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Pacific College Newsletter - March 2006!Issue 20 In this issue you will find:
Upcoming CEU Events in New York
Pacific College – New York Campus Offers New Massage ProgramPacific College of Oriental Medicine, New York is pleased to announce the addition of two new degrees in massage therapy. Students will be able to enroll in the Associates of Occupational Studies (AOS) directly out of high school, or pursue a Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS), available to those who have completed 60 units of undergraduate coursework. This new program will launch in spring 2006, and is expected to reach class capacity. For over two decades the New York campus has graduated Oriental medicine students from its Master of Science in Oriental medicine and Master of Science in acupuncture degree programs. The massage program, already recognized in San Diego and now opening in New York, complements and expands on these tracks, integrating Asian and Western bodywork therapy. The massage program emphasizes Oriental medicine theory, addressing the body, mind, and spirit. The program allows students to sit for licensure exams to become a licensed massage therapist. “Pacific College has a world-wide reputation for its acupuncture and Oriental medicine curriculum,” said Gina Lepore, Chief Operating Officer of the New York campus. The massage therapy program will include classes in anatomy and physiology, general pathology, myology/kinesiology, East/West massage, and clinic/practicum, as well as hygiene and safety. Students will gain an understanding of the Western and Eastern, the science and the technique. This continues Pacific College’s tradition of training highly qualified practitioners, meeting and exceeding national standards. Both the AOS and BPS in massage therapy can be taken as a stand-alone program, or can be combined with the Master’s degree program in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Undergraduate and graduate financial aid is available for combined massage and Oriental medicine programs. Alternative loans are available for those who are in the massage programs. Programs range from five to seven semesters (note that PCOM operates on three, four month semesters per year). Please call us at 212.982.3456 and ask for an admissions counselor, or visit our website, www.PacificCollege.edu to learn how you can become a part of this new program.
Healthy Body, Healthy Sole – Foot Health and Chinese MedicineFeet are an important and often ignored part of the body’s health system. Three out of four Americans experience a serious foot problem in their lifetime, many of which are treatable and preventable. In Chinese medicine, the condition of the feet is crucial to overall health and is considered a separate body related to all body parts and organs. The Podiatric Medical Association says that an average day of walking brings a force equal to several hundred tons down on the feet. This helps explain why the feet are more subject to injury than any other part of the body. One-quarter of the body’s bones are in the feet, and misalignment of these bones can cause trouble in the rest of the body. A foot problem can lead to hip, knee and low-back pain, which can move in to the shoulder and neck and even cause headache. Misalignments can also cause problems with the acupuncture meridians that travel through the foot. When a misaligned bone blocks acupuncture meridians, related organs or glands can experience problems. The foot has many nerve receptors that send important information to the central nervous system. This communication is used to track where particular parts of the body are at every moment and to determine what direction they go, how fast they move and how much pressure they receive. As we walk, each joint of the foot sends information to the nervous system so that it can regulate the functions of our muscles. This allows us to walk -- if muscles didn’t turn on and off we would not be able to move properly. If a muscle is not active when it is supposed to be, balance is upset and a muscle on the other side of the body will become too tight. When it becomes too tight, it pulls the bones out of alignment, causing problems. The foot is divided into vital-energy sections so attention to one area of the foot will give therapeutic treatment to the corresponding body part. Zonal relationships exist between the body and the feet. Ten vertical zones of the body are connected with those in the feet. Sensory nerves of the internal organs that spread through the body are mostly gathered around the soles of the feet. Reflexology, a specialized form of Chinese massage dating back to the fourth century B.C., focuses on these areas in order to stimulate body functions, eliminate toxins, improve circulation and soothe nerves. Reflexology can also be used to treat internal organ diseases, relieve internal discomfort and relax the body. According to the Foot Health Network, there are over 25 foot conditions, including arthritis, bunions, athlete’s foot, overlapping toes, corns, ingrown toenails and heel spurs. These symptoms, as well as sensitive areas and blockages are evidence of a disturbance in the body in corresponding areas. The removal of a blockage in the foot improves the blood and nerve supplies as well as the energy flow to the body. Reflexology tackles the foot problem, returning the body’s function to its homeostasis. Most reflexology foot massages begin with a footbath. The feet are dunked in a heated, medicinal bath, a blend of 28 kinds of Chinese herbs. After this cleanse, lotion is applied for a massage of deep pressure on the feet, ankles and calves. Following the laws of yin and yang, often, men’s massages begin on the right foot, women’s on the left. By other standards, all massages begin on the left foot because of its connection to the heart. The principle of reflexology foot massage states that there are reflexes on the bottom of the foot that are directly related to organs, glands and other parts of the body. Practitioners will find the reflexes that are active and use acupressure-like stimulation on these points, which in turn helps these organs, glands and body parts to work better. The misalignment of the bones of the foot causes these reflexes to be present, leading to tender spots or trigger-points. When the bones are in proper alignment, the reflexes on the bottom of the foot will be stimulated as you walk, like an automatic reflexology foot massage. When the feet and body are in alignment, walking is the best exercise to maintain healthy feet. It contributes to general health by improving circulation, contributing to weight control and promoting all-around wellbeing. The foot contains meridians related to the Spleen, Liver, Stomach, Kidney, Bladder and Gallbladder. Because all of the acupuncture meridians of the body either begin or end on the feet or hands, foot health is crucially important for balance of the acupuncture energy system. Proper balance will support strong qi and vibrant health. In this way, foot health is the foundation upon which whole body wellness rests. Pacific College offers a three-part series in foot reflexology as part of the extensive Department of Body Therapy. Students learn to understand the reflexology approach and develop assessment and treatment skills. The first class in the series, Foot Reflexology 1, begins May 3. It is a three-unit course, after which students continue to Foot Reflexology 2 and 3. When students have completed 2 and 3, they can take part in the foot reflexology internship, a 1.5 units course in which students complete 12 full treatments. Upon completion of this cycle, students can sit for a National Certification Exam in this specialty.
Tea for Weight LossMany Americans are putting down the double-espresso mocha latte and exploring the extraordinary world of tea. Asian cultures realized its value centuries ago, and U.S. consumers are now finally catching on. Tea is being rediscovered as the miracle drink that others have revered for years. As the healthiest beverage in the world after water, tea offers numerous benefits that can significantly contribute to a change in your lifestyle and consciousness, resulting in a healthier way of life. This affects the way you eat and the foods you consume. People who drink four to six cups of tea a day are unlikely to continue consuming foods high in fat and calories. How does drinking tea, especially green tea, contribute to a change in lifestyle, awareness and diet? There is nothing you have to do or think about. Within 30 days or so of starting a green tea regimen of four to six cups a day, you’ll start to experience a change in attitude and behavior, based on the empowering belief that you’re the source of all your own answers. At first, you’ll notice a subtle change. Instead of reaching for that candy bar or dish of ice cream that you’re accustomed to eating after dinner, you’ll find that you’re consciously taking a smaller portion or eliminating it altogether. You’ll begin to notice when you go out to a restaurant that your choices will be more in alignment with foods that will optimize your health. As for tea’s healthful aspects, its powerful antioxidants have been shown in numerous studies to fight illness and disease, slow aging and beneficially affect health. Clinical tests have shown that they destroy free radicals and have far-reaching positive effects on the entire body. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules, or fragments of molecules, in our bloodstream that can damage the body at the cellular level, leaving it susceptible to cancer, heart disease and other degenerative diseases. Recent studies have shown that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an antioxidant found in tea, is at least 100 more times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times more effective than vitamin E at protecting cells and DNA from damage believed to be linked to serious illnesses. It has twice the antioxidant benefit of resveratrol, found in red wine. In addition, preparing tea is a ceremony that invites you to slow down and do things more deliberately. It is the opposite of wolfing down a quick burger at a drive-thru. It involves careful preparation and a slower pace. This in turn may cause you to slow down in life in general, be more conscious of what you do, how you spend your time and what you eat. To check out a selection of green teas that can get you started visit www.royaldynastytea.com
Chinese Wisdom: Quote of the Day “Never tire to study - and teach others.” Confucius
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