Guest guest Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 On reflection, I think I agree with Al. We shouldn't teach a lower number of herbs, but perhaps require less information about each herb. Again, the issue is outcomes. My academic dean asked me what do students need to know off the top of their heads and what can they look up in a book? I would say you can look up the exact ingredients and dosages of a 12 herb formula in a textbook, for example. On the other hand, you need to understand the dynamics of the formula off the top of your head because there is no time to learn that while your patient is on the table. You need to know the functions of the single herbs in order to narrow your search for combinations to either modify base formulas or create novel formulas. You can't study every qi regulating herb while the patient waits. However once having narrowed that search to 2 or 3 choices in one' s mind, one could quickly reference entering channels and flavors to hone one's choice. It would be ideal to have this on the top of one's head, but I am thinking here about functioning clinically. the functions usually imply certain temperatures, flavors and entering channels because it is the functions that are explained by these attributes according to TCM herbal pharmacology. What do people honestly do in practice? I make use of references in clinic and encourage my students to do likewise, but to do so in an efficient way that allows effective time management of their patient load. and as one uses more herbs and formulas, the details begin to fill themselves in. we start students in clinic in their second semester now, which should facilitate this process. I think we need to think about how to create effective clinicians rather than hold all students to some scholarly ideal. while I do not consider myself a scholar, I do thrive on information density. But I find lectures to be an inefficient way for me to receive data. I prefer to read for data, because then I can absorb lots of information at a much faster rate. the classroom has always seemed more important to me as a place to transmit ideas and clarify understanding. The fact is that if information density interferes with comprehension and retention, what purpose has been served? I need to be clear about something here. those who thrive on information density do NOT perform any differently than those who do not if they are educated. in other words, this is not about smarter or better, but merely different learning styles. and like it or not, it appears to me that those who thrive on information density are not the norm in our field. Chinese Herbs " Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre minds " -- Albert Einstein Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2003 Report Share Posted March 6, 2003 I have a tattered copy of the Pocket Manual of that I still use everyday. It has a quick and dirty on points, herbs, formulas, patterns. One teacher, Dr. Ma, used to bring a stack of 5-10 Chinese herb books to each clinic shift and would keep her own notes on each patient. Another teacher, Dr. Yang told me that 'you learn everything, and then you forget most of it. Study it again, then you remember a little more. Study it again, and you remember much more'. I just try to study the things that I'm treating in clinic - for example, it doesn't do me any good to study the intricacies about chemo therapy support when I don't have any patients on chemo. > __________ > > Message: 23 > Thu, 6 Mar 2003 11:52:50 -0800 > < > less of what > > On reflection, I think I agree with Al. We shouldn't teach a > lower number > of herbs, but perhaps require less information about each herb. >...> > What do people honestly do in practice? I make use of references in > clinic and encourage my students to do likewise, but to do so in an > efficient way that allows effective time management of their > patient load. > and as one uses more herbs and formulas, the details begin to fill > themselves in. we start students in clinic in their second > semester now, > which should facilitate this process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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