Yangsheng 养生 translating to ‘nourishing life’ is comprised of two words yang (养) meaning nurturing, supporting, aiding, and shēng (生) meaning life, existence, and nature. The role of yangsheng in traditional practice is to educate patients on various self-cultivation techniques supporting them wherever they are on their health journey. Yangsheng practices can have a profound effect on our patients which is why this year’s conference includes sessions on lifestyle advice, dietary therapy, breathwork and movement, to name a few. So, let’s hear from some of this year’s speakers…
Danny Blyth MBAcC MRCHM – Nutritional formulas and strategies: what herbal formulas can teach us about cooking and nutrition
Formulas have formed the heart of Chinese herbal medicine for over 2,000 years. These blueprint recipes describe and treat common clinical ‘situations’ or clusters of syndromes rather than the single syndromes we often see in text books. Each ingredient in a formula adopts a specific role within the recipe, ingredients working synergistically together to create an overall healing effect greater than the sum of its parts. These soups, powders, pills and elixirs give us unique insights into the strategies of Chinese medicine throughout its long history, and many offer us a lesson in Chinese medicine history, theory and practice. In this session, we will look at how some of these famous formulas can be adapted to create delicious meals suited to our clinical patients, and give us new insights into acupuncture point selection.
Danny has had a lifelong fascination with yangsheng and food as an amateur cook, scholar and practitioner. He believes nothing is finer under heaven than a healthy home cooked meal shared in good company. He has taught at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine for nearly 25 years. His clinic in Cheltenham blends five element acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and many aspects of yangsheng. He co-authored Chinese Dietary Wisdom with Greg Lampert.
The colour associated with spring is, of course, fresh green – 青 – so if you’re looking to give your body a ‘spring clean’ why not try Danny’s latest recipe ‘greens with ginger & garlic‘.
Sarah Price PhD MRCHM – This is how I do it – bringing about change and transformation for people with chronic inflammatory disease using acupuncture and herbs
This is a talk exploring the practical ways any practitioner might approach treating someone with a chronic, complex inflammatory health condition. It is a walk-through of my process incorporating research, for treatment and lifestyle changes we would ideally like our patient to commit to. How can we bring about change and transformation when there is so much complexity? What could we achieve and how will we get there and how long will it take? This talk should either affirm what you already know, and enable further learning, or inspire you to learn more. We will discuss case exemplars including inflammatory bowel disease, endometriosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
After initially qualifying as an acupuncturist in 1986 Sarah undertook further TCM and Chinese herb training. After two trips to Nanjing in 1991 and 1992 she started teaching at various UK and European Chinese herb institutions including 25 years on the NCA Chinese herb course. Sarah has an MSc in epidemiology with published work on the impact of the therapeutic relationship on health outcome, and a PhD exploring acupuncture for women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. She has a full time practice in Edinburgh.
Alex Jacobs MBAcC MRCHM – Treating the spleen and stomach through the seasons with culinary herbs and dietary therapy
When we pick up a book on dietary therapy, it will often give us good information on the temperature (qi) and flavour (wei) of each ingredient. However, it can often be challenging to apply this knowledge to treat specific ailments, much less to understand clearly how to apply this throughout the seasons. Alex will guide you through the basic herbal flavour logic of the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine and show you how to apply this with ingredients and recipes to treat spleen and stomach disorders such as food stagnation and indigestion and how these approaches may vary through the seasons. In a short time, you will gain powerful herbal medicine logic that you can apply straight away with culinary herbs and food. Learn how the spirit of the spleen, yi, has a real tangible quality and how it is key to maintaining balance and health. No prior knowledge necessary.
Alex Jacobs is an acupuncturist, herbalist, tuina massage practitioner, qigong teacher and teacher of yangsheng and dietary therapy. He is the CEO of the RCHM and one of the organisers of this year’s conference. He has an equal passion for acupuncture as he does herbal medicine and is a clinical supervisor for acupuncture at City College of Acupuncture. His passion for yangsheng and Chinese medicine self-help began during his mandarin study while living in Taiwan. Upon returning to the UK, he set up the London Chinese Medicine Meetup Group to teach Chinese medicine self-help to the public. He currently teaches on the Chinese nutrition and yangsheng diploma at the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine.
Peter Deadman FBAcC – Morning qigong
Let’s start the day with qigong to centre and stabilise ourselves, mobilise the entire channel network and free our qi.
Peter has worked in the field of health promotion for over fifty years, first as a natural/organic foods pioneer (Infinity Foods), then as a practitioner of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, international teacher, founder and editor/publisher of The Journal of Chinese Medicine, co-author of A Manual of Acupuncture and author of Live Well Live Long: Teachings from the Chinese nourishment of Life Tradition. He has practised and taught qigong for many years.
If you’re looking for some qigong inspiration why not check out this video from Acu.
Are you interested in integrating Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) into your practice? Previously, the BAcC has teamed up the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM), to put on a fun, practical and informative webinar series on different aspects and perspectives on Chinese Herbal Medicine study and practice. Visit the Let’s Talk About… Chinese Herbal Medicine campaign page for webinars, Acu. articles, EJOM articles and useful links about further study in CHM.
This year is so much more than just a conference, it is an opportunity for us to come together, gather our energy of intention and manifest the future that this great medicine deserves. We invite you to be a part of everything that is happening this year, connect with your fellow practitioners and have a fantastic time in the process! Read the full speaker line-up here.
About The UK Conference of Chinese Medicine 2024
Join us on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 June for The UK Conference of Chinese Medicine 2024 at the Manchester Business School – All Saints Campus. Book your tickets today!
By The British Acupuncture Council
March 2024
