Nutrition And The Field Of Oriental Medicine

 

The Importance of TCM Nutrition in a Modern Practice

Nutrition has long been an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The Midwest College has identified this branch of TCM as an important specialty, sought by health care consumers, for which we prepare our future graduates. The Midwest College’s Oriental Medicine (OM) program is unique in that the concentration in this area is an important focus of the curriculum and clinical experience.

While completing the Master of Science in Oriental Medicine, you will gain an important concentration in the biomedical concepts of nutrition including the food pyramid and health promoting effects of vitamins and minerals. TCM nutrition, additionally, looks at the energetic characteristics of foods, how they are used based upon an individual’s constitution, and how food affects Zang Fu syndromes.

After completing the OM program you will be able to augment your acupuncture and herbal treatment with the Chinese system of food therapy. In fact, students in the Masters program receive the concurrently awarded degree B.S. in Nutrition with the M.S. degree in Oriental Medicine.

The M.S. curriculum prepares graduates for a competitive healthcare environment by combining the use of Chinese herbal formulas with nutritional counseling and the use of supplements. Integrating TCM Nutrition with Acu/moxa and herbs lets practitioners confidently make recommendations regarding food energetics as a preventative to disease in the maintenance of optimum health. Graduates will meet the expectations of patients who expect a holistic practitioner to make recommendations regarding herbs and commonly used nutritive products. If you feel that healthy eating and guided nutrition is important part of Holistic Healthcare, you should look seriously at the Midwest College.

Education at the Midwest College includes a unique focus on traditional Chinese Nutrition Therapy. There are two aspects to a Chinese Medicine nutritional consultation; the first concerns healthy eating according to a patient’s constitutional type, the second is recommendation of foods, and recipes for specific disorders.

The Midwest College’s contemporary clinical approach to Chinese nutrition therapy includes updated “energetic” recipes based upon classic medicinal cooking with herbs. These traditional recipes have been selected to be “pleasing to the palate” so that they will be enjoyed by most patients.

It is not surprising that prospective students of Oriental Medicine are looking for a program where they can gain the skills and knowledge needed to integrate the best known branches of TCM (acupuncture, massage and herbs) with healing foods and recipes in their future professional practice. The nutrition component of the Oriental Medicine program, as well as its clinical experiences, have been designed to ensure that students see a wide variety of health problems, and that they become familiar with using food and nutraceutical supplements in TCM clinical practice. Its emphasis is on the intern applying the principles of traditional and modern nutrition learned in class to the treatment of patients in the student clinic.

This course is a practical study of the internal and external causes of disease within the Eastern medical model. A clear understanding of 'TCM pathologies' is needed in order to apply the sophisticated system of Oriental Medicine based on sign and symptom patterns.
This course consists of procedures of physical and neurological examination; providing an understanding of the methods used in making physical diagnosis.
Courses begin with a review of the normal physiological  processes and then discuss how these are altered by disease.  Students will be able to recognize pathological indicators and biochemical pathways to better correlate the basic science of pathology with physical diagnosis and disorders related to nutrition.
Students gain the foundation in western physiology needed to understand the biochemical processes and nutritional needs of the human body related to health and disease. Information in this class is intrinsic to understanding the foundations of nutrition.
This directed learning paper develops additional competencies in basic sciences. Five pathological disorders from different systems are assigned.
This class concentrates on the processes involved with taking in and utilizing food substances by which growth, repair and maintenance of activities in the body as a whole or in any of its parts are accomplished. This includes ingestion, digestion, absorption and metabolism, as well as, basic nutritional needs and the use of vitamins, minerals and supplements.
This class includes topics in neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. Mechanisms of the nervous system are covered as related to the scientific basis of Acupuncture and its application to the treatment of disease. Students in this class gain the ability to explain the mechanisms of Acupuncture in modern medical terms. Communication skills between Acupuncturists and Medical professionals are stressed.
Students continue to practice needle insertion with combinations of points that would be used in treatment.  There is emphasis on safety with difficult points and more complex point prescriptions.
Students review the anatomical structures through which needles pass at progressive depths of the body.  This includes proper insertion, angle, depth, duration and withdrawl of needles.
At the beginning of the second year, students begin developing needle insertion skills. Students receive intensive instruction in techniques of clean needle insertion as approved by current national standards.
This course helps students develop their skills in organization and analysis of presenting symptoms.  The clinic review class includes evaluation of the physical and psychological components of an illness and specific treatment strategies.
This class covers the basis of treatment using the eight principle and secondary vessel pathology. Students learn to formulate a treatment using the information gathered from pulse and tongue diagnosis. Practical use of classical point categories such as antique points, influential points and windows of the sky points in the treatment of eight principle disease patterns will be covered.
It is in this class that the prior three quarter of TCM theory begin to flower and faculty can see the "light bulb go on", as students get a sense of how well the TCM theory fits together.  At this point, students are beginning their next phase of clinic and now have responsibility of using this information in a clinical setting.
A continuation of Anatomy 1, this course is an in-depth study of visceral structure and physiologic function of the human body.
This course is an in-depth study of the somatic structure of the human body: skeletal, muscular, ligamentous, and an introduction to the peripheral nerves. There is attention given to the palpatory anatomy that will be needed for Point Location and Needle Technique classes.
In this course, students are oriented to the procedures and protocol needed to successfully complete internship. Physical assessment skills needed in the practice of Oriental Medicine are covered including: vital signs, temperature, pulse, and blood pressure. Standards of history taking, SOAP noting and unique documentation found in TCM clinical records are part of this course.
This course includes discussion that brings up pertinent issues in healthcare practice and examines the approach taken by a counselor. It focuses on ethical decision-making and the patient practitioner relationship.
The directed learning paper traces the development of Chinese medicine including: the classics, historical figures and periods, and a discussion of important theoretical developments. It gives students a respect for the ancient traditions from which the modern, clinical practice of TCM developed.
The moral and ethical principles that are the core of the teachings of Confucius and Lao Tzu are taught in a manner that can be applied in present day. The influence of these schools on the development of Chinese medicine is stressed in this course.
This course continues massage techniques to regions of the body for local and systemic problem. Good Tui Na technique combined with accessory techniques is an important adjunct to an acupuncture practice.
Tui Na is a form of Chinese massage that includes different hand techniques applied to specific areas of the body. Students will gain proficiency in manipulation skill and sensitivity to energy balancing as they practice techniques in class and apply them in clinic.
Students will attend lectures, demonstrate and practice in the traditional and modern accessory techniques of Oriental Medicine: moxibustion, magnets, guasha, cupping and auricular techniques.
In this course, students will use charts, models and their fellow students as subjects to locate and mark the most important acupuncture points. Students will spend six quarters developing the sensitivity needed to achieve the Qi sensation required for effective treatment.
In this course, students will use charts, models and their fellow students as subjects to locate and mark the most important acupuncture points. Students will spend six quarters developing the sensitivity needed to achieve the Qi sensation required for effective treatment.
This course further studies the eight principle theory as it applies to the pathology of the five phases, the Zang Fu organs and the triple burner.
The rigorous clinic –based educational experience is designed to take classroom learning and first year theory so have students see the clinical application of concepts during their internship activities and experiences.
This is the first class in Chinese medical theory and introduces students to the language and refinement found in Midwest’s academic program. This class will also establish the foundation from which student’s understandings will grow.