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Goals and Objectives

1. Deeper understanding of the cyclical changes of female infertility patients
2. Appreciation for the predictability of female patients in general, based on what’s happening with their hormones during a menstrual cycle
3. Knowledge of which foods and emotions to emphasize at which points in the cycle to improve fertility outcomes
4. Awareness of what is possible for women who apply the logic of the 4 phases to their fertility treatment
5. Tools and information they can offer patients to increase fertility success

Detailed Content

Part 1: Introduction, Phase 1, Phase 2

Lecture begins with the suggestion that women's treatments can be more effective once a patient understands what's happening with hormones and nutritional requirements during the phases of menstruation. Phase 1 pertains to the bleeding phase of the cycle and at this time serotonin levels are their lowest. Phase 2 is the pre-ovulatory phase where a woman will feel the most potential due to rising estrogen levels. Certain acupuncture points and psycho-spiritual therapy suggestions can be used to assist the patient in gaining higher understanding and perhaps a better outcome.

Part 2: Balance, Emotion, Supplements

Part 2 addresses more fully the concept of "restoring balance". What does balance look like for these patients who are solely focused on the goal of having a child? How can we assist them in "achieving balance"? What role do the emotions play in the proper treatment of infertility? And which supplements should be considered at a minimum to positively effect fertility outcome?

Part 3: Phase 3, Phase 4

This part of the class is focused on the luteal phase of a woman's fertility cycle. The foods that she can eat to support her body's progesterone levels are mentioned, as well as herbs, acupuncture and emotional suggestions are recommended for this time that also includes PMS days.   

Part 4: Wisdom of the Menstrual Cycle

In this conclusion section, the attendees begin to see how predictable female patients are. An outline and review of the 4 Phases of the menstrual cycle demonstrates how knowing the patient's cycle day allows the practitioner to more easily guide the treatment toward success.

Detailed Outline

• Introduction: LED & TCM
• What is Light Therapy?
• Meridian Illumination Therapy
• Light Usage & Research
• Summary

Goals and Objectives:

• Advanced Gong Fu Sports Medicine: Treating Bi Syndrome (4 CEU / PDA / CPD)
  
  1. Students will demonstrate the ability to identify the five basic kinds of Bi Syndrome and their various manifestations. 
  2. Students will understand what treatments are appropriate for the different kinds of Bi syndrome.
  3. Students will be able modify treatments according to the patient and situation.
  4. Students will understand how to advise patients on lifestyle changes and diet as they relate to Bi Syndrome

• Advanced Gong Fu Sports Medicine: Treatment of Fractures (2 CEU / PDA / CPD)
  
  1. Students will understand the differences in the theory and practice of treating fractures in traditional Eastern and modern Western medicine.
  2. Students will be able to list and detail the Four Stages of fracture healing.
  3. Students will be able to identify the treatment principles and the appropriate therapies and herbal formulas used in the different stages of fracture healing.
  4. Students will learn what lifestyle changes (diet, exercise etc.) need to be made to support fracture healing.

• Advanced Gong Fu Sports Medicine: Treating Blood Stasis and Dead Blood (2 CEU / PDA / CPD)
  
  1. Students will be able to distinguish between blood stasis and dead blood and effectively apply the principles of treating blood stasis and dead blood.
  2. Students will be able to identify and utilize the key formulas for blood stasis due to injury.
  3. Students will be able to identify the different categories of medicinals used to treat dead blood and effectively employ them to modify herbal formulae.
  4. Student will gain an understanding of the role of Cold Damage in the formation of dead blood and how to effectively employ the key Shang Han Lun formulae in the treatment of blood stasis and dead blood.

Goals & Objectives

1. How to treat sleep disorders utilizing the patented Neuropuncture Trinity.
2. You will also learn the neurobiology of the top sleep diseases and how that relates to the neurophysiology of acupuncture.
3. Sleep disorder statistics and global impact on overall health:
4. Insomnia
5. Obstructive Sleep apnea.
6. Restless legs syndrome.
7. Then we will explain the Neuropuncture clinical approach to Neuropuncture treatment prescriptions.

Detailed Content

• Introduction
• Review of the Neuropuncture Trinity: 5 neurophysiological mechanisms, 5 Neuropuncture treatment principles, Electric Neuropuncture treatment principles, and review of Neuropuncture reference charts
• Neuroscience of sleep, sleep statistics, and global impact
• TCM terminology correlated to sleep
• The Neurobiology of sleep diseases
• EA- Electrical acupuncture’s role in neuromodulation
• Neuropuncture clinical prescriptions
• Protocols: Top sleep disorders
• Case studies, Questions and Answers, Program Worksheet

Day 1: introduction to core concepts of functional medicine and all three body systems used in Kalish Method, Explain the philosophical synergy with Chinese medicine, outline the clinical benefits for existing acupuncture practices.

• What are the unique challenges faced by acupuncturists in introducing functional medicine into their clinics.
• Understanding the five pillars of functional medicine:

1. how to choose the right patients
2. Focus on the Kalish Method’s Three Body Systems
3. Patient communication skill development
4. Choosing the right lab tests to start with
5. Low overhead and use of technology

• Case study on adrenals, case study on detox
• How to use functional medicine to address common patient complaints presenting in acupuncture clinics to complement your existing treatment model: addressing weight loss, fatigue, stress, pain
• Adrenal hormone testing, causes of adrenal fatigue, HPA axis regulation
• Pregnenolone steal pathways and introduction to use of supplements
• After getting started with adrenals, where to go next for more advanced cases: GI issues, female hormone issues and detoxification and the brain
• The role of digestive health in functional medicine
• The adrenal and GI connection: Secretory IgA and gut function
• Female hormone programs for pre-menopausal women
• Post menopausal females
• Role of detoxification programs

Day 2: practical application for running your first lab tests, interpreting them and getting patients started on a program blending lifestyle changes with lab-based supplement programs.

• Getting started with your first lab test, what test to order and why
• How to explain the value and purpose of the test to your acupuncture patients
• The details of the new patient interview: patient communications skills
• Patient health history taking for functional medicine success
• Guiding the new patient interview, goals and landmarks to achieve
• Getting your first adrenal lab back, interpretation skills is it a Stage 1, 2 or 3?
• How to get started with your first lab presentation to go over the results of their adrenal test and explain what the findings mean
• Adrenal protocol skills, safe use of supplements required to fix HPA axis
• Stage 1 example labs, stage 2 example labs, stage 3 example labs
• Lifestyle factors to consider: diet changes, blood sugar control and gluten free
• Coaching on exercise and sleep
• Stress reduction: meditation, spiritual and emotional growth

Goals & Objectives

Participants will have strategies to engage in conversations using western medical research evidence to answer questions such as ‘is acupuncture in pregnancy safe?

Participants will also be able to correctly the use western medical research terminology such as statistical significance, clinical significance, confidence intervals, efficacy, effectiveness and pragmatic trials to confidently discuss the evidence base for the use of maternity acupuncture.

Detailed Outline

• The ‘why’ of research and understanding key concepts from acupuncture research
• The ‘what not to say’ to establish your credibly. A look at the common mistakes and examples of how you can present research to promote your clinical practice

Goals and Objectives

Acupuncturists taking this class can expect to identify the key safety issues for referral to western medical care for pregnancy care and deepen their understanding of acupuncture treatment approaches for pregnant and postpartum women presenting in clinical practice.

Detailed Outline

- Saturday

• Session one: Nausea and Hyperemesis
• Session two: Threatened miscarriage and bleeding in early pregnancy
• Session three: Adverse outcomes including miscarriage, foetal demise and stillbirth
• Session four: Uncomplicated first trimester pregnancies with a complicated pre pregnancy history; ART, previous pregnancy complications, recurrent miscarriage

- Sunday

• Session one: Lost potential: Promoting use of postnatal care
• Session two: What separates birth preparation from induction of labour?
• Session three: What keeps me awake at night? A discussion on promoting safe and ethical clinical practice using the re-occurring themes for placenta previa, induction and breech seen in Facebook posts and e- mail questions
• Session four: Lower Back and pelvic pain:  the ‘backbone’ of a pregnancy practice. Importance of promotion due to current physiotherapy and dry needling practices

Part 1 - An Integrative Approach

An introductory conversation about the various aspects of care that make up an "integrative approach", including conventional medicine, alternative medicine, and the patient's role in her own healing. During this introduction the stage is set to introduce the concept of patient empowerment - whereby patients can help themselves feel better about the fertility journey when they are steered in the direction of thinking more consciously, instead of focusing only on what's not working.

Part 2 - The 5 Primary Emotions

In this section of the lecture, each of the 5 emotions (anger, sadness, worry, despondency and fear) are addressed. Acupuncture points as well as tools to recognize and diagnose each emotion are presented, along with tools that practitioners can offer to their patients for personal study.

Part 3 - The Field of Possibilities

This cumulative aspect of the lecture focuses on the quantum healing model and the difference between "high vibrational" thoughts/behaviors and the pitfalls of lower frequency thoughts/behaviors that most infertility patients fall into. This section offers specific examples and guidance for practitioners to assist their patients in elevating their hearts and mindsets.

The objectives of this 2-day symposium are:

1. To provide an update on current clinical practices and integrative management of select conditions in Reproductive Medicine and Women's Health, including Menopause, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), common gynecological malignancies as well as general fertility care.
2. Provide acupuncturists with practical clinical knowledge on how acupuncture / TCM can be integrated into the care of patients with the above-mentioned select conditions.
3. Provide acupuncturists with insight on the role of acupuncture / TCM in optimizing pregnancy ratesand the future of integrative fertility care.

By the end of the course, participants will have:

• a theoretical understanding of the seven po from the viewpoint of Taoist mythology and philosophy;
• an understanding of the function of the po from the viewpoint of traditional Chinese medicine and its overall relationship to wushen, the Five Spirits;
• an ability to recognize symptoms related to the po soul;
• and, clinical tools, including points, acupuncture protocols, essential oils, flower essences and qigong practices that can be used in clinical practice to treat po-related symptoms.