For further information about Chinese patent formulas, Chinese medicinal herbs for making the recipes in this book, Western supplements, super green food, vegetable pills, caffeine substitutes, juicers, air and water purifiers and continued updates on integrative medicine and current scientific research, log on to www.ancientherbsmodernmedicine.com.
Now that you have read this book and are excited about finding a doctor of Chinese medicine for yourself or for someone you love, the following will provide you with some helpful tips. Herbology is an art form, which some master better than others. The best recommendation is by word of mouth. Inquiring about other people's experiences with a particular herbalist will often tell you a lot about the herbalist's qualifications—more than just a diploma on the wall. There are generally three categories of training:
Doctors trained in Chinese medicine in the Orient (mainland China, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong): Trained herbalists and acupuncturists are educated in certified Chinese medical schools in the Orient. To practice in the United States they must be licensed in the state where they are practicing, in accordance with that state's licensing criteria.
Doctors originally trained in Western medicine in the Orient: Many of these Western-trained doctors, who have immigrated to the United States and set up practices in Chinese medicine here, have extended their training in Chinese medicine and have become qualified herbologists.
Doctors trained in the United States: There is a difference between an acupuncturist and a doctor of Chinese medicine who is trained in herbology. Some practitioners have had an education in acupuncture, but may not have been adequately trained in herbs. In California, most educational programs in Chinese medicine that are approved by the Acupuncture Board require students to study herbology even if a student is only interested in practicing acupuncture. In other states where the study of herbs is not required to practice acupuncture, more students are either choosing to study herbology or are pursuing postgraduate studies in herbology. For that reason, well-trained, experienced herbologists can be found in many communities, and the number is growing.
The Top Seven Schools Within Mainland China Known for Producing Highly Trained Herbalists
Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Shanghai University of TCM
Guangzhou (the capital city of Canton province) University of TCM
Chendu (the capital city of Szechuan province) University of TCM
Nanjing (the capital city of Jiang Su province) College of TCM
Shenyang (the capital city of Liao Ning province) College of TCM
Hei Long Jiang University of TCM
Questions to Ask an Herbalist
In what country were you trained?
From what university did you graduate?
How long have you been in practice?
How many years of experience in the specific area of herbology do you have (not just acupuncture)?
Do you have a full herbal pharmacy that is capable of filling customized herbal prescriptions, either in bulk or granulated form?
Do you have an herbal pharmacist on staff?
Are you able to effectively communicate in English, or do you have the necessary assistants who can communicate all of the critical information?
A general practice founded and directed by Henry Han, O.M.D., who was trained in both Chinese and Western medicine at the prestigious Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Dr. Han often uses Western diagnostic laboratory tests in evaluating and monitoring patients' progress throughout the course of treatment. He clearly communicates with his patients, to make each one feel comfortable with their understanding of the disease and herbal treatment. His training in psychology gives him effective tools in treating and communicating with his patients.
The Santa Barbara Herb Clinic is comprised of two other Chinese-trained doctors, each with at least fifteen years of experience. Student interns from the Santa Barbara School of Oriental Medicine rotate through the clinic, acquiring clinical experience and supervision. The clinic has a fully stocked herb room with dried, granulated and patent herbal formulas. The practice offers herbal medicine, acupuncture, nutritional consultation, lifestyle consultation and other modalities of therapy that support the overall health and well-being of the patients, such as massage, acupressure, cupping and Qigong.
Henry Han, O.M.D.
Internal medicine
Xiang Jun Yang, O.M.D.
Internal medicine, An Mo Therapy and Tui Na
Jing Wa Zhao, O.M.D.
Acupuncture
Santa Barbara Herb Clinic
3886 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Phone 1-805-563-0222
Fax 1-805-563-1870
Tao of Wellness
A general practice comprised of five doctors, one massage therapist and six herbalists. The clinic has a fully stocked herb room with both dried and patent herbal formulas. From the time you enter the Tao of Wellness to the time you leave, you will experience every staff member as part of the healing team whose mission is to serve and provide you with a total healing experience. Each of the five doctors at the Tao of Wellness will personalize a health program to meet your needs.
Maoshing Ni, Lic. Ac., D.O.M., Ph.D.
Immunology, gastroenterology and longevity
Daoshing Ni, Lic. Ac., D.O.M., Ph.D.
General medicine, reproductive medicine and gynecology
Tao of Wellness
1131 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 300
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone 1-310-917-2200
Fax 1-310-917-2204
Colleges and Universities of Chinese Medicine
Santa Barbara College of Oriental Medicine
SBCOM has been at the forefront of the integration of Eastern and Western medicine for over twenty years. The SBCOM clinic has between seven to ten doctors of Oriental medicine on staff. The clinic has eight treatment rooms, two patient counseling rooms and patent medicine, granules and raw herbs of all kinds. The SBCOM offers acupuncture, acupressure, nutritional counseling, lifestyle counseling and herbal treatments. SBCOM funds community health care projects in such areas as HIV/AIDS, drug detox, addiction, pain management and stress reduction.
Santa Barbara College of Oriental Medicine
JoAnn Tall, Lic. Ac., President 1919 State Street, Suite 207 Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Phone 1-805-898-1180 Fax 1-805-682-1864 www.sbcom.edu
Yo San University
The Yo San University Clinic (YSU Clinic) provides effective, low-cost treatment for a wide variety of ailments using acupuncture and other healing modalities of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The YSU Clinic is a community-oriented teaching clinic established to provide Yo San University students with a professional setting in which to complete their internship requirements for the Master of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Each intern is closely supervised by a highly educated and skilled acupuncturist. YSU clinic interns are in the last phase of a rigorous four-year program taught by experts in both traditional Chinese healing techniques and current Western medical practices.
Yo San University also offers a Chi Development Program aimed at teaching people the beneficial and enjoyable movements of Tai Chi and related disciplines.
Yo San University
Daoshing Ni, Lic. Ac., D.O.M., Ph.D., President
13315 Washington Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90066
Phone 1-310-577-3000
American Association of Oriental Medicine (AAOM)
The American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) was formed in 1981 to be the unifying force for American acupuncturists who are committed to high ethical and educational standards and a well-regulated profession to ensure the safety of the public. Recently the AAAOM voted to change its name to better represent its membership. In recognition that acupuncture was just one part of the entire scope of Oriental medicine, the AAOM has streamlined its name to be the American Association of Oriental Medicine.AAOM members are regarded as the most highly qualified practitioners of Oriental Medicine in the United States. To locate AAOM members in your state: www.aaom.org/referrals.html.
American Association of Oriental Medicine
433 Front Street
Catasauqua, PA 18032
Phone 1-610-266-1433
Fax 1-610-264-2768
National Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance(National Alliance)
National Alliance offers over-the-phone personal referrals to herbalists and acupuncturists nationwide. Many of their acupuncturists are also licensed herbalists, but they do not differentiate between herbalists and acupuncturists. There are also referrals available on the Web site.
National Alliance
14637 Starr Road, SE
Olalla, WA 98359
Phone 1-253-851-6896 Fax 1-253-851-6883 www.acupuncturealliance.org
Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM)
The Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) (formerly the National Accreditation Commission for Schools and Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine—NACSCAOM) was established in June 1982 by the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM). Its mission is to foster excellence in acupuncture and Oriental medicine education. The commission acts as an independent body to evaluate professional master's degree and professional master's level certificate and diploma programs in acupuncture and Oriental medicine with a concentration in both acupuncture and herbal therapies for a level of performance, integrity and quality that entitles them to the confidence of the educational community and the public they serve. ACAOM does not provide referrals to individual practitioners.
Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
7501 Greenway Center Drive, Suite 820
Greenbelt, MD 20770
Phone 1-301-313-0855
Fax 1-301-313-0912 www.acaom.org
California Hematology Oncology Medical Group and BIOS
BIOS stands for B'shert Integrative Oncology Services. B'shert is a Hebrew word that means “the path” or “God's way.” For the treatment of cancer, BIOS integrates Western medicine with complementary medicines such as Chinese herbs, acupuncture, biofeedback, nutrition and many other services. Dr. Lorne Feldman gives patients a preliminary plan that involves the standard traditional approach with chemotherapy and/or radiation and/or surgery. He presents their information at a group meeting that includes the entire faculty of BIOS. He practices in two locations.
California Hematology Oncology Medical Group and BIOS
Lorne Feldman, M.D.
3400 W. Lomita Blvd., Suite 203
Torrance, CA 90505
Phone 1-310-530-9763
Fax 1-310-530-3154
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone 1-310-649-7222
Fax 1-310-649-7235
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
The NCCAM at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is dedicated to exploring complementary and alternative healing practices in the context of rigorous science, training complementary and alternative researchers, and disseminating authoritative information.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
P.O. Box 8218
Silver Spring, MD 20907-8218
Phone 1-888-644-6226
Fax 1-301-495-4957
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
One of the world's foremost medical research centers, and the federal focal point for medical research in the United States. NIH's mission is to uncover new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone. NIH works toward that mission by conducting research in its own laboratories; supporting the research of nonfederal scientists in universities, medical schools, hospitals and research institutions throughout the country and abroad; helping in the training of research investigators; and fostering communication of medical information.
National Institutes of Health
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
Phone 1-301-496-4000
E-mail nihinfo@od.nih.gov
North Hawaii Community Hospital
Earl Bakken, the inventor of the first wearable battery-operated, electronic pacemaker and the first implantable pacemaker, designed one of the first fully integrated hospitals in Hawaii. The full-service, fifty-bed, acute-care North Hawaii Community Hospital opened in June 1996. In addition to the latest in advanced technology, equipment and diagnostic procedures, the hospital offers herbal medicine, acupuncture, chiropractic, guided imagery, healing touch, massage and naturopathy. Human touches such as soothing music and art, healing gardens and pets allowed in rooms provide a sense of security. Attending physicians consult with practitioners who are licensed and credentialed to provide holistic health care.
North Hawaii Community Hospital
67-1125 Mamalahoa Highway Kamuela, HI 96743
Phone 1-808-881-4425
Fax 1-808-881-4404
E-mail guilbejh@nhawaiipo.ah.org
Oriental Healing Arts Institute (OHAI)
OHAI is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to disseminating knowledge and improving the practice of Chinese medicine through the publication of the International Journal of Oriental Medicine, as well as books and other informational literature for health professionals, academicians and students. By making available English translations of these works, OHAI seeks to stimulate an interest in and an appreciation of Chinese medicine and to break down the barriers between Chinese and Western medicine. The Institute sponsors symposia and seminars/workshops, awards grants for students of Oriental medicine and supports pharmacognostic research.
Memberships (professional, associate and student) include subscription to the quarterly International Journal of Oriental Medicine, access to OHAI's medical reference library, consultation with health advisors and visiting scholars, discounts on books, seminars and symposia.
Oriental Healing Arts Institute
1945 Palo Verde Avenue, Suite 208 Long Beach, CA 90815-3444 Phone 1-562-431-3544 Fax 1-949-587-8967
Western Health Care
The American Academy of Antiaging Medicine
A not-for-profit medical society with ten thousand medical doctors as members that is dedicated to the advancement of technology to detect, prevent and 1L treat age-related disease and to promote research into methods to retard and optimize the aging process. The academy hosts two antiaging conferences each year, one in the Chicago area in the summer and one in Las Vegas in the winter. Thousands of physicians attend the conferences to learn about ongoing clinical research to keep abreast of this quickly evolving and competitive field.
American Academy of Antiaging Medicine
2415 North Greenview
Chicago IL 60614
Phone 1-773-528-4333
Fax 1-773-528-5390
To find an antiaging clinic in your area log on to www.worldhealth.net.
Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory
A laboratory dedicated to functional medicine. Functional medicine is the field of health care that employs laboratory assessment and early intervention to improve physiological, emotional/cognitive, and physical function. This health-care approach focuses attention on biochemical individuality, metabolic balance, ecological context and unique personal experience in the dynamics of health. Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory can refer you to a health-care provider in your area who can order the saliva, blood, hair and stool tests you may need.
Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory
63 Zillicoa St.
Asheville, NC 28801
Phone 1-800-522-4762
Books and Journals on Chinese Medicine
The Complete Illustrated Guide to Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive System for Health and Fitness, by Tom Williams, Ph.D., is a coffee-table guide to Chinese medicine.
The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants, by Andrew Chevallier, while not a book on Chinese medicine specifically, is a reference guide to more than 550 key medicinal plants and their uses.
The Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Medicine is the most authoritative resource on herbal medicines with the latest scientific findings on efficacy, safety and potential interactions, among other important data.
The Tao of Nutrition, by Maoshing Ni, Lic. Ac., D.O.M., Ph.D., with Cathy Mc-Nease, B.S., M.H., explains the theories and philosophies of Chinese nutrition, describes over 130 common foods and their Energetic properties and therapeutic actions and gives recommendations for various medical conditions.
The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine, by Ted J. Kaptchuk, O.M.D., is a thorough exposition on Chinese medicine suitable for deeper study.
Velvet Antler: Nature's Superior Tonic, by Alison Davidson, is a thoroughly researched reference book on the Chinese herb Deer Velvet Antler.
Books on Natural Health
Caffeine Blues: Wake Up to the Hidden Dangers of America's #1 Drug, by Stephen Cherniske, M.S., a nutritional biochemist with more than twenty-five years of academic research, reveals the truth about caffeine and offers a step-by-step, clinically proven program to kick the addiction.
Diet for a Poisoned Planet, by David W. Steinman, is a well-researched, thoroughly documented book on the perils of environmental toxins.
Ginger: Common Spice and Wonder Drug, by Paul Schulick, is a thoroughly researched book on the benefits of gingerroot.
Living Healthy in a Toxic World: Simple Steps to Protect You and Your Family from Everyday Chemicals, Poisons and Pollution, by David W. Steinman and R. Michael Wisner, explains how you can further protect yourself from toxins.
Medicinal Mushrooms: An Exploration of Tradition, Healing and Cultures, by Christopher Hobbs, documents over one hundred species of edible fungi in the most complete work on medicinal mushrooms published to date.
The Safe Shopper's Bible: A Consumer's Guide to Nontoxic Household Products, Cosmetics, and Food, by David W. Steinman, M.A., and Samuel
S. Epstein, M.D., contains extensive lists of brand-name products that you can use and those that are toxic and carcinogenic.
The Schwarzbein Principle, by Diana Schwarzbein, M.D., and Nancy Deville, is a comprehensive book on achieving a healthy metabolism and weight loss by eating balanced meals of real, whole foods. This book contains extensive carbohydrate guides for real foods.
The Schwarzbein Principle Cookbook and The Schwarzbein Principle Vegetarian Cookbook, by Diana Schwarzbein, M.D., Nancy Deville and Evelyn Jacob, focus on appetizing, easy-to-prepare balanced meat-based and vegetarian meals using real, whole foods.
Tired of Being Tired: Ten Simple Solutions to Achieving Your Ideal Weight and Feeling and Looking Younger, by Jesse Hanley, M.D., and Nancy Deville, offers a step-by-step guide to reversing adrenal burnout, feeling better and having more energy.
Energy Healing and Positive Visualization
Videos, CDs and Cassettes by Caroline Myss, Ph.D. A pioneer in the field of energy medicine and human consciousness, Dr. Myss's work has helped define how stress and emotion contribute to disease.
CDs by Belleruth Naparstek, L.I.S.W., B.C.D. A nationally recognized innovator in the field of guided imagery and intuition.