Message from our President "We are all servants"

In these months of intense political campaigning the issue of what constitutes effective leadership is decidedly in the air.  While there is a ton of rhetoric and soap boxing engaged by civic, business, educational, healthcare and other leaders, both ancient legacies and recent theories postulate that a highly effective form of leadership is what is known as “servant leadership”—the style of leadership that places service to others as the highest priority.  More accurately described as a life style, servant leadership can and should be engaged by all who interact with others.   At the heart of servant leadership is an enduring respect for humanity and recognition of the constant processes of growth and development that are prime motivators of behavior.  The servant leader provides a model of selfless concern for others that transcends rank and role.   When you are with a servant leader you know it.   You feel calm and confident, heard and respected.  We are fortunate at Yo San University to have superb models of servant leadership in our faculty, clinical supervisors, interns and externs, tutors and mentors, students helping students, and so many other human beings who serve our community making it the special place that it is.

-Larry Ryan Ph.D.

Healthy-Aging Clinic at Yo San opens in September!

Spread the word!

SUNDAY MORNING HEALTHY-AGING CLINIC 
is opening September 9, 2012

Treating Age-Related Conditions with Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine and Nutritional Counseling

A wide variety of health conditions can be treated in the Yo San Specialty HEALTHY- AGING Clinic: 

• Skin conditions
• Joint, knee, hip, lower back, neck pain
• Rheumatism, arthritis
• Incontinence, bladder or prostate dysfunction, menopause
• Heart - lung conditions or circulatory issues
• Diabetes, obesity, constipation
• Insomnia, chronic fatigue

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All care provided by Licensed Acupuncturists enrolled in the Doctoral Program at Yo San University

Call for an appointment: Yo San Specialty Healthy-Aging Clinic (310) 577-3006

Sundays  8:30 am – 1:30 pm

Ancient Relief for a Modern Disease - Yo San University Externship Program at Being Alive Center

Ancient Relief for a Modern Disease

By Daniel Ramirez

On most days, the lobby of Being Alive in West Hollywood, Calif. is filled with laughter and banter from patients waiting for their next acupuncture session to get in tune with their qi. They are patients who come from different backgrounds, but share one thing in common - they all are living with HIV/AIDS and are seeking relief through this more than 3,000-year-old ancient medicine.

Being Alive is a 1,200-member non-profit HIV/AIDS organization that for nearly 15 years has been offering acupuncture, along with other alternative treatments, to help people living with HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles. 

A narrow hall, a paneled patient area and therapy room house Being Alive's twice-weekly acupuncture clinic where volunteer therapists and interns treat up to 60 members a week.

The volunteer therapists include instructors and interns from Yo San University in Santa Monica, Calif.

Since its introduction, acupuncture has been one of Being Alive's more popular programs, with countless members on its waiting list to fill slots of limited appointments.

The organization, like many other similar HIV holistic programs, has relied heavily on its volunteers and various donations to keep providing complementary services to this community.

Yo San University volunteer treating patient.

 Like other similar organizations across the country, Being Alive has faced financial challenges. Similar clinics around the state were affected by the Health Resources and Services Administration ruling in 2007 that prohibited against using Ryan White Program HIV funding for complementary therapy services. There have also been challenges with the fluctuating economy that have taken a toll.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that each year, approximately 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with HIV. This number has stabilized over the years, but remains high.

To reduce the replication of the HIV virus in the body, HIV-infected persons are treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART). Side effects for these drugs include stomach upset, fatigue, and liver and sleep problems according to the research association AVERT.org.

In 2003, the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care reported 31 percent of HIV/AIDS patients used acupuncture as an alternative form of treatment.

Since then, there has been a steady rise.

Being Alive Executive Director Kevin Kurth explains that the program was started to offer holistic treatment to combat the side effects of drugs that are associated with fighting this rapid, growing disease and to provide a alternative outlet for people looking for  a natural approach to healing.

"We began to offer acupuncture as a complimentary with antiretroviral and Western medicine," said Kurth. "The No. 1 reason why people come for the acupuncture is the neuropathy, to treat pain in nerve endings mainly. But also to deal with stress, their appetite, nausea and all other side effects from the drugs."

Treating The Hiv Patient

Treatment of HIV/AIDS patients falls under two categories at Being Alive, according to Dr. Lawrence Lau, Dean of Academy and Clinical Affairs at Yo San University who oversees acupuncturists at the facility.

"There are two sets of patients. One wants relief from numbness, neuropathy, anything neurological, or nausea, fatigue, constipation, symptom-based.

The other set of patients are pretty OK, they have little symptoms, but just want to be well, or want continued wellness," said Lau.

If an HIV/AIDS patient requires more immediate and special attention, therapists identify and place them under a targeted 10-week program that includes routine care.

All of the care comes without a price tag.

The cost of acupuncture can hinder HIV/AIDS patients looking to be treated with this therapy.

"Many of our members are living on disability. I would say the majority, 98 percent, are under the poverty line so they can't afford treatment," said Kurth.

At no cost to members, the program allows access to those who could normally not take part in it.

Those who have taken advantage of the treatment so far said the treatments have been priceless.

Patients at Being Alive are treated for HIV-related symptoms such as fatigue and neuropathy.

 Patients like Cory Scott have become reliant on acupuncture to relieve serious side effects from the HIV virus. Scott has been living with HIV for 10 years - he has been coming to Being Alive for the past two. Having always been big believer in natural ways to cure, acupuncture had always intrigued Scott's mind. He began inquiring about the therapy to care for his neuropathy.

Neuropathy causes numbness, tingling, or pain, often starting in the feet and moving to the hands, according to the American Academy of Neurology.

When Scott sees his acupuncturist at the clinic, he said he describes his main symptoms as, "an intense burning sensation. A mix of burning and cold sensation on my feet."

Scott said it took only two sessions of acupuncture and low-voltage electro acupuncture to start seeing a difference in his overall health.

"There are no words to describe it. I feel a world of a difference," said Scott. "Living with HIV, it is hard to keep your energy up. Your life does change. But now, I exercise more and I'm less fatigued."

Others like Mark Mallery, an acupuncture and HIV patient said having acupuncture offered to him at the clinic has opened his eyes to view his health in a different light. After seeing significant results, Mallery said he was hooked on the treatments.

"There was a palpable feeling of being better. I felt my body make better connections, when I was having consistent treatment. Acupuncture is so beneficial to have in your arsenal to fight," he said.

Mallery said he hopes he can have constant and rotating treatment on a regular basis.

"There needs to be an expand in the availability. It has become an issue because of the need. It is beyond important to offer this therapy. It is probably one of the most important services this organization offers."

The word-of-mouth praise that the clinic has received from both patients and interns from Yo San has gradually created a growing demand, causing a strain on their resources.

"Some therapists' private practices are growing so fast, and they don't have time to volunteer here.

While the popularity of our program is also growing, we depend a lot on our volunteers," said Gene Poppe, Being AliveDirector of Development.

A Fulfilling Experience For Practitioners

The clinic has not only proven to be a success for the patients, but it has also been a fulfilling experience for Dr. Lau, along with his team of three interns and one instructor in charge of treating these Being Alive members.

 Being Alive headquarters located in West Hollywood, Calif. offers free acupuncture services. 

The clinic has served as a learning environment for the interns who are in their final year of schooling and has broadened their overall knowledge of helping people heal from a complex disease with traditional medicine.

"We provide an opportunity for them to treat a different patient, experiencing different types of pain, under a well-defined set of conditions and perform acupuncture in a different setting, as opposed to an in-house clinic," said Dr. Lau.

Acupuncturist Antonio Whiteley has donated his time at Being Alive for the past three years.

In practicing acupuncture, Whiteley always felt the need to give back. 

"I am a gay man and I wanted to give back to my community in this way," shared Whiteley. "It is something that I've always wanted to be involved in, there has always been such a stigma on HIV/AIDS, I don't think there was as much compassion brought to these patients, no one wanted to touch them or treat them years ago."

In lending his time at Being Alive, Whiteley has developed friendships with his patients and is passionate about his service.

"My patients love to come in, I talk to them also because I genuinely care about their health and they do get results.

From the neuropathy or viral loads go down and T cells go up," Whiteley said. 

Whiteley recognizes that he has learned more and more about treatment protocol and has had to stay up to date with modern research for both the Chinese medicine and the disease.

"It makes me appreciate things more. It is a great balance outside of your practice, not doing it for the money but for the satisfaction.

I learn something new every time I go there: clinically, personally, everyone teaches me something valuable there," he said.

Whitely calls for other acupuncturists to think about lending their services, whether it is at Being Alive or any other nonprofit in their community. He believes that when professionals reach a point in their careers, they should just think about giving back.

"It goes to show that although Chinese medicine is an ancient form of medicine, you can use ancient medicine to treat a modern disease. It is so beneficial for people living with HIV, with their immune system, their mentality, a lot of people think it is just for pain," said Whiteley.

Through the camaraderie that has developed at Being Alive, most acupuncture patients at this clinic have been able to overlook their fear of needles and echo the words of Mallery when he states, "I would advise anyone who hasn't to try it, to be open to alternative medicine and broadening your possibilities to healing."

If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about Being Alive, please contact 323.874.4322 or visit http://beingalivela.org.

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http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?t=47&id=32636
Photo courtesy of Marco Garcia

Externship Program at Visions Adolescent Treatment Centers

Consistent with its commitment to facilitate wellness across the human lifespan, early in September 2012 Yo San University will initiate an externship service with the Visions Adolescent Day School and Treatment Program in Brentwood.   The Visions program provides a WASC accredited high school experience as well, as management and/or provision of a range of Western and complementary treatment services for adolescents who have experienced a wide range of conditions.  The service at the Visions site will be implemented with one shift per week starting September 12, 2012.   The Visions site will provide a unique externship since it will engage a “community acupuncture” format with four patients being treated simultaneously.  Additionally, the site operates with a paperless system with all patient background and treatment data maintained via an electronic medical records system.  The plans for the externship include service by one extern from the MATCM and one extern form the DAOM Program.    In addition to the usual supervision activities, the externs will be invited to participate in staff meetings at the Visions site at which they will have the opportunity to learn a great deal more about the adolescent personality and the multiple healthcare referrals involved in managing the treatment of a wide range of physical, behavioral and psychological dysfunctions.  The prospect is for a rich and stimulating learning experience for Yo San University students.

“Floating Doctors” Founder Speaks at Yo San

On a recent Thursday afternoon thirty members of the Yo San University Community gathered to hear the presentation of Dr. Ben LaBrot, the founder and President of “Floating Doctors” a  volunteer organization that has provided crisis related healthcare services to needy people in Haiti, Honduras and Panama.   It was nearly three years ago that grassroots band of volunteer physicians and other health care provides, based on a 74 foot sailing ship, The Southern Wind, responded to the devastating earthquake in Haiti by rendering two and a half months of emergency health care to people in remote seaside villages that were not accessed by other relief agencies.   The group returned to Haiti eight months later to assist in the provision of medical treatments during a widespread outbreak of Cholera.  A similar mission was conducted subsequent to political upheaval in Honduras, which left many indigent people injured and without appropriate medical services.  Most recently the group has provided medical relief to isolated villages in Panama.  Ben LaBrot is a charismatic and passionate speaker who has decided opinions about how to provide immediate and meaningful healthcare service.  His awareness  and expertise has enabled the Floating Doctors to bypass the bureaucracies of immigration, import taxes and other political blockades that often inhibit the provision of emergency and crisis care.  Dr. LaBrot’s presentation was enhanced by several  poignant video clips depicting Floating Doctors in action with narrations by several of the 350 volunteers who have served the organization in the past three years.   Participation in the Floating Doctors program affords volunteers a  wide range of medical treatment experiences with a level of intensity that will last a lifetime.  Most importantly, volunteer service with Floating Doctors provides critical care medical assistance for people in need.  To learn more about Floating Doctors check out:

                http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2012/02/23/cnnheroes-floating-doctors.cnn

What is an STRF? And what does it mean for me?

The Bureau of Private Post-Secondary Education (BPPE) established a special insurance fund to protect students in the event of a disruption or closure of an academic institution.  That’s a good thing!  All schools that are recognized by the BPPE, including Yo San University, are obligated to participate in this program.  But the BPPE states that this insurance fund must be supported by money collected from students – a university is not allowed to pick up the tab.

  

As a result, in compliance with these new BPPE  regulations, a small fee will be collected from all registered students every trimester using the formula published by the BPPE (California Education Code 94923).  This fee for the Student Tuition Recovery Fund is called the STRF fee.  From now on, you will see this stated on your registration form every trimester.  Currently, the BPPE formula for calculating the STRF fee is: $2.50 for every $1,000 of institutional charges per trimester rounded to the nearest $1,000. The STRF fee is charged at registration and is not refundable unless you cancel registration in its entirety before the trimester begins. The Bursar’s office will do the calculation for you every trimester, but please feel free to speak to the Bursar or to the Dean of Administration if you have questions.

Learn more about BPPE click here

Ask Julie

Question: How is blepharospasm viewed in Chinese medicine, and what can be done about it?

Answer: A 60-year old male patient presented with a complaint of severe eyelid twitching that had worsened over the last two months. He had consulted a neurologist, who diagnosed “benign essential blepharospasm.”  The standard treatment was Botox injections every two months. He didn’t like that idea at all, so he came to try acupuncture.

This patient owned a stressful landscaping business, and had problems with the business and at home trying to manage finances and raise three children. He was active, cycling up to a hundred miles a week. He suffered from sleep deprivation due to insomnia and to busyness, and he also had headaches. He was otherwise in good health, with no history of drug or alcohol use. His pulse was very moderate, slow and evenly balanced, but his tongue was quite purple.

How could a man this active show signs of liver Qi stagnation? Could his stress be so strong that it allowed his liver Qi to stagnate even with all that exercise? And, twitching usually indicates liver wind, but in this case, was liver Qi stagnation the prominent pattern? How much stagnation should I try to move, versus how much wind to try to extinguish?

I decided to start with his sleep, so I prescribed the always-reliable Suan Zao Ren Tang in tablets, to help him sleep and to calm the liver. If acupuncture and this formula did not improve things, I would prescribe a more focused raw herb formula.

At our second meeting, the twitching had not changed at all, but his sleep had improved somewhat. He told me that he’d forgotten to mention a history of loss of consciousness; he had completely passed out, once in the shower two years ago and another time 3-4 years ago. This could be part of the liver wind pattern, so I made note of it, even though it had not happened recently.

He had seen his ophthalmologist about the twitch, and had been referred to a neuro-ophthamologist, whom he had not yet seen at the time of this publication. His tongue was still quite a dark purple, and he agreed to try a raw herb formula. Given his lack of improvement, and the new information about fainting, I wrote the following formula:

Tian Ma, 10 g

Gou Teng,10 g

Mu Gua, 10 g

Du Zhong, 10 g

Mu Li (prepared), 20 g

Jiang Can, 10 g

Bai Ji Li, 10 g

Ju Hua, 10 g

Bai Shao, 10 g

This formula extinguishes internal wind, sedates the liver, cools the liver and relieves spasm. I told him to come back in a week, and to have consumed all three bags of the formula!

When I next saw him, he reported that the twitch was improved in frequency and severity. He no longer had to hold his face to keep it steady. Better still, his tongue had become a clear pink with very little trace of purple. That’s where things stand now, after three visits. He’d only used up one bag of the tea, though, because of being too busy.

What's up, Doc? "Benign blepharospasm"

Benign blepharospasm is characterized by episodes of spontaneous and uncontrolled blinking, usually of one eye.  There are other types of blepharospasm, which are not benign, for example, if you get something in your eye or, a more serious problem, when the spasm is associated with other neurological abnormalities. In other words, a benign blepharospasm is simply a spasm of the eyelid with no particularly known cause and no other neurological involvement. These spasms may occur at any time and are often inconvenient and sometimes embarrassing, since other people tend to spend their time watching your eye twitch rather than listening to what you are saying.  The good thing is that a benign blepharospasm will usually subside spontaneously within 6 months.  However, once again, a practitioner should always be alert for other abnormal neurological signs that might become present. If there are any associated neurological problems, the practitioner must refer the patient to a neurologist for further evaluation.

For good or for bad, in western medicine, the only treatment for benign blepharospasm is a Botox injection.  Botox injections are used for a lot of things.  Botox stands for botulinum toxin.  You may have read about people who ate something like cold potato soup from a can and who died very quickly afterwards.  This disease is called "botulism".  Often the can itself is deformed by the gas producing Clostridia botulinum.  The toxin from this bacterium paralyzes nerves and muscles including the diaphragm and results in death.  You will notice that on containers of honey, there is a warning in fine print stating that this product should not to given to children under 1 year old.  This is because the honey may contain spores of C. botulinum that produce the very same toxin.  Adults and older children make sufficient gastric acid to destroy these spores, but infants do not and that can result in “infant botulism”.  Infant botulism causes a loss of the normal sucking reflex requiring tube or intravenous feeding, reduces the muscle tone making the infant “flaccid” which is an absence of normal muscle strength and finally can paralyze the diaphragm requiring the baby to be put on a ventilator until the toxin resolves, which may take weeks to months. 

This is the source of the Botox injection, which basically paralyzes the local nerve and its muscle for a “therapeutic effect”.  There are some good reasons for doing Botox injections but one should consider the following suggestions.  The first is that Botox should only be given for a valid indication and when there is no other acceptable or alternative treatment.  Secondly, whoever is doing the injections should be an expert with a proven track record.  Finally, the side effects should be clearly delineated in writing before injection.  For example, the most common side effects of Botox when used for blepharospasm are ptosis or sagging of the upper eyelid (21%) and keratitis or eye dryness (6%), which has the potential of causing permanent eye damage. The latter can usually be prevented by continuous and frequent use of eye lubricants, but here we are talking about months of prevention.  There are also many other less common side effects. 

In general, for all of the above reasons, I would recommend doing TCM before trying Botox for benign blepharospasm.

“Summertime and the Livin’ is Easy” By Larry Ryan, President

While the above song title from George Gershwin’s legendary folk opera Porgy and Bess may describe our more relaxed modes of energy and spirit as we move through the Summer 2013 Trimester, the title does not characterize current activity around the Yo San University campus. Much has been happening! First, students and faculty were welcomed back to campus to enjoy the benefits of several recently completed remodeling projects. The projects, which have greatly enhanced our facilities, include a brand new third floor classroom (The Meridian Room), a greatly expanded student lounge, and a new faculty/staff lounge. With its “hard” floor surface designed specifically for needling practice classes, the new Meridian classroom is bathed in light with windows on two of its walls. Besides being doubled in space, the remodeled Student Lounge was also refurnished with items chosen by students and paid for with YSUSA funds. The new student lounge boasts two complete kitchen units, space for three café tables as well as a more casual rest and conversation area. Faculty and Staff members welcomed their new third floor lounge space with its granite countered kitchen unit, custom built in mail slots and floor to ceiling shelving that spans one wall of the room. On the programmatic level, an important and exciting component has been inaugurated in the MATCM Program. A new “pairing” supervision arrangement was implemented for Level One clinic interns. The new system, which was piloted in the Spring of 2012, organizes students to work in pairs for two of their five Level One shifts. The arrangement provides increased emphasis on the functions of collaboration and communication, essential elements in the formation of effective TCM clinicians and practitioners. So far the new system has been working smoothly according to Albert Vaca, Dean of Clinical Education. With the start of a new Trimester the most important changes are the many new faces on campus. As usual Yo San University oriented a new group of eager and motivated MATCM students who began their journeys to become TCM healers. By mid-May those new personalities were joined by the initiation of Cohort #3 of the YSU doctoral program. This DAOM cohort is the first YSU group in the specialty area of Integrative Medicine/Healthy Aging. The cohort includes individuals from Santa Barbara, the Bay area, and as far distant as Minnesota and Colorado. Several members of the cohort are YSU alumni. All are eager to be a part of the YSU Community. We extend a very special welcome to all of the new members of the Yo San community and a hearty “welcome home” to those who are returning to continue their studies. “Life can be like Summertime” and it is good at YSU! 

YSU to launch externship at Wise & Healthy Aging in Santa Monica

After several months of negotiations and visits, July 1, 2012 is the target date for the initiation of the Yo San University collaboration with WISE & Healthy Aging in Santa Monica, where acupuncture and other TCM services will be offered by YSU interns. WISE & Healthy Aging is a non-profit social services organization which resulted from the 2007 merger of WISE Senior Services and the Center for Healthy Aging. Each agency had served the Westside and Santa Monica communities for more than three decades. The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) services offered by Yo San University at the WISE & Healthy Aging will complement the other services currently offered by the agency in the following areas: adult day care, nutrition, transportation/mobility, elder abuse prevention, long term care advocacy, in- home care management, mental health/peer counseling and education. With its extensive range of services, WISE & Healthy Aging is recognized as one of the most comprehensive and effective agencies in the nation with focus on service to the aging population. To initiate the TCM service, Yo San University will provide half a day of service each week staffed by YSU master’s or doctoral level interns and a supervising clinical faculty member. We are confident that generations of YSU students will benefit from the unique opportunity provided by this valuable service alliance.

Nutrition, Disney, Deepak Chopra and TCM

Nutrition, Disney, Deepak Chopra, TCM, and Endocrinology Research:  The Varied and Productive Career Path of Yo San University DAOM Graduate,

Lori Deutsch

           

After earning a bachelor’s degree in science and education from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in nutrition from Columbia University in New York, Lori Deutsch entered the world of multimedia to pursue her passion for educating the public about health and wellness. Within that role, she was a consultant to Disney World’s EPCOT exhibit, “Frontiers of Medicine,” and a producer on two of Deepak Chopra’s health-oriented media projects. With her life-long commitment to helping people achieve optimal health, Lori craved a deeper, one-on-one connection to the healing process, and immersed herself in the study of Traditional Chinese Medicine, earning a second master’s degree and becoming a licensed acupuncturist.

As her TCM career developed, Lori found herself in diverse roles including those of traditional acupuncturist in private practice and spa-based practitioner. Entering and completing the Yo San University DAOM Program with a specialty in fertility studies was the next logical step in Lori’s career, because she had developed a strong interest in reproductive medicine, both from a Western and Eastern medicine perspective.

During the Yo San University DAOM Program, Lori was stimulated and energized by the wealth of new insights and perspectives in her many courses, grand rounds, clinical rotations, and mentorships. With her background in medical nutrition, she was particularly intrigued by Dr. Paul Campbell’s course on Functional Medicine. She went on to mentor with Dr. Campbell, exploring functional medicine further, and subsequently adding it to her Chinese medicine practice.

Lori obtained an in-depth education in Western fertility medicine through the many reproductive endocrinologists who taught in the DAOM program. Her knowledge expanded exponentially when she mentored with Dr. Catherine DeUgarte, a reproductive endocrinologist at Pacific Fertility Center (PFC) in Los Angeles. That experience culminated in a position as PFC’s in-house acupuncturist, administering acupuncture to their many patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other fertility cycles.

The affiliations Lori gained through the DAOM program also provided valuable information and resources for the direction and completion of her doctoral research project. Her Capstone project was an intensive retrospective case study of two women with a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and infertility. The study compared the course of treatment between the two women, who eventually became pregnant and delivered full-term babies with the use of both Western and Eastern medicine. Lori’s research showed that appropriate integrative medical treatment combining both Western and Eastern techniques can give hope to PCOS women who want to become mothers. While the full career path of Lori Deutsch has been diverse and circuitous, it is in synch with a life of inquiry and service, and has come to fruition with the attainment of her doctoral degree from Yo San University.  

Thunder! Lightening! Light! Camera! Action!

Despite unforgiving weather, with torrential rains and a flood warning in Malibu and surrounding areas, Yo San University’s staff and volunteers plowed forth on March 25^th to put on another memorable Robert Graham Visionary Award Celebration. Held at the stunning, dramatic beachfront home of philanthropist Lilly Tartikoff, the inclement weather did not dampen the excitement and festivities of all those awaiting the arrival of this year’s special honoree – famed actor Robert Downey, Jr. Known mostly for bringing Tony Stark/Iron-Man and Sherlock Holmes to life, Robert boasts a mile long list of credits including Oscar-nominated roles in Tropic Thunder and Chaplin and an Emmy-nominated role in Ally McBeal. His amazing talent and commitment to all his characters has landed him on thousands of magazines and entertainment news shows. Yet few know about Robert Downey, Jr.’s personal commitment to Asian medicine and wellness.

Robert’s passion for Eastern philosophy and medicine manifests in his daily practice of martial arts and meditation. Having worked with Dr. Mao for several years, Robert credits Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for his wife’s and his overall health and wellness. Through the Robert Graham Visionary Award, Robert made a spectacular effort to raise awareness among his colleagues about the benefits of TCM, with hopes to help bring unprecedented support for Yo San University’s free and low-cost community outreach programs.

Upon arrival, in very Tony Stark fashion, Robert immediately hammed it up for all of Yo San University’s major supporters, graciously taking photos and conversing with fans. As he worked his way through the crowd of almost 200 YSU supporters, guests could be found joyfully chatting , tasting the many delicacies presenting fresh from the kitchen and drinking near the Ultimat Vodka sponsored bar.  Lilly Tartikoff’s home provided the ultimate relaxed and inviting environment for everyone to meet, to make new friends and most important, to honor the special man of the hour.

YSU President, Dr.  Larry Ryan, began the evening’s program by introducing the emcee, actress Brenda Strong. Brenda has been a powerful supporter of YSU for several years. Having emceed the last two annual events, she was a pro at hosting and bringing humor and excitement at just the right moments. Dr. Daoshing Ni spoke first, thanking all those who came and contributed to the evening.  Dr. Mao Shing Ni then stepped up to introduce the awardee. Knowing the star power of Robert, Dr. Mao jokingly sped through the actor’s filmography and focused on his philanthropic efforts instead, which included working with such organizations as Clothes Off Our Back, Orca Network, and Midnight Mission, before presenting the award.

Robert graciously accepted the award, joking that no one was more Chinese, visionary or deserving of such an award as he.  Before concluding, he asked everyone to give as generously as they could to YSU. With that endorsement, Brenda Strong prepped the audience for YSU’s most exciting auction to date.  Thanks to the amazing contributions of Warner Bros., the event’s premiere sponsor, and Marvel, YSU was able to obtain an original Tony Stark racing suit and helmet worn by Robert in Iron Man 2, and the Sherlock Holmes pipe and auction paddle used in the recent Sherlock Holmes sequel Game of Shadows. Other auction items included a precious sculpture titled “L’Enfant” by Danielle Anjou, an exquisite Bell and Ross timepiece donated by Westime, and a special on-set tour of Brenda Strong’s new television series Dallas, including a private lunch with the actress herself.

With the amazing talent of Brenda, the live auction generated exciting bids.  At one point, Robert Downey Jr. was competing with one of our major donors, Edith Dume for the L’Enfant sculpture. At $12,000, Ms. Dume won the auction -- only to magnanimously gift it to Robert! It was the most unexpected and heartfelt moment of the evening.

 Before the official program concluded and desserts were enjoyed, two lucky donors received a special gift for their additional donations into the “opportunity drawing,” courtesy of YAS Fitness, Bloomingdales, Rock Sugar, and Matthew Williamson Designs. As the sun slowly set in the Pacific Ocean, our guests began to depart . Everyone said their goodbyes with a smile, sharing endless compliments for a fantastic event. This brilliant event would not have been possible without support from our wonderful student volunteers:

Adam Cappuccino

Ellen Davis

Chloe Hadji Elias

Ally Glickman

Steve Han

Emily King

Cinthia Martel

Venesza Lenibeck

Tobe Stacey

Phillip Ward

Facilities Improvements Herald the Start of Summer Trimester

Students, faculty and staff members  were welcomed to the Yo San campus for the start of the Summer 2012 Trimester not only by their eager returning and new colleagues, but also by the presence of several facilities improvements that add significant space and comfort to the Yo San University experience.   A brand new third floor classroom is the highlight if the improvement projects completed in record time during the two-week trimester break.  The new classroom (for the time being known simply as the “New Classroom”), looks out over both Washington Blvd and Redwood Avenue.   It is bathed with natural light and provides a comfortable and roomy learning environment for up to thirty students.   A special wood grain hard floor surface was chosen for the new classroom space to provide added safety, since, among other purposes, the new classroom will be used for acupuncture needling training classes.  The hard surface floor makes it easy to spot and retrieve any needles that are inadvertently dropped in early acupuncture practice sessions.   Also on the third floor, where the majority of our faculty do their work, is located a new faculty/staff lounge.  The new lounge replaces the former second floor faculty/staff space that was cramped and had more of the atmosphere of an overworked and overcrowded storage room.  The new lounge looks out over Redwood Avenue and sports an ell shaped kitchen unit with sparkling granite counters. The kitchen unit also has floor to ceiling storage cabinets featuring a handy lazy Susan unit in the corner of the ell.   Built-in shelves for microwave and toaster ovens place those often used appliances at convenient eye level for quick loading and monitoring.  The new Faculty/Staff Lounge is about twice the size of the former space and provides an attractive and inviting environment for Yo San University employees to interact socially, to enjoy a meal break, and to catch a few minutes of well deserved rest from the typically hectic pace of the YSU day.   Most welcomed and needed by the growing YSU student body is the expanded and remodeled second floor Student Lounge space.   The floor space of the remodeled Student Lounge was increased greatly by incorporating space that was formerly occupied by the Faculty/Staff Lounge.   The project included opening up a long narrow corridor, which when combined with the existing Student Lounge provides for an open attractive and spacious casual seating area.    Two complete kitchen units joined by a pass through, an eating area and a second smaller lounge/eating area round out the expanded Student Lounge floor plan.   The entire space was also painted, and furniture and locker units were rearranged to accommodate more students more comfortably.  All of the recent facilities enhancements were accomplished to advance the mission of Yo San University “to educate students to become exceptional practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine.”  We are proud of our sparkling and well equipped campus!

Ask Julie -What can Chinese medicine do for seasonal allergies?

Question: What can Chinese medicine do for seasonal allergies?

Answer:           

 So many people suffer from seasonal allergies (“hay fever”) and allergies to common household irritants such as cat hair, dust and mold. This article is specifically about the type of allergic reaction that affects the nasal passages. I’ll refer to this as “allergic rhinitis.”

A funny thing happened a few years ago when I prescribed herbs for a patient suffering with a stuffed nose, runny nose and nasal congestion. She was miserable. For some reason I don’t know, I had packed the herbs in a paper bag instead of plastic, and instructed the patient to decoct and then drink them. But when I saw her next, she told me she had just set the bag down by the side of her bed, and their aromatic pungency had penetrated through the paper and into the room, and into her nose, and she said her nasal stuffiness improved! She didn’t cook the herbs at all!  I started trying out this “atmospheric herbal treatment” on other patients, and nearly all of them said it was effective. They could breathe more easily, and the fragrant herbs opened their nasal passages. One patient was a potter. She created some lidded ceramic pots perforated with holes, so the herbs could enter the room.

The formula I give for allergic rhinitis is based on Cang Er Zi San (Xanthium Powder), but with more aromatic herbs added. My aim is to add the most pungent ingredients I have since the patient won’t be consuming it, but will only be inhaling it.  I use:

Cang Er Zi (Xanthii Fructus)

Bai Zhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix)

Xin Yi Hua (Magnoliae Flos)

Qiang Huo (Notopterygii Radix)

Bo He (Menthae Herba)

Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix)

Huang Qin (Scutellariae Radix)

Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus)

Huo Xiang (Agastaches Herba)

If the patient is to use it only for atmospheric  inhalation, I use large doses of all herbs, about 15 grams each.

Of course, this formula would also work as a decoction to take internally, in which case I would reduce the dosages to about 10 grams each. I would differentiate the syndrome in accordance with usual internal medicine principles, and adjust the formula accordingly.

Allergic rhinitis can be classified as an invasion of wind cold or wind heat, or an invasion of wind cold with dampness (the most common presentation). It could also be related to deficiencies of spleen, lung, or kidney.

The formula could also be used as a steam inhalation treatment. The patient would place the herbs in a large bowl, pour boiling water over them, and then lean over the bowl and inhale the steam, while covering her head with a towel.

For acupuncture treatment, I find that face and scalp points such as Du 24, GB 15, LI 20 and Yin Tang are the most effective, and I always add St 36 and/or 40 to strengthen the Qi and dispel phlegm. 

Food Allergies by Ed Shaheen

A food allergy is basically an immune response to proteins in the respective food.  This is twice as common in children (up to 8%) as adults (4%).  For children, the most common food allergens are milk, egg, peanut, soy, wheat, and tree nuts, in descending order of frequency.  In adults, fish, shellfish, peanut, and tree nuts are most common causes of allergic reactions. These may also be lifelong allergies.  They may manifest as an immediate and life-threatening condition, such as anaphylaxis, or as a delayed or chronic condition, like an atopic dermatitis (eczema), and are referred to as “IgE-associated food allergies”.  There are also food-protein induced forms of enterocolitis and proctitis, which are caused by “non-IgE” mediated mechanisms.  Finally there is eosinophilic esophagitis and gastroenteritis, which are due to a mix of IgE and non-IgE mediated causes. 

There are other types of food-induced problems, which are not allergic, such as migraine headaches that are brought on in some patients by tyramine containing foods like chocolate, cheese, some wines and beers.  Lactose intolerance is not a true food “allergy” but a form of osmotic diarrhea caused by a genetic absence of the lactase enzyme that normally breaks down the milk sugar.

Gluten or wheat allergy is a true immune reaction in patients with a genetic predisposition.  Gluten allergy also includes rye, barley and sometimes oats, because the latter is processed in the same plants.  This reaction destroys the villi in the mucosa of the small intestine where most absorption takes place.  The result is malabsorption of nutrients.  Symptoms include diarrhea, fatty and floating malodorous stools, weight loss, abdominal distention, weakness, muscle wasting or growth retardation (in infants).  This is referred to as celiac disease.  There also is a lesser and poorly described “intolerance to gluten” which is usually a milder condition but is probably not an immune reaction.

A detailed dietary history within the 24 hours of allergic symptoms may provide the best clues to food allergy, with particular attention to other allergic history and prior reactions. Diagnosis is often difficult, however, and it may require multiple episodes before an offending agent is identified. Symptoms of food allergy include swelling and itching of the lips, mouth, and pharynx; nausea; abdominal cramps; vomiting; and diarrhea. Cutaneous manifestations, such as angioedema and urticaria, as well as anaphylaxis, can occur. Treatment for mild reactions is supportive, with the administration of antihistamines to lessen symptoms. More severe reactions or anaphylaxis are managed differently.

The best treatment for food allergy is to avoid the food in question, especially if very severe allergic reactions occur. However, it may not always be a simple matter to avoid a given food, particularly outside the home, and for this reason, those who are seriously affected by food allergies are usually advised to carry a self-injector containing epinephrine, which can counter serious symptoms, including bronchospasm.

Message from our President

The festivities of our recent Chinese New Year celebration reminded us about the characteristics of the Year of the Dragon. One factor that stands out particularly for me is the fact that this will be a year when energies are aligned appropriately for engaging new projects and new ventures. In a climate of growth, we need all factors in our favor as Yo San University embarks on a number of changes including improvements to our facilities as well as ongoing refinements regarding curricular and clinical processes. For the most part, the approaching changes and new ventures have been stimulated by the positive growth that the University has experienced in the past several years. At least 70% (a little over 70% of our students are female) have registered a resounding vote of approval for the remodeling and expansion of the third floor women’s rest room completed in early January of 2012. We sincerely hope that the positive reaction regarding the rest room project completed on the cusp of the “Year of the Dragon” will foreshadow the reception of several other new ventures that the University will engage in the next twelve months or sooner. While we are barely midway into the Spring 2012 Trimester, plans are active for the expansion of the second floor Student Lounge, a project that will be undertaken immediately upon the completion of at the current term. YSUSA reps have provided feedback and recommendations regarding the plan that will incorporate two kitchen areas and provide an open, expanded and more comfortable space for students to gather and build the sense of community that is a hallmark characteristic of the Yo San environment. During the same brief and concentrated period of demolition and construction, the University will gain a new classroom on the third floor. Unlike our other classroom spaces which are all carpeted, the new instructional space for approximately 20 students will have a “hard surface” floor that is conducive to safety and convenience when used for needling practice. Additionally, on the third floor, a new faculty/staff lounge will be constructed. Coincident with these visible construction projects will be an effort to increase our storage capacity via the construction of secure storage units in the lower level parking garage, a factor that will be invisible to most YSU constituents. Thanks to the prevalence of smaller cars these days, the storage units will be constructed with no loss of parking spaces. In addition to the facilities enhancements, the University will be expanding its pilot program that provides a partnership model for one or more clinic shifts for level I interns. The partnership teams will be designed to provide maximum supervisor feedback. The partnership model will also facilitate the development of professional collaboration and communication. The pilot model is further designed to enhance intern self-confidence and promote the important factor of mutual support. As in prior years the curricula of our programs are under constant scrutiny for the purpose of program improvement. The year 2012 will include careful assessment of program curricula with one important difference—the program review process will be initiated and led by YSU faculty members. With the implementation of the new faculty by laws document, faculty members welcome the additional responsibility of program assessment and for the generation of recommendations that will improve the quality of our curricula. The Year of the Dragon will be a year of new ventures. As members of the every changing and improving Yo San University community, we are all Dragons! 


-Larry Ryan President of YSU

DAOM Candidate, Karen Gordon visited Dalai Lama

Yo San University, DAOM Candidate, Karen Gordon was invited to the Dalai Lama’s November 2011 “Heart Sutra” talk in Kyoto Japan by BTV of Seoul, Korea. Just before the talk Karen was among a small group of dignitaries and Korean High Monks who were privileged to have a small group audience with his holiness. The session was arranged by Karen’s mother who has a talk show on the Buddhism Television Network where she often interviews monks regarding spiritual and other topics. Karen experienced the Dali Lama as a gentle caring person who considered the Korean high monks as his own “brothers and sisters.”

How Does a Doctoral Research Project Develop?

Andrea Murchison is a long way from her home city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her journey from the northeast corner to the southeast corner of the North American continent can be characterized as a path of self-discovery, service and identification with the role of the empowering healer. Andrea’s career has always included a strong leaning in the direction of serving women and children. That service motivation was especially evidenced in an early career job as a child and family therapist where she worked with clients who were victims of abuse. The role of therapist/healer developed even further when Andrea earned the MATCM Degree from Yo San University in 2006. Subsequent to achieving licensure as an acupuncturist Andrea began service as the manager of the Yo San University Herbal Dispensary. In 2008 Andrea was promoted to her current position as Assistant Dean of the MATCM Program while also serving as a part time faculty member. Simultaneous with her administrative duties Andrea maintains a part time practice at the Yo San University Community Clinic. Achieving the highest degree in the profession, the DAOM, was a natural next step in Andrea’s personal and professional growth. It was through involvement in the DAOM Program’s clinical component, the new and unique Yo San University Fertility Clinic, that Andrea began asking questions and had some intuitive hunches about what conditions motivate women to seek the services of a fertility clinic. Those “hunches” are the seeds of a doctoral dissertation. After immersing herself in the research methodology components of her doctoral studies Andrea more precisely formulated her research questions and designated several variables pertinent to her investigation. With the scholarly foundation of a solid literature review on which to build her study, Andrea proceeded to bury herself for several weeks of systematic data gathering form stacks of archived Fertility Clinic patient charts. The completely anonymous data revealed some very interesting demographic as well as prior history and treatment information that were further explored during the dissertation “defense” session that culminated the DAOM program process. Because all DAOM candidates were involved in the Yo San University Fertility Clinic sessions, Andrea’s defense presentation was one of especially high interest for the DAOM students and faculty members in attendance. What was learned from the DAOM Capstone Dissertation Project? Research is based in experience and hunches. It is a simple matter of articulating hunches into viable research questions that are grounded by prior literature and sound methodology. Like all of the doctoral research projects that emerge from the DAOM Program, among other factors, Andrea addressed the implications of her findings for clinical practice. Andrea’s findings are particularly relevant to improving service at the Yo San University Fertility Clinic as well as for other TCM fertility practitioners. Thanks, Dr. Murchison for your contributions that will pave the way for improvements at the Yo San Fertility Clinic and beyond.

The Spleen

Of all the traditional Chinese Zang Fu (the organs), the Spleen is the least similar to its Western counterpart. The ancient Chinese physicians knew there was an organ in the upper left abdomen that had something to do with digestion, and they named it Pí (what we translate as “Spleen”). They probably included the pancreas as part of the Spleen.

The Spleen is considered more important than the other organ of digestion, the Stomach, because as with other yin/yang paired organs, the Stomach does what the Spleen tells it to do. This means that only when the Spleen function is strong can the Stomach do its job of ripening the food it receives and emptying it for the use of other organs. We should think of the Spleen more as a functional than an anatomical entity.

As a Yin organ, the Spleen is unique in not being susceptible to becoming Yin-deficient. Why is this? All other Yin organs (Lung, Kidney, Liver, and Heart) suffer greatly when their Yin energy is deficient. The Spleen, however, craves warmth and dryness and suffers more when it becomes damp or cold. The healthy Spleen is like a blazing sun in the sky, dispelling gloomy yin and vaporizing dampness upward.

The Stomach, on the other hand, prefers coolness and moisture and suffers when it becomes hot and dry.

The Yin organs are also supposed to “store” substances (the definition of “Zang” organ is “flesh which stores”), meaning they do not fill up and empty themselves as the “Fu” organs do. What does the Spleen store? Thought.

If the Spleen is weak, thinking will be cloudy and memory will be weak. Conversely, excessive thinking, concentration and mental work can damage the Spleen.

Julie Chambers L.Ac.

IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT “SPLEEN” YOU MEAN

After working long hours with the TCM concepts of disease, it is sometimes difficult to switch to the western mode of thinking. This is most often true when it comes to the spleen.


In western physiology the spleen has nothing to do with digestion. It is primarily an organ that filters the blood and stores immune cells that are important in the inflammatory process. It sits in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen just below the diaphragm, which is why pathology of the spleen can cause pain in the left chest, neck or shoulder. Even though the spleen is partially protected by the lower ribs, it can be involved in any blunt trauma to the abdomen. Likewise, the spleen is much more friable during and just after someone has had infectious mononucleosis, a common disease in children and young adults.

Blunt abdominal trauma, infectious mono and splenic enlargement from other causes can result in a rupture of the spleen. This is a life-threatening condition, which may result in a fatal hemorrhage. Occasionally the rupture of the spleen can be delayed more than 48 hours after injury and may not even be picked up on a cat scan initially. Patients may present to an acupuncturist for treatment of left shoulder pain and the acupuncturist may treat this without history or examination only to miss the real cause of the shoulder pain, which could have a tragic outcome.

The spleen also plays a role in prevention of S. pnuemoniae and several other bacterial infections. If someone does not have a spleen or the spleen has been removed, it is important to refer them for the proper immunizations to prevent life-threatening septicemia. This is a standard of care in the community and, as an acupuncturist and a partner in health care, you will be expected to know the importance of this.



- Ed Shaheen