Training courses
Courses for 2023
Shanghan Zhabing formulas delineated approach 1: Text
類聚方
This course is designed to help students grasp an entire picture of Shanghan Zabing Lun formulas in their relationship and described patterns in the texts. The lines describing patterns of each formula scattered in Shanghan Lun and Jingui Yaolue are put together under each formula and will be learned in the context of entire formulas delineated family, rather than under the diseases as in Shanghan Lun and Jingui Yaolue. This approach is helpful to see the entirety of Zhang Zhongjing formula system and thus students will be able to apply formulas in clinic with more ease and fluency.
Format: Online zoom (Starting Thursday February 23, 2023)
Tuition: free for members
Classical Literary Chinese and Texts, Phase 2
漢文 古典
Continuing from the phase 1, where we learned important components of Chinese characters through radicals, the phase 2 will explore grammars and syntactic structure of literary Chinese and help students expand further knowledge of characters, vocabularies, and expressions through original passages derived from well regarded and inspiring texts. Two Confucian classics, the Great Learning (大學 Da Xue) and the Doctrine of Means (中庸 Zhong Yong) will be used as our main texts in our effort to develop solid ancient text reading skills.
Format: Online zoom (Starting Thursday March 2, 2023)
Tuition: free for members
Exposition on Eight Extraordinary Vessels
奇經八脈考
This course introduces Li Shi Zhen’s an influential work on eight extraordinary vessels in its original form. We will read through the original text and learn accurate trajectories of eight extraordinary vessels and their allocated acupoints. This is an important step for us as acupuncture practitioners to be able to feel, palpate and assess these important channels/reservoirs of qi in the body.
Format: Online zoom (Starting Thursday 4/13, 2023)
Tuition: free for members
Abdominal Diagnosis for Herbal Practice
胸腹診
This course introduces palpation and diagnostic technique for Shanghan Zabing Lun (傷寒雜病論) herbal practice. The material includes palpation and examination methods of abdomen and chest, torso analysis, constitutional traits assessment, palpable abdominal patterns, and how to analyze the quality of blood/fluids circulation in and around body cavity for practical pattern identification and appropriate herbs and formulas selection.
Format: In-person
Time and place: 9am-5pm, Sat 7/29 and Sun 7/30, 2023 Portland, OR
Tuition: $350
Courses for 2024
Anatomy and Palpation, Part 1: Abdomen
This series explores human anatomy in-depth. We will study living anatomy based on body regions as well as on different tissues. Students will learn how to locate and palpate various tissues respectfully, and how to assess and perceive clinically relevant information from the body. The first part will focus on abdominal cavity and its content, which includes organs, muscles, fascia, membrane, ligaments, attachment system, lymphatics, and neuro-vasculature.
Format: Online zoom
Starting date: Thursday February 22, 2024
Tuition: $250 for non members (free for members)
Shang Han Lun: Circulation perspective
傷寒論 講義: 氣血水
This new Shang Han Lun course will explore 6 diseases and their derivative patterns in terms of the location and characteristics and from the practical qi, blood and fluids circulation perspective. Shang Han Lun is a very practical clinical manual based on empirical clinical experience of the antiquity. This class will provide students clarity on what occurs in the body when there is a pathogenic influence and how formulas can intervene the consequent pathologic states of body resulted by such influence. The clarity on bodily changes and works of formulas will help practitioners gain clearer clinical insight and increased efficacy in using Shang Han Lun formulas.
Format: Online zoom (Starting Date TBD)
Tuition: $300 for non members (free for members)
Ling Shu Meridian Chapters
靈樞經脈篇
This class explores Ling Shu chapter 10, 11 and 13, which describes 12 main meridians and their corresponding collaterals (chapter 10), the divergent channels that merge with their corresponding yin yang counterparts (chapter 11), and sinew channels (chapter 13). The description of meridians and channels are an important part of anatomy in the East Asian medicine. The locations and trajectories of these subtle yet perceptible structures in the living body are described in these chapters. Therefore, these chapters are of utmost importance for acupuncture practitioners. Class will focus not only on the information but also on how to palpate these meridians on oneself and others externally and how to explore through our mind’s eyes internally within our own body.
Format: Online zoom (Starting Thursday March 28, 2024)
Tuition: free for members (members only class)
Clinical Application of Zhang Zhongjing 30 “Clue” Herbs
This 2 part course series introduces clinical patterns of 30 core herbs used in Shanghan Zabing Lun (傷寒雜病論), including 15 primary clue herbs and 15 secondary clue herbs. These 30 herbs are recognized as “clue” herbs because their patterns can reveal a distinct clue or link to an appropriate formula in clinic. The course will focus on each herb’s main ability, primary pattern, secondary patterns, and its clinical application. This knowledge serves as a gateway to the algorithm of Zhang Zhongjing formula system. Students will gain insight on how single herbs can lead to the selection of an effective formula in a given clinical situation.
Part 1: 15 Primary Clue Herbs
Format: Online zoom (Starting date TBD)
Tuition: $300 for non members (free for members)
Shanghan Zhabing formulas delineated approach 2: Text
類聚方
This is a continuation of the course started 2023 academic year. It is designed to help students grasp an entire picture of Shanghan Zabing Lun formulas. The lines describing patterns of each formula scattered in Shanghan Lun and Jingui Yaolue are put together under each formula and will be learned in the context of entire formulas delineated family, rather than under the diseases as in Shanghan Lun and Jingui Yaolue. This approach is helpful to see the entirety of Zhang Zhongjing formula system and thus students will be able to apply formulas in clinic with more ease and fluency.
Format: Online zoom (Starting date TBA)
Tuition: free for members (member only class)
Classical Literary Chinese and Texts:
Confucius Analects
漢文 古典 : 論語
After studying the Great Learning (大學 Da Xue) and the Doctrine of Means (中庸 Zhong Yong) during 2023 academic year, we continue our study of Confucian classics. This academic year, we will study Confucius’ Analects (論語 Lun Yu), which is considered most important text in understanding the Confucius and his teachings. Students continue to learn and practice grammars and syntactic structure of early literary Chinese and expand further knowledge of characters, vocabularies, and expressions through this original passages from this inspiring text.
Format: Online zoom (Starting Thursday February 29, 2024)
Tuition: free for members (members only class)
Weaving the Web of Formulas: Introduction to Delineation and Families
This class is designed to facilitate needs of both new herbal medicine learners and seasoned herbal practitioners who seek to learn a deeper and more organized Shanghan Zabing Lun(傷寒雜病論) formulas and to practice them systemically. This class will demonstrate how over 200 formulas are related in a delineated fashion as well as in formula family groups. This class is best studied concurrently with our single herbs courses as a complete herbal medicine curriculum.
Part 1: Delineation
Format: Online zoom (Starting date TBD)
Tuition: $300 for non members (free for members)
Abdominal Diagnosis for Herbal Practice: Hands-on class
胸腹診
This course teaches students palpation and diagnostic technique for Shanghan Zabing Lun (傷寒雜病論) herbal practice. The material includes palpation and examination methods of abdomen and chest, torso analysis, constitutional traits assessment, palpable abdominal patterns, and how to analyze the quality of blood/fluids circulation in and around body cavity for practical pattern identification and appropriate herbs and formulas selection.
Format: In-person
Time and place: TBD
Tuition: $350
