Educational Perspectives

The Educational Perspectives column provides a forum for top educators within the AOM field to update the profession on the latest developments in teaching.

Previous Articles

Progress Report on Our Profession
December 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 12)
First Professional Doctorate: Revolution or Schism?
April 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 04)
Leadership Drives Institutional Culture
January 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 01)
Collaboration in AOM
October 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 10)
Collaborative Care for Patients, Interns and Physicians
January 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 01)
From Passive to Active Learning
October 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 10)
Moving to the Doctoral: Doing the Obvious
July 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 07)
Integrative Medicine Changing the Face of AOM Education
January 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 01)
Trending
Diagnosis
That Nagging Qi Stagnation Between the Shoulder Blades (Pt. 2)
That Nagging Qi Stagnation Between the Shoulder Blades

After a thorough examination to rule out the cervical and thoracic spine, what you have left is sharp, localized qi stagnation of the soft tissues causing the “rhomboid pain.” If it’s not the C or T spine causing the problem, then what could be causing this tissue issue? It can be a bunch of different reasons such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, poor posture, muscle imbalances, trauma, deconditioning, overuse, etc.

Christopher Chapleau, DAc, LAc, Dipl. Ac., AIT, IMT, MSHP, CES, HMS
Herbal Medicine
TCM for GERD, Gluten Intolerance
TCM for GERD, Gluten Intolerance

The patterns expressed under the umbrella of a GERD diagnosis typically include various combinations of liver qi stagnation (potentially with depressive heat), spleen qi deficiency, rebellious stomach qi, stomach fire, food stagnation, and stomach yin deficiency. In long-term cases of GERD, it is not uncommon for three to four patterns to overlap at the same time.

Craig Williams, LAc, AHG
Your Practice / Business
The Benefits of Building a Referral Culture in Acupuncture
The Benefits of Building a Referral Culture in Acupuncture

As licensed acupuncturists with the ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat using a variety of modalities, including herbal medicine, we are entrusted with a high level of clinical responsibility. Yet in an age of professional forums, online groups and social media communities, there is a growing trend of practitioners asking for case-specific treatment advice instead of referring the patient in question to a trusted colleague.

Shabnam Pourhassani, LAc, QME, DACM