for acupuncture students, alumni, faculty & friends — sponsored by AIMC Berkeley

I need your feedback, please!

I'd like your feedback on which of the following presentation ideas you think would be most interesting to the local community. I've been considering all of them for next trimester, but I'm having trouble deciding on one. What do you think?

1. The Stress-Disease Connection. Explores what medical science has learned about the relationship between stress and disease, and advances the hypothesis that stress is the single greatest causative factor in modern pathology. Includes information about using modalities such as acupuncture and mindfulness practice to manage stress and promote well-being.

2. The Top 5 Myths About Nutrition. Debunks five commonly held beliefs about nutrition, and replaces them with nutritional principles supported by modern science and traditional wisdom. They myths are: 1) saturated fat clogs your arteries, 2) red meat is bad for you, 3) soy is a health food, 4) vegetarians and vegans live longer than meat eaters, 5) fat makes you fat.

3. The Emperor's Medicine. Using material from Donald Kendall's Dao of Chinese Medicine, argues that the “energy meridian” explanation of acupuncture that we've been taught in the West is at odds with classical Chinese theory, and is based on mistranslations of key Chinese medical terms. Suggests that the concepts of Chinese medicine operate under known physiological principles, involving the sophisticated organization of the neural, vascular, endocrine, visceral and somatic systems. Provides an explanation of Chinese medicine that practitioners, doctors and patients can relate to. Presents the "emperor's medicine" as not merely an "alternative modality", but as a complete system of medicine that is ideally suited for patients in the 21st century. (Aimed at doctors, patients and TOM practitioners)

Thanks,
Chris

Tags: disease, emperor's, feedback, medicine, myths, nutrition, presentation, stress

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Deborah Corrente on March 29, 2009 at 10:57am: Chris I feel 1 & 2 are equally as imperative and important for maintaining health.

We all know how stress can effect the body; but
"Eating right is just as important as managing stress
because vulnerability to stress increases with poor diet"

Maybe you can incorporate both together?

I saw a website with some information if you'd like to read.
http://www.lifestylelaboratory.com/articles/stress-effects-nutritio...

Hope it helps.
Debbie; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Amy Shouse on March 31, 2009 at 1:12pm: Hey Chris,

I think #1 is very important!

However, #2 is equally so and if not more important in certain ways because...well, many people are grossly misinformed about the topics you raise. I would be very excited to see a presentation on this especially after being on GAPS, etc... and doing my own research on it. I still get strange looks from people when I tell them how good 'bad' fat really is, etc... I would like more sound information put out there and I really appreciate it when the dominant paradigm is challenged as often as possible!

As for #3- wow! I think this is hugely important. I have Donald Kendall's book and even though I have only read bits and pieces thus far- I am fascinated by this subject. Oh please can we have an explanation that practitioners, dr's, patients can relate to... finally?? I have always felt intuitively that something was 'missing' in the transmission...maybe this is part of it. As for this being a topic for the local community...I don't know. But I know it is something that will probably raise a lot of interest among students...especially those of us who need more than the 'its energetic' canned answer to how this stuff works. Not that I don't believe in the energetic influence...I just need to know more concretely how it works.
Thanks Chris.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Chris Kresser on March 31, 2009 at 2:19pm: Deborah & Amy,

Thanks for your feedback. Much appreciated.

I spoke with David Caruso-Radin yesterday, and he thought #3 should be done with a larger marketing push towards doctors and other practitioners. This would take time and resources to organize. I'm really excited about it, but it seems that it isn't likely to come together until the Fall at the earliest.

As for #1 & #2, I've had an equal number of votes on those from administration and students. I'll probably do one of them next trimester, and the other the following trimester.

Best,
Chris; ▶ Reply to This