Message from our President

by Larry Ryan

Invariably late spring brings a flurry of activity on higher education campuses across our country. Yo San University is no exception as is evidenced by the articles that you will read about in this edition of Communi Qi Newsletter. Among the events reported in this edition of the newsletter are the annual gala fundraising event that took place on April 28, the May 15 and 16 campus presentations by distinguished Chinese Scholars, Dr. Guowei Qin and Dr. Guo Zhiqiang; the ACAOM DAOM Candidacy site visit of May 20-22; and the May 1 and 20 matriculation of new cohorts in our master’s and doctoral programs.

Among the activities not reported in this issue include site visits regarding several private foundations grants (by the Fineshirber and Green Foundations to provide potential grant support for our externship activities at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and Venice Family Clinic); a first of its kind faculty development event attended by three YSU faculty member and sponsored by ACTCM, a sister school in San Francisco; a further faculty development event that featured a demonstration of the SmartBoard “clicker” system; a vital focus group of YSU Master’s Program students who met with key administrators regarding recommendations for improvements in the Qi Program, and the usual grad and pre-clinical exams that stimulate intensive preparation and self examination among students as they approach these milestone events.

It is the aggregate of all of these events and so many more that define Yo San University as a true academic living and learning community.
Our learning is not only classroom based. Important learning derives from our governance processes, extra-curricular and social events

SELA WARD RECEIVES ROBERT GRAHAM VISIONARY AWARD

Photograph by Robert Latour

In an evening filled with grandeur, sparkle and surprise, actress Sela Ward received the Robert Graham Visionary Award on Thursday, April 28th. The setting could not have been more inspiring: the sprawling Bel Air home of legendary producer Freddy DeMann and his wife Candy DeMann. Within this classic Spanish architectural triumph, built in the late 1920’s, Yo San friends, family, students, and supporters gathered to pay homage to the legendary artist Robert Graham and the award that was created in his memory three years ago. This award, inspired by the collaborative efforts of Angelica Huston, artist Steven Graham (Robert’s son), and Drs. Mao Shing and Daoshing Ni, recognizes individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to wellness and healthcare in the United States and abroad.

The beautiful and talented Sela Ward has devoted herself to providing safe shelter and much-needed ongoing medical care to victims of emotional and physical abuse at Hope Village in Meridian, Mississippi. Hope Village is a model of extraordinary philanthropy that offers hope for children who face unthinkable dangers in their daily lives. Sela Ward’s long list of credits include roles on CSI: New York, Sisters (for which she won her first Emmy), and her memorable performance in the film Nothing in Common, where she starred with actor Tom Hanks. In front of an admiring crowd at the DeMann’s sprawling estate, Sela accepted the award with grace and charm, reminding us all that even the brightest of Hollywood’s shining stars can be humble, generous, and truly committed to an exceptional cause. Steven Graham presented the crystal masterpiece to Sela Ward, making the moment especially moving.

Yo San University Board members, Yo San staff and Yo San faculty were present everywhere that evening. Andrea Murchison, our Assistant Academic Dean, was front and center, greeting every guest as he or she arrived. Ed Mervine, our Financial Aid Coordinator, changed hats and coordinated video presentations praising and explaining the work done at Hope Village. Beautiful signs, artfully created by Tora Flint, Yo San’s Office Manager, decorated all of the tables and tastefully announced all of our volunteers to the guests. And then there were the volunteers… This year’s team of Yo San volunteers clearly set a new standard for perfection. Dressed in crisp new shirts from Singapore which cleverly highlighted the artistic style of the evening, over a dozen Yo San students performed every imaginable task and never tired – they tended bar, served drinks and hors d’oeuvres, served guests at the buffet tables, assisted superstar chef Chad Gardner, set up and managed the sound system, cleaned everything, secured the perimeter… the list goes on and on. Once again, Yo San students demonstrated, with sweet equity, their selfless commitment to the university’s mission and its goals.

After so much exquisite food, and so many wonderful speeches and presentations, the time arrived for the special auctions. This year, three items were up for grabs: a fully catered dinner for ten by the outstanding chef-of-the-evening Chad Gardner (brother of Yo San student Julianne Gardner), a private “Curator’s Tour” and reception for twelve people by the Santa Monica Museum, and a comprehensive Feng Shui assessment of one’s home or business by none other than Dr. Mao Shing Ni. When the bidding frenzy was over, four winners remained, thanks to the exceptional generosity of Chad Gardner who, at the height of the auction, added a second ‘dinner-for-ten’ into the mix. Proceeds from the exciting auction and from all contributions to this priceless evening will be used to support the Yo San University Community Clinic and Externship Programs.

To everyone who played a part in this very magical event, our greatest thanks!

Special thanks to our fabulous volunteers:
Jose Bermudez
Adam Cappuccino
Steven Carter
Laraine Crampton
Emma Dan
Tora Flint
Wendy Gerrish
Vicky Kong
Cherry Krasaeyan
Shui Lan May
Ed Mervine
Monica Mukai
Andrea Murchison
JP O’Hara
Jonathan Olcott
Tram Pham
Mary Schulz
Gabby Sigala Orozco
Alissa Smith
Tobe Stacey
Loren Stiteler
Penny Weinraub

ACAOM Team Reviews DAOM Program for Accreditation Candidacy Status

The Yo San University Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) Program completed a significant step in the rigorous process of earning accreditation when the program hosted a site visit team from the Accrediting Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). The site visit, which took place Friday through Sunday May 20-22, 2011, was conducted specifically to discern the program’s readiness for “Accreditation Candidacy” status.

The 4-person site visit team conducted a careful examination of the program Self Study document for compliance regarding ACAOM’s eight eligibility requirements and for progress regarding the accrediting organization’s fourteen accreditation standards. Each member of ACAOM’s team was assigned several eligibility requirements and accreditation standards to examine through paper documentation and interviews with program students, faculty and administrators. It was an intense three days as the site team dug deep to discern mission, vision, objectives, culture, content, processes and logistics of Yo San’s first doctoral program.

During the site visit weekend students from both Cohort #1 and (the brand new) Cohort #2 were on campus for their scheduled didactic residency and clinic sessions. The visitors viewed classes and enjoyed a working interactive lunch with both cohorts on Friday and kept pace with a packed schedule of interviews, observations and phone calls that culminated in interactions with DAOM student practitioners and their clinical faculty at the Sunday Fertility Clinic sessions at Yo San.

After several hours of deliberation and writing the team completed a summary of their visit. At the exit presentation, the verbal summary report indicated “compliance” regarding all of the eight eligibility requirements as well as regarding all fourteen of the accreditation standards. Five days later, the official written report arrived, and included valuable recommendations for taking the DAOM program to its next stages of excellence. We are all very excited that the site-visit was such a success, and that the University is moving forward on its quest for accreditation of the DAOM program.

Distinguished Beijing TCM University scholars at Yo San University

by Lawrence Lau

Two eminent TCM physicians and scholars from Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (BUTCM) visited Yo San University (YSU) in May 2011 to give lecture presentations on TCM Reproductive Medicine and TCM Cardiology to the YSU community.

Professor Zhiqiang Guo (郭志强), senior consultant physician at Dongzhimen Hospital in Beijing and professor of TCM Gynecology at BUTCM, is a world renowned authority on TCM Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine. With over 40 years clinical experience in the specialty, Professor Z. Guo is widely published and has been invited to lecture in more than 20 countries around the world. He is also the recipient of numerous awards throughout his illustrious career, including the prestigious “Extraordinary Contribution Award” presented by the State Council of China. Professor Z. Guo’s full day presentation at YSU was on the topic of treating infertility with Chinese herbal medicine.

On the same day, Professor Weiqin Guo (郭维琴), also from BUTCM, presented a full-day lecture on TCM treatment of cardiac arrhythmias & hypertension. Professor W. Guo, who hails from a family of distinguished TCM physicians, was formerly Medical Director of Dongzhimen Hospital and a professor of TCM Cardiology with BUTCM. An ardent researcher, clinician and educator with more than 35 years clinical and teaching experience, Professor W. Guo has won many national and international awards for her pioneering work on the use of TCM herbal medicine in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. She is also the author of over a dozen books and numerous scientific publications on TCM Cardiology.

In recognition of their contributions to the YSU community as well as to the TCM profession at large, YSU President Dr. Lawrence J. Ryan conferred on both Drs. W. Guo and Z. Guo honorary professorships at Yo San University. The award ceremony, preceded by an open forum, was filled with YSU students, alumni, faculty, staff, as well as members of the local acupuncture community.

Yo San Goes to China

In April 2011, a highly motivated group of Yo San students and alumni spent two weeks in Chengdu, China participating in an intensive training program in TCM Gynecology. The group, comprising DAOM candidates Lori Deutsch, Paula Kunkel, Gila Peled and Cynthia Splies, along with YSU alumni Aryani Boedisantoso (class of 2011) and Monica Sarrat (class of 2004), was led by Yo San’s Dean of Academic & Clinical Affairs Dr. Lawrence Lau. This two week intensive program was jointly organized by Yo San University (YSU) and Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CDUTCM). Situated in Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan province in China, CDUTCM is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities of traditional Chinese medicine in China.

The two-week YSU intensive program was specifically developed to fulfill the requirements of the YSU DAOM specialty in Reproductive Medicine. All of the following were included: participation in outpatient clinical sessions, in-patient ward rounds, didactic lectures, small-group tutorials and discussions, and acupuncture demonstrations at both the CDUTCM First Affiliated TCM Hospital as well as the CDUTCM Second Affiliated TCM Hospital (also known as the Sichuan Institute of Reproductive Health, which specializes in an integrative approach to Reproductive Medicine). Reproductive medicine is particularly significant in Chengdu right now where there is currently a huge government sponsored focus. The 2008 Sichuan earthquake resulted in over 5000 families losing their sole child. Since this tragedy, the Chinese government has embarked on a massive program to assist affected families/mothers hoping to re-build their families. A combination of both TCM therapy and western medical interventions are being simultaneously used to support these efforts.

During their training in CDUTCM, the Yo San students observed firsthand how TCM is integrated with allopathic Western medicine in the treatment of a variety of conditions in reproductive medicine. “We learned so much in these two weeks, both in terms of the huge number of patients seen as well as the diversity of clinical cases.” said DAOM candidate Cynthia Splies.

At the end of the program, each YSU participant was presented with a formal Certificate recognizing their successful completion of this specialized intensive clinical program.

Yo San University Appoints New Clinic Manager

After an extensive search Yo San University Community Clinic has a new manager. Effective late in February 2011 Kari Napoli began working in the position of Clinic Manager and has very ably filled out the Yo San University Clinic team and has provided much relief to Dean of Clinical Education, Albert Vaca, who formerly held the clinic manager position and who functioned in both the role of clinic dean and clinic manager for several months.

Kari is a Yo San University Graduate, and she is well prepared for the clinic manager’s position. She is a 2009 graduate of the master’s program at Yo San and licensed acupuncturist. Her most recent experience was at a treatment center in Westwood where she provided relief for patients with pain, neurological and anxiety conditions.

Additionally, Kari brings prior experience as a technical supervisor at Yo San. Kari’s interests in health and wellness are also highlighted by her extensive training as a certified Yoga instructor and four years as a manager at Planet Yoga. She has also completed specialized training in orthopedics acupuncture through a program that she engaged at Cedars Sinai Hospital.

Besides her full engagement of the TCM profession, Kari brings a continuing interest in the visual arts as her background includes a bachelor’s degree in photography from the University of Iowa.

Since starting service in her role as Yo San University Community Clinic, Kari has completed the transition of the clinic management data to a new software system and has planned and implemented a creative outreach and marketing plan that will raise the awareness of citizens of Los Angeles regarding the services of the Yo San University Community Clinic.

Welcome to the Yo San University team, Kari!

Santa Monica Buzz TV is featuring Yo San University Clinic!

(Click on the image to watch the video clip.)

The Santa Monica episode will soon be airing on Transit TV (LA Metro's video channel) and also on Cuttle Media, who operate a network of video monitors in various public display areas throughout Los Angeles. Currently you can also see this video on popular sites such as YouTube, Metacafe, Blip.TV, VIMEO by looking up search word Yo San.

Ask Julie

Question:

We hear a lot about herbs that can treat gallstones. But can we really treat gallstones safely with Chinese herbs? What precautions should we take?

Answer:

It is true that we U.S. herbalists are not given much guidance in treating gallstones. The most we are told is that “if the gallstone is 1 cm in diameter or less, we can expel it using Chinese herbs.” There are several problems we need to be aware of. People who have formed gallstones within the gallbladder that have not spilled into the bile duct may not experience any symptoms at all. The severe colicky pain, nausea and vomiting that occur in a gallbladder attack usually mean that a stone is in the duct. By then, it may be too late to try to “expel” the stone, due to the risk of creating a blockage that may lead to pancreatitis, a potentially very serious complication. If we know, however, that a particular patient is prone to forming stones, and that the stones are under 1 cm in diameter, we can attempt to shrink, dissolve or expel them.

In China in the 1950s, a treatment was developed involving Chinese herbs to expel stones by increasing bile flow; these were usually herbs that clear damp heat from the liver/gallbladder. Some such herbs are:

Jin Qian Cao (Lysimachiae herba)
Yin Chen Hao (Artemisiae scopariae herba)
Wu Mei (Mume Fructus)

Sometimes, purgative herbs such as Da Huang (Rhei Radix and Rhizome) and Mang Xiao (Mirabilite) were used. This treatment did not always result in all stones being expelled, and patients tended to form more stones.

In the 1970s, a “rapid expulsion” method was used wherein high dosages of strong herbs were given to cause fast and harsh expulsion of stones into the bile duct. Patients had to be hospitalized, continuously anaesthetized and given morphine for pain. This method is clearly not likely to be adopted in the U.S.
A third method, using “stone dissolving” has also been used. The “three golds” are the core herbs in this method: Jin Qian Cao, Hai Jin Sha (Lygodium spores), and Ji Nei Jin (Gigeriae Galli Endothelium Corneum). The first two herbs are diuretics that are also used for kidney stones and stone or cloudy lin. The third is a digestive herb that is effective to dissolve kidney or biliary stones. This stone-dissolving method takes at least 2-3 months, and may require additional herbs such as Chai Hu (Bupleurum radix), Huang Qin (Scutellariae baicalensis radix), and Da Huang.

So, what should we do if presented with a gallstone patient who does not want surgery? I recommend the following three steps:

1. Work with the patient’s medical doctor to develop a treatment plan that includes the use of Chinese herbs
   


2. Analyze imaging studies that show the size of the gallstones
   


3. Consult with an experienced Chinese medicine practitioner, such as Yo San’s Dr. Nai-qiang Gu
   

Please see Dr. Ed Shaheen’s article on this topic also in this issue!

For this article, I relied upon information from the following sources:
Flaws, Bob, The Treatment of Modern Western Medical Diseases with Chinese Medicine, Blue Poppy Press, 2001, Boulder, CO
Chen, John and Tina, Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology, Art of Medicine Press, 2004, City of Industry, CA
Subhuti Dharmananda, itmonline.org

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

What's up, Doc?

by Ed Shaheen

The case for gallbladder surgery :

From anatomy, you know that the gall bladder is a little green sack tucked just beneath the lower rim of the liver on the upper right side of the abdomen. The liver makes bile, which flows down a duct to the duodenum where it participates in the digestion of fats. On its way, some of the bile takes a side trip down a different duct and is stored in the gallbladder.

About 10% of people make gallstones in the gallbladder. However, only about 1 to 2% of these have symptoms of nausea and pain following a fatty meal due to a stone blocking the path of the bile in the common bile duct on its way to the gut. We usually don’t treat asymptomatic patients with gallstones. However, once the patient has a few episodes of gallstone obstruction, the odds of continuing attacks increase even if the patient is on a fat restricted diet. A diet without some fat is pretty boring. We then reach a point of decision, with two options: medication or surgery.

In western medicine, we also have a pill that can dissolve gallstones (it may be an extract from the Chinese herbs). This requires twice a day dosing and takes months for the stones to dissolve. There are several problems with this. First, the stones can recur within five years; second, the medication has side effects; third, as the stones are reduced in size, they are more likely to get into the common bile duct and cause the symptoms that the medication is trying to prevent. Finally, a small percentage of gallstones that get stuck in the duct can result in a bacterial infection, which can cause a blood infection, perforation of the gallbladder and even death.

Gallbladder surgery used to be a much more grim affair than it is today. The patient ended up with a rather large slash across the upper abdomen, up to two weeks in the hospital and a total recovery time of six weeks before he could resume work.

We now live in the age of laparoscopic surgery. Under a general anesthesia, the gall bladder and stones are removed through a small incision with the use of a periscope like device. This is usually done as a same day procedure. When performed by a competent surgeon, the complications are extremely low. In most cases, the patient is able to return to work in a day or two. Once the stones are completely removed (sometimes there is a “retained” stone immediately following surgery), gallstone formation stops for good.

So this brings up the question: is the gallbladder necessary for a healthy life. The answer is... apparently not. The best explanation of why we have a gallbladder is that it stems from prehistoric times when our diet was higher in animal fat and the extra dose of bile helped to aid digestion. In modern times our diet is much more varied and there is sufficient bile produced and delivered to the gut for normal digestion without the gallbladder.