Correspondence Course in the History of Acupuncture & Moxibustion

raditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been an enormously influential tradition throughout the centuries. From its beginnings in the Bronze Age, Chinese medicine became one of the most advanced medical traditions in the world. Readings will include analysis of the latest scholarship regarding the origin of the Chinese medical ideas and practices associated with acupuncture. Prior knowledge of Chinese medicine is not required.

The Course

This course is designed to compliment the study of TCM, acupuncture, moxibustion, qigong, taiji chuan and other East Asian healing modalities which use the Chinese meridian system.

Throughout the Han Dynasty (c. 2nd century BC to 2nd century AD), Chinese physicians and scholars began to bring a wide range of diverse practices under the systematic field of medicine. Acupuncture theory is first elaborated in the Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor , a text dating from the 1st century BC. But, the fundamental features of this system would remain debated until the Song Dynasty (c. 10th to 13th century AD). The system of medicine codified in the Song forms the basis of today's TCM.

This reading course focuses on the various influences and the evolution which has shaped TCM over the centuries, with a focus on the early period, where the central ideas of acupuncture, herbalism, qi, and meridians took form.

Successful completion of this course will require reading the packet and books included. A written test will be sent to the participant which will include a 2-3 page written analysis of a particular area of Chinese medical history. Certificate will be provided upon successful completion of the course.

Cost

$99 is the total cost of this course, including all materials below.

Click here to register for this program, or contact us for more information.

Readings

Course Materials Provided:

TaoMountain's History of Chinese Medicine Volume 1: a collection of academic articles on the origins of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Click below for more information or to buy separately.

Required Books (Not Provided - Click below to purchase):

Ni, Maoshing. The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine: A New Translation of the Neijing Suwen with Commentary. Boston: Shambhala Press, 1995.
Unschuld, Paul U. Medicine in China: A History of Ideas. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1985.

Recommended Books (Not Provided - Click below to purchase):

Unschuld, Paul U. Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen: Nature, Knowledge, Imagery in an Ancient Chinese Medical Text. Univ of CA Press, 2003.
Unschuld, Paul U. Nan-ching--The Classic of Difficult Issues. Univ of CA Press, 1986.

The first historical record of the acupuncture channels originated dates from the second century B.C.

Chinese medicine is practiced in modern China alongside Western allopathic medicine. A street dentist checks a client in Sichuan Province.