InternationalCollege of Oriental Medicine

CPDSeminars
2007 – 2008

Pediatrics according to the Philosophy of Stems & Branches

Joan Duveen

Tue, 23rd Oct 2007 & Tue, 27th Nov 2007

4.30pm – 7.30pm (£30/students £25 per evening)

Open to fourth year students and graduates.

Little is said about treating children with acupuncture according to the Philosophy of Stems & Branches and Joan Duveen’s teaching on this subject is based on the knowledge as learned from Dr. van Buren, who passed away in May 2003, and the personal experience he has from treating children for more than 20 years.

Knowledge and understanding of paediatrics has become more and more important in the acupuncture clinic. Because of differences in child psychology, physiology and pathology we need different approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of children. These two seminars will show you the different approach within the field of paediatrics and will enable you to treat children effectively and with understanding.

Besides studying the psychological phases of development according to the philosophy of stems and branches, we also will study strategies and treatment approaches of diseases such as ADHD, problems with diet, lung pathology and abdominal pains.

Emanation Zhen

Peter van Kervel

Sat, 2nd + Sun, 3rdFeb 2008

10am – 5pm (£130/students £110per weekend)

Open to fourth year students and graduates.

In the last lecture of the cycle, we will be talking about the Emanation Zhen. Zhen is part of the four Emanations, all of which are sprouting from the central one, Qian. In the East we will find Yuan, opposed by Li in the West. The Northern Emanation is named Zhen, balancing and harmonising Heng in the South.

The Emanation Zhen belongs to the North, the Water phase of the Wu Xing and the Ba Qi Jing Mai, the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. The Western Medical Systems which correspond to Zhen are: Neurology, Kidney- Bladder diseases, Endocrinology and Gynaecology. Furthermore the organs Pang Guang and Shen are part of Zhen.

In the seminar, the latest insight into the physiology of the Western Systems belonging to Zhen and the relationship with Chinese organs and Qì will be discussed. After an introduction to the Emanation Zhen, the colleagues are invited to request for specific Western diagnosis. The Western diagnosis will be discussed; then ‘translated’ into Chinese pathology and a general treatment strategy will be covered.

The second day will be kept free for the treatment strategies of the Extraordinary Meridian system.

The 8 Extraordinary Meridians

Joan Duveen

Tue, 12th Feb & Tue, 22nd April 2008

4.30pm – 7.30pm (£30/students £25 per evening)

Open to fourth year students and graduates.

In these two lectures, Joan Duveen will talk about the energetics and clinical use of the 8 Extraordinary Meridians according to the Philosophy of Stems & Branches. His teaching of the subject is based on the teaching of Dr. van Buren and his own practice and experience as an Acupuncturist.

A case history will be handed out after the first seminar and attendees will be asked to prepare it for the second seminar, where we will discuss the treatment principles and strategies.

The original name for the philosophy of stems and branches in the Chinese Classics is "the five movements and six energies". This is based on the five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water; and the six original energies, known as the Growing chi, the Expanding chi, the Full Grown chi, the Changing chi, the Gathered chi and the Hidden chi. These generate the 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches, which are well known for their use in the Chinese calendar, but less well known as a technique in acupuncture to treat diseases as well as individual's constitutions. For many years, Joan Duveen was privileged to be taught by Dr. van Buren. Often in his lectures, Dr. van Buren spoke about the Universal Spark; usually he started seminars with: "When the Universal Spark fragments it gives life energy, and in return it receives energy from Man. The quality of this giving aspect is dependent upon how he lives, eats, thinks and also upon his emotions. In this way the Universal Spark grows in quality, not in quantity".

Causes and Development of Disease

Treatment Principles and Methods

Peter van Kervel

Sat, 5th + Sun, 6th April 2008 -

10am – 4.30pm (£130/students £110 per weekend)

Open to fourth year students and graduates.

The history of Acupuncture is a very long one. During many centuries, Acupuncture experienced vicissitudes with periods of vilification and of revival.

Every Acupuncture practitioner knows about the ‘bibles’ of Acupuncture, the Nèi Jīng Sù Wèn & Líng Shū, the Nàn Jīng and the Jiǎ Yĭ Jīng. Not so many practitioners work according these principles. The so-called Wǔ Yùn Liù Qì, or more popular known as the ‘Nèi Jīng - Heavenly Stems & Earthly Branches’ is the foundation of Acupuncture. A literally translation of ‘Wǔ Yùn Liù Qì’ is ‘Five Movements Six Qì’. The ‘Five Movements’ are the foundation of the Wŭ Xíng, the Five Phases, also known as the ‘Five Elements’. ‘Six Qì’ are the ‘Six Climates’, from which we derive the ‘Six Divisions’.

The ‘Causes and Development of Diseases & Treatment Principles and Methods’ are an aid and a guide for the Acupuncturist practitioner to treat patients on a most ordered and sufficient way. Although the art of Acupuncture is to prevent illness and diseas, treatment of sick people are these days the core business. To harmonise the Qì of the patient, one needs to know the ‘Causes of Diseases’.

In most of the cases, a disease can be cured throughout the reversed chronological treatment strategy. This means one needs to know the ‘Development of Diseases’. The development through time, the lifetime of the patient, needs to be studied properly. The treatment focuses on bringing back the healthy condition of the patient, by starting with the last disease and imbalance until the complete balanced Qì.

To treat the patient on an adequate way one needs to know the basic ‘Treatment Principles’. These treatment principles will be of an aid for the practitioner and needs to be combined with treatment strategies and treatment plans. The treatment strategy is the long term planning of harmonising the Qì of the patient. The treatment plan is the actual decision in choosing points for the moment of treatment. In this moment in the present time, one needs to take in consideration the personal Qì of the patient and the universal Qì of that moment. The personal Qì of the patient is known as ‘The Four Pillars’, the ‘Stem and Branch’ of the year, month day and hour. The moment of treatment is in a specific year, month, day, and hour, with its presence of the universal Qì.

Within the original 361 Acupuncture points, there are specific points or combinations of points, which have an action on the Qì, via the Meridian systems, or they have special actions on the body or mind. These points or combinations of points are the ‘Methods of Treatment’.

  • For the first time, ICOM will be launchinga post-graduate course in Stems & Branches Acupuncture, a unique opportunity for already qualified Acupuncturists to learn the Philosophy of the ‘5 Movements and 6 Energies’ and its clinical application. Further details will be published soon!
  • Another Seminar on Moxa Therapy with Tony Todd is planned. Date and time have to be confirmed and will be announced.
  • We are currently organising a 1 week Residential Pulse Course with Joan Duveen in Holland. I will be sending out more information once the date is confirmed but it will most likely be in March 2008.
  • Further sessions as part of our Graduate Support Programme will follow.

Please join the ICOM CPD mailing list by sending us your email address. We will then send you updated information on new courses and lectures.

For booking and enquiries please contact:

Pia: 07717 312330 /

Hunn: 07787 562386 /