Description
Huang Di: “The conduits vessels enable one to determine death and survival, to cope with the hundred diseases, and to balance depletion and repletion. It is inappropriate not to be knowledgeable about them.”’ Ling Shu 10
Correcting the flow within the channels as the basis of treatment is a core idea most acupuncturists learn but this deceptively simple strategy often gets overshadowed by modern approaches. The meridian therapy model developed in Japan in the 1930s was a return to a classical approach to acupuncture, the name was chosen to differentiates it from western style dry needling, though it can also be seen as differentiating it from zang-fu based syndromes.
It is characterised by an emphasis on palpation; of abdomen, channels and especially pulse diagnosis. There is a clear differentiation between root and branch treatment with root treatment being based on needling protocols from the Nan Jing and a flexible approach to branch symptom treatment methods.
This course will teach you a structure for treatment, a systematic method of diagnosis and needling, and a range of options for supportive and symptom management. It will help you understand how different styles of acupuncture can co-exist and how you could integrate these classical methods with your existing practice into a cohesive whole.
The course is part theory and part practice. We will see how different aspects of diagnostic information fit together, what is useful for treatment as against what gives you context and nuance for point selection. We will spend time practicing palpation, especially pulse; understanding pulse quality and learning a method of differentiating relative strengths of positions. There will be guided practice of this and other practical aspects as well as discussion of interpretation, strategies for needling and options for symptomatic treatment.
Day 1
- Introducing meridian therapy – its roots in the Nei Jing and Nan Jing and how it differs from other approach
- Understanding Root and Branch and the relationship of organs to channels, substances and climates
- Diagnostic information and its meaning
- The 4 key root patterns
- Pulse – Quality and relative strength
- Practice
Day 2
- Review/Q & A
- Palpation – understanding depth
- Abdomen
- Channels
- Forming a diagnosis
- Needling protocols, options for techniques
- Treating yang channels
- Review of Root treatment
Day 3
- Review/ Q & A
- Supportive treatment – the back
- Symptom treatment options
- Structuring a complete treatment
Course Details
Date
Saturday 10, Sunday 11 & Saturday 17 May 2025
9.30-5pm
(24 hours CPD)
Cost
£270
Location
The International College of Oriental Medicine, Van Buren House, Green Hedges Avenue, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 1DZ.
ICOM is located 10 minutes walk from East Grinstead station with direct trains from London Victoria.
For those coming by car there is a free car park available.
About the Teacher
Tony Todd Lic.Ac., MBAcC, MSc, BSc (Hons) Oriental Medicine Acupuncture, PG Cert, MRCHM has been practising Acupuncture and moxibustion since 2000 following his graduation from the International College of Oriental Medicine (ICOM). He also practises Classical Chinese herbal medicine.
He has continued to study with leading teachers in the UK, Europe and Japan. This has included training in Manaka style Acupuncture as well as Japanese meridian therapy and Korean Hand Acupuncture. He is a member of the European Branch of the Toyohari association.
In 2005 he trained in Kanpo (Japanese herbalism), followed by further studies in Chinese Herbal medicine, specialising in Shanghan Lun and Jin Gui Yao Lue with Arnaud Versluys and the Institute of Classics and East Asian Medicine (ICEAM). In 2013-4 Tony completed studies in Internal and External Acupuncture with Andrew Nugent-Head and the Association of Traditional Studies. He has a keen interest in in Taichi and Chi Kung and has trained with the Taoist arts association for some years, as well as in Zhang Zhuang with Master Lam Kam Chuan.
In addition to his clinical practice, Tony teaches Acupuncture at ICOM and diagnosis for the Institute of Classics and East Asian Medicine (ICEAM). Tony was module leader for first year Chinese medicine at ICOM from 2002 to 2016 and currently is runs the applied Chinese medicine year 3 module. He is also a clinical supervisor at the college and a senior academic advisor, serving on the Academic Advisory Board. At ICEAM he specialises in abdominal patterns for herbal medicine, and in this capacity he has taught internationally in Australia, the USA as well as in Europe. In 2024 he was elected to the board of governors of the British Acupuncture Council serving as practitioner member.
Cancellation policy for CPD course bookings
- Refunds for cancellations two or more months before the course commencement will incur a 15% administration fee.
- Refunds for cancellations between two months and two weeks before the course commencement will incur a 25% administration fee.
- Refunds for cancellations two weeks before the course commencement will incur a 50% administration fee.
- No refund will be given for no shows or cancellations upon the course commencement.
- Any amount overpaid by the student will automatically be refunded to the student’s account.
- If for any reason a course is cancelled by ICOM, all money received will be refunded in full. ICOM will only cancel a course if absolutely necessary.