Fundamentals of Traditional Chinese Medicine and
the Use of Medicinal Foods
Introductory Course (suitable for beginners)
Taught by Eva Zhang.  Click here for Eva's profile.

In this day and age, when lifestyles are becoming more and more stressful, it sometimes seems impossible to live a healthy life.  The Chinese have a saying, "When you are young, you can trade your health for wealth, but when you are old, all your wealth won't buy back your health."  More and more people are realizing the importance of taking care of their bodies, and in China, what better way than to learn Traditional Chinese Medicine?  TCM emphasizes the importance of prevention over cure.  In this course, you will learn the basic theories of TCM and how to put them into practice using everyday foods.  The course has two parts: Part one deals with the basic theory of TCM, and covers:

• The fundamental characteristics of TCM
  The Origination, Formation and Development of the Theoretical System of TCM
  Holism Concept based on Center of Five Zang-organs
  Treatment Mainly Based Upon Syndrome identification
  Correlation between Man and Nature

• The theory of yin and yang
  Inter-opposition and restriction between Yin-Yang
  Inter-dependence and interaction between Yin-Yang
  Wane and wax between Yin-Yang
  Inter-transformation between Yin-Yang

• The theory of the five elements
  Inter-promotion and inhibition of the five elements
  Over-restraint and counter-restraint among five elements
  Interaction of mother and child

• Qi, blood and body fluid (1)
  Concept of Qi
  Formation of Qi
  Movements and transformation of Qi
  Functions of Qi
  Classification of Qi

• Qi, blood and body fluid (2)
  Concept of blood and body fluid
  Formation of blood and body fluid
  The circulation and metabolism of blood and body fluid
  Functions of blood and body fluid
  Classification of body fluid

• The five zang-organs, six fu-organs, and their physiological functions and interrelations (1)
  Characteristics of internal organs
  The Functions of the Heart and Lung
  Their relationship with Tissues, Sense Organs (orifices), Emotions, Liquids.

• The five zang-organs, six fu-organs, and their physiological functions and interrelations (2)
  The Functions of the Spleen, Liver and Kidney.
  Their relationship with Tissues, Sense Organs (orifices), Emotions, Liquids.
  The six fu-organs, the function of Gallbladder, Stomach, Intestines, Bladder and Triple Jiao.
  The interrelations between five zang and six fu organs.

• The causes of disease; The six climatic factors
  Concept and Common pathogenic features of the six climatic factors
  The nature and pathogenic features of each climatic factor

• Internal impairment due to seven emotions and improper diet
  Concept of seven emotions
  The relationship of the seven emotions to the viscera, essence and qi
  The Pathogenic Features of Seven Pathogenic Emotions
  Improper diet, dirty diet, diet preference

• Principles for prevention and healthcare
  Prevention before disease onset, preventing disease from exacerbating
  Support health Qi and avoid pathologic factors

Part two covers medicinal foods:

• Introduction to the use of medicinal foods:
  •  The nature of medicinal foods: five flavors, four qi
  •  Uses of medicinal foods: to prevent disease, to nourish, to slow aging,
      to treat disease.

• Uses of a wide variety of medicinal foods, including those commonly used in Western cuisine (so that you will be able to put your new knowledge to use straight away) and also a range of more exotic foods, to add variety to your cooking.

Every week we will cover an area of basic TCM theory and also introduce a range of ingredients, their nature and function, and various recipes for their therapeutic use, from health promoting soups to herbal teas.  For example, in the first week we will cover, among other things, the nature and function of Job's tears, a commonly used grain, and learn how to make "Pearl Jade Double Treasure Porridge", which is used to treat a deficiency of lung and spleen yin.  You will discover which remedies are appropriate for your particular physiological makeup.  By the end of the course, participants will be able to use their everyday meals to restore the balance of yin and yang, qi and blood to the body.

Course Title: TCM
Tuition Fee: RMB 3200

Spring Session 2012: March 7th to May 12th

Section A: Wednesday mornings (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
10 weeks from March 7th to May 9th (Course Code: CM103)
Location: ELC Learning Center

Section B: Wednesday afternoons (1:00 PM - 3:30 PM)
10 weeks from March 7th to May 9th (Course Code: CM104)
Location: ELC Learning Center

Section C: Saturday mornings (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
10 weeks from March 10th to May 12th (Course Code: CM105)
Location: ELC Learning Center

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS COURSE

Registration Procedure:
Please register online first to reserve your place.  You will then receive a confirmation email with further details.  Next, payment must be made on site at the ELC Learning Center during the payment dates shown below (you can come in person or send someone).

Tuition payment for the Spring Session 2012 will take place from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, from Monday, February 20th through Monday, February 27th, 2012.  Payments will be received in the Registration Office at the ELC Learning Center.  Click here for map.

Please note: classes are kept small for the students' benefit (generally between 8 and 12 people).  Register early to reserve your place.  Payment must be received on time to complete your enrollment and maintain your reservation in the class(es) for which you have registered.  (Any course that does not meet sufficient enrollment may be cancelled and a full refund provided upon presentation of your original receipt.)