The Luo Down, April 2008
In this issue:
- Mission is Possible
- Year of the Rat
- Greetings from the Clinics
- Boulder Campus Director Elected to CCAOM Executive Board
- Next National /State Exam Dates
- A Note of Praise
- What a Give-Away!
- Are You Stressed Out?
- Happy Chinese New Year
- An Interview With the President of Southwest Acupuncture College
- China Trip – 2008
- Farewell Dr. Luo
- Winter - A Time of Reflection and Rest
- Happy For No Reason
- Do You Know the Aliases of “Chinese Medicine”?
- SWAC Board of Advisors Approves Self-Study Conclusions and Plans
- The Graduate Herb Garden Membership Form
- SWAC Alumni Association Registration Form
Mission Is Possible
In keeping with the spirit of the season and the college’s commitment to its mission of community service, holiday drives were conducted at all three college locations. Thanks is extended to all students, staff, faculty and patients who helped collect food for the holidays and clothing for the winter. Below is a description of what each college contributed:
Albuquerque
Albuquerque Healthcare for the Homeless is an organization that offers medical/dental/social and behavioral therapy and other services to many of the homeless people in Albuquerque. Its main facility is located in downtown Albuquerque where it has provided service for over 20 years. Since 2006, the Albuquerque campus of Southwest Acupuncture College has collected clothing, household and personal items during November, and delivered them to the center the first week of December. In 2007, the Albuquerque campus collected a huge box of donated clothing. The Development Coordinator, Ms. Dawne Bell, is grateful for the generosity from students, staff, faculty and patients from Southwest Acupuncture College.
Santa Fe
This holiday season at the Santa Fe campus, we conducted a food drive for the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The response from students, faculty, staff and patients was generous. We offered the food in two collections one for Thanksgiving and the second for Christmas. We had to scramble to provide enough boxes to hold the donations! The organization responsible for distribution required a sizeable van to transport it all. Food was distributed to any in need. Thank you so much for your generosity.
Boulder
The Boulder campus united to support a Longmont non-profit called Outreach United Resource Center (OUR Center). OUR Center was formed in 1986 to provide multiple levels of assistance to families in need. OUR Center’s mission has been to unify community resources to help people in the St. Vrain region meet their individual needs and move toward self-sufficiency. Assistance programs include homelessness prevention through financial assistance with rent, utilities, minor medical needs and transportation. They also provide emergency shelter, clothing, furniture and appliances, hot meals, bargains at our thrift store, emergency groceries, infant childcare and referrals to other community resources such as housing, training and employment. The Boulder campus also held a warm clothing drive. Students donated their gently used items throughout the holiday season. A small truckload of coats and other clothing items were donated.
Hunger, homelessness and poverty never take a holiday. Let us continue our generosity in daily acts of kindness.
2008 — The Year of the Rat
According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2008 is a Year of the Rat, which begins on February 7, 2008 and ends on January 25, 2009. First in the cycle of 12 Animal signs, Rat Year begins the sequence and recurs every twelfth year. It is a time of renewal in so many ways. The Chinese name for Rat is Shu. The Year 2008 (Rat) is the 4705th Chinese year.
Legend has it that the Jade Emperor invited the animals for a party. The first 12 to arrive were the Rat, followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and lastly, the Pig. All the animals were named after the 12-year cycle that governs Chinese life thereafter. Various versions of the Rat's story are particularly revealing about his character. One version has it that, towards the end of the journey, the animals had to cross a celestial river, and the Rat asked the Ox to ferry him across. When they arrived on the other side, the Rat jumped down off the Ox's head and that's how he gained first spot in the order of the Chinese zodiac.
The sign of the Rat is the first sign in the cycle, thus Rat people exude great leadership qualities and are good at taking the lead. They don't mind a lot of responsibility and they demonstrate a strong presence that other people respect. For those with the Rat nature, status and monetary satisfaction are the greatest motivation. In Chinese, the Rat is respected and considered a courageous, enterprising person. People born in the Year of Rat are clever and bright, ambitious, creative, hard-working, fastidious, charming, sociable and family-minded.
They have broad interests and strong ability in adapting to the environment and able to react adequately to any changes. They are gifted in many ways and have an easy going manner. They are active and pleasant, tactful and fantastic, and are able to grasp opportunities. They seem to have interests in everything and hope to participate in doing it and usually do it very well. Their nervous energy and ambition may lead them to attempt more tasks than they are able to complete successfully. Yet, all Rats tend to be tense, full of nervous energy, and prone to stress.
The Chinese say others should always listen to the advice of the Rat. Because of their intellect and observatory powers, Rat people possess prudence and perception. They can anticipate problems, and are always able to see the big picture. Status, money, title and recognition are important to the Rat. Rats work better in flexible situations where they can be freely creative.
They are devoted to their families, particularly their children. Quick-witted and passionate, they are capable of deep emotions despite their cool exteriors. Most Rats are cheerful, domesticated individuals who find happiness at home with their family.
Generally friendly and sociable, the Rat is one of the extroverts of the 12 Animal signs. They have a special gift for easing the minds of others. It is not surprising that Rats have a lot of friends. To the people they love, Rats can be amazingly charitable, popular and supportive.
Compatible Friends: Dragons, Monkeys and Oxen. Mortal Enemy: Horses.
People born in the Year of the Rat are those born in the years of 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, and 2008.
Greetings from the Clinics
Dr Luo’s shoes will be impossible to fill, but I am very happy to be the new Clinic Director in Albuquerque. Our clinical program offers more treatment options and learning opportunities than ever, with Tui Na clinic and auricular clinic added to the usual menu of Japanese clinic, TCM clinic, herb clinic, mentor clinics, and so forth, not to mention our thriving externships. It’s a lot to keep track of, and I am luckier than I can ever say to be able to work with Nancy Pelosa and Patti Howe, who are stunning in their ability to keep track of a million details while being unfailingly gracious to students, supervisors, and patients. Amy Joy is doing an incredible job of managing the herbal pharmacy. With such an amazing staff to work with, and Dr. Marino in Santa Fe to coordinate efforts with, this will be an exciting year for SWAC, and I am honored to be part of it.
Dr. Mary Ellen Marino, D.O.M., Clinic Director, Santa Fe Campus
Hi all, from Dr. Marino. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself as your new Clinic Director at the Santa Fe Campus. I know Dr. Lou is a tough act to follow and we all miss his sweet smile and kind disposition. I am thrilled to have this new position and look forward to working closely with our illustrious Clinic Manager, Charlene Wunderlich, to keep our clinics running smoothly. We offer a wide variety of clinics both inhouse and externships and an array of brilliant supervisors to meet all your educational hopes and wishes. Please feel free to drop by my office anytime to discuss these opportunities. Yours in service, Dr. Mary Ellen Marino.
Boulder Campus Director Elected to CCAOM Executive Board
Valerie Hobbs, Boulder Campus Director since 1999, was elected in October 2007 as a member-at-large to the Executive Council of the Council of Colleges for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM).
The CCAOM is made up of all ACAOM accredited and candidate colleges, now numbering over fifty colleges from throughout the United States. Members meet twice yearly. The mission of the CCAOM is to advance acupuncture and Oriental medicine by promoting educational excellence within the field. The philosophy of the Council is based on respect for the broad range of traditions of acupuncture and Oriental medicine and a commitment to academic freedom.
Valerie has represented Southwest Acupuncture College at CCAOM meetings since 1999. Dr. Bingzeng Zou, Albuquerque Academic Dean, has been a co-representative since May 2005. Valerie is a member of the CNT Committee and a member and former co-chair of the Entry Level Standards Committee, the latter of which has been working closely with the Core Curriculum Committee on emerging first professional doctorate standards. Valerie serves as the current Ethics Committee Chair.
Next National and State Exam Dates:
Exam Dates Application Deadline SWAC Internal Deadline
NCCAOM Year Round Testing
Began February 15, 2007 No deadline dates for eligibility and once you are found eligible, you can schedule your exams at your convenience. Please remember to allow 10-12 weeks for the processing of your application before you are approved to test. We send the transcripts to NCCAOM once a month. You are within one calendar year of your graduation date.
New Mexico State ExamOctober 5, 2008
August 6, 2008
September 3, 2007 for Transcript to be sent to State Board
July 6, 2008
California State Exam August 12, 2008 April 11, 2008 March 11, 2008
A Note of Praise
Regardless of an administration’s best efforts, the goal of excellence in education can be achieved only through the commitment and passion of students and faculty. During my brief tenure as Campus Director in Santa Fe, I have been inspired and delighted by both teachers and students in their quest for academic excellence. In this respect, I recall our recent farewell to Dr. Luo, who, apparently following the watercourse Way, left our high desert for Florida. Santa Fe students organized a magnificent potluck to show their appreciation. Again and again I am reminded that our students and faculty appreciate the complexity of the interactions between body, food, medicine, environment, mind, and spirit. I am also impressed by their compassion, patience, and in- sight, qualities that, along with knowledge and technique, enable a practitioner to become a healer.
One of the goals of this education is to provide students with the tools necessary to pursue a lifetime of learning in their chosen field. The expertly crafted curriculum can provide these tools; however, it is energy and intelligence, clearly abundant in our students, that promises the realization of this goal. Few occupations offer the opportunity to hone our noblest qualities. I am pleased to wit- ness, and in a tangential way participate in, the dynamic development of our future doctors; healers in a time when much is in need of healing. Please feel free to drop by with any questions or concerns. We in administration are happy to help in any way we can.
What a Give-Away!
Faculty and Staff Appreciation Party at Albuquerque Campus
On November 30th, 2007, the students of the Albuquerque Campus prepared and held a Give-away party and potluck in appreciation of the faculty and staff. The Give-away consisted of giving a basket filled with items to each member of the faculty and staff, with the students donating gifts or items that could be used by the recipients: notes, or food and snack items. All of the baskets were presented to the faculty and staff during an appreciation pot-luck luncheon during the lunch hour.
The food was delicious and gifts were very thoughtful. This Give-away potluck was very touching and moved lots of faculty and staff. I was one of them that was in tears.
Joyleen (Joy) Lucero, our 3rd year class representative, was the one that initiated this event. With all my respect, Joy accepted my question that she explained why she originated this party: “For those of you who are not native to New Mexico, you may not know about a time-honored tradition amongst the Pueblo Peoples called a Give-away. I have participated in this tradition my entire life, as a way of giving thanks and showing appreciation for those who help us in our journey. It is a deep and abiding recognition of the sacrifices of both self and others. Being able to share this tradition with my SWAC family was a great experience for all of us. The amount of love and gratitude that poured out was enormous! We are truly blessed to have the faculty and staff that we do, because they are just as devoted to our success as we are, and that is rare. It was such a pleasure to recognize how much the staff and faculty truly do give of themselves. This activity showed all of the students and faculty how much love is shared between all of us at SWAC.”
What do we feel? To be frank, we all felt overwhelmed by the love that was sent from all the students. The delicious lunch potluck and all the goodies from them were unexpected but very much appreciated. We all found out that actually words just cannot express our appreciation enough. Soon after this, the bulletin board in the student lounge was filled with thank-you cards from all staff and faculty.
“What an honor for us (faculty) to be thought of individually and be gifted so kindly by you!” “I believe that teaching and learning go hand-in-hand: if the student fails to learn, the teacher fails to teach. Thank you for being willing to learn, for without you I could not teach. It has been a privilege to work with you.” “ This was the nicest and most unexpected thing to happen around me all semester.” “Thank you for making my experience here so wonderfully enjoyable.” “My heart overflows in the presences of your thoughtfulness and appreciation! I look forward each week to the time I spend on campus with you, and enjoy the process of learning from you as I teach.” “ I love you all!” ......
To have such blessings from students was the most beautiful thing that happened to us during the holiday season. What we can do is to continue our good work and serve our best to you as we have been doing.
Joy particularly asked me to express gratitude to everyone who participated in the Give-away and potluck, and for making it such a success. Oh, dear students, this is just what I want to say, on behalf of the whole campus, all faculty and all staff, and it truly comes from the bottom of our hearts - THANK YOU!
Are You Stressed Out?
Academic Dean, Boulder Campus Stress is a common human phenomena and part of life as a college student anywhere. Stress may emerge and affect a student’s mental, emotional and physical functioning. The source of stress may be related to negative events (e.g. failing a class, break up of a relationship, etc.) to positive events (e.g. graduation, marriage, etc.). People react to stress in different ways, but coping with stress successfully is very important. In the short term, stress can cause disruptions in everyday life (e.g. difficulty studying, headaches, etc.), but in the long term can cause significant problems, including serious health problems.
Signs of Stress:
• Do you have trouble falling or staying asleep?
• Are you sleeping too much?
• Are you constantly worried about your future?
• Do you feel like you are under pressure to finish things/projects?
• Do you use drugs or alcohol to relax or reduce tension?
• Do you feel that you have less energy than you need to finish the day?
• Are stomachaches and/or headaches a common problem for you?
• Are you overly concerned with socialization issues?
• Do you have trouble finding time to have fun and enjoy yourself?
• Is it common to feel pressured to do more than you feel you can handle?
• Is it difficult to find satisfaction with the simple pleasures of life?
Tips to Help Deal with Stress:
• Seek treatment in the school’s clinic. I hear Chinese medicine is excellent for treating stress!
• Try to keep physically healthy by involving yourself in some sort of activity such as walking, hiking, swimming, biking, etc.
• Try to eat a balanced diet and not skip meals.
• Do your best as opposed to attempting to attain perfection.
• Talk about your feelings to supportive friends and family.
• Form a study group and meet regularly.
• Practice relaxation techniques such as Tai Ji, meditation or yoga.
• Don’t use alcohol or drugs for stress relief.
• Recognize your negative thoughts (e.g. “It was really stupid of me to blow the answers on that quiz”) and replace them with more positive thoughts (e.g. “it’s not the end of the world to make that mistake. I’ll do better on the next quiz.”).
• Make time for fun activities as well as studying.
• Get involved in non-academic activities such as hobbies, sports, or whatever you find to be relaxing.
If you find that a root cause of your stress is your academic schedule, also remember that you can approach your Academic Dean at any time to discuss your individual degree plan. Some academic pressures and stressors can be remedied by changing the speed of your academic program. Students can sometimes hold on too long to an accelerated program when a slower pace can offer a better quality of life and offer an opportunity for major stress relief.
If you have issues in dealing with stress that are beyond the scope of what your Dean or the clinic can help you with, you should seek out the assistance of a qualified counselor. Just as studying is an integral part of college life, so is appropriate stress management. As a budding health practitioner, you need to recognize your own stress and deal with it effectively so you can then be a better healer yourself.
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR — 2008!
Year of the Rat
The Albuquerque campus ushered in the New Year with succulent food, fun and a bit of friendly competition with the people we have come to know as our SWAC family. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the celebration as we immersed ourselves in the complexity and wonder of Chinese culture. I am sure I speak for all students at SWAC by saying how much we appreciate how hard the faculty and staff worked to provide us with this experience, and am looking forward to having good luck in the year to come as a result.
An Interview with the President of Southwest Acupuncture College
Greetings Colleagues & Friends:
The endeavor to produce this commemorative book came about as a result of the desire to honor pioneers and leaders and teachers in acupuncture and Oriental medicine and its evolution in the United States.
Nominees responded with a candor that amazed me as the primary interviewer. These leaders have endured challenging times, put in countless, grueling volunteer hours, and sacrificed time away from family and livelihood. Not everyone willingly discusses such experiences. I found utter grace, sobering wisdom, and many pearls of insight with each of the individuals with whom I have had the precious gift of speaking.
Studying Acupuncture and Oriental medicine is easily accessible today, with many books, teachers, styles, schools, and masters and doctoral level programs available to the public. These interviews allow us to consider how our forefathers risked jail-time merely for practicing, had needles embargoed, and had to search far and wide for teachers and information. Yet for us, the right to practice lays at our feet, waiting patiently for our embrace and appreciation; our striving to master it as best we can, combined with our honor to keep our medicine alive in its wholistic form.
A spiritual teacher once shared with me that Acupuncture and Oriental medicine is much like birds flying in formation. The bird at the point of the V-shape cuts through the air and meets the greatest resistance. In turn it is the effort of that leader creature which imparts to each of the successive creatures an easier time, less resistance, in moving forward on their paths.
Our medicine is like that. No work is ever for naught; no healing ever wasted. To our many leaders and teachers, I offer heartfelt and profound thanks for pioneering our path forward, making our journey easier. Namaste and be well.
Karen Reynolds, LAc, MS, RN
Mill Valley, California 2007
ACM Pioneers & Leaders. Volume 1 is a collaborative work of the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM), the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), the Council of Colleges for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM), and the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACCAOM), all rights reserved. This book is avail able in the Santa Fe Library and available to other campuses upon request.
Anthony Abbate, DOM (NM)
1622 Galisteo Street, Santa Fe, NM 87505
505-438-8884
abbate@acupuncturecollege.edu
CCAOM, Southwest Acupuncture College
Dates served: CCAOM 1987 to 1996
Southwest Acupuncture College, 1986 to present
Capacity of Service: Board member-at-large, CCAOM, 1987-1989; President, 1989 1986
President, Southwest Acupuncture College, 1986 present
What led you to study acupuncture and Oriental medicine?
In my 20’s I became curious about balance and the effects of action and “wholistic” lifestyles. I worked for natural food co-ops for 12 years, and during this time I explored many different methods of staying healthy and balanced using natural foods, exercise, meditation and Western herbs. This exploration led to an interest in medicine. While researching the different types of medicine I became intrigued with the fact that Chinese medicine grew out of an observation of the natural laws of the universe. I was mostly drawn to it because it was not just a medicine apart from life but in itself a way of life.
What was your biggest challenge as you developed as a practitioner or educator?
I don’t know that there were any big challenges for me. From the very first moment when I began reading about this medicine and philosophy, I felt that I somehow already knew it, it was already part of me, part of my understanding. It just all made sense.
Who inspired you in your training during acupuncture and OM school?
Regarding my inspiration and teachers these include: Stuart Watts, J. Michael Moore, Michael S. Moore, Dr. Vassant Lad, Stuart Morrow, Winn Smith, Sarah West and anyone who wrote a book (in those days there weren’t very many written in English), Porkert, Kaptchuk, Maciocia, Bensky, Matsumoto. To that I add those crazy but wonderful patients who pretty much let us do just about anything to them. My wife, Skya, has been and continues to be an inspiration.
What keeps you inspired in your practice or in your tutorial/academic life now?
I continue to be inspired by the dedication, devotion, and compassion of all the students who have come to study at our school, the dedication of the faculty that have been with us over the last 21 years, the 20,000 patients we treat in our college clinics every year, and the works of all those in this brochure... many thanks.
Do you have any advice for today’s practitioners/educators?
Advice? I have no advice... you all know what you are doing. Best wishes and thanks.
What is your hope for our medicine going forward into the future?
It is my hope that Oriental medicine can be of help and available to all that need it, that it doesn’t get bogged down or changed by the medical, pharmaceutical or insurance industries, and that it doesn’t lose its heart or soul.
In your previous position(s) of leadership, what do you identify as your most significant contribution?
I believe my most significant contribution is helping to keep things going.
In your previous position(s) of leadership, what was the greatest challenge you faced and how did you overcome
this challenge? If applicable: is this challenge still faced within our community today?
I believe my greatest challenge is to just help keep things going. Just keep it going. It is a little less challenging today.
If you had to select one area of focus that to you represents a “key” to the future of OM, what would that be and why?
The key to Oriental medicine’s future is to never stop caring and to provide the best training possible to the future practitioners. Ultimately we do this in order to be of help to each other, nothing else really matters. But in the mean time, research to show cost-effectiveness couldn’t hurt. It will help to get us into the mainstream of the current medical mind-set.
We are now more sought after than ever as a profession compared to Western medicine. What are the significant factors that you have seen causing this shift and why?
Many patients are disillusioned with Western medicine and mostly dissatisfied by the way they are treated by Western medical practitioners. They are often not respected, kept waiting, not listened to, rushed and get little relief from their symptoms. Besides the fact that OM really works on some of the problems, Western medicine is not helping the practitioners in this field really care about the patient. We listen, we take them seriously, and we let them know we care; this alone will keep them coming.
China Trip 2008
August 18 – September 12, 2008. Programs in Integrated Herbs, Acupuncture and Tuina.
Write to Dr. Skya Abbate, DOM at Skya@acupuncturecollege.edu for details.
Farewell, Dr. Luo!
To all students, staff, and faculty:
It is with mixed emotions that I make this move. I do wish I could stay here for a longer time. I really don’t want to say “I have to go”. I know I will miss all of the students, faculty and staff here.
I want to say thank you to the students I have had the privilege of working with at SWAC. I have learned so much from you about teaching and learning, and about people. I appreciate your willingness to work, and your commitment to learning. Personally, I have benefited from knowing you and assisting you along your chosen path helping people with Chinese medicine.
The party on December 6 will be one of the most wonderful memories in my life. I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to you for your great enthusiasm, genuineness and companionship. I truly appreciate each of you who spent your time, energy, and money to create, organize and participate in this very special party for me.
Thank you for your many kind messages and words of encouragement during my time at SWAC, and especially during the last 3 months.
You are in good hands with the fine faculty and staff at SWAC. I look forward to seeing you sometime in the future, and hearing about your many accomplishments. Please keep in touch, my email is xlluo99@hotmail.com. Best wishes to all of you!
Very sincerely,
Xiaolu Luo
Winter — A Time of Reflection and Rest
In Chinese Medicine, winter is the season of rest and reflection. In the Five Element system, it is represented by the water element and the spirit of the Zhi. We live in a 24/7 world moving faster and faster with new advancements in technology and communication unlike nature moving at its natural pace, much slower than us humans. The animals continue to follow their natural instinct to hibernate for the winter, resting/sleeping restoring their energy for the Spring. We humans continue to work and play hard ignoring the natural rhythm of nature; hence, colds, flu’s, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, and depression are experienced. How can we learn from nature how to go within, be still and gather our resources for what lies ahead?
How do we as practitioners teach/train our patients to live in balance with nature? First, we as practitioners must understand and live the rhythm and balance of nature in our own lives; then, we can teach this to our patients. By being models of health and wellness, we can guide our patients to experience their balance and wellness. In winter, ask yourself how you find balance between being active and resting? Do you know when your body becomes too fatigued and rundown making you susceptible to invasions of external pathogens? Do you know when to say NO because your body/mind/spirit need to rest and reflect? Can you still your mind and listen to your inner voice? Do you trust what you hear? Seek the courage to overcome your fears.
How to access the gifts of winter:
• Rest your senses; reduce input from the external world. For one day or one week, turn off the car radio, stereo, TV and computer. Observe what arises in you in the absence of the external stimulation.
• Be quiet. Have a day of silence in your home.
• Be still. Set aside a day with no appointments, obligations or need to be anywhere. Stay in one place. What shows up? How do you spend the day?
• Reflect. Think things over. Let your plans germinate in the dark cold ground until the Spring.
• Conserve your Qi; don’t consume your Qi to ward off the cold. Wear warm clothes, gloves, scarves, hats. Eat cooked foods and drink warm fluids. Snuggle with a loved one.
• Listen to your inner voice. Learn when to say “NO” and “YES” because it is best for you.
• Go deeper into your practice- Yoga, Qi Gong, Tai Chi , Meditation, and Prayer.
• Greet your shadow side: keep a journal of your dreams and thoughts. Draw, paint, dance, speak write about your shadow qualities. Explore how to transform your shadow impulses into positive qualities fear into courage; ask your friends for suggestions-trust. I leave you with the spirit of KI 10Yin Valley; valleys are places where Qi is embodied, a haven. Yin Valley (KI 10) is a still, cool, quiet, peaceful, tranquil, calming valley where one can restore, revitalize and replenish their body/mind/spirit. Go deeply into this winter to be ready for the new experiences of spring.
Happy for No Reason
Okay, I admit it. I’m a TV watcher. I enjoy popular culture, and I am likely to follow sporting events. I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, Janet Jackson’s half time show, the dismantling of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Twin Towers. I think a sudden fade to black, while sparking a great deal of water-cooler conversation, is not a terribly satisfying way to end a series. I think the invention of TiVo is right up there with the invention of the washing machine.
So it is no surprise to me that I might catch some early morning TV. I like being current on news, and I need to know when a big snow is about to happen. And to be honest, I do want to try to guess where in the world Matt Lauer is.
So it was that I saw an interview with a self help writer, Marci Shimoff, who was stumping for her book, Happy for No Reason. In spite of what might seem to be a natural affinity with TV-watching, I’m not generally a person who gravitates towards the self help genre. In other words, it would not occur to me to suggest one must run with wolves or have a purpose driven life, but what Shimoff had to say got to me.
Shimoff wrote for a general audience about the findings of a branch of psychology that has emerged quite recently. In 1998, Dr. Martin Seligman, who was then President of the American Psychology Association, urged his profession to study what has become known as Positive Psychology. He described a moment of epiphany inspired by his five year old daughter Nikki. He was weeding a rose garden. He describes himself as being focused and goal-oriented while his daughter skipped and played and threw weeds about. He ended up, as many parents would, yelling at her. He recalls her reply: "Daddy, I want to talk to you." I said, "Yeah, Nikki?" She said, "Yeah, Daddy, you may not have noticed, but do you remember that before I was five years old, before my fifth birthday, I was a whiner? I whined every day from the time I was three until the time I was five. And, you know, Daddy, on my fifth birthday, I decided I wasn't gonna whine anymore. And that was the hardest thing I've ever done, and I haven't whined since. And if I can stop whining, can you stop being so grumpy."
Seligman describes at that moment, he made a conscious decision to change his outlook to a more positive attitude. He went further. He describes the science of psychology as being half-baked. In describing pathology and recovery from injury, psychology was fully baked. But in understanding the traits and behaviors that led to what he termed “authentic happiness,” psychology wasn’t even warm. It was Seligman’s challenge to the professional of psychology to concentrate on what strengthens us as humans that resulted in the branch of psychology now known as Positive Psychology.
The author’s interview I came upon in my early morning TV ritual was a recent book for a general audience. Shimoff uses much of the solid research coming out of Positive Psychology. The research is what has me so captivated. Here is a sample offering:
• People have 60,000 thoughts daily.
• 80% of those thoughts are negative.
• 95% of today’s thoughts are the same as yesterday’s.
• 90% of behavior is habitual.
• Different parts, and even hemispheres, of the brain are involved in sadness and happiness.
• Every thought we have generates chemicals that strengthen or weaken us.
Research has been developed enough to begin to describe the human experience of happiness. Researchers describe that there appears to be a “set point” for a state of well-being, and that people tend to habitually return to this “set point.” About half of the determinates of where our “set point” falls in a continuum of well-being is genetically determined, 10% is situationally determined. These “circumstances” that determine our well-being are environmental and are based on self-determination. That is, a person in what would seem to be dire circumstances may still have feelings of relative well-being if their environment did not preclude feelings of access to basic human dignity. Certainly at any given time, and depending on the degree of repression, this 10% of environmental factors may play a large part in determining well-being. Researchers absolutely recognize environ- mental factors. After conducting interviews world-wide and in all social groups, the effect of environmental factors are reported to affect a relatively small portion of an internal feeling of well-being.
The remaining 40% of what contributes to a person’s happiness “set point” are habitual thoughts. In Happy for No Reason, Shimoff has written a book on how to increase the 40% of factors that affect well-being over which an individual exerts considerable control. To paraphrase Descartes’ original “I think therefore I am,” Positive Psychology might postulate: “I am what I think I am.”
Shimoff lays out some remedies to increase one’s happiness “set point.” Her theory has special relevance for students, and even more relevance for acupuncturists. What Shimoff says is explicitly simple. First and foremost, to enhance your sense of well-being, do not believe everything you think. We think quite habitually, and negatively.
While I may spend some personal time watching TV, I also spend some personal time reading research. Research is showing that negative thoughts tend to activate the area of the brain called the amygdala, and the left hemisphere of our brain, which is involved with logic and planning. Evolutionarily, this may reflect a strategy for dealing with survival. In other words, we are confronted with a situation, we need to logically assess its impact on our survival, therefore we may need to respond quickly (“fight or flight”) and be able to plan our response. In a world where we are no longer hunter-gatherers, when the daily fight for survival may not be so immediate, this successful evolutionary strategy may need to be deliberately redirected. It turns out that feelings of happiness are centered in the right hemisphere of our brains, and away from areas of the brain that exert logic and planning. If 40% of our well-being is under our influence and 80% of our thoughts are negative; proactively redirecting our thoughts can have a profound impact in our well-being.
Shimoff’s book as well as the larger field of Positive Psychology is full of techniques to re-direct our thinking in order to enhance our baseline mood. Once we realize that we cannot believe everything we think, we need to train our brains to access the more positive of our emotions. We can start, quite literally with gratitude. Shimoff suggests keeping a “Gratitude Journal” in which we daily record five things for which we are grateful. After a month of this, we cannot but help to begin to change the pattern of our thinking. Of all the healing arts, acupuncture seems to me to be the most closely to be integrated with positive psychology. Our strategies for stress relief and affectation of brain response seem the most closely related to increasing a happiness “set point.” As you find yourself returning to a habitually learned negative response to your own circumstances or as you treat people in clinic, try the suggestion of reading and adopting Shimoff’s strategies. Integrate acupuncture points in every treatment that you know to enhance access to right brain function. Address issues of laterality and enhance the function of the corpus collosum through appropriately applied auriculotherapy. Regardless of our patient’s condition, we can always work on well-being. It is after all, what makes us unique among healers.
Above all, consider taking the advice of a five year old. Decide to recognize when you are and quit being so grumpy. Choose to be happy for no reason.
Do You Know the Aliases of “Chinese Medicine”?
In China, we did not originally call the traditional medicine “Chinese Medicine”. It got the name of “Chinese Medicine” when “Western Medicine” was introduced into China in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. After that, Chinese people used both Traditional Medicine and Western Medicine. In order to tell the difference between them, we called Traditional Chinese Medicine “Chinese Medicine”.
But Chinese Medicine does have several aliases. Those aliases still show up in the Chinese Medical books of some literature. Behind each alias, there is an interesting story. Through those stories, we can learn some knowledge, some history or some morality of Chinese Medicine.
The first one is called Qi Huang. This name originated from the book called “ Yellow Emperor’s Internal Classic”, which was written about 2000 years ago. The book has two sections: One is called “Ling Shu”, and the other is called “Su Wen”. In each section, there are 81 articles. Those articles, which were written by different authors, are the essence and a good summary of Chinese Medicine before that era. Although there were also other books like that in that era, the “Yellow Emperor’s Internal Classic” is the only book that has passed down to modern times. The theories introduced in the book are the foundation of Chinese Medicine. In that book, many theories are recorded through the conversations of two people, the Yellow Emperor (or Huang Emperor) and Qi Bo who was one of the ministers of the Yellow Emperor. So people also call the “Yellow Emperor’s Internal Classic” the technique of Qi Huang. Naturally, Qi Huang became an alias of Chinese Medicine. This is a very popular name for Chinese Medicine.
The second alias is called Qing Nang, which means a “blue bag.” Although it is not a popularly known name for Chinese medicine, it does have a good story. About 1800 years ago, there was a very famous doctor called Hua Tuo, who was also a surgeon. He left a lot of stories to treat people by operation. He even invented a formula called “Ma Fei San”, which is believed to be the first anesthetic in the world. Once when he told a king that he needed to operate on his head to take out the tumor to treat the king’s stubborn headache, the king suspected that Hua Tuo was going to murder him, because no one else at that time could do that. The king was so angry that he put Hua Tuo into jail. The Guard in the jail was very nice and offered Hua Tuo good food. Hua Tuo knew that the king would kill him. Before Hua Tuo was killed, he gave a whole bag of books, which contain all of Hua Tuo’s knowledge and experience on Chinese Medicine, to the jail guard. Later the guard quit his job and became a good doctor after reading Hua Tuo’s book in the bag. So, sometimes people call Chinese Medicine “Qing Nang” (a blue bag), because it contains all the medical knowledge from Hua Tuo.
The third alias is called Xing Lin (Apricot Woods). It is also about 1800 years ago. There was a famous doctor in the country of WU. His name was Dong Feng. He lived a secluded life in the LU Mountain and many patients came to see him due to his fame. Dong Feng did not charge any money to the patient. He only asked the treated patient to plant apricot trees around his house. If the patient had light symptoms, he asked the patient to plant one apricot tree after he was treated. If the patient had severe symptoms, he asked the patient to plant five apricot trees after he was treated. Several years later, around Dong Feng’s house, there were such a large amount of apricot trees, you could not see its end. From then on, people call Chinese medicine Xing Lin (Apricot Woods).
The fourth alias is Xuan Hu (Hanging Gourd). In ancient times, a person called Fei Changfang saw an old man selling herbs in the market with a gourd hanging on a pole. The old man did not allow the buyer to bargain the price for the herbs. Everyone had to buy at the listed prices. But the herbs were always very effective, so the buyers were all happy and satisfied. Fei Changfang also found that when all the people were gone in the market, the old man jumped into the gourd. Fei Changfang was very curious. In order to find out the secret, he treated the old man with good food and good wine. The old man was very happy, and later he invited Fei Changfang to enter into his gourd. Fei Changfang found that there were beautiful houses, good food and good wine in the gourd. The old man is a Gourd Immortal. Fei Changfang asked the Gourd Immortal to be his teacher, and Gourd Immortal was very happy to take him as his student. Later, when Fei Changfang practiced Chinese Medicine, he also hung a gourd on a pole. From then on, Xuan Hu (A hanging gourd) became a symbol for Chinese Medicine. Although no doctor hang gourds any more in his clinic, Xuan Hu (A hanging gourd) still appears in the literature as meaning Chinese Medicine.
Southwest Acupuncture College Board of Advisors Approves
Self-Study Conclusions and Plans
On November 9, the Board of Advisors of Southwest Acupuncture College held its second annual meeting. Amongst other things, a major focus of the Board meeting was a review of the summary of recommendations that came out of the college’s self analysis as part of its 2007-2008 self - study. Those decisions are summarized below and reflect future plans for the school. The Advisory Board adopted the following recommendations:
1. Recommendations for Future Development of the Purpose
During the upcoming programmatic review, the college will strengthen and articulate the development of the Japanese program.
2. Recommendations for Future Development of the Legal Organization of the Institution
The Advisory Board recommended no changes in legal organization.
3. Recommendations for Future Development of the Governance of the Institution
Beginning with the Fall 2007 newsletter, the college will report to constituencies on the Advisory Board by submitting articles concerning the Advisory Board’s decisions.
4. Recommendations for Future Development of the Administration of the Institution
Continue to empower local autonomy of each campus in regard to some policies and spending.
5. Recommendations for Future Development of the Record Keeping of the Institution
1. Continue to investigate on-line application to the college.
2. Continue to investigate and implement on- line student registration.
3. Continue to develop a virtual campus tour on our website.
4. Streamline forms and communication.
5. Continue to assess student performance independently and in relation to the NCCAOM exam.
6. Recommendations for Future Development of the Admissions of the Institution 1. By Fall 2008, develop scholarships particular to each campus, and 2. By Fall 2008, promote the college internationally and as a state of the art facility as the college is consistently ranked as most beautiful school in the country.
7. Recommendations for Future Development of the Evaluation of the Institution
By January 2008, create a task force to assess if additional measures of competency of students are needed.
8. Recommendations for Future Development of the Program of Study of the Institution
1. Continue to evaluate the program through a comprehensive curriculum review,
2. Strengthen herbal studies, and
3. Continue to review and publish class prerequisites.
9. Recommendations for Future Development of the Faculty of the Institution
1. Propose a new faculty ranking system in consideration of new certification and programs available, and
2. Develop a faculty education training program.
10. Recommendations for Future Development of the Student Services and Activities of the Institution
1. Update student “placement” (i.e. job opportunities for students), and
2. Continue to administer cohort alumni surveys.
11. Recommendations for Future Development of the Library and Learning Resources of the Institution
1. Continue on-going purchase of computers for all campuses, and
2. Complete on-line library project.
12. Recommendations for Future Development of the Physical Facilities and Equipment of the Institution
1. With the Albuquerque lease up in August 2008, continue investigating financing of new building.
13. Recommendations for Future Development of the Financial Resources of the Institution
Plans for the development of financial resources over the next five years include:
1. Investment in real estate. The college recently purchased land and built a facility for its campus in Santa Fe. By doing this, the college has stabilized its rental costs as the mortgage is fixed for 25 years. In addition, owning the property will build equity. The college intends to purchase property for its other two campuses over the next six years. Currently, the Albuquerque and Boulder campuses rent the buildings they are in and rental costs increase by 3% to 5% per year.
2. Increasing the enrollment at each of its campuses. The college intends to increase its enrollment by at least 25% over the next 5 years. The means by which the college intends to accomplish this include:
* Increasing the geographical area in which the college actively recruits including international sources.
* Hiring additional recruiters one additional recruiter by March 2008 and a second by January 2009.
* Reallocating the funds budgeted for advertising so that more is invested in on-line advertising this project began in June 2007.
* Continued improvement to the college’s website significant redesign to begin in the Fall 2007, to be completed by March 2008.
The college has discussed and is considering expansion in the following areas (discussion is on- going and no project has yet been approved):
1. The development of additional programs in the area of healthcare.
2. The development of a post-graduate doctoral program.
3. The development or purchase of additional campuses or schools.
The college will continue to provide continuing education seminars as well as maintain its book and supply store but does not expect significant increase in income from these projects.
The college clinic does provide an additional source of income. The clinics at all campuses are booked to capacity. The number of students available to perform treatments is the only thing that limits expansion of these clinics. As enrollment increases, the number of clinical treatments will rise, as will the revenues from this activity.
The college does not intend to actively pursue fundraising nor does it foresee receiving any endowments in the next five years.
While the Advisory Board performed a budget review and agreed to and approved the above plans for financial development, their specific recommendation was to:
4. Increase the college’s recruitment efforts and specifically to explore international recruitment and the possibility of establishing international exchange programs.
14. Recommendations for Future Development of the Publications and Advertising of the Institution
1. Complete website revamping including the virtual tour.
2. Investigate promoting the school internationally.
3. Increase recruitment personnel and areas covered in the country.
4. Provide more website services to college constituencies.
Graduate Herb Garden Membership Form
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SWAC Alumni Association Registration Form
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