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!!!

Yo San Establishes Alumni Endowed Scholarship

On the evening of November 17, 2009 approximately 50 YSU alums and administrators gathered at the home of YSU President, Larry Ryan for conversation, wine and a fine Italian dinner.

Brief presentations from Dr. Daoshing Ni and several graduates provided a focus for the evening. Dr. Dao addressed up to date perspectives regarding H1N1 flu and TCM. The presentation of YSU alums, Valerie Ducos, Thomas Boldt, and Michael Sax included sharing of perspectives of service with the Acupuncturists at Sea Program.

As a result of other discussions at this event, the graduates of the master’s program have established an Alumni Endowed Scholarship fund that will provide partial assistance to a deserving Master’s program students.

The fund was kicked off by a check for $250 from Fat Turtle Herb Co. which is owned by recent grads Jonah Ewell and Nini Mai.

The corpus of the scholarship fund will be allowed to grow until it reaches an amount from which the interest income can provide a reasonable scholarship grant. YSU alumni interested in making tax deductible donations to the Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund should forward checks to Sum-Yee Wang, CFO at the university.

Contributions can also be made online via credit card authorization with a note indicating that the donation is to be applied to the Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Korean Dignitaries Visit Yo San

On Thursday January 21, 2010, Jeannie Kang, Vice President of the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) accompanied a group of Korean dignitaries on a tour of the Los Angeles Area.

Yo San University was chosen as an ideal learning and service community for the dignitaries to visit. The visiting party included the president and deans of the Seoul Korea based, Dongguk University. Accompanying the group was the president of the Los Angeles branch of Dongguk. The group of eight visitors met in YSU President Larry Ryan’s office for tea and conversation, with Ms. Kang providing interpretative services.

YSU Dean of Academic and Clnical Affairs, Lawrence Lau, M.D., also provided information and responded to questions of the visitors. The dignitaries then toured the newly remodeled YSU academic and clinical facilities. The group was especially interested in how YSU incorporates the Qi cultivation component into the four year master’s program.

They were very favorably impressed by the new Qi Studio, new classrooms and expanded library facilities.