I am curious about learning traditional chinese medicine (TCM). All through massage school we would talk about it. Can anyone direct me to a listing of good TCM schools in the USA? I already found the one in manhattan, but would like to know if there are anymore. I am looking for a school where I can do the full training, not just a weekend workshop. Thanks alot! a side thought; is it possible to just train in herbology? That has always interested me the most. Do you have to be an acupunsturist to study herbs? Thanks! I will look into the school in MA. I live in upstate NY. I have researched pacific college , but I dont know if I will have the finances to go to school in NYC.
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1 :
If you want to go to a good TCM school, it has to be in China. The level of education taught in US TCM schools is low, equivalent to high school degree. I've yet to meet a US trained acupuncturist who knows what they're doing and I don't refer any patients to them. US trained acupuncturists needle the same spots for patients that present the same symptoms. An asian trained acupuncturist does a full assessment and needles spots that are unique and different from patient to patient even though they may complain about the same symptom. If you can't afford to go to China, in the Tri-state area, Pacific college in manhattan is one of the best ones. While you train there, there are seminars available that can help increase your knowledge or find a mentor and learn from them how to become a good acupuncturist. But if you don't have the intention of doing so, I wouldn't recommend wasting your money going to TCM school. You'll do more harm to your patients and downgrade the profession.
2 :
There is (or was) an school of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Shattuck Street in Berkeley, CA. Check New England School of Acupuncture in Watertown, MA to see what their offerings are. [I just did. They do indeed offer Chinese Herbal Medicine as a modality/course of study. 150 California Street, 3rd Floor Newton, MA 02458 617.558.1788] I know they offer acupuncture and acupressure, Tui Na, Do-In, Chi Gong, Shiatsu studies, I'm just not sure about herbology at the moment. Pacific College of Medicine does indeed have a branch in Manhattan on Broadway. It's one of the best schools in North America for this discipline. [Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, 915 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York, NY (212)982-4600. There is also an excellent college of Chinese Medicine in Minneapolis. I know this b/c one of my best friends is studying there now. It is extremely rigorous and time consuming, but she's loving it and seems to be excelling. 1) Midwest College of Oriental Medicine 4334 North Hazel Suite 206 Chicago, Illinois 60613 Telephone: 773-975-1295 2) American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine 455 Arkansas Street San Francisco, CA 94107 (415)282-7600 3) See contact info above for New England School of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. There is a website called www.naturalhealers.com. It literally lists hundreds and hundreds of schools by discipline and location. Use this website--it's awesome. It would be extremely helpful to know where you are in the world/what state you're in before answering this question.
3 :
Since you live in Upstate NY you need to look at New York Chiropractic College its in Seneca Falls they have a accredited Masters in Oriental Medicine and also in Acupuncture. As for just training in herbology no there is no truly just certified program for herbology and on top of that most states don't license herbalists. I would also recommend that you check out Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine's website they'd provide you with the information on what schools are accredited through out the country. Also the great thing about NYCC is that they are also regionally accredited which means that their credits are more likely to transfer to a traditional school then those schools that are regionally accredited.
4 :
Licensed acupuncturists in the USA attend 4 years of full time Oriental medical school as a post graduate course (In other words, most of them have 8 years of college, just like an MD or chiro). They must pass a vigorous national board exam, and must be licensed in the state where they practice. You can visit www.naturalhealers.com for a complete list of herb schools and acupuncture schools.
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