AAMA 22nd Annual Symposium

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Twenty-second Anniversary Symposium of
The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture

April 23-25, 2010
Orlando World Center Marriott Resort
Orlando, FL

Click here for Symposium brochure

The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture is pleased to present a symposium which meets the expressed need of physician acupuncturists to examine the mechanisms of acupuncture from several different perspectives and for more information on scientific studies and research findings regarding acupuncture. This meeting addresses topics suggested by practitioners and stresses the different acupuncture approaches to dealing with every day practical clinical problems with an emphasis on the scientific evidence for those approaches. Physicians have expressed the desire for exposure to alternative approaches to common clinical challenges. The different disciplines of acupuncture to be reviewed include Neuro-Anatomic, Energetics, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.  We will look at the different ways of treating the same clinical problems using these different disciplines, thus giving physicians not only a choice for treatment but also the sophistication of combining two or more disciplines to strengthen the efficacy of their treatment.

The thrust of this conference is to offer a multi-tiered approach to the understanding and clinical significance of acupuncture in a physician's daily practice, and to expand the awareness and understanding of the scientific research ongoing to examine the effects of acupuncture and acupuncture efficacy.  It is designed to provide physicians with information on different approaches to the treatment of common conditions seen in clinical practice so that they may tailor acupuncture treatments to the needs of their individual patients. The conference focuses on clinically relevant treatment approaches and techniques which the physician acupuncturist can put to immediate use.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

The Symposium is designed for instruction and training of physicians (MDs and DOs) interested in or already practicing acupuncture. Physicians with no experience and those with extensive background in medical acupuncture will find the program useful to their medical practices.

The Pre-Symposium workshops are intended to provide a more concentrated learning experience where the faculty can spend the entire day focused on a topic in greater depth and with more time for practical examples from clinical experiences.

Physicians with over 200 hours of formal medical acupuncture training and more than two years experience may choose the workshops that best suit their interest.

ACCREDITATION

The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture designates the Symposium for a maximum of 22 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Each Pre-Symposium workshop has been designated for a maximum of 7 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the activity.

OBJECTIVES

GENERAL SESSIONS

Physicians attending the Symposium will be able to:

Understand how to integrate acupuncture into a contemporary medical practice. Understand the opportunities to utilize various approaches to the treatment of pain, headaches, musculoskeletal problems and common medical conditions. Learn the theoretical basis of and practical treatment techniques of acupuncture in the treatment of pain and common medical conditions.  Learn how certain medical conditions are evaluated and treated utilizing a scalp acupuncture technique. Learn the findings of recent research around the world on the effects and efficacy of acupuncture and the practice implications.   Learn how the potential benefits of taking a more holistic approach to patient assessment and treatment. Better understand the concepts of classical Chinese theories in the practical use of acupuncture in treatment approaches in a modern clinical setting. Learn how conditions commonly found in clinical practice can be treated using any one of several acupuncture approaches, or in combination, thus enhancing overall treatment results.

PRE-SYMPOSIUM WORKSHOPS

Pre-Symposium Workshop I – “Korean Hand Therapy”

Lowell Kobrin, MD, PhD, FAAMA, Coos Bay, Oregon.

This workshop will cover the essentials for successful diagnosis and treatment using Korean Hand Therapy. As a prerequisite to the Introductory segment, one should have a comfortable knowledge of the body meridians and points, the Eight Principles and Zang/Fu theory. As a prerequisite to the afternoon segment, one should have a solid understanding of Five Phase dynamics (Shen and Ke cycles) and a basic understanding of the Extraordinary (Curious) meridians, and must have completed the morning introductory course in Korean Hand Therapy.

Participants will be able to explore through hands-on demonstration and practice the application of  KHT techniques in the treatment of common clinical situations under the direction of the faculty and assistants.

 Morning:  “Introduction to Korean Hand Acupuncture and Its Advantages in Clinical Practice”

This four-hour intensive will give the practitioner the basic information needed to begin using the Korean Hand Therapy (KHT) microsystem. The KHT system, discovered by Dr. Tae-Woo Yoo, provides a complete template of the traditional meridian system of the body, but the treatments are very delicate, efficient, rapid, safe and highly effective. Any system of acupuncture can be applied to the KHT microsystem with the same results as the traditional body points. The content of this introduction will include micromeridian anatomy and theory, methods for stimulating the KHT points, correspondence therapy, basic therapy (three Jiao) and formulary therapy (e.g. Four gates, Source points, Mo points, etc.).

Afternoon:  “Intermediate Course in Korean Hand Therapy: Three Constitutions Diagnosis as a Basis for Five Element and Extraordinary Meridian Therapy”

This four-hour intensive will cover Three Constitutions diagnosis as a basis for Five Element and Extraordinary meridian therapy. Abdominal palpation skills and carotid/radial pulse diagnosis will be taught. Demonstrations using class participants will be done when appropriate.

Pre-Symposium Workshop II – “Paradigm Shifts in Integrative Medicine: Learn How to Improve Clinical Outcomes by Combining Medical Acupuncture and Functional Medicine”

Steve  Amoils, MD,  Claudia Harsh, MD, Cincinnati, OH

Dr’s Steve Amoils and Claudia Harsh  will discuss the science and practical use of a collection of functional medicine therapies that are immediately applicable for integration into your medical acupuncture practice.  They will share the benefits of over 100,000 acupuncture treatments and years of functional medicine experience to help you treat pain, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, menopausal symptoms, menstrual disorders, infertility and more. Gain insight on how to combine the unique awareness of acupuncture concepts with the understanding of biochemical individuality in order to create outstanding results for your patients.

Pre-Symposium Workshop III – “ Medical Qigong Exercise Prescriptions”

Suzanne Friedman, LAc, Berkeley, CA

Suzanne Friedman LAc., DMQ (China), Chair of the Medical Qigong Science Department, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley, CA. She has completed a post-graduate medical Qigong program in Beijing with Dr Xu Hongtao. For this workshop, she will present the history and role of medical qigong in Chinese medicine, along with simple to learn medical qigong exercises that are prescribed for particular illnesses and imbalances of the lungs, liver, spleen (digestion) and kidneys, for example.    Participants will learn the theory behind the exercises and be able to practice and prescribe medical qigong exercises for their patients.

Pre-Symposium Workshop IV – “Introduction to the Principles of Classical Acupuncture”

Edward Neal MD, Portland, Oregon

Morning:  An introduction to the history of classical acupuncture, the Nei Jing and an overview of the major theories of classical physiology and cyclical time space rhythms together  with a review of the basic clinical principles derived from these: Zheng Qi (upright Qi), Xie Qi (pathogenic Qi), Shen (organizing illumination), Yin level pathology and Yang level pathology.

Afternoon:  Introduction to the theory of the heavenly stem/earthly branch influences on human physiology and climate and the theory of the medical Ba Zi (medical astrological horoscope). Participants will learn how to construct a Song dynasty medical horoscope.  This provides a direct and practical way to apply the principles and theories of seasonal time/space flow found in the acupuncture classics within the clinical setting. It was used by classical practitioners to reveal basic strengths and weakness of the individual and may be used as well by modern practicioners to guide preventive therapy and the treatment of present illness.

The clinical skills of Renying/Cunkou pulse diagnosis will be introduced. This system is a classical diagnostic technique derived from the Ling Shu that compares the carotid (Renying) with the radial artery (Cunkou) pulses in order to diagnose Yin/Yang pathology within the channels. It is a classical technique that can readily be learned and incorporated into modern acupuncture practice.