2.23.2019

Ode to Tests


I wrote this post almost immediately after my graduation exam. I didn’t know test results yet, but was so adrenaline high from the test, and exhausted after months of preparation, that I had to write something about the process. If you are preparing for a big exam, then I hope that this is helpful for you. (And yes, big relief, I passed.)

Ode to Tests

Clinic entrance exam. Clinic exit exam. Graduation exam. And now, coming up, the California board exam. Then, four national exams (NCCAOM). One exam after another, the never-ending march of terror and exhaustion. I greet you with flashcards and chocolate. For you, dear reader, perchance a fellow student, perchance a curious onlooker, I share these test-tackling strategies that have carried me through, and will hopefully continue to carry me through, to graduation, and subsequent licensure. One small win at a time.

Before the Test

Prepare
Flashcards. Review daily. Go onto www.quizlet.com and make an account. Plug in small digestible snippets of all collected and pertinent information. Organize into categories. Study by category. Do flashcards everywhere. I studied flashcards while hiking backcountry, flying across the country, soaking in steaming baths. I flipped through 100 flashcards pre-dawn before leaving the bed, 100 more before falling asleep, and in every possible open moment: standing in grocery lines, waiting for gas, and even while stuck in hellish Los Angeles traffic. Practice tests. Practice tables. Get familiar with the material from every direction. Talk about it with everyone. Look up what you don’t know. Make it fun, visual, creative. Color-code. Bring it to life. Spaced repetition, dedication. Set a study plan, and follow through.

The Day Before
No cramming. Your last day of studying is 2 days before test day. After weeks to months of accumulated effort, allow yourself to rest the day before the test. Eat well: healthy whole foods that will energize you all through the next day. Go for a hike. Do what gives you joy. Flip through a few more notes to ease your mind, but remain calm. Before bed, have everything prepared for your test day: clothing, food... everything. Visualize your plans for the whole test. Picture success. Feel it. Sleep early.

Day Of
Stretch in the morning. Eat well. Maintain a relaxed focus. Enter the zone. Get there early. Game on.

During the Test

Food and Drink (this worked at school, but board exams will only allow water)
If the test allows it, then bring ample fuel: relaxing tea for nervousness (Kava, Rose, Passionflower), stimulating tea for the easily bored (Green tea). I had tea bags of both. Coffee or wine for the decadent (I like chocolate covered coffee beans). Chocolate for joy, comfort, and energy. Oranges for an energizing wake-up call. Roasted sweet potatoes for satisfying long-lasting energy. A protein bar to quickly satiate true hunger. Cookies for true decadence. A dropperful of a relaxing or stimulating tincture (relaxing for me) beforehand, to get things started on the right foot. An extra secret squirt into the tea, for extra good luck.

The Test
Start with what you know: I scribble out a few reference tables before starting the test itself. They smile at me with my test and food, helpful for when I get overwhelmed, reminding me of the basics. Flip to the section of the test that is easiest, and finish it. Build confidence. Return to a hard section. Alternate back and forth: build confidence, tackle something challenging. Note the time. Move quickly. Let go, if something is too difficult. Mark the page to return later. Trust intuition: first thought is often correct. Bubble it into the answer sheet. Mark what I’m unsure about, to double check after completing the entire test. Only double check those answers. Onwards.

Movement
Get up to to “pee” at least once an hour. Give your brain a break. Pace around in the bathroom or hallway for a little bit. Get some blood flowing into the body and brain. Take a breather. Swing your arms around. Then return to the testing room.

Maintain focus, but rest as needed. Close your eyes. Take slow deep belly-to-chest breaths in and out of the nose. Remind yourself, “It’s okay,” with palms facing up under the table, or pointer finger and thumb meeting in “anjali mudra.” More relaxation for more success. Then, back to it.

After the Test

First, rest. It’s been a journey. Celebrate both wins and losses. Review the test. Learn from mistakes. If there’s more tests on the horizon, then make more flashcards from fresh test material. Re-strategize as necessary. Onwards. 

~

Other Resources
Here's a podcast on high-level performance under stress, from Scott Weingart.
(image from Scott Weingart)

2.14.2019

Crux Yoga


Your crux move is the hardest part of a climb. Hands sweating, feet shaking. Breathe. Stabilize your core. Root down through your feet. Trust your body. Each move, and the space between each move, is deliberate, intentional, precious. Your body is strong, yet relaxed. Toned, yet supple. Send it. 

The devil's in the details. Drop your tailbone. Relax your shoulders. Deepen your breath. Activate through your feet and hands. Root down, to rise up. Move with controlled precision. Return your mind and breath to the present moment. Focus.

Crux yoga prepares you for your crux moves, be they in the gym, on the rocks, or in your life. Find your edges. Meet, explore, and expand them.

Come practice with us at Ventura's Boulderdash climbing gym! 

10.31.2018

Past Herbal Classes


Past Herbal Classes

Jiling’s                                             
Botanical Medicine
                            Classes

Learn to use the natural medicine chest surrounding you: plant identification, medicine making, edible and medicinal properties and usage, and so much more!

Class info

WHEN: Sundays 6:30-8:30 PM, 9/27 - 11/22 (Level 2 classes)
           Wednesday 6:30-8:30 PM, 10/14 - 11/25 (Level 1 classes)

WHERE: Out on a Whim Farm
           
COST: sliding scale $30 - $50 per class (pay as you can)
           (Includes tea, samples, projects. Inquire for trades. All welcome.)

REGISTER: ---

(visit www.LinJiling.blogspot.com for more info)

~

Weekly schedule
(Schedule may change. Please RSVP for an updated schedule)

“Level 2” Herbal Body Systems and Plant Walk classes:
Plant walks every other week: 10/4, 10/18, 11/1, 11/15, 11/22
Lectures every other week:
9/27- herbal energetics
10/11- nervous system herbs
10/25- digestive system herbs
11/8- respiratory system herbs
11/22- herbal first aid

“Level 1” Medicine-Making classes:
10/14- Welcome to Herbalism
10/21- Gathering, Processing, and Storing Plants
10/28- Creating Tea
11/4- Oil Infusions and Salves
11/11- Making Tinctures
11/18- Sweet Medicine
11/25- Incense, Dreaming Herbs, and Flower Essences

more details on the above: 


Autumn 2015 Herbal Classes (level 2) with Jiling


Autumn herbal classes alternate between lecture and field classes.


Lecture classes:
Lecture classes cover a variety of topics, primarily materia medica for different body systems. These classes take place indoors with tea, discussion, and samples. A basic understanding of herbal principles is requested for this class.


Field classes:
Field classes take place outdoors; all are welcome. These classes may include plant walks, botanical field identification, medicine making, sharing herbal projects, and general discussions/ Q+A. Please dress appropriately for walking outdoors, and bring your current herbal projects to share. Please RVSP, as some classes may take place in other locations, and the schedule/ location may shift with the season, and weather.

~



Jiling’s Herbal Medicine- Making Classes
Come join herbalist Jiling and learn how to make your own herbal home remedies, with the plants that grow around you. Each class includes a tea party, lecture, and demonstration. Students make and take home a useful natural product with recipes, further resources, and an abundance of information and inspiration.

The Classes

Welcome to Herbalism (Oct. 14)
Come experience and experiment with a variety of herbal medicine making techniques and menstruua (solvents). We’ll introduce making teas, tinctures, vinegars, honeys, and oils. Further topics may include preparing salves, sugars, glycerites, flower essences, elixirs, oxymels, incense, and food. Students are invited to bring their favorite preparations, recipes, stories, and more to share after class!

Gathering, Processing, and Storing Plants (Oct. 21)
Once you know what plants do, how do you utilize their resources? We’ll explore some local edible and medicinal wild plants, then discuss ethical wild-crafting tools and techniques, and plant harvesting, processing, and storage methods and considerations.

Creating Tea (Oct. 28)
Teas are an ancient way to ingest plants, which is still ritualized in many traditional cultures. We’ll share a tea ceremony, then prepare teas, infusions, decoctions, and topical tea applications (washes, compresses, poultices, steams, baths). We’ll discuss some local delicious and nourishing plants for tea, then formulate a useful and delicious tea blend.

Oil Infusions and Salves (Nov. 4)
Our skin is the most exposed part of our physical body. We’ll discuss skin-care, and create a luxurious aromatic skin-healing oil infusion and salve.

Making Tinctures (Nov. 11)
Tinctures are plants extracted in alcohol. They’re easy to make, transport, and ingest. We’ll prepare tinctures with fresh, dried, and other plant materials with the folk method, and scientific method. We’ll discuss formulation, cordials, elixirs, and plant actions. Other possible topics include organoleptics, Ayurvedic constitutional evaluation, vitalist energetics, and balancing the five flavors.

Sweet Medicine (Nov. 18)
A spoonful of sugar truly makes the medicine go down. Sweet medicine is often delicious, as well as medicinal. Just don’t eat it all at once! We’ll make honey infusions, syrups, glycerites, and pastilles. Students will bring home a yummy medicinal honey infusion.

Incense, Dreaming Herbs, and Flower Essences (Nov. 25)
Working with plants on a ritualistic or energetic level can complement any self-care or therapeutic practice, and enhance the process of coming to know oneself, in relation with plants. We’ll discuss plant connection exercises, dreaming herbs, the ritual usage of plants, and how to make flower essences. We’ll make an incense blend in class, for students to take home, and continue the journey.

 ~

Jiling’s Spring 2015 Herbalism Classes

Come join us for an empowering, informative, and fun herbal workshop series in Bethany, CT this spring, with herbalist Jiling Lin. These classes provide a solid introductory foundation for the vast world of western herbalism, rooted in hands-on medicine making, plant identification, and other practical skills. Students will learn and explore experientially, making an herbal medicine in each class, and gaining useful tools for self, home, and community.  
When: Tuesday nights (6:30- 8:30 PM), and the first Saturday of each month (10 AM- 3 PM).
Come for one, or all, of the classes. Open to everyone.
Where: Out-on-a-Whim Farm
Register: Contact Jiling ---
For more info, visit www.LinJiling.blogspot.com

Tuesday Evening Medicine- Making Classes
When: Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 PM. March 17 to June 2
Cost: Sliding scale $30-$50 per class.
We’ll share tea, and explore a different topic each week: practical medicine-making skills, formulation, applicable theory, plant identification, local edible and medicinal plants, and more!

Free Tea Party (March 17)
Come join us for a free tea party to welcome the coming spring, and the beginning of a weekly and monthly herbal workshop series! We’ll discuss different approaches to exploring the world of plant medicine, with plenty of open space for collective sharing, asking questions... and savoring samples! Please bring your beautiful self and any interested friends, and a snack to share. Hope to see you there!

Creating Tea (March 24)
Teas are an ancient way to ingest plants, which is still ritualized in many traditional cultures. We’ll share a tea ceremony, then prepare teas, infusions, and decoctions. We’ll discuss ethical wild-crafting tools and techniques, plant drying methods, and storage techniques. We’ll formulate customized relaxing blends for each student, exploring relaxing herbs and nourishing nervines, and how they interact with unique body-types. Other topics we may explore include topical tea applications (washes, compresses, poultices, steams), local delicious and nourishing plants for tea, and powders.

Oil Infusions and Salves (March 31)
Our skin is the most exposed part of our physical body. We’ll discuss skin-care, salve making, oil infusions, formulations, and create a luxurious aromatic skin-healing salve.

Making Tinctures (April 7)
Tinctures are plants extracted in alcohol. They’re easy to make, transport, and ingest. We’ll prepare tinctures with fresh, dried, and other plant materials with the folk method, and scientific method. We’ll discuss formulation, cordials, elixirs, and plant actions. Other possible topics include organoleptics, botany, Ayurvedic constitutional evaluation, vitalist energetics, and holistic health.

Sweet Medicine (April 14)
A spoonful of sugar truly makes the medicine go down. Sweet medicine is often delicious, as well as medicinal. Just don’t eat it all at once! We’ll demonstrate making honey infusions, syrups, glycerites, pastilles, cordials, and elixirs. Students will bring home a yummy medicinal honey infusion.

Aphrodisiacs and Herbal Chocolates (April 21)
Since food is one of our most powerful medicines, let’s begin with dessert. We'll explore aphrodisiac plants, uses, and formulation. Focusing on roses and cacao, we’ll concoct decadent herbal chocolates, and luxurious rose coconut oil.

Incense, Dreaming Herbs, and Flower Essences (April 28)
Working with plants on a ritualistic or energetic level can complement any self-care or therapeutic practice, and enhance the process of coming to know oneself, in relation with plants. We’ll discuss plant connection exercises, dreaming herbs, the ritual usage of plants, and how to make flower essences. We’ll make an incense blend in class, for students to take home, and continue the journey.

Women’s Herbal Circle (May 5)
This class is for the ladies. We’ll discuss dietary, lifestyle, and herbal support for women, and the female reproductive system. I’ll tailor the class to the needs and interests of participants, so please register, and let me know who you are! We’ll formulate a supportive tea for the female system, and create a moon-time medicine kit.

Herbal First Aid (May 12)
Using herbal medicine in acute first aid situations is one of the best ways to learn, through hands-on practice in everyday life. We’ll discuss how to address common first aid concerns with herbs, such as open wounds, infections, digestive disorders, headaches, emotional distress, and more. Students will bring home an herbal medicine to start, or complement, their own herbal first aid kit.

Spring Edibles and Digestive Bitters (May 19)
Many of the first edible plants to rise in the spring are bitter. We’ll discuss the importance of bitters for healthy digestion, identify spring edibles, and make a delicious digestive bitters tinctures blend, and infused vinegars.

Food as Medicine (May 26)
Let thy food be thy medicine... and let thy medicine be thy food! In this fun and delicious class, we’ll demonstrate creative ways to prepare local wild edibles, kitchen herbs, and integrate herbs into food. A few possibilities include making gomasio, pesto, finishing salts, infused oils and vinegars, sauerkraut, tonic soups, adapto-balls, and more!  

Free Tea Party (June 2)
Welcome to another community tea party, now at the culmination of the spring herb classes, where all students are invited to share their herbal projects, experiences, plant stories, and more! I’ll share upcoming summer herb class activities, and some spring treats. Please bring a locally grown or wild-harvested snack to share. Let’s celebrate the abundance of spring, and the upcoming pleasures of summer!

First Saturday Botanical Field Days
When: First Saturdays of each month, 10 AM- 3 PM, April to June
Cost: Sliding scale $65-$85 per class.
Field days include plant walks, medicine-making, and more. We’ll explore field botany, ethical wild-crafting, and land stewardship. Please come prepared to be outdoors, learn, connect, and have fun! Please register in advance, for location and other details.

Plant Identification: Intuition and Observation (April 4)
Understanding botany is essential, for conclusive plant identification and safe/ effective medicine making. This class combines intuition, observation, and science to help newcomers learn practical botany skills. We’ll discuss organoleptics and botany basics, then embark on sensory explorations, and practice “keying out” plants using botany tools and books. We’ll discuss ethical wild-crafting tools and techniques, then make a fresh plant tincture and oil.

Experiencing and Creating Flower Essences (May 2)
Flower essences contain the vibrational essence of the plant. They work with people on a subtle yet powerful energetic level. We’ll connect with plants through field botany and a variety of awareness exercises, make our own flower essence, and experience a variety of plant essences.  

Herbal Medicine Making Intensive (June 6)
Making herbal medicines involves understanding a simple set of techniques, then repeating and adapting them, under a variety of circumstances. We’ll do a plant walk, botanizing along the way, practice plant connection exercises and ethical wild-crafting, then explore a variety of field medicine making skills, including drying methods, plant storage, tinctures, oils, honeys, glycerites, liniments, and vinegars.

3.14.2018

Choosing a Chinese Medicine School


Chinese medicine, and any true course of study, is a lifetime of study. Even if you don’t pursue formal Chinese medicine for future licensure and practice, you can still study it for pleasure, historical value, and quality of life improvement. This article is for those who hope to formally embark on this Chinese medicine journey, who inquire about my experiences at the three Chinese medicine schools I attended, the seven I visited, and the numerous others that I researched before committing to this education. 

Graduate level Chinese medicine education, usually to earn a Master’s degree, is required for licensure to practice acupuncture in most places in the USA. A few states provide licensure without a degree, fewer don't even require licensure. See the NCCAOM website (our licensing board) for the laws for your state. Here, I write about picking a suitable graduate level Chinese medicine program in the USA for licensure, as my experience has been thus. 

It is a bittersweet investment, and exhausting, challenging, rewarding, and life-changing journey. It is only the formal beginning of this journey. I hope that this article is useful and helpful. Enjoy.

Note: I started writing this article when I left NUNM last spring. Over a year later, it is still unfinished. I’m still in school, and keep adding to it, but I want to share it now, as we're approaching application time for fall 2018 matriculation in most schools. Perhaps I’ll publish a more polished version in the future, but here it is, for now. Pardon the unpolished bits. 

Key to a few terms, before we begin
AFEA= Academy for Five Element Acupuncture (my 1rst school, in Florida)
NUNM= National University of Natural Medicine (my 2nd school, in Oregon)
AMU= Alhambra Medical University (my 3rd and current school, in CA
ACAOM=Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (they approve schools)

You
What do you want?
Get clear about your goals, needs, desires, strengths, and weaknesses. What are you willing or not willing to give up or compromise for this education? This includes home/ location, current job/ career, financial commitment, etc. If you want the best education and are able to commit time, money, home, and likely even career, then move to China or Taiwan, and commit to learning Chinese first, then studying for another 6-7 years, there. However, USA acupuncture licensure requires that you study in the USA. Students who study abroad have to take a certain number of classes here in the USA, and then take the USA acupuncture board exams for licensure. I decided not to study abroad for that reason, and also for reasons of time and comfort. I can always return to China/ Taiwan after I graduate and into my future for supplemental studies.
Every school has its strong and weak points. Decide what’s most important to you. If herbs are your priority, then choose a school with a strong herbal program. If saving money is your priority, then choose the cheapest school. If you want to focus on a certain style of acupuncture, modality, demographic, or condition, then pick a school that excels in that area. Otherwise, pick a school that provides a solid foundation of the basics (diagnostics, points, and herbs), with a strong clinical program, and at a reasonable price. Be idealistic, yet realistic. No school is perfect.

What kind of learner are you?
Do you prefer small classes, or large lecture halls? Are you more of an introvert or extrovert?

What are your goals?
If you’d like to be a clinician, then choose a school with a strong clinical component: many hours observing practitioners with over 10 years of experience. Some people are fantastic clinicians, but terrible teachers. See what you can learn best with, and what you can simply “put up” with. If you’d like to be an academic, then attend a didactic school with excellent philosophical lecturers, and perhaps go for a doctoral program in classical Chinese, like what I started off doing at NUNM. If you are attending school for self enrichment, and don’t want to pursue it as a career, then simply pick a school with a style and cost that you resonate with, like some students do at AMU.

Location
Where do you live, now? Where do you want to live, in the future?
Pick a school where you’ll happily live for 3-5 years, and likely after graduation. Students form life-long relationships with fellow students, professors, patients, and local community. After graduation, most students remain local to school. Choose a place where you could live long-term, where the cost of living, landscape, weather, human population, and work availability all suit you. Research the acupuncture laws in your desired state(s) of practice. Do those state(s) have their own board exams or requirements? Will you live/ work in a state that requires both herbal and acupuncture board exams for licensure? Does your school cover herbs, if it’s required by your state laws? Is your school accredited by ACAOM and your desired state(s)?

Money
“Pick the cheapest school where you can get out the fastest,” said one of my mentors as I was researching schools, “You learn everything after you graduate, anyhow.” “Don’t worry about the money,” said another, younger friend, “it’s an investment.” I picked my first school, AFEA, because it fit my nomadic lifestyle, focused on a style of acupuncture that I liked, and was reasonably priced. However, I found focusing on just one style of acupuncture to be limited in perspective, and decided to change to the most expensive school in the country (NUNM), to better fit my academic goals. After 1.5 years there though, I felt like the cost of my education was not commensurate with the quality of my education, and decided to leave again, this time to one of the cheapest schools in the country (AMU), to just put my nose to the grindstone and finish my education as elegantly and cheaply as possible.

How much are you willing or able to pay? Do you have a family to support, or pre-existing debt? There are almost no scholarships available. Most students go into heavy debt of over $100,000 including all expenses, depending on the school, and location. Some schools offer negligible in-school scholarships. Government-funded financial aid is available at most larger schools, but at cut-throat rates that begin accruing immediately upon withdrawal of funds. At NUNM, our government loan rate was around 6%. Some schools offer low-paying work-study. I juggled a few work-study jobs at NUNM, which included filling herbal prescriptions in the school medicinary, assisting at school events, and caretaking plants in the school garden. These were relaxing jobs that paid minimally, but were wonderful learning opportunities. AMU and AFEA are both too small to offer work-study, but allow flexibility and a lower price tag, so students can still work part-time and emerge with less debt.

Does tuition cost remain consistent through school, or does it increase yearly? At NUNM, our tuition increased every year. When I left, it was $420 per credit, with costs rising as much as 4% each year. Most students left NUNM with $150,000 to $200,000 (and up) in debt, depending on what program(s) they did. A friend who is a father and primary provider of his household started off getting enough financial assistance for NUNM but once the tuition increased, was no longer able to make ends meet. Most NUNM students are enrolled full time, taking out full loans. Few hold part-time jobs, as NUNM has a demanding program that requires full focus and time commitment. AMU is a quarter of the cost, at $125 per unit. Most classes occur in evenings or on weekends, so students can work full or part time while attending school, accruing less or no debt.

What are you willing to sacrifice, or invest in, for this education? Total cost of education includes cost of living (ie. food, rent, clothes), associated student costs (ie. expensive textbooks, clinical gear), and other unforeseen expenses. After graduation, expenses include board exams, starting a business, etc. We are not guaranteed jobs upon graduation, but need to be creative entrepreneurs. It can take 2-3 years to build a practice, depending on your location, business skills, practitioner skills, and luck. Research your local Chinese medicine market, and talk with seasoned practitioners. This is a big investment.

Time
Do you want to work part time, and graduate in 5 or more years? Or do you want to fully commit to school, and graduate in 3-4 years?

Business
Business skills are an integral part of “making it” as an acupuncturist. Most schools have a weak business program, if it exists at all. Invest in business classes as you get close to graduation, pick up books at the library on this topic, notice how things are run in the school clinic, and ask fellow acupuncturists in your desired practice location. School will not provide all the tools that you need to begin a practice. We must develop strong business skills and become creative entrepreneurs on our own.

Style
What’s your personal experience with Chinese medicine? What brings you to this medicine? What style of acupuncture do you enjoy, or has been effective for you, as a patient? Are herbs effective for you, or not?

Schools usually offer electives that expose students to a variety of Chinese medicines styles or techniques. Other schools offer specializations, such as in sports medicine, geriatrics, or gynecology. Five element acupuncture and Eight extraordinary channels studies usually lend themselves well to more psychologically focused work. Craniosacral, lymph massage, shiatsu, or other forms of bodywork are helpful for those who enjoy physical contact with patients. Shen-Hammer pulse system and Applied Channel Theory provide more detailed diagnostic tools. Most of these skills can be studied after school, for CEU’s. At NUNM, many professors offered workshops outside of school. My anatomy professor taught various bodywork classes outside of school. My foundations teacher taught sound healing in Chinese medicine. Being an ancient form of art and medicine, each professor and clinician has their own relationship with and approach to the medicine. Don’t be discouraged if a school doesn’t offer an elective you’re interested in. Take CEU’s after graduation, and make your business pay for it, through tax write-offs!

Half of our educational content includes western medicine, although it’s far less emphasized, with mostly take-home exams, and professors of fluctuating skill levels and often no understanding of Chinese medicine. Take these classes online, if possible. Nonetheless, Western medicine allows us to communicate with other healthcare professionals and patients in a shared language, and offers alternate perspectives to support or refute diagnostics or treatment principles. The more tools the better, though sometimes it can get messy.

There is always more to learn. With a plethora of options, don’t get bogged down in options, or water down your education. Pass your board exams. Enjoy the journey, too. Be well informed, yet focused. “Your best teachers are your patients,” said Dr Wang Ju-Yi.

Master’s vs “First Professional Doctorate” degree
Chinese medicine practitioner scopes of practice varies by location. In the USA, each state has its own rules. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) administers the national board exam, which includes four parts: Foundations of Oriental Medicine, Biomedicine, Acupuncture, and Chinese Herbology. The first three portions are required for most states, while the Herbs portion varies by state. Some states require both Herbs and Acupuncture certification to become a licensed acupuncturist (LAc), while other states only require Acupuncture certification to practice. A few states include other tests. California has its own State Boards, instead of the National Boards (this will change next year). New Mexico has an additional practical exam, to take after passing the National Boards. After passing both tests in New Mexico, Chinese medicine practitioners are given the title of “Doctor of Oriental Medicine” (DOM), and are primary care physicians (PCP). In California, acupuncturists are also PCP’s. In most states, we are just “Licensed Acupuncturists” (Lac), sans PCP rights/ privileges/ responsibilities

In first professional doctorate programs, students concurrently take the doctoral program with the Master’s program. Our field is rapidly changing, moving more towards a doctorate being required, instead of optional. Some older practitioners think that directly going for the first professional doctorate makes more sense, to save time and money. Others suggest finishing up the Master’s, starting a practice, and getting more experience and focus first, before embarking on the next stage of education. I started off doing a dual degree, found it to be too much work and in a program that was more academic than clinical (I am more interested in clinic than academics), so changed back to completing my Master’s, first.

Post doctorate (Ph.D) programs also exist in Chinese medicine, though students usually pursue this after a few years of practice. This course of study can be engaged in either the USA or abroad.

When Visiting Schools
  • Speak with as many different students as you can. Get diverse views on the school. A few important questions:
    • What are your favorite and least favorite classes and professors?
      • Sit in on both the “best” and “worst” classes, to know the best and worst of what this school offers. Talk with professors after class.
    • Who are the primary professors for core classes, such as foundations, points, diagnostics, herbs, and formulas?
      • Sit in on their classes!
    • What do you most like and dislike about the school, in general?
    • What are the strong and weak points of this school?
      • Notice what each individual has to say, and pay particular attention to patterns across differing individuals.
      • Ask the Dean this question, too.
    • Do professors and administration respond to student requests? How? How quickly? What's the procedure for voicing grievances, and conducting school-wide changes? Get solid examples of this. 
  • Be bold, and ask professors the above questions. Many professors teach at different schools, and can offer perspectives from the different schools that they currently teach at, have taught in the past, or their own journey as a student.
  • Do not just speak with administration. Admin is necessary for processing paperwork, money, and other logistics, but don’t affect or understand course content, and can sometimes be rude or disorganized. (I had bad experiences at most schools that I visited and attended). Don’t let a bad experience with an administrator ruin your feeling about a school. Ask to speak with the Dean of the Chinese medicine program and again, speak with professors, clinicians, and students.
  • Remember that each person you speak with has their own opinions, biases, and personal experiences. What resonates for another might not resonate for you. But if you piece together enough of others’ experiences, it helps create an outline for you to fill in the blanks with your own experiences, perspective, and judgment.
  • Notice who the other students are
    • How old are they? What socioeconomic class? Academic/ career goals? Background?
    • Do you feel comfortable with the general student population? Could you be happy with this group of people for 3-5 years?
  • Who are your professors? What’s the ratio of men to women professors? Are there Chinese professors? Do your professors speak or read Chinese? Do they cite the classics, and their clinical experience?
  • Sit in on classes with topics that you care most about.
  • Get a complimentary treatment in the clinic.
    • Ask students and clinical supervisors about clinical progression. Notice the cleanliness and professionalism of the clinic, and how supervisors interact with students.
    • Do students seem happy, confident, relaxed, professional, and knowledgeable?
  • Once you begin formally engaging with a school, keep well-organized records of everything, ideally digitally, especially payments and agreements. If they lose your paperwork (it's happened to me a few times), then you have it. 

The Curriculum
  • Make sure that topics that most interest you are emphasized in the program if possible, or at least included.
  • Remember that this is only the beginning of your education. No school can offer everything. Your schedule, including school, possible work, and a life outside of school to integrate and rest, will be packed.
    • I found more richness in my life outside of school than my life in school, such as educational opportunities, people that I want to study with, etc.
    • Even if you don’t resonate with your professors, you can find mentors, inspiration, and continuing education opportunities outside of school. Ask around in local clinics and in your communities, either in person or online.
  • You can take such classes as qigong and other electives outside of school or for CEU’s after graduation, usually for cheaper than in school.
    • At NUNM, a 1.5 unit qigong class and weekend-long qigong retreat are part of every quarter. This looks great on the curriculum, and sounds romantic and lovely, but adds up to around $1000 every three months. Most schools only require two qigong/ taiji classes. Then, there’s also personal connection: I don’t enjoy this particular qigong form, and don’t want to spend $1000 every three months on it.
Clinic
Who are your supervisors in clinic? How many years of clinical practice do they have? Do you resonate with their teaching style? How large are clinic groups? What’s clinical progression like? How soon do you enter clinic, upon matriculation at that school? What population does the clinic serve? Does it serve a diversity of people with differing conditions, ages, income levels, etc? What kind of patient population or conditions do you hope to work with in the future, and does your school clinic reflect that?
At AMU, students observe other students practicing. We usually have two teams of students working at once, with a presiding supervisor over the entire shift. First level students observe second or third year students needling. Our supervisor only enters to double check tongue, pulse, and other diagnostics, and help form a treatment plan. Then, treatment is conducted entirely on our own. Second level students needle together. Third level students can needle solo. Most schools have this system. My current opinions, based off of my first quarter in AMU’s clinic:
Pro’s of watching fellow students
- I am sometimes more comfortable asking my peers simple repetitive questions (“stupid” questions) than high-level practitioners
- We have to take initiative and develop prowess in our work, as no one holds our hand
Con’s of watching fellow students
- Lack of experience
- It can sometimes get chaotic or messy
At NUNM and SIEAM, students start by observing clinicians with 10+ years of experience. As they progress in clinic, they have a closer relationship with their supervisors. Watching someone practice who has years of experience is very different than watching fellow students: it looks like a graceful dance, rather than a technical act. I find it inspiring and beautiful, and sometimes daunting, in a “this is a lifetime of learning” way. It’s rare to find a school where you can observe seasoned clinicians. Opportunities exist outside of school to observe excellent practitioners though, either via serendipity, self-created opportunities, or established programs with seasoned practitioners (usually more expensive).

Self-study
School can only teach you so much. It is only the beginning. The rest is up to you.

Some Schools
California has a plethora of Chinese medicine schools, particularly in the Bay area and Los Angeles, due to the abundance of Asians, here. I now attend Alhambra Medical University (AMU) in Los Angeles, which is one of the cheapest schools in the country, as it’s run and attended predominantly by immigrants, who will not pay the exorbitant fees that westerners are more willing to pay. This is reflected in the education itself, which is just straightforward and practical: traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with no esoteric decorative flowers, and certainly no exoticism. TCM tends towards biomedical allopathic perspectives, which is the direction that Chinese medicine education in China and Taiwan focus on, more and more. This can be reductionist yet well organized. A deeper investigation of the classics and other styles or traditions can be engaged in during or after school, or upon graduation.

Los Angeles

My school. A small, cheap, immigrant-run TCM school that teaches to the Boards, with classes in English or Chinese (you choose). A DAOM program was just added, for people who have graduated, already. I am glad to be here, and am happy to share my experiences, if you have questions.

Other small, cheap, immigrant-run TCM schools that teaches to the Boards:
Dongguk University (has English or Korean language classes)

Larger TCM schools here at a slightly higher cost, with more westerners than Asians:
Located in a strip mall in west Los Angeles

Qigong is a required class through the entire course of study. They call themselves as a “family style” school, but the founders of the school rarely teach.

Has a first professional doctorate program, and no Master’s program. A small cohort-based TCM program in a much larger chiropractic school on a large beautiful campus in Whittier.

Bay Area (CA)

Well organized. I got a good feeling visiting this school, but did not like the location in super urban San Francisco. Recently partnered with California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), which has a transpersonal psychology, somatic psychology, and other interesting programs. 

Small select staff and students. Warm environment. Seems like an excellent hands-on program. I was not a fan of Oakland (high crime, crowded).


Five Branches University (Santa Cruz, San Jose)
A gorgeous campus and location, right next to the ocean in progressive Santa Cruz with redwoods and fun community. Has English or Chinese classes.

Colorado

Boulder was one of my favorite places to live, at the base of the beautiful Rockies, and in a progressive community with many Universities in a small town, including Tibetan Buddhism Naropa University. SWAC has a campus in Boulder, CO and in Santa Fe, NM. It has an affordable education, with excellent professors in a standard TCM education, with options for specializations in other areas, such as Japanese acupuncture.
Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture (Louisville- a Five Elements school run by Worsley’s wife)
Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Denver- seems like a standard TCM school)

Portland, Oregon
The cheapest option for studying Chinese medicine, but controversial, and only acupuncture, no herbs. No Master’s degree, just licensure. Some dogmatism around community acupuncture, but otherwise great principles. 

Seattle, Washington

New England
University of Bridgeport(Bridgeport, CT)

Classical Chinese medicine” schools (instead of “TCM”)
“TCM,” or “traditional Chinese medicine,” is a post Communist revolution modernized version of Chinese medicine, as synthesized by doctors under Mao Ze Dong. “Classical Chinese medicine” (CCM) refers to pre-Communist Chinese medicine.

I’ve heard great things about this school, and met some wonderful practitioners that graduated from here. It’s a rigorous education, with a lot of information folded into three years, a small cohort, the best professors, and reasonable tuition. If you’re willing to completely dedicate your life for three years to one of the best yet toughest schools, then come here. SIEAM doesn’t allow for transfers, and Seattle is cold and rainy, which is why I didn’t come here. The only school in the USA that teaches students to read and write modern and classical Chinese as part of its curriculum. You start observing in clinic immediately, then learn tuina to start practicing in clinic, before needling.

An emphasis on classical texts, with an idealistic yet thoughtful curriculum. Professors often ramble off in inspired yet disorganized ways, leaving students excited yet confused. The most expensive school in the country which is, in my opinion, not worth the cost. Clinic with experienced clinicians who each have their own style. A plethora of diverse Chinese medicine styles and techniques presented. Juicy, but can lead to lack of depth. Qigong and retreats every quarter which increases cost of education.

Founded by Jeffrey Yuen. More on that, another time.

Five Elements schools:
These schools are focused on “Five Element Acupuncture,” a style of acupuncture compiled by JR Worsley from a variety of approaches to Chinese medicine he learned in his East Asian travels. Students focus on this style of acupuncture, and are not exposed to much else. Pro’s with this kind of focus include graduating with an ability to perform one thing very well. Con’s include not knowing other modalities… but those can always be learned, later. Herbal medicine is not an inherent part of the Five Element approach, but a very basic herbal overview can be added onto the curriculum for an additional cost. Neither school is recognized by California or New Mexico (perhaps other states as well). Five Element style is not emphasized in the Board exams, so students have to prepare for the Boards on their own. Both schools offer a module-based program, which allows students to hold part-time jobs outside of school for the first two years of their education, before a full year of clinical residency in the final year.

Supplemental online education

Studying in Taiwan/ China

Another perspective on this topic from Andrew Nugent-Head, a professor and practitioner that I greatly respect and admire:

Related Blog Posts
NUNM year 1: a review (09/2016)

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Other Ideas

A quick idea- sketch of future potential additions to this article, as it’s not finished, and will likely never be, as the field continues changing rapidly, and I do, too.
  • school size
    • NUNM (big)/ SCUHS
      • + counselers, and other perks money can buy
      • + networking (ie events on campus)
      • - bureaucracy/ complicated chain of command. Difficult to elicit change, or be heard
      • - same professors
      • + workstudy opportunities
      • + students of other modalities (ie ND/ undergrad/ etc @ NUNM, chiro @SCUHS)
      • + opportunity for dual majors, or studying other things
      • - usually more expensive (at NUNM, our tuition paid for new buildings to grow school)
      • + more options, such as scholarships
    • small (AFEA, AMU)
      • AFEA= cohort 
      • + know everyone. May be easier to elicit change, or get needs met 
      • - if you don't get along, you're stuck with them 
      • - less opportunities or networking
      • + more homey 
  • physical accommodation considerations
    • elevators, if needed?
    • NUNM: qigong
    • SIAEM: tuina
  • setting
    • AMU= warehouse
      • trails nearby (10-15 min drive), strip malls too
      • no school garden, but another school is next door, with a garden
      • easy parking
    • NUNM= old elementary school
      • river nearby (20 min walk), parks, school garden
      • terrible parking
    • SCUHS= huge campus, park-like
    • location/ convenience
    • distance from school?
    • Public transit?
    • Even if school environment is not perfect/ beautiful, there are usually parks nearby. Look at a map! Ask around! Take initiative.
  • Dual degree/ not?
    • Allied modalities
  • clinic: how well stocked is herbal pharmacy
  • I love how AMU has so many fellow Asians, and both an English and Chinese track. Mostly western students and professors at NUNM and AFEA
    • breakdown different kinds of loan repayment