The Yo San Difference

By Larry Ryan

What is special about Yo San?

What is it about the experience of Yo San University that motivates students to persist through graduation and to maintain contact and often some level of affiliation with the university subsequent to graduation and licensure?

What is the Yo San difference that accounts for the number of transfer students who choose our program to complete their TCM education?

How are we different?

The difference is YOU.

You have chosen to be a part of a community that is not only about learning, but also about living.

Yo San University is founded on a particular orientation to living that is referred to as the “Way”.

As an institution with Toaist foundations, for every individual in the Yo San community, behaviors, attitudes and most importantly person to person interactions are mediated by the factors of harmony and balance.

While the factors of harmony and balance are cultivated through Qi classes, they are carried forward by the inherent awareness that every member of the Yo San community brings to classroom, clinic, academic advisement, administrative, public presentation and other interactions .

It is no wonder that students thrive in classes, clinic patients find restored health and balance, cohorts of graduates achieve consistently impressive pass rates on state board examinations, and members of the surrounding community stand in awe and admiration.

We are both a learning and a living community, and the living that we promulgate is one that places the inherent goodness and balance of human beings as a primary factor.

This simple foundational principle was established by our founders, Dr. Daoshing Ni and Dr. Mao Shing Ni through their family legacy of service and dedication to Traditional Chinese Medicine.

It is through YOU, as a member of the Yo San community that these principles, that constitute the Yo San difference, are carried forward.

YOU are the Yo San difference.

Event Announcement

FREE TAI CHI CLASS AND BOOK SIGNING

Saturday, January 8, 2010 3pm - 5pm

Come and enjoy a free tai chi class with Dr. Mao and Dr. Joseph Miller, who will also be signing their new book "Tai Chi for a Healthy Body, Mind and Spirit." Snacks and Refreshments will be served.

The Wellness Store
1412 14th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90404
RSVP 310-260-0013 or wellness@taostar.com

Yo San University Seeks Gold Status and Wins Platinum from ACAOM

In May of this year, Yo San University hosted a team of site visitors from ACAOM, the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, to review the integrity of this University and establish our accreditation status for the coming years. We are so very excited to announce that in a letter dated September 9, 2010 Carla Wilson, Chair of the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, announced that Yo San University will be fully re-accredited for a seven year period effective August 19, 2010.

This seven year renewal is the highest accreditation status awarded by the Acupuncture Commission. The announcement from ACAOM culminated a process of more than two years of preparation and institutional self study including intense activity associated with the ACAOM site visit.

This is an extraordinary accomplishment for Yo San, with so few universities being able to obtain this “platinum status.”The Yo San Administration is so very grateful to our Board of Trustees, our faculty, our staff, our students and our alumni who participated in the various aspects of the re-accreditation process. Special commendation is extended to our Administration and Lawrence Lau, Dean of Academic and Clinical Affairs, who is the YSU Accreditation Liaison Officer. It is inspiring and motivating to receive this news.

Our entire academic and clinical communities should feel affirmed in their efforts to provide quality education at Yo San University. The commitment of all YSU community members to quality TCM education and clinical services have made this success possible.

What the World Needs Now

By Dr. Mao Shing Ni

Recent election results show Republicans sweeping up more than 60 seats formerly held by Democrats to regain a majority in the House of Representatives—a majority Republicans lost merely two years ago when the Democrats swept to a majority in both the House and the Senate with the election of President Obama. Through endless debates, finger pointing, and analysis of the election’s outcome, what’s lost in the din of rhetoric and blame is the realization that the two parties of our nation should act like a scale— maintaining political balance for constructive dialogue and progress.

Balance is an important Taoist concept, as illustrated by the tai chi symbol of yin and yang. Balance of power prevents abuse and extreme actions. Take a friendship, for instance; when the relationship is lopsided, resentment builds for the person feeling short-changed. In a family, both parents should have equal input toward influencing the healthy development of their children. Likewise, in politics, no one political party should dominate; otherwise, the dominating political party risks acting like an authoritarian regime. No matter the election outcome, the Republicans and the Democrats should work together to serve all Americans alike, not just their supporters.

In business, all too often, business deals are viewed as zero-sum games in which there are victors and losers. The winner-takes-all attitude is both competitive and destructive. What we need is constructive progress in which everyone cooperates to bring mutual benefit to one another, and societies can then function harmoniously.
During the period of Sage-Emperors in China, when Taoist teaching were widely practiced, buyers of goods insisted on paying more, while the sellers of goods argued to take less; both understood that the balancing nature of this relationship was the basis for constructive progress between two people.

Imagine applying this principle to all relationships between people in the world.

What would the world be like?

Ask Julie

By Julie Chambers L.Ac.

Question: In class, you often mention great gift ideas using Chinese herbs. I would love to do something like that this year but feel overwhelmed with the many possibilities and don't know where to start. Do you have any ideas?

Answer:

I enjoy making a rosebud-infused wine to give as a gift. Start with a good white wine (I like to use something slightly sweet, like a Muscat or a Riesling), and remove half the wine to another container, to make room for the rosebuds. Use about half a cup of the rosebuds (Mei Gui Hua), making sure they are very fragrant. Insert the rosebuds into the wine, cork it, turn the bottle on its side, and refrigerate it for about two weeks. Beyond that, it might get too strong. Strain the wine and save the rosebuds if you can use them soon in a decoction for invigorating blood and relieving pain. The reason I prefer to use white wine is that it takes on a beautiful rosy color. But you could use red wine! The result in either case will be a wine with a wonderful rose fragrance.

I made a fun Christmas gift last year for a woman who loves to cook: I packaged five edible cooking herbs in pretty net bags (the kind in which jewelry is sometimes stored), and labeled them with suggestions on use.

These are the herbs I gave:

Fenugreek Seeds (Hu Lu Ba)
Infuse seeds in warm milk or cream for half an hour till the milk has a caramel flavor and color; use this milk or cream in any recipe such as rice pudding, crème brûlée, etc.

Nutmeg (Rou Dou Kou)
Grate whole nutmeg for eggnog or other creamy drinks; use with meat dishes such as Moussaka or other exotic casseroles; use in fruit desserts such as pear and apple crumbles or clafoutis.

White Pepper (Bai Hu Jiao)
Grind freshly to use in any cream sauce that calls for pepper; it helps cut the richness of anything with cheese or milk, such as a gratin of potatoes or cauliflower.

Star Anise (Da Hui Xiang)
Use with cloves, stick cinnamon and black peppercorns to spice fruits like French prunes or pears, apricots or peaches; use some red wine with it and then serve these fruits with sausages or pork roast.

Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui)
Use in any recipe calling for cinnamon sticks, or just infuse them into any tea to warm and spice it up.

I also give single herbs packaged in pretty boxes for people I think will use them and for whom they are appropriate. Good ones are He Shou Wu (especially if you can get the very thinly sliced, nested ones), and Bai He for people who would be motivated to cook them into food.

You could also make spiced dried plums (get the good French plums at a specialty shop; they are called Pruneaux d’Agen) and simmer them for five minutes in red wine, star anise, cinnamon sticks, a bay leaf, and some peppercorns. Then package them in nice glass jars with instructions on what they go with (they would be great served alongside any meat, like turkey, pork, sausages, even beef). They should survive two weeks after cooking.

You could also take some pretty herbs (like star anise, Gou Ji, cinnamon or Bing Lang) and make them into ornaments to hang on a Christmas tree. If they are fragrant, even better!

Please direct any questions you may have to Julie Chambers, L.Ac. at info@juliechamberslac.com

Financial Aid : Knowledge is Power

By Ed Mervine

How many student loan lenders do you have?

If you borrowed through the Federal Student Loan Program over the past two to three years, you could have more lenders than you think you have. This can be confusing but now you have a chance to make your life similar.

Until June 30, 2011, you can consolidate loans from multiple lenders into a new Direct Consolidation Loan while you are still in school. This is open only to borrowers who have multiple lenders. If all of your loans are with the Direct Loan Program, you to do not meet the criteria and would in fact not benefit.

Here are the Pros and Cons:

Pro: After consolidation, you will made payments to only one lender versus making payments to several lenders. This could result in a lower total monthly payment and reduce risk of default and bad credit. Every year, borrowers who are diligently making payments fall into default because they lost track of a loan with a different lender.

Con: Borrowers will lose the grace period on a FFEL Subsidized/Unsubsidized Stafford Loan or Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan by consolidating. Similarly, PLUS borrowers will lose the six month post-enrollment deferment period.

Why is this being offered now?

For a brief moment in 2008, banks stopped making Federal Student Loans, potentially turning the lives of millions of students upside down. An infusion of federal funds averted chaos.

A year later, the Federal Government moved the Federal Student Loan lending from the Banks to the Direct Loan program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Students borrowing during this period have at least two lenders and may have three. This is how it happened.

Let’s say Johnnie borrowed through Bank of America in 2007 and 2008 and through the Direct Loan Program in 2009. How many lenders does he have? If you counted two, you’re wrong. Let’s count again: Bank of America was Johnnie’s lender in 2007, that’s 1. Bank of America processed his loan in 2008 but the lender was the U.S. Department of Education, that’s 2. After the Student Loan program was moved to the Direct Loan Program in 2009, Johnnie’s borrowed through the Direct Loan Program, that’s 3.

Confused?

The Department of Education thought you might be and has opened a window so borrowers could move all of their loans to one lender.

For more information and to begin the application process, go to http://www.studentloans.gov/. Look for Direct Loan Consolidation under ‘Tools and Resources.’

(You can also talk to Ed in the Administration Office!)

What’s Up, Doc?

By Ed Shaheen, MD

“The Death Panel”

Since we at Yo San are all members of the health care team, it is important to get a correct perspective on the end of life discussion that occurs between the patient and their doctor. The true content of ‘the end of life discussion” has unfortunately been referred to by many politicians as “the death panel” discussion.

It was not too long ago that the public discussion of sex and death was taboo. Just as the Kinsey Report (1950’s) and Masters and Johnson’s (1960) work on the “Human Sexual Response” elevated the study of human sexuality to a legitimate topic, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s “On Death and Dying” (1969) set a precedent for an honest discussion of death with terminally ill patients. Prior to this, the physician was often given complete control on whether to tell a patient if he or she was dying. Many physicians were prompted by the family not to tell the patient or opted not to tell a patient in order to keep the patient from worrying. The results of this type of treatment can be read in Tolstoy’s famous novella on “The Death of Ivan Illyich”, where Ivan’s many physicians and family conspired to reassure him that he was ok in spite of the fact that he was feeling worse and was, in actuality, dying.

The practice of modern medicine protects us from this type of mistreatment and misinformation. It is now unethical for a physician to withhold information from his or her patient unless that patient wishes otherwise. This means that patients must be included in the decision making at this critical point in their lives. This requirement, to make the patient the center of this process, has prompted the end of life discussion to be done at an earlier time, when a patient is getting older but may not be terminally ill.

The end of life discussion is in fact a duty of the personal physician. The irony of this duty is that rather than being a “death panel”, it actually insures that when the final hours come, the wishes of the patient will be respected and carried out. This important responsibility often requires several visits and a significant amount of time in order to help the patient decide what he or she really wants in the event of different possible scenarios.

The discussion of these circumstances would include questions such as: If you are terminally ill, do you want everything done, including extended life support? If you cannot make decisions for medical care, whom do you want to designate to make them for you? Whom do you want to handle your financial affairs if you are incapacitated? The result of these all significant questions are recorded in the medical chart, which is a legal document that gives the power to the patient.

Physicians do this now as a matter of duty. The reason for the “death panel” deception was that there was a proposal to specifically reimburse physicians for this time as part of the new health care law. The truth is that physicians will do this anyway, whether they are reimbursed or not, because it is the right thing to do.

Message from our President

Welcome to the Fall trimester at Yo San University!

It is the time to get back to the books. Even in our year-round academic and clinical schedule, the fall term has a distinct feel and a special identify as the “back to school” session. Through habits carried over from our elementary, secondary and undergraduate years, we renew ourselves each year with resolve for success and positive movement toward career goals. Classes will not be missed; careful notes will be taken; readings will be engaged as scheduled; homework assignments will be handed in on time.

Yo San University students are truly inspiring. Once again as fall weather closes in on Los Angeles, a flood of positive energy fills our classrooms, Qi studio, library, clinic spaces and corridors. Classes are packed not only with chairs but more importantly with content and process that cumulatively provide the formation of TCM practitioners with the distinct Yo San brand of healing.

After classes students linger with important questions for professors, practitioners who share their own theories, procedures and special TCM secrets. In the spirit of collaboration and networking responses to questions and the revealed secrets are reflected and elaborated as evidenced from the chatter that emanates from the student lounge. Learning is a palpable entity. It is the fall trimester. Make the most of it!

Larry Ryan
President

Welcome Carola Gehrke, Ph.D. our new Director of Doctoral Program

Carola Gehrke holds a Ph.D. in Biology/Ecology from Lund University in Sweden, one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities.

Her heart and passion are in higher education and in the field of natural healing. She first discovered her true calling while working as a biomedical information scientist at AstraZeneca and as a researcher for the United Nations Environmental Program.

Carola has a strong background in research, both in an academic and coprorate setting. Her publications are frequently cited by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

Carola grew up in Berlin, Germany and lived in Sweden for 16 years before moving to Los Angeles 10 years ago.

As the Director of Yo San University's Doctoral Program, the first Traditional Chinese Medicine program in the nation to specialize in reproductive medicine and infertility (REI), Carola is closely involved with the Yo San Fertility Clinic.

Welcome Carola!

Welcome Jerome White

Welcome Jerome? But he never left!

Jerome White received his Masters of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine from Yo San University in December of 2009. As a California-licensed acupuncturist, Jerome treats patients at his practice in West Hollywood as well at the Yo San University Community Clinic. He is also an assistant supervisor watching over level-one Master program interns.

And now Jerome is also the Assistant to the Director of the Doctoral Program at Yo San University! We're very happy to welcome him to his new position and we're sure he'll be as successful in this job as in his other endeavors.

Welcome Andrea Anzalone

Andrea Anzalone has worked for a variety of educational institutions in the Los Angeles area, including Phillips Graduate Institute, Getty Research Institute, Woodbury University, and the Los Angeles Public Library system.

She has extensive experience teaching information literacy and research skills in many subject disciplines as well as providing both traditional and virtual reference services. She holds a Bachelor's degree from UCLA (English Literature) and a Master's degree from UC Berkeley (Library and Information Studies).

We are happy to have Andrea as our new Library Manager.

Her office hour is 9 am - 12:30 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and 4 -8 pm on Wednesdays.

The Sunday morning Fertility Clinic

The Sunday morning Fertility Clinic opened in May of 2010 and provides fertility services to individuals and couples seeking assistance. Consultations and treatments are carried out by Doctoral students who are licensed acupuncturists (L.Ac. ) and fulfilling their residency requirements in Yo San’s fertility clinic. The integrated model of the program allows the Doctoral students to treat patient from an integrative TCM and Western approach. These treatments, dedicated to enhancing female and male fertility as well as overall health and balance, are provided at reduced costs; lower than typically charged in private practices.

Yo San Students: $35
Partners of Yo San Students: $50

Alumni: $50
Alumni partners: $50

Non Student initial visits: $120 Non Student follow up visits: $70

Tell your friends. Spread the words, and make an appointment!

Grant to support YSU/CHLA Partnership

In late July 2010, Yo San University was notified that that the Henry L. Guenther Foundation has made a Grant to the University to support our partnership activities at the Pediatric Pain Unit at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA).

The Guenther Foundation is a Century City based private foundation that focuses on organizations that provide health care services. The grant will help cover YSU’s 2010 expenses at CHLA and will assure that the services at CHLA, which have been recently expanded to a second shift, will continue uninterrupted.



The Pediatric Pain unit at CHLA, headed by psychologist, Jeff Gold, Ph.D., serves primarily indigent children who suffer from a wide range of pain symptoms including those arising from conditions such as cancer, fybromyalgia, headaches, musculoskeletal pain, rheumatoid conditions and Sickle Cell disease.

Through this program YSU interns at both the master’s and doctoral degree levels gain valuable supervised experience in the use of acupuncture for the treatment of a wide range of pain conditions.

Supervisors at the CHLA site include YSU Clinical Faculty members, Brandon Horn, L.Ac. and Wing, Ben Deng, L.Ac. YSU is forever grateful to the Guenther Foundation for its foresight and generosity in designating the University for this important grant.

The Reflection of the Autumn Tiger

by James Tuggle

Since we are all well within the grasp of the “tiger”, we might as well take stock of our situation. Change is the constant of our known universe; a new trimester, fall fast approaching, now is a good time to reflect on the last 6 months of this year and a become aware of all that is happening.
Self reflection is the hallmark of the metal or fall energy. The first step in actualizing any change is awareness of the problem, disease or obstruction.

Once you are aware of the lack of balance or harmony, such as dis-ease, then you have something to work with. Use the metal-mirror of self reflection to see the problem. The next step is to take responsibility for the situation; you have to release all attachments, ie, mental conditioning which actually begs the question of how to release these attachments. Here’s where your training as a healer comes to play with the problem.

It’s actually very simple, the lungs are the seat or center of our metal energy and our breathe is the force that can cut through all attachments. So ... take it easy, breathe naturally, take a deep breathe and exhale. This relaxed breathing gives your liver, seat of wood, a new awareness of patience, kindness and appreciation of the natural bounty or harvest of your life. This process of self release gives your heart an ample supply of joy heading into the winter months.

Don’t forget the vernal or autumn equinox is fast approaching the end of September; just as nature gives us a change of colors, fall colors, you can also display the change of summer giving rise to the harvest of the fall. You don’t need to travel back east to see the change of colors in the foliage of the trees, just take a trip into your inner landscape and enjoy the true change of colors.

Ask Julie.

by Julie Chambers, L.Ac.

Question:

What are some great summer herbal drinks one can make for friends when they come over for a BBQ?

Answer:

My favorite herbal drinks in the summer always involve Bo He (Menthae Herba, mint leaves), and to your question about BBQ, I would combine Bo He with Shan Zha (Crataegi Fructus, hawthorn fruits). Not only is the combination a good balance between the cool Bo He and the warm Shan Zha, but it is a blending of pungent and fresh minty flavor with the sweet and sour taste of Shan Zha. Furthermore, Shan Zha, which is a digestive herb with powerful actions to break down fat and protein, helps to counter the rich and heavy foods that might be in your BBQ. Bo He, which is a cooling diaphoretic, also cools and soothes the liver, and is therefore a good herb in warm weather to prevent the liver from overheating. Cook the Shan Zha first for 30 minutes and then add the Bo He to steep. Proportions are completely up to your taste. I would try three parts Shan Zha to one part Bo He. Serve chilled but not ice cold.

If your BBQ includes beer and wine, another great herb is Ge Hua (Puerariae Flos, kudzu flower), which has been shown to speed the metabolism of alcohol in the body and reduce the symptoms of a hangover. I can’t vouch for the flavor of this one though!

Please direct any questions you may have to Julie Chambers, L.Ac. at info@juliechamberslac.com

What's up, Doc?

by Ed Shaheen, M.D.

Are your children safe at home?

Accidents are the most common cause of death in young children, and prevention begins at home. The list is seemingly endless, but some things are obvious: removing sharp objects and guns and preventing falls, burns, scalds, electrical shock, drowning, and choking. Sometimes overlooked are potentially poisonous substances that adults take for granted and thereby forget to put in a safe place. Automatic dishwasher soap is an example. The ingestion of even a small amount can cause burns in the mouth and life-long chronic scarring or strictures in the esophagus.

Another is wintergreen oil (active ingredient: methyl salicylate), a commonly used ingredient in lineaments for muscle pain – but also present in smaller, more dilute amounts in mouth wash products like Listerine. As little as 4 cc of methyl salicylate ingested by a small child can be fatal. One teaspoon full is equal to more than twenty-three 300 mgm aspirins. This is among the most common poisonings that present to an emergency room.

“A teaspoon of sugar makes the medicine go down” is true. If the medicine doesn’t taste good to your child, you may be wearing it or have to resort to force feeding or bribes in order to get your child to take it. I am not in favor of sugar, but, as a parent, I see a definite value here. On the other hand, some children get the idea that all medicine tastes good, leaving room for the unguarded moment when grandpa looks the other way with his medicine open on the table ready for a quick snack. (By the way, don’t think that the child-proof bottle will save the day. It has its place, but children are also more talented than we give them credit. They don’t read the directions on how to open these containers; they simply use their little teeth).
Don’t take medications in front of children, and never call them candy.

Recently much attention has been focused on an increase in the number of lithium button or cylindrical battery ingestions. These batteries are everywhere: in toys and greeting cards that speak, flashlights, remote controls, hearing aids, cameras, garage door openers, bathroom scales, digital thermometers. The most troublesome are the 20 mm button size in children less than 4 years old because they tend to get stuck in the esophagus, and if not retrieved within 2 hours can cause chemical burns, erosions and even death. A western physician should see all of these ingestions immediately.

Other risky items include all medications and supplements, household plants, cosmetics, nail care products, perfumes, cleaning agents, bleach, furniture polish, antifreeze, kerosene, turpentine, lye, lighter fluid, drain and toilet cleaners, mothballs, glue and other aerosols, plant food, alcohol, insecticides (whether organic or not), old flaking paint, and rat poison.

What do you do if your child puts something in their mouth that doesn’t belong there? The first thing is to call the National Poison Control Hotline at 1-800-222-1222.

Don’t induce vomiting unless instructed to do so by an expert. Be ready with the name of the product and the product container, the estimated amount that was taken, the time of ingestion, the age and weight of the child, any symptoms to date. Keeping medications in their original containers will help with accurate identification. The last thing that an ER doc wants to hear is "he took two little white pills." If you can't identify the plant or pills or whatever, bring them to the emergency room with you.

President's Message

by Dr. Larry Ryan

As the lazy days of summer approach Yo San University students and faculty in both the master’s and doctoral programs continue the usual pace of content and Qi classes, on-campus and externship clinic involvements, gab sessions in the lounge and quick dashes across Washington Blvd. to Rainbow Acres for a healthy snack or enriched drink.

Our academic community does not slow down one bit during the months of June, July and August. One of the differences in these summer months is the abundance of daylight. During these months our Southern California neighborhoods and streets are light just after 5:00 am and remain bathed in sunlight beyond 8:00 pm.

With the extended daylight hours, whether in the early morning, mid-day or in the evening, these are days that invite you to take an excursion outside your usual path. Walk in a park. Ride a bike. Find a quiet street to explore. Stroll in a garden. Enjoy the colorful summer blooms. Roam on the beach. Practice your Qi exercises in a spot that provides that added measure of peace and nature. The energy that you can derive from a few minutes outside your usual path will sustain your through your hours of usual study, work and clinical activities.

Besides the extended daylight hours these months are well suited for summer reading. In this issue of Communi-Qi, we invite you to read about our recent fund raising event, “An Evening at the Hotel California with Don Felder.” Also notice that starting with the previous issue of this newsletter, in each issue there is included a pithy statement related to the Taoist foundations of the University. These brief “Taoist Perspective” articles are the result of an activity of the YSU Board of Trustees Taoism Initiative. The objective of the initiative is simply to highlight for the consideration of all members of our community factors that relate to the Taoist foundations of Yo San University. The “Taoist Perspective” offering for this edition of Communi-Qi was prepared by Dr. Mao. You may have also noticed that more of the artifacts in our building include explanation placards next to them. These placards constitute more good summer reading—brief and to the point—and immensely thought provoking. The placards are another activity of Board of Trustees Taoism initiative.

Read on, and remember…it is summer… go outside your usual path!

Don Felder, Legendary Guitarist, Rocks the Grammy Museum

Legendary guitarist and songwriter Don Felder lit up the stage last Saturday night in a benefit concert for Yo San University School of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The four-time Grammy Award winner Felder, best known for his mega-hit song “Hotel California” took the stage for over an hour, serenading the audience with some of The Eagles’ most memorable music, including Best Of My Love, Take It Easy, and, of course, Hotel California.

After glowing introductions from Yo San University co-founders Dr. Daoshing Ni and Dr. Mao Shing Ni, and Yo San University President, Dr. Larry Ryan, Don Felder shared personal stories with the audience, talking about his travels from a poor town in Florida where he was born to his years with The Eagles in the bright lights of the global stage. Then the music started – one hit song after the next -- and Felder had the entire audience on their feet, practically drowning him out with their appreciative applause. It was a priceless evening for every guest whose life has been touched by thirty-plus years of Felder’s extraordinary music. Felder’s down-to-earth charm made every moment precious.

Adding to an unforgettable evening of food, drink and brilliant music, Felder donated two guitars from his own personal collection to an end-of-the-evening auction. All of the proceeds from the auction and the concert will subsidize Yo San University acupuncture outreach programs for their clinical interns. These acupuncture programs are currently taking place at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Being Alive (West Hollywood), Premiere Oncology of Santa Monica and the Venice Family Clinic.

Special thanks must go to the Yo San University volunteers who labored to make the evening perfect: Julianne Gardner, Heather Grant, Lae Krasaeyan, Tobe Stacey, Diane Weiss, Ashley Wren and Bita Yadidi.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Yo San truly rocks!!!

The Practical Side of the Tao

Mao Shing Ni, D.O.M., Ph.D, L.Ac.

As students of Traditional Chinese Medicine we learn that illness is the result of pathogenic energy from the outside and negative energy from the inside. These two forces are the natural enemies of health and wellness.

As healers, it is so important that we seek to cultivate positive emotional-spiritual energy within and strong protective energy without in order to achieve health, well being and harmony.

We must also share what we know with those we are caring for. This is a fundamental Taoist concept, looking at both the ‘within’ and the ‘without.’

As healers, this is worthy of our constant attention.

Ask Julie

by Julie Chambers, L. Ac.

Question:

Why is the time of day important in determining pathologies of Yang or Yin deficiency?

Answer:

In the natural order of bodily functioning, yang activities should take over during the day, dawn through afternoon, and yin activities should predominate during the evening and nighttime. This is why we wake up and become active in the morning and naturally become quiet and calm in the evening. Two common conditions illustrate what happens when yang or yin are deficient. If a person is deficient in yang energy, when morning comes, their own yang cannot perform its warming function, and diarrhea may result. This is what’s known as daybreak, or cock’s crow, diarrhea. Why would this person not have diarrhea at night? Because night time is not when we expect yang to be at its zenith, but morning is when we do. For yin deficient patients, as afternoon and evening approach, the natural cooling and calming cannot take place. These people will have afternoon and evening heat, fevers or sweats, and insomnia, nervousness and restlessness. The yin energy cannot overcome the yang influence on the body, so the heat rises, unchecked.

This is why going to sleep at a normal hour is so important for health. When our Yueying Li helped me counsel a patient suffering from insomnia, she asked him what time he went to bed, and he said “1:00 am." She said, “That is the next day!” If people turn night into day, it is no wonder that their yin and yang will become disordered.

Please direct any questions you may have to Julie Chambers, L.Ac. at info@juliechamberslac.com

What's up, Doc?

by Ed Shaheen, M.D.

Red Flag : Snake bites

If you were a Girl Scout or Boy Scout, you probably received instructions on first aid for poisonous snakebites. Perhaps a few of you were from my generation and carried around a “snakebite kit”, which contained a tourniquet, a small lancet, and a rubber bulb for sucking out the blood, in case you didn’t want to use your mouth. Over the years there have been many versions of what one should do for immediate care. First of all, most bites are from non-poisonous snakes and should be treated like any other animal bite.

This article will discuss the latest recommendations for the poisonous varieties. In the United States, about 7,000 to 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes each year, and five to six of those bitten, die. Most of these bites are provoked rather than accidental.

If you exclude exotic species brought in as pets, there are basically two native groups of poisonous snakes in this country. These are the pit vipers, like rattlesnakes (Southern California and most areas in U.S.), and the coral snakes (Arizona, Texas and the southeast). A coral snake must be differentiated from a king snake, which has the same colored bands (yellow, red, black) as the coral, but in a different order. The king snake is a good guy/gal and beneficial for the garden. A coral snake has “red on yellow...fatal fellow”. For the king snake, red bands do not border yellow bands.

If you see or hear a rattle, it is a rattle snake (that was easy). They do not go out of their way to bite you unless they think that you are a threat to their safety. All pit vipers possess hollow fangs, slit−like, elliptical pupils, and a heat−seeking pit between each eye and nostril.

If you live in an area that borders on a forest or natural reserve or if you do a lot of wilderness hiking, you should familiarize yourself with the appearance of the local snakes.

There is a controversy about capturing the offending snake. For one thing, this often results in a second bite and even if the (hopefully dead) snake is brought in, it may no longer have a recognizable appearance.

So what about the venom? The venom can damage almost every organ system in the body. It is not to be taken lightly and requires immediate and professional treatment, i.e., in an emergency room. The pit viper bite usually causes sudden pain at the site which has been described as “severe stinging” or being “hit by a hammer”.

The amount of damage depends on the amount of venom injected. About 25% of bites occur without significant injection of venom. The downside can include local swelling and erythema, hemorrhage, systemic shock, death...or nothing.

First responders should direct their attention to supporting the airway, breathing and circulation (ABCs). Keep the patient calm. Arrange immediate transportation to a medical facility for monitoring and possible anti-venom. Remove any constricting clothing or jewelry, especially rings, before swelling can occur. Although this has not been studied, most experts believe that the affected body part should be immobilized in a neutral or slightly dependent position in relation to the heart. Outdated first−aid measures such as incision and suction, application of a tourniquet and immersion in ice have all been shown to be of no value and may be potentially dangerous, so these practices should be abandoned.

The moral to this story is:

“Look before you leap, for snakes among sweet flowers creep” [Proverbs]

Yo San Fertility Clinic Opens May 16

The YSU Community Clinic and the YSU DAOM Program announce the launch of the new Fertility Clinic, which will commence Sundays starting May 16, 2010.

The Yo San University Fertility Clinic will offer Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine support for both female and male Infertility patients who seek the proven techniques of 3000 years of Traditional Chinese Medicine to support their journey to conception. Infertility diagnoses treated include high FSH, advanced maternal age, luteal phase defect, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, recurrent miscarriage, unexplained infertility, and male factor infertility. Consultation and treatment services are provided by licensed acupuncturists who are residents in the nation’s first-ever Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctoral Program in Integrative Reproductive Medicine/Infertility.

All YSU resident practitioners and supervisors consult closely with, and refer regularly to Reproductive Endocrinologists to ensure the implementation of best practices and evidence-based medicine. Among the services offered are acupuncture, herbal formulas, nutritional counseling and lifestyle analysis.

All services are offered at a fraction of the cost charged by most private practice Acupuncture Fertility specialists. The motto of the new Fertility Clinic, “Helping to Create New Lives Naturally,” reflects the health and wellness perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine as it is taught and practiced at the Yo San University.

Appointments for the Yo San University Fertility Clinic can be made by calling: (310) 577-3006.

For more information go to www.yosan.edu/fertilityclinic

President’s Message

by Dr. Larry Ryan

On May 19-21, 2010 Yo San University will host a team of site visitors from the Accreditation Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) who will be on campus to evaluate the MATCM program. As a Department of Education authorized accrediting body, ACAOM constitutes the peer review process that assures that Yo San University and all other accredited TCM schools adhere to the rigorous standards of the Commission and engage in processes that assure the continuous improvement of all aspects of our academic, clinical and organizational functions. ACAOM last visited Yo San and reaffirmed our accreditation status in 2006. The 2010 site visit will be structured around fourteen specific standards that range from basic purposes/objectives, governing board and legal structure, through admissions, academic/curricular and faculty issues as well as assessment, student support and publications. The site visit will culminate well over a year’s preparation that included the drafting of the institution’s Self Study Report. The final Self Study report was an effort that involved the entire Yo San University community.

During the three days of the site visit in addition to affirming the content of the Self Study document, the ACAOM team will examine a wide range of documents and will also interview administrators, staff, faculty students and members of the Board of Directors. For the 2010 visit we expect that considerable focus will be placed on how the institution assesses the achievement of its educational objectives. Over the past four years all students, faculty, staff, alumni and even board members and clinic patients have participated in a number of assessment procedures that pertain to our institutional, purpose, educational objectives and many other factors that make Yo San the self-reflective and continuously improving institution that it is today. It is expected that the site visiting team will pay close attention to the data that emerged from those many assessments, and how the institution has utilized that data to make informed and appropriate improvements to the institution and its programs. The visit will result in a report and recommendations to the Commission.

This is a time of self-reflection regarding our strengths and our challenges. Your participation in this process is vital to our success. As you interact with the site visitors, we encourage you to be candid and honest regarding your perspectives. As the site visit dates approach, we also welcome all students, faculty, staff, and others to review the Self Study document that forms the basis of the site visit. The Self Study document can be accessed through the Office of the President.

A Taoist Guide for Enjoying the Spring in your Life

by James Tuggle

In the age of navigation systems, GPS monitoring, etc., it is appropriate to look at a system of finding your direction that goes back thousands of years. These earthly-global systems only help you find your way on the surface of the earth.

What we need to consider is a “heavenly positioning system” that can help us find our true internal or heavenly direction. Let’s call it “becoming aware” of our spiritual guide or compass.

This is not difficult if we pay attention to the changing of the seasons and other natural phenomena occurring daily, seasonally or yearly in our hectic lives. There are essentially 4 cardinal points to any given day, year or lifetime. For each day, midnight, dawn, noon and sundown are the cardinal points for any day. As followers of the integral way or natural energy cycle, this is very easy to observe and we can improve our lives greatly by just following these natural steps: arise with the dawn, work in the morning and afternoon, retire in the evening and sleep in the night. So simple yet so difficult for many of us.

Take a moment and observe how this applies to your life and extend it out to each given year and then over a complete lifetime to observe the same patterns, same energies.

Each year has this same pattern which is the basis for our spiritual compass. We all know the four seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall. The cardinal points for each season are called the winter solstice, spring equinox, summer solstice and the autumnal equinox.

Sunday, March 21 is the Spring equinox. June 22 is the Summer solstice. On the Spring solstice we have equal amounts of daylight and nighttime; or we could say yin and yang are balanced.

For the next three months we have ever increasing amounts of daylight until we reach the Summer solstice. Growth and cultivation are your tools for a bountiful harvest come Autumn. Just as you would trim the dead wood from a tree to expose it to more sunlight, you should trim the dead wood of the liver to allow your “Golden Light” to reach these deeper recesses of your consciousness.

Here’s one way to enjoy, celebrate and reset your spiritual compass. Each season has a corresponding energy center in our body and one of the five elemental energies. The energy center for Spring is the liver center and the corresponding element is wood or vegetation. Green is the dominant color; look for it internally. Also each season has a direction: Spring is the east. For those of us always looking for the esoteric or subtle energy, think of the “Green Dragon of the East.”

This is really simple, here is all you need to do: sit quietly facing the East, ideal time would be around 6 am or sunrise; Feel the springtime energy, concentrate on your liver or liver channel, where all the vegetation, ie wood, is being reborn or rejuvenated; let go of any negative emotion associated with the liver, petty resentments, anger, etc. A simple mental refrain would be to “forgive and forget”. Embrace the subtle essence of your wood energy.

An old Chinese proverb states: “As you walk, pay attention to your feet”. As acupuncturists you will understand to take this one step further and pay particular attention to your big toes. Just as you cultivate your garden by regular watering, drink lots of water which feeds the wood energy. Also lots of walking or chi gong is extremely beneficial during this season. We can all use a little extra “spring” in our step and our lives in general.

Ask Julie

by Julie Chambers

Question : How can Chinese medicine help us while we are on vacation?

Answer:
There are several common problems that come up when we are traveling. If you don’t wish to hear about bodily functions, read no further!

One of the most common problems is constipation, euphemistically referred to as “irregularity.” There are many reasons this problem occurs: changes in schedule, rushing to catch a plane, lack of privacy, etc. I have often recommended that travelers use Peach Kernel Pills (also known as Run Chang Wan and Tao Ren Wan). Several suppliers sell this formula under various names. The important ingredients in this formula are Tao Ren (peach kernel) and Hou Ma Ren (Cannabis seed), both of which are high in fatty acids. These pills will not cause cramping or severe results, but will be mildly moistening. I recommend travelers start taking them two days before their trip, to get a softening effect going ahead of time, and also to gauge the results before the actual travel date. Start with 8 pills at night, see what the results are in the morning, and if this dose is not adequate, take 8 pills three times a day. You can increase the dosage incrementally as needed.

Another common problem for travelers is insomnia. I have had exceedingly good results with Suan Zao Ren Tang from several suppliers. Always, the chief ingredient is Suan Zao Ren. Do not follow the directions on the box (to take 3 pills 3 times a day), but take them just at bedtime, and again if awake at 2, 3 or 4 am (not later). Used this way, these will not cause drowsiness in the morning. The pills are mild, and certainly nothing like Ambien or other such drugs, but they work well to relax the body and mind and allow sleep to arrive.

Another problem that could occur on vacation is “hangover,” that feeling of malaise after too much alcohol consumption. Symptoms can include headache, fatigue, lack of mental clarity and nausea. I have two remedies for this. One is “Curing Pills” (sold by many suppliers under several names). The ingredients come from several herbal categories, including aromatic damp resolvers, Qi regulators, digestives and heat clearing herbs. These pills are excellent for anything that plagues the digestive tract, from heartburn to bloating to nausea and even diarrhea. A second herbal solution to hangover is Ge Gen (Pueraria root) and Ge Hua (its flower). John Chen[1] states that Ge Hua “increases the metabolism of alcohol, relieves hangover and promotes the process of regaining sobriety.” He adds that “the root and flower [of Pueraria] are believed to have the same property for treatment of alcoholism, hangover, and liver-related disorders caused by alcohol.”

Enjoy your break, and be sure to pack some of these common remedies in your bags.

Please direct any questions you may have to Julie Chambers, L.Ac. at info@juliechamberslac.com

[1] Chen, John and Tina Chen, Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology, AOM Press, 2004, p. 83

What's up, Doc?

by Ed Shaheen

Red Flag : The Painful Scrotal Mass

Even though there are TCM treatments for "the painful scrotal mass", this is a red flag that needs immediate referral.

In ancient times there was no method to differentiate between the various causes, which include orchitis (inflammation of the testicle due to viral, bacterial or tuberculous infection), and epididymitis (inflammation of the epididymitis which often occurs with orchitis). Both are usually treated initially with antibiotics and observation over a week or two, unless the patient has clinical mumps, which is the most common viral cause.
The real reason, however, for the red flag is the possibility of incarcerated hernia or testicular torsion.

Most hernias are not painful. They can be uncomfortable if they are large, but they are not red, angry looking and extremely tender to touch. We are speaking of inguinal hernias here, a condition where the inguinal canal is open to the abdomen and allows bowel to descend into the scrotum. Most inguinal hernias slide back into the abdomen spontaneously when the patient lies down. Incarceration is a "pinching" off of the intestine somewhere between the abdomen and the scrotum. This causes a strangulation of the intestinal tissue and its supporting blood vessels. In this case the hernia does not go back into the abdomen, but instead becomes more swollen and can become necrotic (gangrenous) within a few hours. If not corrected surgically in a timely manner, the patient can develop sepsis (a blood infection) or the necrosis (dead tissue) that can spread to the attached bowel within the abdomen and cause peritonitis (a bacterial infection of the lining of the abdomen), both of which can result in death.

The other significant cause for immediate referral is the possibility of testicular torsion. As you probably remember, the fetal testicles descend from the abdomen through the inguinal canal and into the scrotum. They bring along with them their own circulation, both artery and vein. Sometimes in boys and young men the testicle twists, cutting off this blood supply and creating a very painful and swollen mass. If not corrected in few hours, the patient can lose the testicle. Although a person only needs one testicle to function, you do not want to be the health care provider that misses this. Not only is it highly litigious (keeping many lawyers in business), it is also just bad medical practice to miss it. Examination is difficult even for experienced professionals because of the associated pain. Often special tests must be done, such as ultrasound or nuclear scan to determine the exact cause of the pain. Again, an immediate referral might prevent loss of the testicle.

Finally, there is one painless mass that needs immediate referral, and that is testicular carcinoma. This is a cancerous nodule of the testicle that usually occurs in young men, and is often discovered by accident. Any nodule or asymmetrical growth of the testicle should be referred for evaluation.

Yo San Scores BIG at the February CA Board Exam

by Steven A. Carter

Twelve Yo San grads made the trek to Ontario, California in February for the winter California Board Exam and at first, there was much confusion. Amtrak and Metrolink trains ran past the hotels all night long, waking many of the test-takers every two hours the night before the test.

The Ontario Convention Center, hosting the exam for the first time, didn’t seem well-prepared for the onslaught of nearly 600 test-takers, changing their security policies throughout the day as they tried to deal with their miscalculations.

Food was hard to find because students were barred from the concession stands in the Convention Center (thank you Marilyn Allen for providing baked potatoes and soup for those in need!).

And the exam had a number of proctoring glitches which were slightly crazy-making for a group that had arrived with enough of their own anxiety and certainly didn’t need any extra. So, by the end of a very long day – a day that started at 8:00am and ended at 5:30pm – morale at the Convention Center was low. But this is when we have to remember that our students have completed a Yo San education, an education that prepares them for highs and lows, twists and turns, and serious academic rigor.

On Saturday March 13th, just one day prior to graduation, exam results suddenly arrived in the mail. Imagine how proud our twelve test-takers were to discover just moments before graduation day that they had all passed the exam. Yes, all twelve. 100%. Another one for the Yo San record books.

Congratulations to all of our test-takers who proved once again that whether they are testing in Ontario, testing in Sacramento, or quietly studying at 13315 W. Washington Boulevard, Yo San students stand head and shoulders above the crowd.

Chinese New Year Story

by Bita Yadidi

February 14th is always a special day for those of us who enjoy any opportunity to celebrate romance. But this year, February 14th was an extra special day for the Yo San University community, and my entire family knew this from the moment we woke that morning and hurried to get to the school.

As we arrived on the 3rd floor of the university building, the Yo San student volunteers warmly welcomed us, and invited us into the shrine room. We sat down on our cushions and looked around, observing many faces of people I knew and many of people I did not know; a warm feeling of community grew in my heart; so many families peacefully sitting with their friends, significant others and children, patiently awaiting the start of the event. I was just thinking and appreciating one simple fact: How wonderful that we have the opportunity as a community to gather around once a year and celebrate the beginning of a New Year--the Chinese New Year at Yo San University. How fortunate we are to be able to participate in such a beautiful and joyous event!

The room was filling up quickly; I continued to recognize more faces, while noticing just as many that were new to me. This is one of the lovely things about being part of a growing, thriving community. I could see the university President sitting comfortably amidst the students, and many of my favorite instructors. The feeling of belonging was palpable. Like most others in the room, I was eagerly anticipating the moment Dr. Mao would come out and speak to us about what to expect for the Year of the Tiger, and Dr. Dao would gracefully lead us in the new year renewal ceremony. And I knew that Dr. Dao and Dr. Mao would be followed by professor Ed Sullivan presenting his delightful, whimsical, witty skit about the year of the Tiger! (My children’s favorite part of the event, of course!).

When the clock hit 10:00, Karen Gordon the President of YSUSA came out and introduced herself. I was touched by the personal story she shared with us about how she discovered Yo San university. Also, Karen having a passion for singing -- especially Korean opera -- had arranged a special guest appearance by Hunjeong Seo, who performed beautiful Traditional Korean Opera with her accompanist, Jungwon Oh. She was dressed in a precious and sweet pink baby doll like dress, holding an Asian paper fan, with beautiful white skin and rosy cheeks—for a second, I thought she was a porcelain doll.

CNT and Exam Dates

Clean Needle Technique

Students are required to complete the Council Of Colleges (CCAOM) Clean Needle Technique (CNT) class before beginning their Internship in the clinic. The class is comprised of a lecture, written exam and practical exam. You are eliminable to take the class as long as you have started a Needling Techniques class prior to the date of the exam. Please register in advance as registration deadlines are 2 months prior to the class date and classes may fill up to capacity. See the website for class schedules, and applications, Andrea will sign your application to verify your eligibility. CNT manuals are sold in Yo San’s bookstore.
http://www.ccaom.org

Upcoming Comprehensive Exam Dates

1st Comprehensive
Spring trimester: March 19, 2010
Summer trimester: July 16, 2010
Fall trimester: November 12, 2010

Pre-Clinical
Spring trimester: March 19, 2010 (Make-up exam: May 14, 2010)
Summer trimester: July 16, 2010 (Make-up exam: September 10, 2010)
Fall trimester: November 12, 2010 (Make-up exam: Jan 14, 2011)

Graduation Exam
Spring trimester: January 8, 2010
Summer trimester: May 14, 2010
Fall trimester: September 10, 2010

* All exams will be held on a Friday, starting at 10:00 AM
* The practical portion of the Pre-Clinical exam begins at 2pm
* Registration deadline for all exams is one week prior to the exam date
* Exam guides are available from Administration for the Pre-Clinical and Grad exams

Ask Julie

"Working in the Yo San herbal dispensary, I have noticed that Gan Cao is in almost every formula. Why is this?"




Answer:

You are right, and there are several reasons for this. First, Gan Cao (the root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, commonly known as licorice root) is considered a “harmonizing” herb in Chinese medicine. This means that it can take all the other herbs in a formula and make them get along with each other. It can lessen potential harmful effects of other herbs. It can even detoxify herbs that have poisonous tendencies. Some herbs that would otherwise be too toxic to use can be rendered safe by a Gan Cao preparation.

Dr. John Chen(1) cites Gan Cao as being able to counteract poisoning from beef, drugs, herbicides, pesticides, lead and arsenic.A second reason Gan Cao is so widely used is that, as a Qi tonic, it protects the spleen against herbs in a formula that might be damaging. Spleen damage could occur from a formula that has a lot of cold ingredients, or heavy ingredients such as shells and stones. You will notice that many classical formulas contain the trio of herbs Sheng Jiang (Ginger root), Gan Cao and Da Zao (Zizyphus fruit). These are sometimes referred to as the “three sweets” because they nourish, protect and shield the body from ingredients that may be very bitter, strongly drying, or cold.

Another important reason why I include Gan Cao in formulas is its very sweet flavor. Even three grams of Gan Cao can make up for the extremely bitter flavor of such herbs as the “three yellows” (Huang Qin, Huang Lian and Huang Bai), yet this small amount will not essentially change the character of such a formula.

Some patients object to the flavor of Gan Cao, and for those people, Da Zao can be substituted. It also has harmonizing actions and is a sweet Qi tonic. Also, high doses and long term administration of Gan Cao should not be given to patients with hypertension. Usually Gan Cao is used in a small dosage (three grams). I make an exception to this dosage when I am treating abdominal pain or spasms: combining Gan Cao with Bai Shao (Paeonia lactiflora root), I use 10 grams of Gan Cao and at least 30 grams of Bai Shao.

A delicious energy drink that almost all people can benefit from (I call this “Julie’s Energy Tonic”) combines 30 grams of Huang Qi (Astragalus root), 12 grams of Dang Shen (Codonopsis root), 10 grams of either Gou Qi Zi (Lycium fruit) or Long Yan Rou (Longan fruit) and either four pieces of Da Zao or three grams of Gan Cao. This is a tea to gently boost the Qi and strengthen the spleen and the immune system. Most people, even children, can drink this on a daily basis.

Please direct any questions you may have to Julie Chambers, L.Ac. at info@juliechamberslac.com

(1) Chen, John and Tina Chen, Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology, Art of Medicine Press, 2004, p. 868

What's up, Doc?

Red Flag Of The Month: Chest Pain

By Ed Shaheen, M.D.

The heart is a muscle and if it does not get enough blood, it goes into a reversible cramp (angina) when exercising, just like muscles in the rest of the body. If the lack of oxygen continues, it can cause muscle damage. We refer to the latter as a myocardial infarction or “heart attack”. Typically the patient with angina has pain on exertion that is relieved by rest. The pain can be across the chest, up into the neck and jaw, in the upper back, down the left arm, both arms or in the upper epigastric (abdominal) area. It can be associated with nausea, diaphoresis (sweating), dyspnea (shortness of breath). Quite often it is mistaken for indigestion.

There are many variations of angina. I have seen a patient with typical angina symptoms involving the right arm only, who was misdiagnosed because it was in the right arm (this is rare and is not described in the books). The diagnosis might have been suspected if a careful history had been taken. Instead the patient presented several times in an urgent care setting and was sent home with the diagnosis of musculoskeletal pain until finally he was hospitalized with a heart attack. No one obtained the history that he only had the pain when he exerted himself and that it went away with rest.

It has been well publicized recently that women with angina often do not have typical symptoms. It can be easy to miss a woman with angina symptoms, which could be a complaint as subtle as “unusual tiredness when making a bed that goes away with rest.” Again this kind of diagnosis is made by listening carefully to the history. In cases like this, it is also helpful to take into consideration other risk factors for heart disease, such as, family history, the age of the woman (post-menopausal women have increased risk), lifestyle, blood lipid status, etc. If the history report is not thorough, the appropriate diagnosis cannot be concluded.

There are many other atypical presentations of angina. Any new chest pain should be referred out for consultation and diagnosis unless you are very sure of what you are dealing with.

Many students use review summaries to study western medical concepts when preparing for qualifying exams in TCM. Keep in mind that occasionally, some TCM board reviews or TCM websites describe "angina" as "left arm pain and weakness". A history of weakness is not a symptom of angina from the western point of view. Weakness or paralysis is due to a problem with the motor nerves. Angina is transmitted by sensory nerves. Weakness or paralysis by itself can be a symptom of stroke. New weakness and arm pain together can be a symptom of a pinched nerve in the neck or other musculoskeletal problem. Neither stroke nor angina present with both weakness and pain in the arm normally. Once again, the history is a clinician’s most important tool.

The list of causes of chest pain is too long to discuss in this article but you might want to get a pocket-sized booklet of differential diagnoses for various presenting symptoms. These are usually inexpensive and easily transported. Or if you are a "techie" access the iTunes application: "Diagnosaurus", a program that gives you a differential diagnosis list for symptoms like "chest pain". It is also quite handy to carry around and to consult when you are seeing patients. And it sells for the exorbitant price of "99 cents":)

Yo San Library Goes Online

The YSU library rang in the new year with many attractions. Apart from its beautiful new space, it now offers online capabilities. Added journal databases and other helpful e-resources that focus on the Yo San Masters and DAOM curriculum are gathered together in one location to help with student research.

The next phase will be to add the library catalog so that students can search the collection online, which will be up and running by mid February. If anyone would like further instruction on how to use databases, please contact Sage Goodman at library@yosan.edu to schedule an orientation. Now you can enjoy the YSU library from anywhere, anytime!!

Check out the new library web page on the Yo San homepage. http://www.yosan.edu/
Click on Student Resources and follow links to the Library/LRC

You will find information regarding library collections, policies, and helpful online learning resources. Login and password information needed for certain sites can be obtained from any librarian on duty.

Why Seven Star?

Are you wondering why our new classroom is called "Seven Star"?

By Brady Chin

"The Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper" (北斗七星, běidǒu qīxīng) have figured prominently in Taoist astrology since the beginning of Chinese history. Represented as a zigzag line with seven stars, the Big Dipper (or the "Bushel", the Chinese equivalent) was considered a deity in the Shang dynasty (1766 BC - 1122 BC). During the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), it was considered a walking path of the circumpolar god, Taiyi, the supreme sky god.

Certainly it is a benevolent name!

A Building Filled With Surprises…

When students returned to Yo San after the three week Christmas break, the building was filled with an overwhelming number of exciting (and a bit disorienting) surprises. It was a bit like being in a special holiday episode of “Ultimate Makeovers” where we all had starring roles. For example…

Our fabulous, huge new Learning Resource Center/Library was open and ready for use. The new center, which is located on the 3rd floor of the building, has almost triple the space of the old YSU library. There are more study areas, new private study carrels, more internet-ready computers, a semi-private group study area, special areas for personal laptop computers, and tons of new resources, including a dizzying array of new electronic resources. Our librarian Sage Goodman will be happy to help you get acquainted with everything! Sage will also be holding ongoing Resource Center Orientations to help everyone get acclimated to this extraordinary new addition to the university.

We have new classrooms! The large “Seven Star” classroom, located on the 3rd floor directly across from the Shrine Room, will easily accommodate our largest classes and special events. The room has beautiful views of the Santa Monica Mountains and, on a clear night, you can even see the stars. For those of you who want to know more about the significance of the seven star constellation (from which the room’s name is derived), Dr. Brady Chin will be happy to fill you in!

If you spend any time in the Yo San Clinic you probably immediately noticed that the entire clinic has a few new coats of paint! New artwork adorns the waiting area and corridors, and every treatment room has been painted in of three new beautiful colors. With new art, new décor, and this professional paint job, the clinic looks more vibrant than ever. And with the holiday season at an end, we are packed with patients!

Our administrative team is expanding, and we have been adding offices to accommodate that expansion. There are four new Admin offices – Rooms A,B,C & D – that take up the former library location. Shuilan May (Bursar), Jyotika Karan (bookkeeper), Yvonne Farrell (Doctoral Program Director), and Mark Franco (Doctoral Program Assistant) will occupy these offices.

There is also room where faculty, tutors, and admin staff will be able to meet with students. Some privacy! Tutors can reserve rooms 24 hours in advance – please see our Office Manager Tora for more info.

We’re probably leaving out some of the details, but you probably get the picture: lots of amazing changes have taken place. We are so excited to welcome our students back to Yo San 2010, and that includes our newest cohort of Masters Degree candidates and our very first cohort of Doctoral candidates. As the Year of the Tiger approaches, we wish you the very best!!!