Founder’s Seminar scheduled for Saturday October 31 and Sunday November 1. Both Dr. Dao and Dr. Mao will lead the YSU academic community and other distinguished professional practitioners in two full days of insight, interaction and exploration of issues related to their professional specialties.

Besides these formal classes and events, opportunities for learning abound at YSU. The stories that you share as well as those that you hear and witness from your student colleagues, instructors and staff members before and after classes, on the way to campus and in advisement sessions, and in and out of the student lounge also contribute significantly to your learning and your developing identity as a professional TCM healer. Savor each of these moments of opportunity on your path to graduation.

China Externship 2009

Four YSU students are currently in Chengdu, China for a 4-week clinical externship program jointly organized by Yo San University and Sichuan Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences.

The program offers YSU participants an unique opportunity to observe and experience the art and practice of traditional Chinese medicine in the heart of China. YSU students will be rotating through two clinical specialties: TCM Gynecology and TCM Oncology.

The participants will be attached to two different hospitals during the 4 week program: Sichuan Province Second TCM Hospital, Chengdu, China and the Sichuan Province East-West Integrative Medicine Hospital, Chengdu, China

We will keep you updated on this exciting trip in our next newsletter.

Welcome Yvonne Farrell, Doctoral Program Director

Yo San University President Lawrence Ryan is very pleased to announce the appointment of Yvonne R. Farrell, DAOM, L.Ac. as the new Director of the Doctoral Program.

Dr. Farrell will have the lead role in the implementation of the first doctoral program cohort that will matriculate at Yo San University on January 8, 2010.

She brings to the position many years of Oriental Medicine experience and a career commitment to TCM education. She is a graduate of the Emperor’s College doctoral program and has over twelve years experience in teaching and supervision of TCM students.

Her most recent educational affiliation is with Emperor’s College where she has served as an instructor and clinic supervisor. Her service at Emperor’s also included leadership as the Herbology Department head. She has additional experience teaching classes in preparation for the State of California L.Ac. Board Examination.

Dr. Farrell has also been in private practice for twelve years and has effectively served a diverse patient population with a range of TCM services. Her experience with fertility and other gynecological problems will be a valuable asset to the first DAOM cohort which will have include a specialty focus in Reproductive Medicine.

In addition to her degrees in TCM and her California acupuncture licensure, Yvonne held NCCAOM certification and has been certified in Trager body work and NMR.

We welcome Yvonne with enthusiasm and confidence.

20th ANNIVERSARY GALA FUNDRAISER

On October 15, 2009, we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Yo San University with a gala dinner and Fundraising Event at the magnificent Beverly Hills home of Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman.

We are certain this will be a night to remember, with delectable Chinese cuisine from expert chefs, live Chinese music, and exotic Chinese lion and dragon dances!

You should have already received an invitation via email. If you have not, please let us know. Please contact Sum-Yee Wang at 310-577-3000 ext 20 (or email sywang@yosan.edu) if you would like us to send an invitation to your friends, colleagues, or family members.

Yo San students and faculty members are eligible for the very special ticket price of $100 per person.

They may also bring one additional guest for an extra $100.

Ask Julie

Question:

How and why should we use ginseng root to promote health?




Answer:

A funny thing happened in class this week: I had cooked ginseng tea for my students to sample. During the first half of the 3-hour class, people had been on the quiet side, but after we each drank a small cup of ginseng tea, the energy in the classroom rose to magnificent heights. The voices rang out as we practiced our pinyin pronunciation. The effect was electrifying!

Panax ginseng is one of the most deeply researched and widely used of all Chinese herbs. I have a lot of direct experience using this herb myself and prescribing it to patients. Here are some things to keep in mind:

You can pay hundreds of dollars per pound for large, wild Asian ginseng, but you don’t have to! My suppliers (mainly Mayway and Nuherbs, both in Oakland, CA) sell a very good grade of Kirin white ginseng for about $40 a pound.

Be skeptical about ginseng products that are inexpensive, such as teabags for $2.50 claiming to be “100% pure ginseng” – these are often the so-called Siberian ginseng, which is not a true ginseng at all, but rather Eleutherococcus or Acananthopanax. This herb was named “Siberian Ginseng” as a marketing strategy. It is not a bad product, but it is not ginseng. The amount of active ingredient in a teabag is, I’m afraid, not very great. Read labels.

You may have heard that ginseng is dangerous for people with hypertension, insomnia or nervousness because it can be stimulating, but I have never encountered a problem using white Asian ginseng even in patients with hypertension. Of course, you must let them know that the herb can potentially cause problems, and that they should monitor their blood pressure often while using the herb.

Some people want to use the very stimulating red ginseng (which is usually Korean and has been steamed to make it hotter) because they think it will boost performance, either athletic or sexual. This is usually not a good use of ginseng. People with this motivation often overuse it and are not sensitive to its harmful effects.

What I have found is that white Asian ginseng tea is excellent to promote a nice, manageable boost of energy, and is also very good for mental cognition. It seems to focus the mind, improve the body’s resistance, and remove fatigue, without being overly stimulating. It is said to calm the shen (mind/spirit), and it does this by clarifying the mind. Regular drinkers of this tea develop minds that are clearly focused and rapier-sharp. Almost all people can benefit from its energizing actions if they follow this recipe:

Because ginseng roots are dense and precious, they need to be cooked several times to extract all they have to offer. Place about 30 grams (usually 3-4 medium-sized roots) in a non-metal pan with a very tight fitting lid or even a slow-cooking crock pot or ginseng cooker if you have one. Cover with water to within a couple inches of the top of the pot.

Cook slowly, covered tightly, for at least an hour. Not much steam should escape. When the liquid has reduced by about half and has taken on a golden color, pour it off and save it. Drink some of it. Refrigerate the rest. You can now cook the roots again in the same way, three to four more times. You will notice the liquid is darker at the second and third cookings, and then paler at the fourth. Then the roots will be mushy and ready to discard.

You can refrigerate the roots in between cookings if you don’t have time to cook them four times all at once. Just keep combining the liquid from each successive cooking with what you already have in the ‘fridge. Drink your ginseng tea cold or warm, as you prefer.

Just don’t microwave it. Drink one or two cups per day, ideally first thing in the morning, and any time during the day that you feel an energy slump or want more mental clarity.

Founders' Seminar : Integrating Daily Challenges with Deeper Spiritual Needs-- a Ni Family perspective

Dr. Daoshing Ni
October 31, 2009

Introduction: In our busy daily life, working diligently or studying hard to try to achieve our vision, we frequently hits a patch where our vision seems to be so far away and we lose a sense of purpose from time to time. The courage to see things clearly requires us to grow spiritually and stay committed to the truth. But trying to make ends meet and getting good grades in our classes seems to create a non-negotiable tension between our vision and our in-the-face realities. How do we go from point A to point B when
there seems to be no bridge between them. How do I integrate my spiritual self and my real-world self? On this day, we will work together in bringing more closeness to our outer being and inner being. We will explore some of the Taoist meditative and
contemplative techniques that will help us to resolve our inner and outer conflicts.

Ending Objectives:
• Participants will discover a sense of inner peace and joy at the end of the day.
• Participants will feel revitalized in having a stronger sense and purpose in their lives.
• Participants will learn to foster and actualize a discipline of contemplation/meditation that will help the participants continue on the path to a more purposeful and engaged living.

Dr. Maoshing Ni
November 1, 2009

Second Spring: Renewing and Reinventing Yourself to Overcome Daily Challenges
Drawing from the practical wisdom of Chinese medicine and Taoist tradition, Dr. Mao offers simple meditations, qi practices and natural TCM solutions that empower everyone to neutralize the challenges in their lives through what Lao Tzu taught, "constant renewal and rejuvenation" of their body, mind and spirit. In this day-long workshop, Dr. Mao addresses a variety of subject areas including maintaining ageless beauty, enhancing brain power, promoting restorative sleep, relieving pain naturally, creating higher energy and energizing love and sexuality and shares with practitioners how to incorporate anti-aging protocols into their clinical practice.
Topics: Symptoms and Signs of Body-Mind Overload, Aging and Degenerative Diseases, TCM-Taoist Perspective of Over-Taxation of the Three Treasures including Depletion theory and Rejuvenating jing, qi, and shen. Natural Solutions such as Meditation, Qigong, Acupuncture, Nutrition, Herbal Therapy and Life Coaching. Putting it all into Practice, Reinventing Self and Life and Incorporating into your clinical practice.

"We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to spend two full days with this university's founders. Registration for this one-unit elective can be completed at the Admin Office with a simple Add/Drop form. More information will be available as the event approaches."

Reflections on my internship at Being Alive.

By Jerome White

One of five clinical externships offered to Yo San’s interns is at Being Alive in West Hollywood, CA. Being Alive is a not for profit peer-to-peer support organization for HIV+ men and women, offering referrals for primary medical care, housing, substance abuse counseling, as well as a variety of complimentary therapies for their members. Whether male or female, newly diagnosed or a long term survivor, all services are offered free of charge.

Along with Massage, Hypnotherapy, Yoga, Reiki and Chiropractic services, Acupuncture is provided weekly by Yo San University Intern Practitioners. Approximately 20 patients are treated during every shift by our Yo San interns.

While every patient seen at Being Alive has HIV, the range of treatments is as complex and varied as we would see in any other clinic. Ailments treated range anywhere from fatigue, depression and anxiety to the side effects HIV medications such as insomnia, nausea, lipodystrophy and neuropathy as well as many other syndromes commonly suffered by those chronically ill.

This past trimester, I had the opportunity and pleasure to serve one of my clinical shifts at Being Alive. While the challenge of treating such a diverse group of men and women with equally diverse symptoms was enormous, the rewards far outweighed that challenge. The constant and genuine words of thanks and gestures of appreciation extended to me, my fellow interns and my supervisor made interning at Being Alive one of the greatest and most profound experiences of my time at Yo San University.