Morning
9:00am
Western and TCM Physiology of GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) - Jake Fratkin
Over 5 million Canadians suffer from GERD. GERD patients are absent from work 16% of each year due to their symptoms. In Canada, this represents a workforce productivity loss of 1.7 billion hours amounting to $21 billion every year. The main treatment modality is the use of protein-pump inhibitors which interfere with the body’s biological need for hydrochloric acid.
The use of these medications avoid treatment of the real cause of the disorder, and enslave patients to medication for most of their lives. In this presentation, we will discuss the physiology of stomach acid production and suppression, and offer the TCM view, including the relationship of stomach fire to kidney fire, and the relationship of liver, spleen and stomach in food digestion, absorption, and conversion to qi and blood. TCM offers real solutions with lasting results.
Being able to successfully treat this disorder is a great practice builder.
10:00am
Treating Emotions with Luo Channels and Medical Qi Gong - David Twicken
Join Dr. David Twicken in a journey exploring the ancient Chinese understanding of emotions and how to treat them with the Luo Channels and Medical Qi Gong.
The ancient Chinese had a unique insight about the influence of emotions on health. They understood that everything in life is comprised of energy or Qi, including emotions. In this workshop Dr. Twicken presents classic Chinese medical and Daoist theories about how feelings become emotions and if not resolved they become our constitution. David presents how emotions can be treated with Luo Channels and Luo Acupoints, as well as Medical Qi Gong specially designed to treat emotions. This medical Qi Gong is easy to learn and has been practiced for two thousand years; it is a wonderful way to give patients an effective self-healing Qi Gong they can practice at home.
11:10am
One Hour Talk: Channel Palpation as a Diagnostic Tool (Part One) - Jason Robertson
The most confounding aspect of Chinese medical practice often involves uncertainty in diagnosis. Unlike many aspects of modern allopathic medicine, our diagnostic modality requires that we cultivate means for diagnosing with our senses. This short talk will introduce some of the basic principles for using channel palpation as a diagnostic tool based on the work of Beijing professor Wang Ju-yi (王居易).
Afternoon
2:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Breakout Sessions
Session One
Treating Acid Reflux and Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Chinese Herbal Formulas - Jake Fratkin
GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) and IBS are common clinical presentations. In the former, antacids and protein pump inhibitors are routinely given, and in the latter, a variety of symptom-control medications are used, often with unsatisfactory results. In both cases, a real cure is elusive.
Chinese medicine approaches these two distinct disorders by establishing the root cause for the individual patient, and treating accordingly. GERD is often a deficiency of spleen qi and yang, aggravated by a deficiency of stomach fire. Irritable Bowel Syndrome might involve internalized emotional factors creating liver qi stagnation overacting on the descent of stomach qi. It can also be due to disruption of the small intestine by pathogenic toxins.
Each of these scenarios will be evaluated, with application of available Chinese herbal formulas for the different stages. Formulas will be discussed with attention given to their herbal ingredient composition. Step by step clinical protocols will be detailed, giving practitioners confidence and success in treating these disorders.
Session Two
Treating Emotions with Luo Channels and Medical Qi Gong - David Twicken
Join Dr. David Twicken in a journey exploring the ancient Chinese understanding of emotions and how to treat them with the Luo Channels and Medical Qi Gong.
In this workshop David presents a Daoist understanding of the nature of emotions and how the body responds to them, providing a profound insight to the relationship between the body and emotions. Following the roadmap of the Su Wen and the Ling Shu, we explore the functions of the Luo Channels and their ability to treat emotions and Shen imbalances. We then apply the guidance of the oldest Chinese healers dating to the Zhou Dynasty, we learn and practice Medical Qi Gong (Dao Yin) that directly treats emotions and the organ systems they correspond. The combination of the Luo Channels and Medical Qi Gong is a highly effective way to treat emotions.
This workshop includes the following topics:
- Daoist theories of Shen and emotions based on the Nei Jing and Daoist Nei Gong practitioners.
- Five Shen and emotional Qi Gong theory.
- Insight to the relationship between emotions and blood and how it can be transferred from lifestyle to the constitution, from the Wei to the Yuan level.
- The energetic, anatomical and emotional layers of the body and how the Luo Channels are used to release emotions from these layers of the body.
- Daoist ways to treat Luo Channels and Luo Acupuncture points with Acupuncture, bleeding and plum blossom methods.
- Shen points from the 12-primary channels and Ren and Du Channels.
- Medical Qi Gong to release emotions and allow our natural virtues to unfold. This is an easy to learn and fun to practice Qi Gong; it was practiced by many of Chinese’s most famous physicians. The Medical Qi Gong presented is a powerful emotional transformational practice. This is a simple Qi Gong to teach your patients, friends and family.
- Dr. Twicken will explain how you can quickly find your five-element constitutional condition based on your four pillars birth chart; these charts correspond to your organs and the five shen. You can find free Chinese astrology charts at his website: www.healingqi.com
Session Three
Channel Palpation as a Diagnostic Tool (Part Two) - Jason Robertson
This afternoon seminar will explore some of the core concepts and techniques of Beijing professor Wang Ju-yi. The talk will begin with a systems overview of the acupuncture channels based on readings from the Inner Classic and Classic of Difficulties.
The second part of the class will introduce basic techniques for palpating changes in the acupuncture channels followed by a description of the strategies used by Professor Wang to interpret palpated change. The goal is to introduce participants to a method which allows for more focused and effective treatments in difficult acupuncture cases.
