ICOMunity
Welcome to the ICOM blog. Here we share student and college news along with articles on acupuncture and general health and well-being, plus insights into Chinese Medicine and Chinese culture.
The Year of the White Rat
January 25, 2020 is the start of the Chinese Year of the White Rat (or Mouse). The Rat is the first of the animals in the Chinese Zodiac and so it is the beginning of a new 12-year and 60-year cycle. It is thus the beginning of a new era. 2020 being the start of a new decade makes it an especially important year for new beginnings and new possibilities. It is time for new ideas and new...
The New Moon Eight Day Method – by Elio Basagni
During autumn and winter everything in Nature starts to move inward. This is a natural cyclical process that allows life to be constantly renewed. What is not essential is shed away: trees abandon their leaves showing their intimate form; fruits’ pulp gets rotten to give nourishment to the bare seed now stored deep into the soil waiting for the next cycle to start in spring. Peasant societies,...
ICOM Acupuncture Clinic is open again!
In this short video, Director of Clinic Sarah Major explains the new safety procedure for appointments at our clinic. You’ll see some changes, but the warm welcome you will receive remains unchanged. More safety information is below, and you can find details of booking on our new clinic website at icomclinic.org Before your appointment You will receive an email confirmation of your appointment...
Myanmar 2020
For over 10 years, ICOM Graduates and Acupuncture practitioners have been involved in a charitable project in Myanmar training Doctors at the Watchet Jivitadhana Sanga Hospital near Saigang City. Sarah Major reports from this year's visit: As with previous visits to Myanmar, we have learned to expect the unexpected... Straight after our long flight we were treated to a surprise from our hosts -...
Why Study Chinese Medicine? – A post by Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallée
This post originally appeared on Asian Medicine Zone website and has been reproduced with permission. The original post can be accessed at http://www.asianmedicinezone.com/chinese-east-asian/why-study-chinese-medicine/ As a scholar more than a practitioner, my knowledge of Chinese medicine is based more on classical texts than on the practice itself, even if I see some patients. But I also meet...
Chang’e (嫦娥), the Chinese Goddess of the Moon
In Chinese mythology, Chang'e (嫦娥) is the Moon Goddess. The ancient story goes that long ago, the earth had been scorched by ten suns that had appeared in the skies. The people on Earth were suffering as a result. Chang'e's husband Yi, an archer, shot down nine of them with arrows. He left just one sun in the sky. As a reward for saving the Earth's people he was given the elixir of immortality....
Stephan Espinosa at the WHO
After spending the summer working in ICOM’s clinic, I went to work in the spa of a cruise ship that was in the Caribbean. That experience was very intense in many ways. First, as an acupuncturist, the fact of having to explain to passengers how they might benefit from acupuncture was a very rewarding challenge as they were on-board for only a week, so every...
A look back at three fantastic years at ICOM
As Graduation 2019 approaches, final year acupuncture student Alison Dalziel provides us with a great insight into student life at ICOM in this entertaining compilation of moments from the course
On The Heavenly Truth of Ancient Times
The Yellow Emperor asked the heavenly teacher: "I have heard that people in ancient times had lived as long as one hundred and twenty years with no sign of weakening in movement, but people nowadays become weakened in their movements in the age of less than sixty years old Is this due to a change in natural environments or due to man's faults?' ‘Chi-Po replied: "The ancient people who knew the...
Myanmar Diary
For nearly 10 years acupuncturist Kirsten Germann has been involved in a charitable project in Myanmar training Doctors at the Watchet Jivita Sanga Hospital near Saigang City to learn and provide Acupuncture treatment to the patients. During that time a purpose built Acupuncture unit has been added to the Hospital and this year Clinic Director, Sarah Major joins the project, alongside Kirsten,...
Heaven and Earth
My God, it's full of stars... (2001 Space Odyssey) separation at the same time as infinitely many without differentiation. The purpose of this article is to discuss some of the basic concepts of Chinese Medicine and philosophy and relate them to aspects of our own experience and therefore make these ideas more accessible. The philosophical model was created in order to explain reality and...
A First Timer’s Experience of Facial Acupuncture
As a young girl in my 20’s I had never given Facial Acupuncture any thought. But following some recent coverage in the press about the numerous celebs turning to this ancient Chinese practice I decided to give it a go. I had struggled with dark circles under my eyes and I suffer from acne breakouts which had resulted in dark blemishes. I received the treatment at the International College of...