FALL 2010

Chinese MedicineIn Practice

The American Academy of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine

Professional Development Lecture Series at AAAOMStarting in the Summer trimester, AAAOM instituted a free "lunchtime lecture series" for thebenefit of our students. Within the series format, faculty members and occasional guest lec-turers present for 30–45 minutes on a variety of TCM-related topics on a monthly basis. Ourgoal is to provide our students with information and skills which they can add to their knowl-edge base and apply to their practice. These lectures have been well-attended and indicatethat this will continue to be a popular feature of AAAOM student life. Topics presented so farinclude: "Common Mistakes in Arriving at a Clinical Diagnosis" by Dr. Yubin Lu; "NeedlingTechnique for Renying (St 9)" by Dr. Qin Chu; "Qi: Differentiation and Functions" by Dr. BrianGrosam; and "Clinical Applications of Du 14" by Dr. Yifan Liu. Upcoming topics include:"Treating Macular Degeneration with Chinese medicine" by Dr. Daiyi Tang; "NeedlingTechniques for Jiaji Points" by Dr. Wen Jiang; "fMRI Studies and Acupuncture Research" byDr. Changzhen Gong; and "Advanced TCM Treatment for Arthritis" by Dr. Peng Sun.

2010 Graduating ClassIn May, 2010, AAAOM graduated its eighth class (pictured below). Twenty students took partin AAAOM's traditional graduation ceremony this year, receiving their well-earned diplomasin the Year of the Tiger. Highlights of the ceremony included speeches by class speaker AlanSchroepfer and faculty member Dr. Brian Grosam, as well as a masterful performance byJavvelle Barton on the classic Chinese instrument, the guzheng. Graduates are: KentBergstrom, Tasha Boehland, Meggie Chan, Huang-joung Chen, Huyen Doan, Sara Erdman,Amber Lee Goettig, Peng Her, Jesse Katzman, Marnie Leen, Hung Lieu, Thomas McCarty,Daniel McGough, Joette Nuyen, Cadance Paulaha, Leslie Prairie, Matthew Priebe, LynnPutnam, Jessica Rolfes, and Alan Schroepfer. Congratulations to the Class of 2010!

Inside AAAOMAAAOM News 1-2Open Houses 3Intro to Case Studies 4Treating Ulcerative Colitis 4Faculty Spotlight 5Help for Bursitis 6Managing Headaches 6-7Student Views 7TCM Hospital Experience 8TCM Health Centers 9Acupuncture for Infertility 10Food as Medicine 11Relieving Post-Op Pain 11Dates to Remember 12

Look for a redesigned Web site at www.AAAOM.edu later this year!

What’s Brewing at AAAOM?

For this edition of ournewsletter we have selected

some clinical cases whichillustrate the effectiveness of

acupuncture in treating avariety of health problems.

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AAAOM NewsStudent Association Invites Guest SpeakerIn September, AAAOM's Student Association provided itsmembers with an excellent opportunity to learn about utiliz-ing PubMed and other library resources by inviting ElizabethFine, MLIS, as a guest speaker. Ms. Fine delivered a lectureon strategies for efficiently and comprehensively findingCAM evidence in PubMed, and presented an overview ofthe resources available in health sciences libraries and how tomake the most of a visit to the library. Liz Fine is a liaison andinstruction librarian in the University of Minnesota's Bio-Medical Library, working with the U of M's School of Nursingand the Center for Spirituality and Healing. Ms. Fine's presen-tation was so popular that the Student Association is plan-ning a return visit. The Student Association is also sponsoring"casual Taiji practice" at 12:30pm on Thursday afternoons inthe upstairs open area. The more, the merrier!

Faculty Recognized for Volunteer ServiceEight faculty members from the American Academy ofAcupuncture and Oriental Medicine received certificates ofappreciation in recognition of their volunteer service with theMinnesota Chinese Health Center. Faculty members receiv-ing awards were: Dr. Yubin Lu, Dr. Weng Jiang, Dr. HongChen, Dr. Daiyi Tang, Dr. Wei Liu, Dr. Yifan Liu, Dr. ChengChi and Dr. Qin Chu. These recipients have provided healthcare services of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicineand consultation to the under-served and uninsured Chineseand other populations since the Minnesota Chinese HealthCenter was established six years ago. Clinic services organ-ized by the Minnesota Chinese Health Center are providedon-site at the American Academy of Acupuncture andOriental Medicine every other Saturday afternoon. Our fac-ulty members' contributions to health services for the under-served are well-recognized in the community.

AAAOM Continues "Super Points" ProjectAcupuncture points are essential to the theory and practiceof acupuncture. The most commonly-used acupoints are thefoundation of the acupuncturist's practice. Two years ago,AAAOM launched its Super Points project, which involveswriting a "biography" of each of the twenty commonestacupuncture points. Each acupoint is the subject of one vol-ume in the series. Each volume analyzes and details the his-torical evolution, literature analysis, case reports, clinicalapplications, needling techniques, point combinations andmodern research on one of these "super" acupuncturepoints. The first stage of the project has been completed andpublished by China Medicine Science Press. Acupoints inthis series include SP6 (Sanyinjiao), ST36 (Zusanli), DU20(Baihui), GB20 (Fengchi), LI4 (Hegu), LR3 (Taichong), RN4

(Guanyuan), LI 11 (Quchi) and PC6 (Neiguan). The secondseries of volumes is in progress, and will cover KI 3 (Taixi), RN12 (Zhongwan), BL 40 (Weizhong), ST 40 (Fenglong), SP 9(Yinlingquan) and six other points. This innovative project isa joint effort between the American Academy ofAcupuncture and Oriental Medicine and ShandongAcademy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Jinan, China.

Additional Volumes of "Classical Formulas"Series PublishedAnother thirty-two volumes in AAAOM's series of booksabout classical Chinese herbal formulas are currently beingpublished by the China Medical Science Press. AAAOM isproud of this scholarly contribution to the field of acupunc-ture and traditional Chinese medicine. Each volume in theseries comprises an extensive study of one particular Chineseherbal formula, combining classical methodology and a con-temporary scientific approach. As gems of Chinese medi-cine, these classical formulas have demonstrated enormoustherapeutic power in the treatment of a myriad of medicalconditions. They are time-tested prescriptions which havebeen utilized by millions of doctors to treat billions of patientsover the last two thousand years. This is the fourth stage ofthe Academy's effort to publish "one hundred volumes" onthe applications of classical Chinese herbal formulas, andmakes a total of seventy-three volumes published to date.This project is a cooperative effort between the AmericanAcademy of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and theChina Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Beijing.

Dr. Gong Presents to U of MN StudentsAAAOM president Dr. Changzhen Gong was invited to pres-ent information about acupuncture and traditional Chinesemedicine to students at the University of Minnesota thisspring. On April 7 Dr. Gong presented a lecture entitled"Acupuncture: Humans and Beyond" to students at theUniversity's School of Veterinary Medicine. In this lecture, Dr.Gong detailed interesting case studies from local and foreignveterinary medicine practitioners who have appliedacupuncture therapy to cats, dogs, horses, pigs and rats.Veterinary students showed great interest in the animalacupuncture charts. On April 9 Dr. Gong presented"Acupuncture in the United States: Utilization, Legislation,Education and Research" to the U of MN's Asian-AmericanStudent Union. Dr. Gong's lecture gave an overview of howacupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine are experi-enced and understood in the United States. Studentsexpressed strong interest when they realized that anothercomplete medical system exists besides the conventionalWestern medical system.

American Academy

of Acupuncture and

Oriental Medicine

3

Highlights of the afternoon will include:• Information about our Master’s Degree

and Certificate Programs• A Tour of the School• An Acupuncture Presentation• Visiting our Library, Herbal Pharmacy and

Student Clinic• Answers to Your Questions• Refreshments

Y o u a r e i n v i t e d t o a t t e n d a n

O P E N H O U S ESunday, November 14, or Sunday, November 21From 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.

AAAOM School &Student/Faculty Clinic1925 W County Rd B2

Roseville, MN 55113

To RSVPVisit AAAOM.edu

Or Call 651-631-0204

4

By Yubin Lu, TCMD, Ph.D., L.Ac.Some patients come to us becausethey have had a good experiencewith Chinese medicine, or theyknow someone who has. Somecome because they are curious.Some as a last hope before theygive up on ever being well again.No matter what their opinion ofChinese medicine was when theycame, and no matter what their

condition is, most patients who give acupuncture a fairtrial are surprised by how well it actually works. Almostevery day one of our patients says, "This is amazing!" Alot of them have been told that nothing could really helpthem, or that they will probably have to take medicationforever to get some relief from their suffering.

The general public is still not well aware of the benefits ofacupuncture treatment, but we are seeing more and

more patients referred to us by word of mouth fromother patients. Although scientists who investigate thephysiological mechanisms of how acupuncture workshave still not arrived at a definitive answer to that ques-tion, the fact remains that acupuncture does work. Studyafter study shows a provable basis for centuries-old treat-ment methods. Acupuncture is a unique therapy withspecific theories, techniques, tools and applications, andit has been practiced effectively for thousands of years.

For this edition of our newsletter we have selected someclinical cases which illustrate the effectiveness ofacupuncture in treating a variety of health problems. Aspractitioners of this comprehensive medical system, andas first-hand witnesses to the amazing results that it canbring, we want to enhance public awareness of Chinesemedicine so that more people will benefit from thisunique treatment. Acupuncture is not a miracle cure forall ailments, but it is definitely worth trying as a safe, cost-effective, non-invasive health care modality.

Introduction to Case Studies

Treating Ulcerative Colitis with Chinese MedicineBy Daiyi Tang, Ph.D., TCMD, L.Ac.

Ulcerative colitis impacts millions ofpeople worldwide, but there areonly limited treatment options.Most people with this condition arenever cured, and some require sur-gical removal of the entire colon.Symptoms of ulcerative colitisinclude frequent diarrhea, abdomi-nal pain, intestinal bleeding, bloodystools and cramping. Modern clini-

cal research suggests that traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) can be a safe and effective treatment for ulcera-tive colitis. Furthermore, scientific studies have measuredan increase of helpful intestinal enzymes with acupunc-ture treatment.

The most common causes of ulcerative colitis in Chinesemedicine theory are cold accumulation, Qi and bloodstagnation, and damp-heat accumulation. Generally, atreatment course consists of five to ten acupuncturetreatments, two to three times a week. Diet, of course, isalso very important, which should include easily-digestedcarbohydrates, moderate amounts of protein, andcooked vegetables. It is important not to eat foods whichare hard to digest, such as spicy foods and nuts. A TCMdoctor can further select the most therapeutic foods fora patient’s individual condition.

A patient, Lisa for example, illustrates the way a TCMpractitioner can treat ulcerative colitis with positiveresults. She is 28 and has had ulcerative colitis symptomsfor more than ten years. When she came in she had suf-fered from bloody diarrhea and lower abdominal painfor seven days, making five to ten urgent trips to the bath-room daily. Her stool was sticky and foul-smelling, andshe felt a burning sensation in her anus. She was dehy-drated from constant vomiting and diarrhea and had aheadache. She had a hemoglobin of 10, showing bloodloss. There were no apparent physiological triggers forher attack of ulcerative colitis, such as antibiotic use orfood poisoning, but Lisa had experienced a high level ofemotional stress over the past several weeks due toschool exams and a bad relationship with her boyfriend.

Lisa's TCM diagnosis: Liver overacting on the Spleen withblood deficiency. Because her case was so extreme Igave Lisa acupuncture every day for the first week, andstarted her on the herbal formula Chai Hu Shu Gan San.After one week of treatment, the pain and diarrhea hadgreatly decreased and there was no bloody stool. Thenshe continued to have acupuncture twice a week for fourweeks and added the formula Gui Pi Tang. After twomonths, Lisa's hemoglobin was 12.3, and her abdominalpain and diarrhea were much better. Now Lisa comes inonce a month for a maintenance treatment, and she con-tinues to improve.

By Leila NielsenDr. Chu is the newest member ofAAAOM's faculty. Beginning withthe Winter 2010 trimester Dr. Chuhas been very busy teaching, super-vising interns, and treating patientsin the AAAOM faculty clinic.

L.N.: Why did you decide to studyTCM?

Dr. Chu: When I was in high school I wanted to be anM.D. But the dean of the school, who was also my phi-losophy teacher, knew about traditional Chinese medi-cine and acupuncture. He made it sound so interesting Idecided to be a TCMD. Nobody in my family had a back-ground in TCM, but they were happy that I learnedChinese medicine because I was able to help all my fam-ily members as I learned.

L.N.: Tell me about your schooling in TCM.

Dr. Chu: I got my Bachelor's degree at ShandongUniversity of TCM, about 200 miles from my hometownof Dongying. Then I returned to Dongying and spent fiveyears working in the acupuncture department of a largehospital there. Several of the hospitals in Dongying inte-grate Western and traditional Chinese medicine. I saw alot of patients and helped them with acupuncture andherbs, but after a while I saw that I needed to know morein order to treat complicated diseases, so I went back toShandong for my Master's in acupuncture.

For my Master's studies I focused on treating diabeteswith acupuncture and Chinese herbs. We demonstratedthat acupuncture can help regulate blood sugar levelsand treat diabetes-related problems like peripheral neu-ropathy and nephritis. I spent three years completing myMaster's degree at Shandong, then went to TianjinUniversity of TCM for three more years to work on myPh.D. I was lucky to get into Tianjin because it is the bestuniversity in China for needling technique. As a Ph.D.candidate I specialized in neurology, especially the areasof dementia and Alzheimer's disease. My tutor, HanJingxian, was a recognized expert in this field. I partici-pated in research on mice, demonstrating that acupunc-ture can improve the ability of mice with Alzheimer's torun a maze.

L.N.: Did your research point to any therapy thatacupuncture practitioners can use in clinic?

Dr. Chu: Our research on Alzheimer's was focused onregulating the San Jiao to control Alzheimer's symptoms.We used the same acupuncture prescription on all oursubjects: Ren 6, Ren 12 and Ren 17. The treatment prin-ciple was to tonify Qi, regulate blood, and supplementthe root.

L.N.: I assume you continued to treat patients while youcompleted your Ph.D.?

Dr. Chu: I worked at the First Affiliated Hospital of TianjinUniversity, which is the largest acupuncture hospital inChina. I treated a lot of neurological problems anddementia patients. I also worked as an instructor at all thehospitals I worked in. In Dongying I taught basicacupuncture to TCM students, and at Shandong andTianjin I instructed more advanced students. I reallyenjoy teaching.

L.N.: Can you tell me about a memorable incident fromyour practice?

Dr. Chu: When I worked in the hospital in Dongying aneighbor woman who was a friend of my mother's felloff a scaffold and injured her back severely. She wasbeing treated by a Western-medicine doctor in theWestern-medicine part of the hospital. When I visited hershe had been lying in bed for seven days, unable tomove. She was on an IV, and they had done x-rays on her,but the x-rays did not show any unusual damage and herdoctor could not give her an idea of when she would bebetter. I decided to try acupuncture on her. I needled SI6 and SJ 3 on one side, and manipulated the needlesstrongly. After twenty minutes she was able to move. Shesat up, then got on her feet. I gave her several more treat-ments on her low back after that, and she recovered verywell. The Western doctor could not believe how well theacupuncture worked.

L.N.: How do you like living in Minnesota, and what doyou do for relaxation?

Dr. Chu: I love it here. Even though I came here lastNovember and it was a long winter, I think it is beautiful- even the snow. I like to walk around the lakes and alongthe river, and I enjoy reading books: especially the clas-sics of TCM literature. Most of all I enjoy playing tenniswith my son and spending time with him.

AAAOM Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Qin Chu

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By Yubin Lu Ph.D., TCMD, L.Ac.Bursitis is an inflammation of thebursae, fibrous sacs filled with syn-ovial fluid that act to cushion bonesand tendons in the joints, especiallyjoints such as the shoulders, elbowsand hips which perform frequentrepetitive motions. In Chinese med-icine, bursitis is called Obstruction(Bi) Syndrome, because inflamma-tion and swelling slow down or

obstruct the free movement of Qi along the meridiansthat pass through the joint. For most people, acupunc-ture is a highly effective treatment for joint pain. Needlesare inserted along the meridians which pass through theaffected joint, opening up the channels and promotingthe free flow of Qi.

Jane, 56, came to the clinic with pain in both hips, radiat-ing along the lateral side of both legs. She was finding itdifficult to walk. Her doctor diagnosed her with bursitis.Although Jane was slightly overweight, her overall healthwas quite good. Her energy level, mood, and digestionwere fine, but she slept poorly because of the pain. Ichecked the appearance of her tongue and felt herpulse. The tongue looked normal and the pulse was a lit-tle wiry. When I palpated the affected hip area, she was

very reactive at certain places which corresponded toacupoints along the Gallbladder meridian: GB 29 (in thehip area), GB 31 (about 6 inches above the knee on thelateral side of leg, and GB 33 (just above the knee on thelateral side of the leg). The pain did not involve her lowerback. Because all the painful points were along theGallbladder meridian, her TCM diagnosis was "blockageof Qi and Blood in the Gallbladder meridian."

Then, she was treated with acupuncture at the followingpoints: GB 29, GB 31, GB 33, GB 34, LR 3, SP 6 and SP9. Electric stimulation was applied to the needles insert-ed into GB 29 and GB 33 for about 20 minutes. Electricalstimulation intensifies the effect of the acupuncture nee-dles. In Jane's case, electro-stim was applied to the acu-points above and below her most painful area.

She showed great improvement on her second visit, andthe same treatment was given to her twice a week for thenext two weeks. After a total of five treatments Jane's hippain was totally gone. Two years later she experiencedanother episode of bursitis in her hip and came back foranother course of treatment. Again, after four to fivetreatments the pain was relieved. This is a typical experi-ence for most bursitis patients. They usually experiencesome relief even after the first treatment, and in mostcases are pain-free after four or five treatments.

Bursitis: Help for a Painful Condition

By Yifan Liu, TCMD, Ph.D., L.Ac.Marlene, 44, has a 30-year historyof headaches. Over the years doc-tors prescribed pain medicationsfor her, including Topamax, butnothing gave her satisfactory relief.Her usual pattern has been to expe-rience a mild headache lasting allday, two to three times per week,with severe headaches about once

a week. When she has a bad headache it starts sudden-ly, around her right eye, causing a painful, squeezing sen-sation in her head. She rates the pain level of severeheadaches at 9–10. Triggers for her headaches includeanger, stress and a busy work schedule, and headachesare always worse during menstruation. She has no aura,nausea or vomiting associated with the headaches.

The day Marlene first came to see me it was the secondday of one of her severe headaches, with stabbing painin her forehead and around her eye. She complained of

stress, anxiety, insomnia, poor concentration, fatigue, astiff neck and constipation. In TCM terms, Marlene'sdiagnosis was: Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency, withLiver Yang Rising. This is a common pattern in Chinesemedicine, and is frequently seen in peri-menopausalwomen. In simple terms, Yin is the substance and struc-ture of our bodies, nourishing all our life processes withblood and body fluids. Yang is the active element, theprinciple of movement, heat, and intelligence. As we age,both yin and yang will diminish in our bodies. Womenare especially prone to yin deficiency because of theirmonthly cycles of blood loss. When a woman experi-ences constant stress and anxiety, her ability to adjust tothe normal aging process is decreased, and her yin defi-ciency can become severe. Yin and yang exist in a bal-anced state when a person is healthy, but when yin isdiminished, it is not able to control the yang energy any-more, and the yang energy will rise and expand, causingheadaches, hot flashes, outbursts of anger and similarsymptoms. Marlene's constipation was also a product ofdeficient yin, which promoted intestinal dryness.

Managing Headaches with Chinese Medicine

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Student Views by Mona Abdel-RahmanAfter 20 years working in a ruralhospital as a Registered Nurse, thestresses of 12-hour days and nightshifts and constantly being "on therun" were taking a toll on my health.It was clear to me that if I didn'tchange my profession I would beheaded down a road of debilitatingneck, back and shoulder problems.Nurses have one of the highest

rates of back-related injuries of any profession.

AAAOM has a number of students over the age of 50like me. Studies indicate that students over age 50 whoenter graduate programs to change careers are morelikely to experience health problems than their same-agepeers who remain on a single career track until retire-ment. This may sound like bad news for the older studentpursuing a graduate degree, but this has not been myexperience at AAAOM.

In 2005 when I began the graduate program here, my lifebecame incredibly busy with work, study and travelrequirements. This caused a flare-up of my health prob-lems, including celiac disease, which I've struggled withall of my life. Then, in my first year of schooling, I discov-ered that AAAOM students could receive free acupunc-ture treatments from student interns in the AAAOMFaculty/Student clinic. I have since been diligent toschedule at least one acupuncture treatment for myselfevery two weeks. I also regularly use prescribed herbs. In

consequence, my health has improved during my yearsas a student at AAAOM.

The customized, flexible schedule AAAOM allowed mehas made my mid-life career change possible. While con-tinuing to work part-time as an RN in Grand Marais, MN,I have been commuting 500 miles every other week toattend school in Roseville. Gracious friends in the TwinCities have become my surrogate families while I attendclasses, and the long drive has become a relaxing time tolisten to music and radio, catch up on world events andenjoy the scenery of the changing seasons.

Working as a nurse and caring for patients in the emer-gency room, on the medical floor and in specializedtreatment areas of a rural hospital has provided me witha good background to care for patients with chronic orcomplicated illness in the AAAOM school clinic. I enjoythe challenge of treating such patients. I may not be ableto cure all their ailments, but by improving their quality oflife, I can help them go on to enjoy their lives and contin-ue pursuing their dreams.

In the spring of 2011 I will graduate from AAAOM. Atage 54, I have never felt healthier in my life. I can feel mycareer vision moving closer to reality: patients coming tomy office for acupuncture/Chinese medicine treatmentafter a knee or hip replacement, or to minimize the side-effects of chemotherapy, or to alleviate chronic pain. Isee myself participating in a growing wave of integrativemedicine that, without using drugs and invasive proce-dures, can offer renewed vitality to people of all ages.

Achieving My Mid-Life Career Goals

Continued from previous page.My treatment plan with Marlene was to tonify KidneyYin, subdue Liver Yang, and relieve pain and headaches,using acupuncture and a Chinese herbal formula, TianMa Gou Teng Yin.

Marlene came in for acupuncture twice a week for sixweeks. Her insomnia improved after three treatments,and her constipation was better within four treatments.Most important, her stress levels and headaches werereduced a lot, especially if she avoided her trigger situa-tions. After six weeks of treatment, Marlene had not hada severe headache for at least a month. After 30 years ofheadaches with no relief from medications, she wasamazed that acupuncture had such a dramatic effect.

You may ask, "Marlene had headaches since she was 14- she wasn't peri-menopausal then. Would the same treat-

ment work when she was younger?" Chinese medicinetakes a very practical approach to health problems. Weare born with a particular constitution that we carry withus all our lives. But every day we grow and change andinteract with our environment, so you can also say thateach of us is a new person every day. When you visit aChinese medicine practitioner, he assesses the type ofconstitution you were born with by taking a medical his-tory, and he also assesses the condition you embody thatday by looking at your signs and symptoms. A patterndiagnosis combines medical history, signs and symptomsto arrive at a description of the basic imbalance, andpoints the way to the treatment plan. Marlene could haveconsulted a TCM practitioner at any time in her life andreceived the appropriate treatment for who she was atthat point. The basic idea is to see where the imbalanceis and correct it.

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By Brian Grosam, Ph.D., L.Ac.The First Teaching Hospital for theShandong University of TraditionalChinese Medicine is nestled amongstthe aging buildings in the old down-town district of Jinan. It is a huge, six-story building. Every day, thousands ofpeople get treated there. Based on mytwo-year experience as an intern atFirst Teaching Hospital, I will take youthrough a typical experience for a hos-

pital visitor. Upon arrival, after dodging through all the buses,taxis and cars which are dropping patients off at the frontgate, you step into the main entrance hall where an evenmore chaotic scene threatens to overwhelm the senses.There are people everywhere and a babble of voices. As hos-pital personnel bustle through the large open space, visitorsand patients must first make their way across the hall to theadmittance window.

There, you join the haphazard queue line to reach the nursewho presides over the admittance window. The nurse listensas you describe your ailment, tells you which hospital depart-ment you should visit, collects the standardized "doctor'sfee" of seven yuan (approximately one U.S. dollar), gives youa registration receipt, and directs you to a thirty-foot wall inthe entrance hall. Posted on the wall is a list of all the hospi-tal departments, department locations, and photographs ofthe doctors who work in each department. If you are new tothe hospital and were not referred to a specific doctor, youneed to select a doctor from the list. Many patients willchoose based on how old the doctor looks. The older thedoctor, the better they are, right?

Once you know which department you are going to, youmake your way by hopping on the elevator, escalator, or bytaking the stairs. (The stairs, incidentally, are always the fastestroute!) Now you have found your department and locatedyour chosen doctor, but this is only the beginning. The doc-tor you want to see may be so busy that you will have toselect another doctor on the spot. This alternative doctormay simply be the unlucky doctor who occupies the lastoffice at the end of a long hallway.

Having arrived at the doctor's door, you are confronted bythe doctor's intern. You hand the intern the registrationreceipt you got at the admission window. At the end of themonth the doctor will hand in all the registration receipts ofthe patients he saw that month and be reimbursed perpatient visit. You also give the intern your patient records. (Iforgot to mention this before, but all patient medical records

are the property and sole responsibility of the patient.Hospitals do not store and maintain patient records.)

Now you sit and wait to see the doctor. A good strategy is tovisit at times when the hospital is less crowded, or to see anew or younger doctor. This could shorten your visit byhours. When your turn finally arrives, you are met by theintern again. Interns are an integral part of the hospital rou-tine who keep everything organized and moving along at abrisk pace. The primary intern will interview you about yourhealth problem, record your symptoms and run through astandard series of traditional Chinese medicine diagnostics,including pulse and tongue diagnosis. At last you get to seethe actual doctor! He or she reviews the intern's notes andyour previous medical history, asks a few more questions,takes your pulse, and may send you for further Western med-ical testing such as blood work, x-ray, or MRI. After arriving ata diagnosis and deciding on a treatment plan, the doctor willprescribe herbs if you are in the internal medicine depart-ment, insert needles in the acupuncture department, or per-form tuina, moxibustion, etc.

Once your treatment is done, you'll be told when you shouldreturn for your next visit. If your doctor prescribed herbs, youwill need to make your way to the pharmacy departmentwhich occupies the entire second floor of the hospital. Thereare two adjacent windows at one end of the floor. The per-son at the window on the right reviews your prescription fordosages and accuracy, calculates the total cost, and stampsit. You then proceed to the second window and pay for theherbs, at which time your prescription is stamped again. Thecost of herbal prescriptions can vary, depending on quantityand scarcity of ingredients, but most herbs are very inexpen-sive in China. A one-week prescription may cost as little asthree U.S. dollars. Finally, you turn your twice-stamped pre-scription in at one of ten or more windows to have it filled.Pharmacists and interns dressed in lab coats and masks fillprescription after prescription. It is truly an amazing sight tosee raw Chinese herbs dispensed at an industrial level. For anextra fee, and if you are willing to return in a few hours, thepharmacy will even decoct the formula for you. There arealso separate windows that dispense Western drugs andChinese patent formulas.

With your herbal prescription filled, you have now success-fully completed your visit to a hospital of traditional Chinesemedicine. If your timing is good and everything works out,your visit may only take an hour. But so many things can con-spire to delay you that it would probably be safer to cancelall your other plans on the day you decide to visit the FirstTeaching Hospital of Shandong University.

Visiting a TCM Hospital in China

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Dr. Yubin Lu Dr. Wei Liu Dr. Daiyi Tang Dr. Hong Chen

Dr. Li Gu Dr. Wen Jiang Dr. Cheng Chi Dr. Xingron He Dr. Yifan Liu

TCM HEALTH CENTER / AAAOMThe most reputable Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Clinics in the Twin Cities

SIX CONVENIENT LOCATIONSSt. Louis Park: 3710 Grand Way, St. Louis Park, MN 55416 (952-746-7992)

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Visit AcupunctureMN.com for more information on conditions, services, practitioners, hours, locations and directions, and more.

Minnesota is well-served by the acupuncturists atTCM Health Center clinics. With six convenientlocations, TCM Health Center clinics are commit-ted to providing high quality acupuncture andChinese herbal medicine at reasonable rates. Ourpractitioners are fully-licensed and highly-trainedprofessionals who bring specialized knowledgeand years of experience to bear on patient treat-ment. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicineare known to be exceptionally effective at address-ing a variety of diseases, as well as being provenpreventive medicine.

• Chronic Conditions• Gastrointestinal Problems• Skin Disorders• Functional Disorders• Ear, Nose & Throat Problems• Pain Management• Gynecological Problems• Joint/Muscle Injuries• Supplementary Cancer Therapy• Mental & Emotional Disorders

Dr. Peng Sun

Dr. Qin Chu

10

A Case of InfertilityBy Wen Jiang, TCMD, Ph.D., L.Ac.

When Sarah first came to see me,she was depressed and told me shecried all the time. She was 39 yearsold at that point and had been try-ing to conceive for more than threeyears, but nothing was working forher. Her gynecologist had run everytest he could think of on both Sarahand her husband, and everythingseemed to be normal. Since the

Western doctors could find no reason for her failure toconceive, Sarah was diagnosed with "unexplainableinfertility." Because she wanted to have a baby so much,Sarah went through three rounds of in vitro fertilization(IVF) procedures with artificial insemination. All of theseexpensive attempts had failed, and Sarah was so sad anddiscouraged when she came to see me.

At first I was confused when I began to interview Sarahabout her symptoms because everything sounded sonormal. She had very regular periods with a 28-30 daycycle, no severe cramping, and normal amounts of men-strual bleeding for 3-5 days. She could confirm that therewas a noticeable change in her cervical mucus aroundher ovulation time. Then I felt her pulse and examinedher tongue. Sarah's pulse was very weak and thin, and itwas deep. Her tongue was pale red, with some shallowpurplish spots along the edge. These signs made methink that she could have some kidney deficiency and qistagnation problems. Then I asked for more detailedinformation about her sleep, diet, habits, etc. I found thatshe had a history of working late and not going to beduntil after midnight. She had a low libido. She hatedbeing cold and always had cold feet and hands.Sometimes she experienced night sweats.

I analyzed all her symptoms in combination with herpulse and tongue diagnosis and decided what her prob-lem was in TCM terms: qi stagnation with underling defi-ciency of both kidney yang and kidney yin. Sarah's cur-rent condition was the end result of many years of stressand unhealthy lifestyle choices, and I tried to explain toher how this happened. Because she stayed up late anddid not get good sleep, she was always fatigued. Besidesthat, she was constantly stressed by her job and by herefforts to get pregnant. Gradually, the stress and fatiguedamaged her liver yin and kidney yin causing a block inher energy flow (qi stagnation). Lack of exercise causeda deficiency of yang qi, which is why she had an aversionto cold and cold limbs. In combination, the qi blockage,

the liver yin deficiency, and the kidney yang and yin defi-ciency had affected her uterus function so she wasunable to get pregnant.

Once I knew her pattern diagnosis I could make an effec-tive treatment plan for her: tonify kidney yang, nourishliver and kidney yin, and move the qi stagnation. Thecombination of acupuncture points I would use in treat-ing her were chosen based on the stages of her menstru-al cycle. For all of us, male and female, our bodies gothrough changes every day. For menstruating women thechanges are dramatic, and there is a great opportunity toaffect the body's functioning by choosing the optimummoment of the cycle to apply treatment. Before and dur-ing Sarah's period I focused on moving the stagnation.Her uterus was affected by both blood and qi stagnation,and we needed to clear out a long-standing blood stasisfrom her uterus. After her period I paid more attention tonourishing and supporting her kidney yin, in order to lether egg follicle grow and mature. At ovulation, I usedpoints to reinforce yang qi so the yang energy wouldstimulate the follicle to release the egg. After ovulation Ifocused mainly on tonifying yang energy, which is essen-tial to maintain a body temperature that is high enoughto keep the fertilized egg implanted in the uterus.

While Sarah was coming in for regular acupuncture treat-ments, I also talked to her about her diet and life routinesand suggested changes. She should go to sleep before 11o'clock, because proper amounts of sleep can help nour-ish the yin energy of the body. She needed to get out-doors and exercise on a regular basis to help release thestress and move the stagnation. I asked her to eat red-col-ored foods before ovulation to help nourish blood andyin, and to eat extra meat and seafood like beef, shrimpand lamb after ovulation to help tonify kidney yang. Iexplained these dietary recommendations are based ontraditional Chinese medicine theory. At first, when Imade these recommendations to Sarah, I was afraid shewould not believe me or follow my suggestions. Then shestarted to see how all aspects of her daily life contributedto her health. Once Sarah understood this, she would askme, "What should I do now? What should I eat?" at everyvisit. And she followed my recommendations exactly.

Sarah started to see me after her third round of IVF treat-ment failed. After six months of acupuncture treatments,she got pregnant naturally! Her beautiful baby girl isthree years old now, and Sarah still comes to see mewhen she has a health problem.

11

Autumn is a beautiful season, espe-cially in Minnesota, but it is also a timewhen many people suffer from lungproblems such as chronic cough, drycough, asthma, allergies, etc. TCMtheory says this is because the Lungsare most likely to be affected by path-ogenic dryness in the autumn.

This recipe calls for the bulb of the tendril-leaved fritillaryplant, chuan bei mu in Chinese. Chuan bei mu is generallyavailable in Chinese grocery stores and looks like a white,pea-sized ball. In the kitchen, the small bulbs need to beground up or processed into a powder before use.

Chuan Bei Li (Steamed Pear with tendrilled fritillaria bulb)Ingredients:Pear 2 pearsChuan Bei Mu (fritillaria bulb) 20 gramsHoney 50 grams

Preparation: Grind chuan bei mu bulbs into powder. Peel thepears and cut into large slices. Top each pear slice with honeyand chuan bei mu powder. Steam for 30 minutes.

TCM Functions: Clears lung heat, moistens the lung, resolvesphlegm, and removes pathogenic fire and heat from thelung. Can be used to address the following conditions: drycough, asthma symptoms, sputum that is yellow and thick ormixed with blood, feelings of heat or constriction in thelungs.

Comments: In this recipe, chuan bei mu is the principal herb.Its properties are: cold and sweet. Its primary function is tomoisten the lung, so it is mainly applied to chronic cough dueto lung deficiency with scanty phlegm and a dry throat. Pears(li) have the properties of being sweet, slightly sour and cool.Medicinally, pears function to increase body fluids, moistenthe lung, clear heat and transform phlegm. Honey is sweetand neutral. It can moisten the lung.

Food as Medicine: A Healthful Dessert for FallBy Yifan Liu, TCMD, Ph.D., L.Ac.

Relieving Post-Operative PainBy Peng Sun, TCMD, Ph.D., L.Ac.

John, 65, came in with severe kneepain. He had a history of arthritis inhis knees which led him to haveboth knees replaced twice with arti-ficial joints. The last knee replace-ment surgery was five years ago.John experienced some pain andstiffness in both knees since the sur-gery, but the pain became much

worse over the last six months. His regular physician andorthopedic physician prescribed several different painpills, but none of them relieved his pain. One of John'sdoctors was aware of the studies which prove thatacupuncture has a therapeutic benefit for knee pain andreferred him to an acupuncturist.

John has a strong constitution for his age and is general-ly in good health. Most people his age show a preva-lence of deficiency disorders, but I diagnosed John withan excess condition: local qi and blood stagnation in theknees. Acupuncture was used to increase the flow of qiand blood through the affected area. The first acupunc-ture treatment included distal points on the head, handand ankle and local points to the knee. When hereturned several days later John said there was a little

improvement in the pain, but a lot of stiffness at the backof his knees, so the second treatment was face down tofocus on this area. After this treatment the pain and stiff-ness were relieved for 12 hours, then gradually returned.Since John was responding to the acupuncture, but find-ing his symptoms coming back soon, I suggested that hecome in every day for three or four days. This type ofintensive treatment can often bring the patient notice-able relief for a more extended period of time.

In a case like John's, there are no "miracle cures." He isan older man and has suffered significant trauma fromthe surgeries. Western medicine says he is better off withthe knee replacements, even with the pain, because oth-erwise he would probably not be able to walk at all. Atthis point, we will never know if acupuncture could havehelped John avoid surgery in the first place, but there issignificant scientific research showing that acupuncturecan also improve joint function. Nonetheless, Chinesemedicine has an advantage in pain management.Western medicine offers medication for such pain butcould be addictive or have side-effects. Acupuncture waseffective to reduce John's pain and stiffness and increasehis range of motion. With continuing acupuncture treat-ments, John should be able to function well with his kneereplacements, without needing to take pain medication.

AAAOM Open HousesOpen Houses for prospective students will be held on November 14th and November 21st from 2-5p.m. Open House presentations are an excellent opportunity for prospective acupuncture students oranyone who is interested in exploring the field of alternative medicine to get a lot of information in ashort space of time. Read more on page 3, visit AAAOM.edu for full details and to RSVP, or call 651-631-0204 ext. 2 with any questions and to RSVP. We hope to see you there!

First Day of Winter TrimesterThe first day of classes for 2011’s Winter Trimester will be Monday, January 3rd. Applications are nowbeing accepted and prospective students are encouraged to register soon. For application informa-tion, visit AAAOM.edu or call 651-631-0204 ext. 2. AAAOM accepts applications year-round fortrimesters beginning in September, January, and late April.

Tai Chi and Healing Qi Gong Classes Open to the PublicTo cultivate healthy lifestyles and healthy communities, the AAAOM Community Education programincludes ongoing 12-week Tai Chi classes on Wednesdays from 6 to 8:30 p.m. beginning January 5thand 10-week Healing Qi Gong classes on Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. beginning January 6th. Forclass and registration information, please call 651-631-0204 ext. 1.

Continuing Education Seminars - Fall 2010Held at our Roseville, Minnesota campus each fall, the AAAOM Continuing Education program isavailable for practitioners who have completed an accredited degree program for Acupunctureand/or Oriental Medicine, or for advanced students. Topics for 2010 include "Formulas for Heat-Related Liver Disorders" (Saturday, November 6th), "Treating Degenerative Brain Disorders" and"Traditional Chinese Massage for Internal Diseases" (Sunday, November 7th), and "FacialRejuvenation" and "Treating Allergic Responses" (Sunday, November 14th). Generally, these coursesqualify for CEU credit, and full details are provided upon class registration. Full details are available onAAAOM.edu on the Continuing Education page. To register call 651-631-0204 ext. 1.

Dates To Remember

Student Intern Half-Price CouponThe Student Clinics at our AAAOM Rosevilleand Uptown locations are an inexpensive wayto invest in your health. Supervised by our fac-ulty, you will receive high quality treatmentfrom 3rd- and 4th-year student interns. Inreturn, you will assist students in gaining valu-able first-hand clinical experience. Treatmentsmay include acupuncture, herbal medicine,Tuina massage, dietary recommendations, andeven Qi Gong. Faculty members carefullyadvise and review all patient diagnoses, pre-scriptions, and follow-up visits to ensure themost effective treatments.

Treatments from student interns are generally$32 per session, but coupons are availablehere for either the Roseville or Uptown loca-tions to print out and bring along with you fora $16 treatment.