All Courses & Modules

A 3 YEARS + COURSE IN ACUPUNCTURE

Course Description

AOM offers a three year and 406 contact hour long  training  according to the European Guidelines for Higher Education stipulated amongst the member state in Bologna (and successive amendments).  

This means that each year comprises 500 contact teaching hours divided into theory, live tutorials and hands-on practice, which  according to the Bologna guidelines could be considered  'Bachelor level'. Thus whilst we cannot claim to offer a recognised 'Bachelor course',  we aim at keeping the levels required as we believe that this is the only way to form responsible acupuncturist who can  serve the community safely.   

AOM is a company registered in the UK, exempt from V.A.T. 

Year 1 Course curriculum

Description

This year  sets the foundation of human physiology from the perspective of  the Chinese view of life &  health


Module 1

Human life and the physiology of resonance : children of the unknown. Ancient foundation concepts of Chinese Medicine (Dao 道, wuji 無極, the void, taiji 太極 yinyang 陰陽, the four images 四象, the six qi 六氣, the five phases, from oneness to duality and back to oneness,  the main Yijing trigrams of life. The question of language.


Module  2

Human life and the physiology of resonance:  the birth of the human being. Heaven Principle 天理in human life: the life line Heaven Earth, Six Qi and Five Elements, the Yijing trigrams in human life. Before heaven and post Heaven


Module  3

Human life and the physiology of resonance: The Zangfu  臟腑 organ physiology.


Module  4

Human life and the physiology of resonance: Heavenly treasures (Qi, Jing, Shen) and Earthly substances (Blood & fluids)


Module  5

Human physiology and resonance: Channels / Meridians : introduction.  The Yin & the Three Yang channels/meridians of the hand' , points, name of points, qualities (yuan. xi-clef, luo etc.), physiology of the channel/meridian.


Module  6

Human physiology and resonance: Channels / Meridians : introduction. The 'The Yin channel of the foot': points, name of points, qualities (yuan. xi-clef, luo etc.), physiology of the channel/meridian.


Module  7

Human physiology and resonance: Channels / Meridians : introduction. The 'The Yang channel of the foot' : points, name of points, qualities (yuan. xi-clef, luo etc.), physiology of the channel/meridian.

Year 1 material includes:

Reading of various primary sources. Relevant videos. Weekly live webinars: 2 hours,

Retreat: 15 days hands-on practical (72 hours attendance) Please note that Flights, Accommodation and Board are not included in the price 

*  Channels: palpation of channels,  

* The physiological  pulse and tongue, enquiring, smelling/hearing, touching,

* Looking within: what  do I see in myself, what do  I see in others. ' I' and the 'other: relating and connecting,

* Asking questions:  how to ask 'open' and 'closed' questions, how to organise the asking, 

* Qigong: Ba Duan Jing & Heart Gong


Western Medical Studies - General description:  

The course in Western Medical studies last 3 years and comprises 100 hours attendance per year. 


Syllabus

Anatomy - physiology

Introduction to the Human Body. 

The Chemical Level of Organisation.

The Cellular Level of Organisation.

The Tissue Level of Organisation.

The Integumentary System. 

The Skeletal System.

The Muscular System.

The Nervous System.

The Special Senses (The Eye, Ear, etc).

The Endocrine System.

The Cardiovascular System.

The Lymphatic System and Immunity.

The Respiratory System.

The Digestive System.

Metabolism and Nutrition.

The Urinary System.

Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance.

The Reproductive System.

Development and Genetics.

Acupuncture points and anatomy: precautions, dangerous points, needles depth. Where to needles shallowly and where deep needling is allowed.


Expected outcome: 

a. In Chinese Medicine, all students will be able to understand the physiology  of Chinese Medicine  as well as  to understand what happens when a disease occurs. They will have a good grasp of the cultural environment in which Chinese Medicine has evolved, as well as a good knowledge of the energetic anatomy of Chinese Medicine.

b. In Western Medical studies, all students will become familiar with the structure and the physiology of the human body and will be able to converse about it with Medical Doctors in order to create a spirit of cooperation.

Year 2 Course curriculum

Description

This year analyses in details the function of the main acupuncture points,  aetiology, pathogenesis,   detailed traditional diagnosis, eight coordinates and syndromes differentiation. 


Module  1

Human pathology  in the making: aetiology - external, internal, life style, miscellaneous, 'blood stasis' and 'damp/phlegm'


Module  2

Human pathology in the making: pathogenesis of Yin-Yang, Qi Jing Shen, Blood, Body Fluids, Zang Fu, Shang Han Lun, Wen Bing , Triple Heater,  five phases/elements.  The making of internal  pathological climates. 


Module  3

Human pathology in the making: traditional Chinese  medicine diagnosis - look, smell/hear, ask and palpate. 


Module  4

Understanding a pathology: Mechanisms of pathology applied to practice.Orientation and organisation: the Eight coordinates (also called the Eight Principles). 


Module  5

Pathological patterns: syndromes of Qi, Jing, Shen, Zang Fu.  Mechanisms  leading to their onset and  to recognise them: main bullet points. Use of main points: criteria for application in clinical practice.


Module  6

Pathological patterns: syndromes of the Zang Fu(continuation). Mechanisms  leading to their onset and  to recognise them: main bullet points. Use of main points: criteria for application in clinical practice.


Module  7

Pathological patterns: syndromes of the 'six qualities of qi', 'four levels', triple heater, warm diseases, five elements, channels and collaterals. Mechanisms leading to their onset and how to recognise them: bullet points. Use of main points: criteria for application in clinical practice.

Year 2 material includes:

This year’s material includes: reading from primary sources.

Retreat: 15 days hands on practical.

* Diagnosis in practice: taking case histories,  pathological pulse and tongue. 

* Channel palpation , point location,  the function of the selected acupuncture points   and applications to syndromes.

* Rehearsing the skills of relating to the ‘I’ and the ‘other’:  learning to ask questions and hear answers.

* Qi Gong (as in the first year) and meditation. 

Western Medical Studies: pathology (135 hours)

Health & Disease

Cellular Injury, Inflammation and Repair

Disorders of the Immune System

Infectious Diseases

Neoplasia

Disorders of Fluid, Electrolyte and Acid-Base Balance

Disorders of Blood Cells

Disorders of Blood Vessels

Disorders of the Heart

Disorders of the Respiratory Tract

Disorders of the Gastrointestinal Tract

Disorders of the Liver and Biliary Tract

Disorders of the Pancreas

Disorders of Endocrine Glands

Disorders of the Urinary Tract

Disorders of the Male Genitalia

Disorders of the Female Genitalia

Disorders of Bones, Joints, and Skeletal Muscle

Disorders of the Nervous System

Disorders of the Senses

Disorders of the Skin

Congenital and Childhood Disorders

Ageing, Stress, ExercisePathology & Disease

Expected outcome: 

a. In Chinese Medicine students will be able to diagnose both from the perspective of 5 Elements  and that of Syndromes and Patterns and to understand how to select the points studied. 

b. In Western Medicine students are expected to be at ease with the pathology and mainly to know it in order to individuate 'red flags' that need to be referred to a medical doctor.

NB We reserve the right to change the above programme  (order and emphasis of classes) if needed..

Class material includes: reading of primary sources, relevant videos and weekly webinars (2 hours each)


Retreat : 

* Case taking under supervision: asking deeper and more focused questions. 

* Practice on each other: diagnosis, principle of treatment, points selection, needling techniques.  

* Self-cultivation: who am I as a practitioner in clinical practice?

* Taiji, qigong and meditation.

* review of point location and points functions

 Expected outcome: students will be able to diagnose, establish the right principle of treatment, choose channels and points and discuss a case in progress through a series of sessions.

Year 3 Course curriculum

Description

This year is devoted to  finishing the syndromes and thereafter to the  study of the pathologies most encountered in the acupuncture  clinical practice  and to case studies. We shall work on how to take the case history,  how to analyse the data,  how to make a diagnosis and then  formulate  a principle of treatment leading to the  choice of the appropriate meridians and points.


Module 1 

Pathological patterns: syndromes of the Zang Fu.

Pathological patterns - the 'Shang Han Lun', " The 'Wen Bing Lun', 'San Jiao', the 'Ming Men school' , the 'Tonify the Yin school' & the 'Tonify the Yang School', the 'School of Spleen and Stomach', the 'Fire & Spirit School', the 'Ming Men' school


Module  2    

Clinical pathology: Respiratory system, Digestive system, Insomnia, Palpitations, Irritability, Headache


Module  3   

Clinical pathology: Mental complications, Lin syndromes (Urinary complications), Bi syndromes (painful obstructive syndromes ), Wei Syndromes ( flaccid syndromes), Zhong Feng (ictus)


Module  4    

Clinical pathology: Skin complications, Ear, nose, mouth diseases , Xue (blood) syndromes, Gu syndromes


Module  5    

Clinical pathology: Gynaecology & Obstetrics


Module  6    

Case studies: 20 case studies provided by the school: analysis of properly taken intake, organisation of the data, analysis of the data, formulation of syndromes, principles of treatment and choice of channels and points.


Module  7     

Case studies: 20 case studies provided by the students: analysis of properly taken intake, organisation of the data, analysis of the data, formulation of syndromes, principles of treatment and choice of channels and points.

Year 3 material includes:

Expected outcome:  

Students will be able to diagnose from the perspective of 'unified Qi field, including the five elements/ phases and the syndrome differentiation. They will also be able to take a full cases history and work out an appropriate principle of treatment  in order to make an adequate choice of channels and points to be treated. 


Class material includes:

Reading of primary sources, relevant videos and weekly webinars (2 hours each)


Retreat: 

* Case taking under supervision: asking deeper and more focused questions. 

* Practice on each other: diagnosis, principle of treatment, points selection, needling techniques.   

Study of 150 case histories, revision of point location, function of points,  practical techniques  & skills. 

* Self-cultivation: who am I as a practitioner in clinical practice?

* Taiji, qigong and meditation.


Expected outcome:  

At the end of the retreat the students will have  acquired the skills and confidence needed to enter the clinical practice training.


N.B. We reserve the right to change the above programme  (order and emphasis of classes) if needed.

Additional Notes

Clinical practice : 

400 hours attendance with real patients

At the end of the three years, students will have to undergo 400 hrs of hands-on patients' treatment under the guidance of one of  the AOM's teachers.


Expected outcome:

students are expected to master the practical/clinical applications of the theory of Chinese medicine and learn to be self confident to practice by themselves.


Fees for Western Medical Studies:

The course in Western Medical studies  is compulsory and no student can graduate without having completed successfully it (exception are medical practitioners and some medical professions i.e. nurses, physiotherapist etc. who can be exonerated from parts of this training designed for acupuncturist and bound to provide information they have not received in medical school).


Fees:  € 1.800 for the whole training, €900 per year.


* Physiotherapists, nurses and MDs will be exonerated from following the hours corresponding to this part of the course upon presentation of a valid degree.


Cancellation and modifications: Please be aware that, whilst we will always do our best not to make changes to the agreed schedule, because life is in perennial motion, changes beyond our control may well happen.  We apologise in advance.