By Dr. Sharon Hennessey, L.Ac.
On May 15, doctoral students, friends, family, and acupuncture enthusiasts filled the auditorium at the church of Theresa of Avila on Connecticut Street in San Francisco to listen to imminent doctoral program graduates describe the investigation and conclusions of their research expeditions for their final capstone projects. This graduating class of capstone synopses presented a vision that was both vast and grand, encompassing traditional Chinese history and the integration of traditional medicine with modern research methods and analysis.
The morning began with Bianca Di Giulio discussing The Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Integrative Oncology. Ms. Di Giulio who specializes in women’s health and TCM oncology, acknowledged that the path to integration with western medical model is complex.
Tony Woo deconstructed point combinations for frozen shoulder with his Integrative Approach to Treat Adhesive Capsulitis Using Different Acupuncture Techniques.
Recounting her mentor’s healing power of Qi Gong and the dynamic precepts that underpin his practice, Liping Zhu titled her project Embracing Qi Gong as a Special Medicine.
Nubby Shober ‘s Comparative Study of Local Corticosteroid Injection Therapy with Tung’s Two Needle Acupuncture Protocol for the Treatment of De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis proposed a pilot study design to test head to head, a specific acupuncture protocol against local steroid injection therapy.
Sean Radan tackled the history and analysis of available studies of dry cupping and wet cupping on different areas of the body, concluding that more research was needed. Mr. Radan’s project was titled A Study on the Clinical Effectiveness of Dry Cupping as Practiced in China and Wet Cupping as Practiced in the Middle East.
Noah Dong Seon Yoo’s Review of Common Herbs in the Book, Yakucho: A Comparative Review with Herbology and Western Pharmacognosy described a history of Kampo, investigating the theories of 17th century herbal practitioner Todo Yoshimasu, and then comparing his descriptions of herbs with western pharmacological effects.
Lili Qiao analyzed formulas and the concepts that steer two fascinating theories about menstrual disorders in her Translation and Analysis of Jing Yue Quan Shu and Fu Qing Zhu’s Gynecology on the Topic of Menstruation Disorder, Selected Sections.
While these doctoral students engaged in vivid discussions of their capstone theses, the audience responded with inquiring and provocative questions. It was a day where the roles of teacher and student merged into seamless interactive scholarship.
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About American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) has provided affordable, quality health care to the public and trained professionals in acupuncture, massage and Chinese medicine since 1980. In addition to its graduate curriculum, ACTCM offers continuing education, public education, community outreach and clinical services in acupuncture and herbal medicine. ACTCM has been the recipient of many awards for its curriculum, faculty and clinic, and has been voted “Best of the Bay” by both the San Francisco Weekly and the San Francisco Bay Guardian. ACTCM is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and is a private, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.