Building on concepts offered in ACU322, this class deeply explores the treatment of common musculoskeletal pathologies and introduces a template for all treatment protocols. In addition to applying motor points, students apply classical theories and points to the treatment of injuries, and practice advanced techniques such as cupping, electro-stimulation, and moxibustion. Class assignments include reports on common pathologies and in-class treatments each day.

This course has practical components that require mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) use. Faculty and students are required to wear gloves and use additional PPE as needed and follow required hygiene, equipment and sharps management during class time.

Some exercises in this course involve physical touch. Participation is always based on informed consent; all touch is optional and consent must be clear and ongoing.

This is a comprehensive survey of all meridian-based acupuncture points, extraordinary points and meridians of the human body including anatomical locations and an introduction to energetic properties. Attention is given to each of the 12 primary meridians, the 8 extraordinary meridians, the collaterals and all acupuncture points. Students learn the numerical nomenclature of points as well as their Pinyin names, pronunciations and English translations. This course contains both theoretical and practical content. This course is best suited for students in the first two semesters of studies. Some students find that it is helpful to first complete OM101/102 TCM Foundations, OM121 Medical Mandarin and BMS103 Surface Anatomy, but these are not prerequisites.

Some exercises in this course involve physical touch. Participation is always based on informed consent; all touch is optional and consent must be clear and ongoing.

This is in-depth study of the energetic and therapeutic properties of all acupuncture points of the 12 primary meridians, the Governing and Conception vessels, and the extraordinary points. Students learn the therapeutic functions of the acupoints and simple and elaborate acupoint combinations. This course builds on the introduction to the meanings of acupuncture point names provided in ACU101/102 and further explores the naming of the points, in many cases revealing both the therapeutic values of points and their locations. Point categories are covered in detail as are microsystems of the body, including the ear. Forbidden and cautionary points are also discussed.

Students are introduced to the theory and practice of acupuncture therapy and its related disciplines. This course provides a solid foundation in needling technique, and related skills of moxibustion, cupping, electric stimulation, seven star needle and gua sha. Special attention is paid to aseptic procedures. The course also introduces students to acupuncture micro-systems including ear and scalp. The majority of class time is dedicated to the practice of techniques to help students develop practical skills and gain experience. This course has practical components that require mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) use.

Faculty and students are required to wear gloves and use additional PPE as needed and follow required hygiene, equipment and sharps management during class time.

This practical course focuses on experience in needling. Traditional Acupuncture points are discussed, demonstrated, and then needled. Students spend the majority of class time practicing, and gaining experience in all aspects of needling traditional acupuncture points. Perfect for students fresh out of ACU 113/114 wanting to continue to develop their skills. This course has practical components that require mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) use. Faculty and students are required to wear gloves and use additional PPE as needed and follow required hygiene, equipment and sharps management during class time.

Some exercises in this course involve physical touch. Participation is always based on informed consent; all touch is optional and consent must be clear and ongoing.

A continuation of Lab I, the focus is still on learning and refining skill in needling, with more emphasis on more challenging points and aspects of treatment. This course has practical components that require mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) use. Faculty and students are required to wear gloves and use additional PPE as needed and follow required hygiene, equipment and sharps management during class time.

This course explores, develops, and strengthens clinical-practice skills. While the primary focus is learning how to practice in a group (community acupuncture) setting, these skills are valuable in any clinic environment. Students develop and practice a client centred/trauma informed approach to care, effective practitioner/patient communication skills, effective diagnosis strategies, how to communicate effective treatment plans to patients, creating effective distal point prescriptions, and quick and effective needling techniques necessary for treating patients with a wide variety of health concerns in a group setting. The course is a mix of lecture, discussion, and hands-on practice. Assessment is based on attendance, participation, short quizzes, and practical exams.

Students gain a thorough understanding of the complexity of pathogenesis and the treatment of TCM internal syndromes including etiology, pathology, syndrome differentiation and treatment using acupuncture and moxibustion. The first part of this course explores the 5 internal pathogenic factors, the 6 channels (as detailed in the Shang Han Lun) and 4 levels of pathogenic invasion (as detailed in the Wen Bing Xue), the state of Qi and Blood, pathologies of Zang Fu organs, therapeutic principles and methods and includes and introduction to the Jing Gui Yao Lue. The second part of this course covers the following TCM diseases: common cold, cough, asthma and wheezing, spontaneous and night sweating, palpitations, chest Bi, syncope, apoplexy, convulsions, headache, dizziness and vertigo, insomnia, mania and other psychiatric conditions, epilepsy, stomachache, vomiting, regurgitation, hiccup, dysphagia, diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, parasites, abdominal pain, hypochondrium pain, jaundice, abdominal masses, tympanites and ascites, bleeding, edema, stranguria, urinary difficulties, lumbago, diabetes, Bi syndrome, atrophy, fever due to internal injury and consumptive disease. Additional components include basic geriatric conditions and addictions.

This practical course focuses on refining needling skills once students have reached the independent clinic level. Emphasis is on needling more challenging acupuncture points and rigorous, practical testing of point location and needling. Acupuncture Lab I will cover points located on the head and limbs.

This practical course focuses on refining needling skills once students have reached the independent clinic level. Emphasis is on needling more challenging acupuncture points and rigorous, practical testing of point location and needling. Acupuncture Lab II will cover points located on the torso. Acupuncture Lab I is not a prerequisite for this course.

This course introduces students to simple and incredibly effective methods for treating pain and many other imbalances using a channel-based approach. These acupuncture-specific methods are often more immediate and direct than standard TCM, and do not require extensive syndrome diagnosis. With channel-based acupuncture, we learn to adjust the Qi as it flows through the channels to create immediate change. The product of over 15 years of teaching and practice, this course has been designed to be the simplest, most immediately relevant content that a beginning or experienced practitioner could learn to increase their clinical effectiveness. This course will also include integrating channel-based approaches with easy to learn pulse diagnosis methods to create powerful treatments targeted to where your patient needs it most.

*** Note that this course is delivered both through live online sessions and prerecorded videos which makes it ineligible for student aid. The hours for this course will not be counted towards your student aid eligibility.

This course gives students a solid and experiential understanding of the 5 element system and its application in clinical practice. Topics covered include the characteristics of each element, the relationships between them, and practical diagnostic and treatment methods. Students will learn to recognize and work with the elements as they manifest in patients and in themselves, and to bring them into balanced and healthy function. We will also cover how to identify and work with blocks according to the 5 element system and understanding how the 5 elements can be a powerful aid to working with human psychology.

*** Note that this course is delivered both through live online sessions and prerecorded videos which makes it ineligible for student aid. The hours for this course will not be counted towards your student aid eligibility.

Gynecology is the field of medicine that deals with specific women’s health issues, primarily those related to reproductive organs. This course applies the principles of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine to the field of gynecology. Students gain knowledge of physical and pathological features of women and learn to diagnose based on syndrome patterns to and create appropriate treatment procedures for diseases and conditions related to menstruation, leucorrhea, pregnancy and labour. Twenty-five diseases are thoroughly discussed leaving students confident in the treatment of gynecological conditions with basic acupoint prescriptions and their relevant modifications.

By applying the principles of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine to the study of orthopedics and sports therapy, this class introduces the topic of Motor Points and use of Acupuncture for injuries to the musculoskeletal system. Students are taught to assess patients using the sports medical model and to treat patients using Motor Point techniques as well as basic TCM Acupuncture treatment protocols for common injuries. This course has practical components that require mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) use. Faculty and students are required to wear gloves and use additional PPE as needed and follow required hygiene, equipment and sharps management during class time.

Some exercises in this course involve physical touch. Participation is always based on informed consent; all touch is optional and consent must be clear and ongoing.

This course applies the principles of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine to the study of dermatology and other disorders of the external body. Through studying 30 diseases, students gain skills in diagnosis, syndrome differentiation and treatment using acupuncture and moxibustion for a variety of diseases and conditions such as carbuncles and furuncles, goiter, hemorrhoids, scrofula, herpes zoster and warts.

This course applies the principles of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine to the field of pediatrics. Students learn to differentiate syndromes based on patterns of signs and symptoms, and to create appropriate treatment procedures using acupuncture and moxibustion for a dozen different diseases and conditions such as common cold and cough, asthma, diarrhea, constipation, urinary disorders, and fevers and convulsions. Students learn diagnostic skills by applying them directly to infants and children who are brought in from time to time.

This course applies the principles of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine to the study of disorders of the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and throat. Students learn to differentiate syndromes based on patterns of signs and symptoms, and to create appropriate treatment procedures using acupuncture and moxibustion for diseases and conditions such as blindness, cataracts, conjunctivitis, deafness, tinnitus, vertigo, epistaxis and sore throat.

This course introduces advanced acupuncture theory and practices. It is a continuation of the technique of ACU113/114, and with advanced information pertaining to Classical theory and modern development practices. Students will focus on the use and application of advanced acupuncture techniques, as well the acupuncture treatment plans and protocols. (Previously ACU521 Acupuncture and Additions) This course has practical components that require mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) use. Faculty and students are required to wear gloves and use additional PPE as needed and follow required hygiene, equipment and sharps management during class time.