I have just completed my first term as a student of acupuncture an oriental medicine at the Southern California University of Health Sciences. Let me first say that I love my school, I love my instructors and the student body is terrific. The first term was intense. I took every course offered for the 1st term so that I could get all that intro stuff behind me. It was a struggle since that meant taking 8 classes and 18 units. Did I mention that I work full-time and I have a wife and two children under 4? If I can hack this, anyone can.
The biggest question that I get, other than asking when I will start needling people (6th term), is why acupuncture? Isn't that some sort of mystical art? Well, Traditional Chinese Medicine has been practiced for thousands of years. If it didn't work, wouldn't the Chinese have abandoned the practice? And while Western medicine is prevelant now throughout China, you have a choice a going to a TCM hospital, Western medicine hospital or a combined facility. Acupunture and oriental herbs have proven to help pain, infertility, weight loss and a variety of other things. I think that as a Caucasian acupuncturist who also speaks Spanish fluently, that I can help improve the quality of life for many people, including those that may have lost faith in Western medicine.
In 3 years time, I'll be done with my program. I will have passed my licensing boards and I will be practicing somewhere in the USA. I will update this blog from time to time with thoughts regarding my studies and TCM
