Chinese Medicine Schools

Chinese medicine schools are more generally accepted than many other “natural” or “holistic” medicine schools in the United States. Chinese medicine schools have been involved in the instruction of thousands for the practice of acupuncture, acupressure and the ancient Chinese methods of herbal treatments. While there are many herbalists in the United States, there are distinct differences in the schools of thought and actual plants used in their herbal therapies. Herbalists in the United States usually use plant materials found in North America and Europe, Ayurvedan herbalists use plant materials found in India and Chinese herbalists use plant materials found in China and the rest of Asia proper.

The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine was established in 1980 (located in Greenbelt, Maryland) and offers Masters and Doctorate Degrees that meet the standards of the California Education Code and the Bureau within the Department of Consumer Affairs that regulates post secondary education. Their Acupuncture program meets the standards for licensing in any state that requires it for practicing Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

Their core philosophy states that your mind, your body and spirit are all intertwined and maintaining a balance is important for good health and energy. Over many centuries, the Chinese people have built a wealth of experience that can be applied to modern day lives and has been validated over time by modern scientific methods. In many clinics, doctor’s offices and hospitals acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine is being practiced along with Western medicine.

The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a variety of introductory classes for the public to help educate them to the benefits of Chinese medicine. Understanding Chinese Medicine, a nutritional approach to Chinese herbs and healing, introduction to Tai Chi and Dayan Qi Jong for health are offered at their San Francisco campus and others around the state of California.

Tai Chi is an excellent method of learning balance and inner peace. Its name means ‘Great Ultimate Fist.’ It helps to balance your internal organs while strengthening and conditioning your entire body including all muscles, ligaments and tendons. Once completed you will find you have increased in flexibility, balance and much reduced in stress and anxiety.

Understanding Chinese Medicine is an overview class that will instruct you in the various concepts of Chinese Medicine including the “Qi” or life force, Yin and Yang (opposites), Tongue and Pulse diagnoses, the 5 Elements and the Chinese concept of internal organs. All of these concepts have been used to provide relief and health for over twenty five centuries.

A Nutritional Approach to Chinese Herbs and Healing offers you various schools of thought from China’s diverse cultural history, the science of combining herbs (synergy), the cultivation and care of an herb garden, modern research, Chinese nutrition, cooking with herbs and you will get various herb samples and tastings throughout the course. They include a field trip to Chinatown, recipes and tours of tea and herb shops.

Dayan Qi Jong is a martial art aimed at increasing ones longevity while maintaining and keeping your health. Flexibility, reduced stress, greater sense of balance, increased energy and a better immune system and overall health are by products of mastering Dayan Qi Jong. It promises to balance your yin and yang, promotes healing and circulation and helps regulate internal organ functions. This martial art has been in practice for over seventeen hundred years.

The American College for Traditional Chinese Medicine offers certificates in Asian Body Therapy. Asian Body Therapy is available in either Shiatsu (most commonly recognized therapy by Americans) or Tui Na. The Shiatsu certificate is a professional level certification program that will allow you to have your own massage therapy business. The Tui Na certificate will give you the same skills taught and used clinically in China for the practitioner in the United States. Students can pursue their certifications in Shiatsu and/or Tui Na while simultaneously pursuing their Master’s Degree. It allows them to operate an Asian Body Therapy practice while getting their Master’s Degree.

Students in either program will learn the fundamentals of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the various energy points and lines of the body and how to influence and adjust the energy flows of his or her patient’s body. The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine is a great example of how Chinese Medicine schools can help you achieve your goal of either a high level degree or becoming a licensed Asian Body Therapist.

Most Chinese alternative health schools are also considered to have a strong connection with holistic medicine schools. Even though the approaches are different, the idea is the same: treating patients naturally without any medication or drugs.

There has been a lot of fuss lately about Chinese weight loss tea, whenever someone mentioned at least something about Asian traditional medicine and their visions of medicine. Yes folks, it's real to get rid of your extra weight using slimming tea but you have to have some basic knowledge about it. Simply going to the store and getting the first Chinese tea won't help.