folly as it may be, we MUST press on

[Guest guest]

I have been out of the loop for some time, what with my travels to China and now

a recent move to Hawaii, which has been plagued with computer problems, but this

tread has peeked my interest. While I'm in agreement of much of what has been

said by Bob Flaws and others who have spoken in the same vein, I believe there

is at least one important point that has been over looked by them and others who

have put forth their wise and sometimes not so wise opinions.

 

I was originally trained in Western herbalism, and as Roger mentioned in one of

his posts many of us from that tradition do not favor any legislation regarding

licensing of the medical profession, which in my humble opinion refers to any

" healer " with some training and above all the heart to help those in need in

spite of any personal gain. The reason for this is mainly because we learned the

twisted history of the medical " profession " here in the US and understand the

driving force behind the monopoly that now exists was those with interests in

the emerging drug manufacturers of the time. There was little care for the

health of people, but because the professions (Eclectic and Homeopaths) that

were the most popular were also and unfortunately the most unorganized they were

squashed by legislation. In fact, the Homeopaths were the most popular and

financially strong at the turn of the century. Strange to think they are not

even a minimal force at this time in history. If you haven't

already, please read Barbra Griggs' " Green Pharmacy " for an excellent account

of herbal medicine's history in the West.

 

As someone who took a different road I believe I have a unique view from which

to look at our educational process. Before going to a masters program I spent

three years studying Chinese and Western herbalism mainly from only a couple of

practitioners at a small, unaccredited school, then did a 2 1/2 clinical

apprenticeship through the CA tutorial program. This meant that when I started

my masters program I was already NCCA certified in both acupuncture and

herbology then later sat for the CA exam. What I noticed is that although some

students could site scripture better than I, they were woefully inept in the

clinical setting. Many of them did not struggle with examinations as I sometimes

did but I would wager my right arm (I'm right handed) that my clinical results

were as good or better than theirs in any situation. As time has passed I have

studied more and learned to practice a more honed and I believe truer form of

Chinese medicine, thanks must go out to Bob Flaws and Blue Poppy

Press for their publication of the classics they have brought to the English

language, I hope that my Chinese skills are someday good enough to read others

and further my understanding of this ancient medicine.

 

I say all this, not to blow my own horn as I hardly think of myself as a master

of this art, but rather to show, by example, that the clinical experience I

gained in the tutorial program (only offered in CA) was the best experience I

could have possibly gained. Did it have its faults? ABSOLUTELY! So rather than

trying to further our education with " doctorate " programs, which I salivate over

at times, why don't we institute a manditory " apprenticeship " program whereby

all graduates much work under an approved practitioner for a period of at least

one year. This is in lue of there being an inpatient hospital where CM is used

either exclusively or as part of a wider scope of healing. Let new practitioners

gain from the experience of those of us who have been doing this bit for at

least 5-10 years. Where to lay that standard, I don't know exactly but I worked

with someone who had been in practice for some 25 years and at that time there

were but very few in this country who could say

that. All this should, of course, be combined with a highere standard of

education within the schools, which in my opinion is fair at best.

 

 

 

P.S. If there is a way to overturn the political situation that gives the

current medical profession its monopoly, let me know, I will be there with bells

on. Perhaps we could convince people to stop paying their insurance premiums for

a quarter or more and see what happens................

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet the all-new My – Try it today!

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thomas,

Congrats on your move. It sounds like you had an interesting time getting

to where you are now with your education. I agree with the practitioner

development as being substandard but question apprenticeship unless you

live/practice in NV, (it's a req for them to have 6 years of practice or you

need to apprentice), due to financial reasons. I think that a paid

residency program might be more acceptable. Graduates will need to be able

to feed themselves during this time until they can practice. There is only

one program that I am aware of in the states and that is at Bastyr. I do

believe that NCCAOM still allows apprenticeship or part apprenticeship part

formal school to qualify for certification. I am glad that CA has not

changed this either. I think that we need to increase the hours and classes

and scrutinize these as a part of a goal of integration (western sciences

especially). We need to see and discuss in classes the many findings and

questions that exist with current western courses and how they can add to

what the students learn. For those who do not want to pursue the formal ed

route there is still the apprenticeship route. Although the last time I

checked on CA rules it now has a lot of western sciences too. Later

Mike W. Bowser, L Ac

 

 

On 12/10/04 2:49 AM, " " wrote:

 

>

>

>

> I have been out of the loop for some time, what with my travels to China and

> now a recent move to Hawaii, which has been plagued with computer problems,

> but this tread has peeked my interest. While I'm in agreement of much of what

> has been said by Bob Flaws and others who have spoken in the same vein, I

> believe there is at least one important point that has been over looked by

> them and others who have put forth their wise and sometimes not so wise

> opinions.

>

> I was originally trained in Western herbalism, and as Roger mentioned in one

> of his posts many of us from that tradition do not favor any legislation

> regarding licensing of the medical profession, which in my humble opinion

> refers to any " healer " with some training and above all the heart to help

> those in need in spite of any personal gain. The reason for this is mainly

> because we learned the twisted history of the medical " profession " here in the

> US and understand the driving force behind the monopoly that now exists was

> those with interests in the emerging drug manufacturers of the time. There was

> little care for the health of people, but because the professions (Eclectic

> and Homeopaths) that were the most popular were also and unfortunately the

> most unorganized they were squashed by legislation. In fact, the Homeopaths

> were the most popular and financially strong at the turn of the century.

> Strange to think they are not even a minimal force at this time in history. If

> you haven't

> already, please read Barbra Griggs' " Green Pharmacy " for an excellent account

> of herbal medicine's history in the West.

>

> As someone who took a different road I believe I have a unique view from which

> to look at our educational process. Before going to a masters program I spent

> three years studying Chinese and Western herbalism mainly from only a couple

> of practitioners at a small, unaccredited school, then did a 2 1/2 clinical

> apprenticeship through the CA tutorial program. This meant that when I started

> my masters program I was already NCCA certified in both acupuncture and

> herbology then later sat for the CA exam. What I noticed is that although some

> students could site scripture better than I, they were woefully inept in the

> clinical setting. Many of them did not struggle with examinations as I

> sometimes did but I would wager my right arm (I'm right handed) that my

> clinical results were as good or better than theirs in any situation. As time

> has passed I have studied more and learned to practice a more honed and I

> believe truer form of Chinese medicine, thanks must go out to Bob Flaws and

> Blue Poppy

> Press for their publication of the classics they have brought to the English

> language, I hope that my Chinese skills are someday good enough to read others

> and further my understanding of this ancient medicine.

>

> I say all this, not to blow my own horn as I hardly think of myself as a

> master of this art, but rather to show, by example, that the clinical

> experience I gained in the tutorial program (only offered in CA) was the best

> experience I could have possibly gained. Did it have its faults? ABSOLUTELY!

> So rather than trying to further our education with " doctorate " programs,

> which I salivate over at times, why don't we institute a manditory

> " apprenticeship " program whereby all graduates much work under an approved

> practitioner for a period of at least one year. This is in lue of there being

> an inpatient hospital where CM is used either exclusively or as part of a

> wider scope of healing. Let new practitioners gain from the experience of

> those of us who have been doing this bit for at least 5-10 years. Where to lay

> that standard, I don't know exactly but I worked with someone who had been in

> practice for some 25 years and at that time there were but very few in this

> country who could say

> that. All this should, of course, be combined with a highere standard of

> education within the schools, which in my opinion is fair at best.

>

>

>

> P.S. If there is a way to overturn the political situation that gives the

> current medical profession its monopoly, let me know, I will be there with

> bells on. Perhaps we could convince people to stop paying their insurance

> premiums for a quarter or more and see what happens................

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Meet the all-new My – Try it today!

>

>