My life-long love affair with monster Chinese herbal formulae

Chinese herbal medicine is often described in terms of its elegance and subtlety. However, it has another side to it which could be described as its ugly relative. This approach uses large numbers of herbs, often at high dosages, to obtain it’s clinical effect. In my 32 years of practice I have frequently found this has produced some exceptional clinical results. I will be discussing this method using case histories, involving patients with conditions including gout, bronchiectasis and various cancers.

Andrew Flower has been practising acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine since 1992. On graduating he gained a wide range of experience working in private practice, and within the UK National Health Service and voluntary sector. He worked with people with HIV/AIDS and with drug and alcohol addictions. In 2009, Andrew completed his PhD at The University of Southampton exploring the role of Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of endometriosis. He has published a number of peer-reviewed papers relating to Chinese medicine research, including two Cochrane systematic reviews. In 2011, he was awarded a five year NIHR Post-doctoral Fellowship to investigate Chinese herbs for the treatment of recurrent urinary tract infections. He also has a special interest in providing supportive treatment for people with cancer.

Andrew is a founder member of the White Crane Academy of CHM and is passionate about the therapeutic potential of herbal medicine, and the importance of rigorous training to ensure this potential is realised.

Spirals, vortices and needle technique

The saying ‘as above so below’ is pertinent when we consider spirals. Our acupuncture channels/meridians, acupuncture points and needles are all linked to spirals and vortices; as are many other aspects of Chinese medicine. Once we start looking we can see them in many unexpected places. In fact, spirals seem to be everywhere from the vast spiralling galaxy down to tiny acupuncture points.

In this session we will:

• consider many aspects of spirals – in nature, the world and the universe
• examine spirals in relation to many structures and functions of the body, such as, the heart, the ear, the brain, the intestines and more
• learn more about how spirals are relevant to our understanding of acupuncture theory and treatment
• consider how the channels/meridians and acupuncture points take a spiralling form
• improve our needle technique in relation to our understanding of spirals

The session will culminate in a practical session where we will use exercises adapted from qigong and aikido to discover how the spiral in the body can impact our needle technique.

Angela Hicks has been in practice since 1976, and is a co-founder of the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine (CICM), Reading, UK. She originally trained in five element acupuncture before becoming a lecturer and clinical supervisor at The College of Traditional Acupuncture from 1979 until 1987. She subsequently learned TCM and undertook clinical training in China. The CICM curriculum is based on the integration of these two styles of practice. She is also trained in Chinese herbal medicine and is a Focusing teacher.

She regularly meditates, practices qigong and is a 2nd dan in aikido. She has an MSc in Mindfulness and Compassion from Coventry University. Angela is author of The Principles of Chinese Medicine, 88 Chinese Medicine Secrets and The Acupuncture Handbook. Angela is also the co-author of Healing your Emotions, and the textbook Five Element Constitutional Acupuncture.

Orthopaedic acupuncture: releasing the sinew channels at different stages of life

According to Ling Shu Chapter 8, all acupuncture treatment is rooted in spirit. This is particularly relevant for the treatment of physical injuries, where it is easy to forget the more holistic aspects of our medicine in our quest to relieve a physical condition. In this talk we will be exploring the theories and practice of Ashi treatment, including how to assess where the sinew channels need to be released and which techniques are best suited to do this. We will then look at case examples of patients with different configurations of qi/blood and spirit according to where they are in life, and discuss how the treatment would be tailored to them to ensure the best overall clinical result.

Attendees will leave with a new framework for individualising treatment which can be applied to any acupuncture treatment.

Conny Cooper MBAcC MRCHM is a practitioner of Chinese Medicine and former CEO of the RCHM. Having worked at the Royal Free Hospital Pain Clinic, been on several study trips to China and interned for many years with Andrew Nugent-Head in the USA, she has developed a special interest in clinically-focused treatment, offering clear and tangible clinical results. Now a senior student of Andrew Nugent-Head, she assists him on his European seminars and runs CPD courses in London based on tangible acupuncture and Flavour and Nature herbalism.

Rhythms of life: insights from the Huangdi Neijing

We will look at various presentations in the Huangdi Neijing (HDNJ), the classic of Chinese medicine, to deepen our understanding of the cyclical nature of time and how we, as humans, can maximise our tianming 天命, heavenly mandate, aka lifespan. We will focus on the first chapter of the HDNJ Suwen, as the touchstone for developmental milestones for men and women. We will also look at other descriptions of the human lifecycle in the HDNJ. By analysing various descriptions of human life cycles in the HDNJ, and the metrics used for different developmental stages, we will uncover the deeper principles of Chinese thought that shaped these frameworks.

Deborah is a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) and has been practising and teaching acupuncture for 25 years. She trained for four years full time at the International College of Oriental Medicine (ICOM), then was invited back to teach Chinese medicine, pulse diagnosis and clinic skills and has taught since she qualified. She was the main lecturer in stems and branches (wuyun liuqi 五運六氣) or five circuits and six energies, for many years, teaching both theory and practical applications.

Deborah is passionate about classical Chinese medicine, and combines her teaching with a very busy clinic, applying her understanding of the classics in the practical realm. Her studies strengthen her clinical practice, and the clinical experience is a valuable tool and focus for her studies.

Keynote: Jie – growth, connections, rhythm: a view from the classics

As soon as life appears, it manifests itself in rhythms and cycles. The first rhythm is that of yin yang, the primary and constant expression of qi, which can be seen in the alternations of day and night, seasons, activity and rest, and vital movements such as the heartbeat.
To maintain your life and stay healthy, it’s important to respect these rhythms and identify anything that disturbs them.

Combining flexibility and strength, in a rapid growth that does not weaken the vigor of its roots; bamboo – whose paintings adorn the studios of the learned – offers a model of life and a subject for meditation.

The bamboo knot (jie 節) crystallises various and varied references to the rhythm that beats the measure of life; it protects against excesses that unbalance exchanges and alternations; it guards against the illusion that confuses excitement, passion; it shows that the measure in all things is not to live half-heartedly, but on the contrary to live fully.

Concurrent cycles of mother and foetus during gestation: meaning, complementarity

During pregnancy, nine of the twelve meridians rule in turn over the transformations pertaining to the mother’s body for supporting the beginning and development of a new human being according to the natural rhythms of life.

As soon as a foetus is formed, the five elements rule in turn over the transformations pertaining to the foetus for supporting the phases of it development in a well achieved child ready to be born.

We present these two cycles with their meaning, their complementarity and their relations.

Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallée is a distinguished scholar specialising in Chinese culture and medicine. She holds degrees in Classical Literature, Philosophy, and Chinese from the University of Paris. She has collaborated with Fr. Claude Larre and Dr. Jean Schatz, She has made significant contributions to the understanding of Chinese thinking, philosophy and Chinese medicine.

Elisabeth co-founded the Paris Ricci Institute and the European School of Acupuncture, serving as General Secretary for both institutions. Notably, she was the Chief Editor for the monumental “Grand Ricci” Chinese-French dictionary, a comprehensive work spanning seven volumes.

Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallée has actively participated in collaborative research projects on Chinese sciences and traditional medicine, in conjunction with the CNRS (French National Center of Scientific Research) in Paris.

She has lectured on ancient Chinese philosophy and classical medical texts in approximately twenty countries and is the author of numerous books, booklets, and articles translated into several languages, including English, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Hebrew, Polish, and Swedish.

Introduction to the Mai Jing A-B-C Pulse Diagnosis Method: Applications in geriatric acupuncture

The Mai Jing A-B-C Pulse Diagnosis Method, developed over the past decade, offers an innovative approach to understanding and interpreting the pulse in Chinese medicine. These new approaches include an accurate method of assessing the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. This presentation will introduce the core features of the Mai Jing A-B-C Method, outlining its unique framework and its applicability in clinical practice. Attendees will gain insights into the key principles of this pulse diagnosis method.

Practical session

A key focus will be the application of the Mai Jing A-B-C Method in treating geriatric patients, a demographic that often presents with complex, multifaceted health issues. The presentation will explore how the pulse changes with age and the specific challenges posed by these alterations in pulse quality. We will address how to adapt diagnostic techniques to these shifts, offering practical strategies to adjust pulse reading skills and effectively treat older patients.

By the end of this session, participants will have an introductory understanding of the Mai Jing A-B-C Pulse Diagnosis Method and a clear outline of how this can be used in the context of geriatric care

I have been interested in Chinese medicine since 1987 when travelling in China where I was involved in a serious bike accident. I met a blind Chinese medicine practitioner there who used a variety of effective methods to heal my injured arm, and this planted the seed for my Chinese medicine practice. I have been in practice since 2003. With my training ranging initially from therapeutic massage with the Maitri Foundation and shiatsu with the European Shiatsu School (ESS) with Chris Jarmey and George Dellar. I taught shiatsu for the ESS starting in 2006 and for my own school: East West College, from 2009. In that same year I started my acupuncture degree at College of Integrated Chinese Medicine (CICM) with Angie and John Hicks who inspired the sense of importance to consider the emotional aspect of treatment. I continue to teach for colleges in the U.K. and am co-principal of East West College, providing innovative CPD courses for acupuncture practitioners.

I began to investigate the diagnostic procedures in Chinese medicine. This began with the practice of Applied Channel Theory as taught by practitioners Dr. Wang Ju-Yi, Dr. Jason Robertson. and Johnathan Chang. I have been fortunate to have met and studied with Dr. Wang in Beijing in 2016 as well as taking advanced seminars with Jason and Johnathan in Switzerland and Beijing. I teach Applied Channel Theory at the introductory and intermediate level in the UK and Europe. Also in 2015 I began a major area of personal research into pulse diagnosis culminating in developing an innovative method based on Classical techniques called the Mai Jing A-B-C method.

Welcome to the interactive world of the five element acupuncturist and the relevance of diagnosis using colour, sound, odour and emotion

I was going to call this ‘Five element acupuncture is not just for loons and hippies’, but while that made me smile, I want you to come along because your interest is perhaps already piqued, or because you would like a window into both the logic behind five element model, and the joy that we experience as practitioners working in the way that we do.

In the time we have we will look at the relevance of diagnosis using colour, sound, odour and emotion, as well as the way in which this knowledge supports us and enhances our effectiveness when working day-to-day with our patients – using both our own energy, and the energy that patients bring to our treatment rooms. We will explore how these principles apply within the ever-changing cycles of the five elements as seen in people, their lives, and their surroundings. It should be a brief, but hopefully interesting and thought-provoking session.

Jen Wade graduated from the original College for Traditional Acupuncture in 1994, and has been in practice since then, teaching at CTA from the early 2000s, then moving on to set up The Acupuncture Academy in 2010 alongside Julie Reynolds – both now Joint Principals.  Together they created the course and its materials in their entirety, bringing to their students and graduates a clear focus on working with the five element model, running alongside a detailed understanding of broader TCM theory, thereby taking advantage of the best of both worlds.

The foundations of vitality and resilience – exploring jing and immunity in the first two cycles of life

This lecture delves into the intricate interplay between life cycles, the five phases, and the concept of the ‘Developmental Mandala’. By examining the first and second jing cycles, we uncover the unique challenges that arise during each phase of development. Special attention is given to the immune system’s progression within these cycles, highlighting the dynamic relationship between jing, health, and growth.

Through a detailed exploration of these stages and a concluding case study, we aim to illuminate how understanding these patterns can guide us in addressing developmental and health challenges across life’s foundational cycles.

The emergence of yang exuberance – exploring immunity through the phase of transformation in the second and third life cycles

This lecture examines the second and third cycles of life, focusing on the immune challenges and transformative experiences that define these stages. From the emotional hurdles of starting school to the hormonal shifts and questions of self-identity, we will explore how these factors shape physical and emotional health. The discussion will delve into common pathologies of these cycles, offering insights into treatment strategies using acupuncture and herbal medicine. Case studies will be presented to illustrate practical applications and deepen understanding of this crucial developmental period.

Moshe Heller, a graduate of Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego, has been practising and teaching Chinese medicine for over 30 years. His passion for Chinese medical pediatrics was sparked during his studies with Alex Tiberi and deepened through training with renowned experts such as Dr. Julian Scott and Stephen Birch. Over the years, Moshe has developed a unique and integrative approach, blending diverse methods and techniques that have established him as a respected figure in the Chinese Medicine community.

An experienced educator, Moshe has been a professor at various institutions in both Israel and the United States. In 2016, he co-founded a pediatric specialisation program with Dr. Stephen Cowan, offering a comprehensive year-long certification course in Chinese medical pediatrics. Moshe has also been an invited speaker at prominent conferences, including the Pacific Symposium in San Diego, FSOMA Conference in Florida, TCM Kongress in Germany, and ICCM Conference in Israel. Moshe’s dedication to advancing Chinese medical pediatrics continues to inspire practitioners worldwide.

TCM strategy and advantage in recurrent implantation failure

This article explores how traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can help improve endometrial receptivity in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) and recurrent miscarriage (RPL), thereby increasing embryo implantation rates.

The article first introduces the basic principles of TCM treatment, including kidney-tonifying, blood-nourishing, yin-replenishing, harmonising qi and blood, and promoting blood circulation, to enhance blood flow and nutrient supply to the endometrium, optimising conditions for embryo implantation.

By regulating the functions of the kidney, spleen, and liver, and using treatments such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping therapy, TCM can help improve endocrine, immune functions, and the structure and function of the endometrium.

Qing will discuss the integration of modern medicine and TCM treatment, offering individualised care to address issues such as yin-yang imbalance, insufficient qi and blood, and enhancing fertility. Several clinical case studies are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of TCM in treating infertility, improving embryo implantation rates, and enhancing ovarian function. The research indicates that TCM can improve the chances of pregnancy, especially for patients with poor ovarian function or recurrent implantation failure, by regulating microcirculation, enhancing ovarian function, balancing endocrine levels, and alleviating anxiety.

The combination of TCM’s holistic approach and modern medical techniques offers a comprehensive treatment for pregnancy preparation, pregnancy, and miscarriage recovery, effectively improving endometrial receptivity and increasing the chances of successful pregnancy.

Qing Zhang, Member of British Acupuncture council, fellow member of Association of tradition Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture UK, fellow Member of Chinese Acupuncture and Herbal medicine Alliance UK，member of Fu’s Subcutaneous Needling Association of Europe. She graduated from Jilin university, Beijing university of traditional Chinese medicine.

She came to UK in 1989 and set up Acu-Herbs Chinses Medical centre in Southampton. She has profound experience in treat pain conditions, skin conditions, complicated internal medical diseases. She accumulated and established specialisation in gynaecology and infertility. She assisted local hospital and ART clinic, helped several hundred couples successfully had their families.  She was interviewed and reported by several television and newspapers.

She is distinguished professor of UK Academy of Chinese medicine. She has published over ten research papers in UK and international journals. Some of her papers have received Outstanding Paper Awards. She has delivered multiple lectures on the treatment of infertility and gynaecologic conditions at ATCM and CAHMA and WFAS conferences, and academic forums on Chinese medicine and acupuncture in the UK, Europe, and internationally.

She has been invited as Editorial Board member from [SOJ Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Women’s Health], [Journal of Medical &Clinical Case Studies] (JMCCST), [Journal of Gynaecology]. She is an executive director of international TCM forum, a council member of Institute of scalp acupuncture UK, a council member of international Chinese medicine Gao Fang association, a council member of international Chinese medicine gynaecology professional committee.

Acupuncture for scattered minds – how to support children with ADHD and similar conditions

Many children find it difficult to pay attention, stay still, focus, process information and regulate their emotions. When these children come to the clinic, we often find that there are commonalities in the patterns of imbalances they display. Acupuncture and related techniques can have a hugely positive impact on these children. It can reduce their suffering and striving, enabling them to begin to thrive, both at home and at school.

During the talk, we will look at factors that could be driving what is sometimes referred to as an ‘epidemic’ of ADHD in children.  We will look at how to identify the Chinese medicine patterns of imbalance that are often present and will suggest effective approaches to treatment, both acupuncture and non-needle techniques.

Supporting children who are struggling in this way can be nothing short of life changing.  It benefits not only their ability to learn but also to have better relationships.  It can improve family dynamics and boost the child’s sense of self.  When we treat a child, we are also treating the adult they are to become. Addressing these issues in childhood can have a lifelong positive impact.

Rebecca Avern has been treating children with acupuncture for over 20 years and now focuses exclusively on children and teenagers. She founded and runs two children’s acupuncture clinics in Oxford, one of which offers affordable acupuncture. Rebecca is the author of two books: Acupuncture for Babies, Children and Teenagers, and a guide for both parents and practitioners, Chinese Medicine for Childhood Anxiety and Depression. She has a third book coming out later this year! She teaches paediatrics in the UK, online and internationally.

Acupuncture and herbal treatment of menopause – heaven and earth perspective

Menopause is a changing time for a woman. This change is natural and can be supported in many ways. In Chinese medicine, it is primarily related to changes in heaven (shen) and earth (jing and chong).

From a heavenly perspective, shen is transformed into jing, representing a level of wisdom and inspiration. However, this transformation can also manifest with pathologies such as anxiety, depression, frustration, and insomnia.

From an earthly perspective, changes in jing and chong may result in symptoms such as dryness, hot flashes, night sweats, and slowed metabolism. In cases of anti-estrogen treatment, used for hormone-positive cancers, additional symptoms such as joint pain and more intense hot flashes may occur. Several outstanding studies have shown that acupuncture is very helpful in managing these symptoms.

The lecture will discuss the evidence and acupuncture points used, highlighting both the heavenly and earthly perspectives, along with practical treatment strategies and points.

Dr. Yair Maimon, OMD, PhD, Ac, is an internationally renowned expert in integrative and Chinese medicine, with over 30 years of clinical, academic, and research experience in the United States, Europe, China, and Israel.

He serves as the President of ETCMA the European TCM Association, representing TCM associations from 24 countries, and as the Vice President of WFAS the World Federation of Acupuncture.

Formerly, Dr. Maimon directed the complementary medical unit at Tel Aviv Medical Center and founded an integrative oncology research center at Sheba Medical Center in Israel. He has published groundbreaking research in leading scientific journals, demonstrating promising results on the effects of herbal medicine in cancer care. He has been invited to present his findings at UNESCO and WHO meetings.

Dr. Maimon is the founder and Dean of the TCM Academy of Integrative Medicine (TCM.AC) and has been a keynote speaker and instructor at numerous international conferences and post-graduate training seminars on integrative and Chinese medicine.