About our Course in Acupuncture

A 3 YEARS +  COURSE IN ACUPUNCTURE

Course Description

AOM offers a three year course, each year comprising of 350 hours training (comprising theory, tutorship and practice) plus  400 hours of hands-on clinical practical. This level is well above the minimum education standards suggested by the main European Association. 

Whilst we cannot claim that we offer a recognised 'Bachelor course',  we aim at keeping  our teaching roughly at this level  as we believe that this is the only way to form responsible acupuncturist, who can  serve the community safely.   

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

Availability of courses

AOM  International does its best to ensure that all courses are made available every year.  A course runs when  between 6 to 15  students  enrol in it.  

Number of students per class

In order to facilitate the bonding amongst the students and make sure that the members of the staff can get to know each student individually, our classes never exceed 15-20 students. Courses with less than 6 students are not held.

Certifications

A diploma will certify the student's achievement at the end of the course. The diploma is accompanied by a detailed description of the student's curriculum and the final assessment, including the ability of taking responsibility of patients.

No diploma can be given before the end of the whole course. Should students decide to discontinue or to continue their education elsewhere, an interim accompanying certificate that specifies the syllabus covered, progress made, marks received and evaluation is given.

Students with prior training

Students with prior training in subjects compatible with Chinese Medicine can transfer credits to AOM. All applications will be considered on the grounds of the applicants' merits and the positive outcome of an interview with a member of staff. Credits (ECTS) can be worked out and transferred on the basis of a 1 hour attendance : 2 hours of student workload.

Three years training in acupuncture - Syllabus & Curriculum

Starting date for each year: 22/10/2021

A 3 YEAR + TRAINING  IN CHINESE MEDICINE  - ACUPUNCTURE

COURSE DESCRIPTION

AOM offers a 3 year and 2 month long  (400 contact hours)  course  built according to the European professional Associations  Guidelines (cfr. ETCMA programme on www.etcma.org)

Each year comprises 258 teaching hours of  theory, live tutorials and hands-on practice in  a retreat. We aim at keeping high levels of education, 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. 

Availability of courses

AOM  International does its best to ensure that all courses are made available every year.  A course runs when  between 6 to15 students  enrol in it.  

Number of students per class

In order to facilitate the bonding amongst the students and make sure that the members of the staff can get to know each student individually, our classes never exceed 15 students. Courses with less than 6 students are not held.

Certifications

A diploma will certify the student's achievement at the end of the course. The diploma is accompanied by a detailed description of the student's curriculum and the final assessment, including the ability of taking responsibility of patients.

No diploma can be given before the end of the whole course. Should students decide to discontinue or to continue their education elsewhere, an interim accompanying certificate that specifies the syllabus covered, progress made, marks received and evaluation is given.

Students with prior training

Students with prior training in subjects compatible with Chinese Medicine can transfer credits to AOM. All applications will be considered on the grounds of the applicants' merits and the positive outcome of an interview with a member of staff. Credits can be worked out and transferred on the basis of a 1 hour attendance : 2 hours of student workload.

Find below the details of the  teaching, the content of the retreat, the expected outcome at the end of each year  and the western medicine programme. 

Year 1

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.

The reading for the 7 modules includes : reading of various primary sources, especially the 'Huangdi Neijing-  Sowen and Lingshu",  the 'Cangtong qi' and the 'Shang Han Lun'  and the extracts from the texts of the main Chinese philosophers, Laozi, Mencius, Confuscious.   

End of the year retreat - 15 days (98+ hours) of practice.

At the end of the year retreat we shall practice :

*  Channels: palpation of channels, marking of acupuncture points, 

* 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 organize the asking, 

* Qigong: Ba Duan Jing & Heart Gong

Western Medical Studies (90 hours per year) - General description:  

The course in Western Medical studies last 3 years and comprises 90 hours attendance  in 3 years.  It incldes First Aid training.  

First year   - 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.


First year - expected outcome 

a. In Acupuncture, all students will be able to understand the physiology  of Chinese Medicine. 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 (meridians and their points).

b. In Western Medical studies, all students will become familiar with the structure and  physiology of the human body and will be able to  use it when i.e. following a meridian's trajectory or marking the acupuncture points.  

Year 2

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.  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.
MODULE 7

 Clinical pathology: diseases of the digestive, respiratory, urinary and gynaecological system

The reading for this 2nd year  includes: reading from primary sources (see year 1, various chapter from the same texts, but this time on diseases) plus extracts from the Shang Han Lun, Re Bing Lun, Xue Zhen Lun.

End of the year retreat: 15 days  (98 + hours practice). 

At the end of the year retreat we shall practice:

* Channel palpation, point location, 

* The function of the selected acupuncture points and applications to  real case histories,

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

* Diagnosis - practice on each other: taking case histories,  pathological pulse and tongue, principle of treatment, points selection, needling techniques. 

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

* 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. 

2nd year Western Medical Studies (90 hours) : pathology 

  • 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.


Year 2 - 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.

Year 3  

MODULE1  Obstetrics, Male Infertility and general male reproductive pathology 
MODULE 2 Insomnia, Palpitations, Irritability, Headache, Fan Cao syndromes
MODULE3  Xue Zhen & Gu Zhen  
MODULE 4  Bi syndromes (painful obstructive syndromes ), Wei Syndromes (flaccid syndromes), Zhong Feng (ictus) 
MODULE 5  Skin, Ear, Nose, Mouth diseases.
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 student: 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.


Class material includes: as in year 1 & 2 plus Liu Li Hong's "SI Kao Zhongyi" and "The Yellow's Emperor Inner Transmission of Acupuncture" 

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. 

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: Looking, listening, smelling,  asking and touching the other: yes and no in practice.

* Taiji, qigong and meditation.

3rd Year  - Western Medicine (90 hours) - Pathology 

  • Disorders of the Nervous System
  • Disorders of the Senses
  • Disorders of the Skin
  • Congenital and Childhood Disorders
  • Ageing, Stress, Exercise Pathology & Disease
  • Red flags - recommended medical assistance 
  • First Aid (with licenced instructor).


End of 3rd year + 400 contact hours:  clinical practice 
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. This involves diagnosing , treating  and design the future treatments principles for each one of the 10 personal cases x 10 sessions. Students will also accompany other students doing the same, by giving advice, asking questions about the diagnosis, the principle of treatment and the choice of points, suggesting appropriate needle techniques, and the design of fu

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.

Cancellation and modifications of the present programme
 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 apologize in advance.