Neijing Nature-Based Medicine:
Theoretical and Clinical Foundations (Level I)
AN IN-DEPTH EXPLORATION OF NEIJING MEDICINE AND THE CLINICAL PRACTICE OF NEIJING CLASSICAL ACUPUNCTURE
About the Course
The Neijing Nature-Based Medicine: Theory and Foundations One-Year Training Program (Formerly known as Neijing Studies: Theoretical and Clinical Foundations) has been taught and continually refined for over fifteen years. In the course, a variety of teaching approaches are used to capture the best aspects of online learning with in-person traditional mentorship and text-based training. The entire course consists of one year of online learning experience with fourteen days of in-person clinical teaching divided into two clinical retreats.
Developed in collaboration with experts in online medical education, the online lecture series consists of four academic quarters with ten learning modules in each quarter. Each academic quarters covers a a different topic.
- The first quarter introduces the basic principles and terms of Chinese medicine by studying the Neijing descriptions of nature and the cosmos.
- The second quarter introduces basic clinical principles, including Neijing models of anatomy and physiology.
- In the third quarter, basic clinical principles are introduced, such as Neijing needle techniques and diagnostic approaches.
- In the fourth quarter, special topics are discussed such as the treatment of emotional diseases and guest-host pathogens and the special concerns of practicing medicine in the time of climate change.
Each week a one-hour recorded lecture is released on our Canvas LMS learning environment to be studied at the student’s own pace. During the week students participate in online forum discussions, and each Sunday a one-hour live session is conducted via a Zoom meeting with the teacher to discuss the week’s lecture and address questions that arose during the week. All classes and meetings are recorded for those living in a different time zone or whose schedule precludes attendance.
Teaching is focused on learning through text readings using translations provided by the teacher. During the class an emphasis is placed on the understanding of language and the study of important characters. No previous knowledge of Chinese language is necessary. For a complete summary of the course curriculum see the Curriculum tab below.
While theoretical skills and principles are learned in the Online Lecture Series, practical skills are learned in two 7-day Clinical Retreats. These include an in-depth study of Neijing anatomy through direct evaluation of the twelve rivers systems of the body, the study of specialized diagnostic skills and an introduction to beginning level Neijing needle skills and clinical problem-solving. The clinical retreat training is offered in both the United States and Europe and students may take the course in either location interchangeably.
While it is possible to register for the Online Lecture Series and Clinical Retreats separately due to scheduling or other constraints (for example by taking the Online Lecture Series one year and the Clinical Retreats the next) it is emphasized that successful completion of the full training requires participation in both of these sections.
The Neijing Nature-Based Medicine: Theory and Foundations One-Year Training Program is accredited for 80 hours of CME learning credits through the NCCAOM.
Course Description
COURSE DATES:
- Registration is open!
- Early Start Program: begins when you pay the deposit and register
- Course Begins: February 6, 2022
Course Objectives
- Learn a detailed understanding of the key concepts and theories of the Huangdi Neijing.
- Learn a strong foundation for lifetime learning in the Chinese medical classics.
- Learn a detailed overview of the clinical and diagnostic techniques of Neijing classical acupuncture.
- Learn a solid foundation for advanced clinical studies that begins in the second and third year of training.
- Build a solid foundation for advanced Neijing research and teaching (if desired)
- Engage with instructors and other students from around the world in a dynamic, online classroom environment.
- Build lasting relationships with like-minded students and colleagues interested in Neijing classical medicine.
What People Are Saying
PRAISE FROM STUDENTS IN THE 2020/21 COURSE
Course Information
ONLINE LECTURE SERIES
Lecture | Lecture Date | Sunday Q&A Date |
|---|---|---|
Neijing 2022-23 Course Begins February 6, 2022 |
||
| Spring Quarter begins February 6, 2022 | Lecture Released | Sunday Class |
| Class Welcome/Initial Meeting | February 6, 2022 | n/a |
| Lecture #1 Introduction to Neijing Medicine | February 6, 2022 | February 13, 2022 |
| Lecture #2 Classical Text Scholarship | February 13, 2022 | February 20, 2022 |
| Lecture #3 History of Early China | February 20, 2022 | February 27, 2022 |
| Lecture #4 History of the Neijing Text | February 27, 2022 | March 6, 2022 |
| Lecture #5 Introduction to Neijing Space-time Theory | March 6, 2022 | March 13, 2022 |
| Lecture #6 Celestial Base Patterns - Part A | March 13, 2022 | March 20, 2022 |
| Lecture #7 Celestial Base Patterns - Part B | March 20, 2022 | March 27, 2022 |
| Lecture #8 Terrestiral Local Patterns - Part A | March 27, 2022 | April 10, 2022 |
| Lecture #9 Terrestiral Local Patterns - Part B | April 10, 2022 | April 17, 2022 |
| Lecture #10 Axial and Radial (Jingluo) Patterns | April 17, 2022 | April 24, 2022 |
| Final Exam | April 24, 2022 | |
| Spring Break begins | April 24, 2022 | |
| Spring Break ends | May 8, 2022 | |
| Summer Quarter Begins May 8, 2022 | ||
| Lecture #11 Introduction to the Human Body | May 8, 2022 | n/a |
| Lecture #12 Structure of the Human Body | May 15, 2022 | May 15, 2022 |
| Lecture #13 Rivers and Watersheds | June 5, 2022 | June 5, 2022 |
| Lecture #14 The Primary (jing) River Courses | June 12, 2022 | June 12, 2022 |
| Lecture #15 The Collateral (luo) River Courses | June 19, 2022 | June 19, 2022 |
| Lecture #16 The Zang Storage Regions | July 24, 2022 | July 24, 2022 |
| Lecture #17 The Fu Transport Regions | July 31, 2022 | July 31, 2022 |
| Lecture #18 Roots and Crowns | August 7, 2022 | August 7, 2022 |
| Lecture #19 Sinews and Membranes | August 14, 2022 | August 14, 2022 |
| Lecture #20 Surface (xue) Caverns | August 21, 2022 | August 21, 2022 |
| Final Exam | August 28, 2022 | August 28, 2022 |
| Summer Break begins | August 28, 2022 | |
| Summer Break ends | September 11, 2022 | |
| Autumn Quarter Begins September 11, 2022 | ||
| Lecture #21 Shen | September 11, 2022 | n/a |
| Lecture #22 Introduction to Directional Medicine | September 18, 2022 | September 18, 2022 |
| Lecture #23 Obstruction (bi) Pathologies | September 25, 2022 | September 25, 2022 |
| Lecture #24 Causes of Human Illness | October 2, 2022 | October 2, 2022 |
| Lecture #25 Introduction to Physical Diagnosis | October 23, 2022 | October 23, 2022 |
| Lecture #26 Introduction to Pulse Diagnosis Part A | October 30, 2022 | October 30, 2022 |
| Lecture #27 Introduction to Pulse Diagnosis Part B | November 6, 2022 | November 6, 2022 |
| Lecture #28 Diagnosing by Color/Facial Diagnosis | November 13, 2022 | November 13, 2022 |
| Lecture #29 The Nine Ancient Needles | November 20, 2022 | November 20, 2022 |
| Lecture #30 Neijing Needle Techniques | November 27, 2022 | November 27, 2022 |
| Final Exam | December 4, 2022 | December 4, 2022 |
| Winters Break begins | December 4, 2022 | |
| Winter Break ends | July 18, 2022 | |
| Winter Quarter Begins January 8, 2023 | ||
| Lecture #31 The Physician/Patient Relationship | January 8, 2023 | n/a |
| Lecture #32 The Medical Interview | January 15, 2023 | January 8, 2023 |
| Lecture #33 Clinical Decision Making | January 22, 2023 | January 15, 2023 |
| Lecture #34 Guest-host Illnesses | January 29, 2023 | January 22, 2023 |
| Lecture #35 Emotional Illnesses | February 5, 2023 | January 29, 2023 |
| Lecture #36 External Therapeutics | February 12, 2023 | February 5, 2023 |
| Lecture #37 Bazi Medical Chart Forecasting | February 19, 2023 | February 12, 2023 |
| Lecture #38 Heaven and Earth (wuyun liuqi) Interactions | February 26, 2023 | February 19, 2023 |
| Lecture #39 Climate Change Medicine | March 5, 2023 | February 26, 2023 |
| Lecture #40 Clinic Management and Safety | March 12, 2023 | March 5, 2023 |
| Final Exam | March 19, 2023 | March 12, 2023 |
| Course Ends | March 19, 2023 | |
CLINICAL RETREATS
UNITED STATES
- US Clinical Retreat I: May 26-June 1, 2022 (Trout Lake, Washington)
- US Clinical Retreat II: October 13-19, 2022 (Trout Lake, Washington)
EUROPE
- EU Clinical Retreat I: TBD*
- EU Clinical Retreat II: TBD*
*Due to scheduling, Covid safety for participants, and the ability of Dr. Neal to travel during the ongoing Covid pandemic, we are still securing a location and dates for the European Clinical Retreats.
ONLINE LECTURE SERIES
CLASS | NAME | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
SPRING QUARTER 2022 |
||
| History, Classical Scholarship and Neijing Space/Time Theory | ||
| 1 | Introduction to Neijing Medicine | Lecture #1 Introduces the topic of Neijing medical studies - basic principles of Neijing nature-based medicine are reviewed. |
| 2 | Classical Medicine Scholarship | Lecture #2 Introduces the field of classical Chinese medical text scholarship. Basic approaches to Neijing classical-text archeology are introduced and discussed. |
| 3 | History of Early China | Lecture #3 Reviews the history and culture of early China to provide a context to the study of Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 4 | History of the Neijing Text | Lecture #4 Reviews the history and and development of the Neijing text from its early origins in the Warring States and Han dynasties through later editions in the Northern Song dynasty. |
| 5 | History of Neijing Space/Time Theory | Lecture #5 Introduces basic concepts of Neijing space/time theory - the principles that underlie the practice of Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 6 | Celestial Patterns Part A | Lecture #6 Introduces the basic patterns of the celestial (stellar) heavens and greater cosmos as described in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 7 | Celestial Patterns Part B | Lecture #7 Continues the study of the patterns of the celestial (stellar) heavens and greater cosmos as described in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 8 | Local Terrestrial Patterns Part A | Lecture #8 Introduces the basic patterns of the earth’s terrestrial biosphere as described in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 9 | Local Terrestrial Patterns Part B | Lecture #9 Continues the study of the patterns of the earth’s terrestrial biosphere as described in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 10 | Axial and Radial Patterns | Lecture #10 Discusses the primary axial (jing) and radial (luo) patterns of the natural world which serve as the basic template of the human body. |
SUMMER QUARTER 2022 |
||
| Anatomy and Circulatory Pathways | ||
| 11 | Introduction to the Human Body | Lecture #11 Introduces a basic overview of the human body and begins to build a clinical description of the body’s anatomy. |
| 12 | Architecture of the Human Body | Lecture #12 Discusses the basic structure of the human body as described in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 13 | The Rivers and Watersheds | Lecture #13 Discusses the nature and relationships of the body’s primary river channels (mai) as described in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 14 | The Primary River Courses | Lecture #14 Discusses the main pathways of the primary axial rivers that set the anatomy for the twelve primary watersheds of the body. |
| 15 | The Collateral River Courses | Lecture #15 Discusses the role of the of the collateral river channels (luo) in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 16 | The Zang Storage Organs | Lecture #16 Discusses the role of the zang storage organs in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 17 | The Fu Transport Organs | Lecture #17 Discusses the role of the fu transport organs in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 18 | Roots, Crowns and Conjoining Regions | Lecture #18 Discusses the role of the primary and secondary roots (ben and gen), crown (biao?em>), and conjoining regions (jie) in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 19 | Sinews and Membranes | Lecture #19 Discusses the role of the sinew body (jin) in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 20 | Surface Caverns (xue) | Lecture #20 Discusses the role of the acupuncture point regions (xue) in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
FALL QUARTER 2022 |
||
| Basic Clinical Principles | ||
| 21 | Shen | Lecture #21 Discusses the role of transcendental, organizing illumination (shen) as described in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 22 | Introdiction to Directional Medicine | Lecture #22 Introduces basic concepts of directional medicine (fangyi) as described in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 23 | Obstruction Pathologies (bi) | Lecture #23 Discusses the role of obstruction pathologies (bi) as described in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 24 | Primary Causes of Human Illness | Lecture #24 Discusses the primary causes of human illness as described in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 25 | Introduction to Physical Diagnosis | Lecture #25 Introduces basic principles of physical diagnosis as described and practiced as described in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 26 | Pulse Diagnosis Part A | Lecture #26 Discusses basic principles of pulse diagnosis as described and practiced as described in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 27 | Pulse Diagnosis Part B | Lecture #27 Continues the discussion of Neijing pulse diagnosis by examining the carotid/wrist (renying/maikou) and three region/nine conditions (sanbu/jiuhou) classical pulse diagnosis systems. |
| 28 | Facial Diagnosis and Diagnosing by Color | Lecture #28 Discusses basic principles of facial diagnosis and diagnosing by color as described in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 29 | The Nine Ancient Needles | Lecture #29 Introduces the Nine Ancient Needles and discusses the basic principles of their clinical use. |
| 30 | Neijing Needle Techniques | Lecture #30 Introduces Neijing needle techniques and discusses the basic principles of their clinical use. |
WINTER QUARTER 2023 |
||
| Advanced Special Topics | ||
| 31 | The Physician/Patient Relationship | Lecture #31 Discusses basic principles of the physician/patient relationship and clinical ethics. |
| 32 | The Medical Interview | Lecture #32 Discusses basic principles of the medical interview as described and practiced in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 33 | Clinical Decision Making | Lecture #33 Discusses basic principles of clinical decision making as described and practiced in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 34 | Guest-Host Diseases | Lecture #35 Discusses basic principles of evaluating and treating guest-host (external) diseases as described and practiced in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 35 | Emotional illnesses | Lecture #35 Discusses basic principles of evaluating and treating emotional disease as described and practiced in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 36 | Auxilliary Therapeutics | Lecture #36 Discusses the role of auxiliary therapeutics (e.g. external therapies, moxabustion) as described and practiced in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 37 | Bazi Medical Chart Forecasting | Lecture #37 Discusses the role of medical chart forecasting (bazi suanming) as described and practiced in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 38 | Heaven and Earth Interactions | Lecture #38 Discusses the role of heaven and earth interactions (wuyun liuqi) as described and practiced in Neijing nature-based medicine. |
| 39 | Climate change | Lecture #39 Discusses the special challenges caused by recent environmental changes and the unique role Neijing nature-based medicine has in addressing these issues. |
| 40 | Clinic Management and Safety | Lecture #40 Discusses practical aspects of practicing Neijing nature-based medicine in a clinical environment. |
COURSE TOTALS
40 Recorded Weekly Lectures – 1 hour per week
Total Recorded Lecture Hours – 40 hours
40 Live Sunday Q&A sessions: 1 hour per week (also available as recordings)
Total Sunday Live Q&A Hours – 40 hours
TOTAL CLASSROOM HOURS – 80 hours
plus online discussion time (discussion forum in the online classroom)
PRICING
Tuition costs are reviewed annually to ensure that student fees are equitable and instructors’ research and preparation work is compensated. For the 2022/23 year, the following per class hour costs apply.
COST PER CLASS HOUR | Professional | Student | Returning Participant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Lecture Series Per class hour | $58.00 | $37.70 | $29.00 |
| US Clinical Retreats in-person tuition Per class hour | $50.00 | $32.50 | $26.00 |
| EU Clinical Retreats in-person tuition Per class hour | $52.00 | $33.80 | $22.00 |
The following costs are based on the cost per class hour above.
TOTAL TUITION | Professional | Student | Returning Participant |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Bundle(3) Online Lecture Series + both Clinical Retreats | $7,400.00 | $4,810.00 | $3,700.00 |
| EU Bundle(3) Online Lecture Series + both Clinical Retreats | $7,800.00 | $5,070.00 | $3,900.00 |
| Online Lecture Series(2) (80 CEU online teaching hours) | $4,640.00 | $3,016.00 | $2,320.00 |
| US Clinical Retreat I(4) (42 CEU in-person teaching hours) | $2,100.00 | $1,365.00 | $1,050.00 |
| US Clinical Retreat II(4,6) (42 CEU in-person teaching hours) | $2,100.00 | $1,365.00 | $1,050.00 |
| EU Clinical Retreat I(4,5) (42 CEU in-person teaching hours) | $2,184.00 | $1,419.60 | $1,092.00 |
| EU Clinical Retreat II(4,5,6) (42 CEU in-person teaching hours) | $2,184.00 | $1,419.60 | $1,092.00 |
| Early Start deposit(1)(access to 10 lectures; applied to tuition) | $750.00 | $750.00 | $750.00 |
1 If you are registering for Early Start to gain access to the first 10 lectures from the current course, the cost is the same regardless of your registration status/class. The $750 deposit will be applied to your tuition, regardless of whether you choose the Pay in Full or Payment Plan option. If you choose the Payment Plan option, your Early Start pre-registration deposit will be applied equally to your payments.
2 Limited number of scholarships available if you volunteer in your community serving an underserved population or reside in a country with low GDP. Scholarships are only applied to the Online Lecture Series (not applied to Clinical Retreats).
3 This amounts to an approximately 15-20% discount on the entire package (depending on registration class: Professional, Student, and Returning Participant). Must enroll in the Online Lecture Series and both in-person Clinical Retreats in order to receive this discount.
4 Based on space availability (18 participants). This discount applies only to classes that students have been taken before and are taking again.
5 EU Clinical Retreat I and II dates and location TBD due to changes as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
6 Prerequisite for Clinical Retreat II: participants must have previously taken Clinical Retreat I, either in another year or the current year.
PAYMENT PLANS
We offer a payment plan option to pay for the course. There is a 4% maintenance/lender fee (based on the remaining balance after deposit) added to your FIRST installment payment if you choose to enroll in the payment plan option. This covers our fees for managing the multiple payments and the financial risk we take in offering a pay-over-time model.
Tuition payment plans are paid in 1 deposit and 4 installments. The payment schedule for the 2022/23 course is as follows:
Deposit – $750 – Due at time of registration (Early Start program fee)
1st Installment / 25% of balance due after deposit (+4% admin fee) – February 1, 2022
2nd Installment / 25% of balance due after deposit – May 1, 2022
3rd Installment / 25% of balance due after deposit – August 1, 2022
4th Installment / 25% of balance due after deposit – November 1, 2022
PAYMENT PLAN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The credit or debit card you use to pay the deposit is stored in our secure payment gateway, Stripe, an ecommerce industry leader who implements the latest in encrypted security protocols when processing payments.
Our staff does not have direct access to your complete payment information and can only charge the card on file. We send a reminder approximately 2 weeks before your installment is due. If there is a problem with the card (e.g. expired, declined transaction, you choose not to save the method on file), we will send an invoice for the amount. After 14 days of an unpaid invoice, course participants will lose access to the online classroom and weekend live sessions with Dr. Neal.
NOTE: Participants are responsible for all payments until the full tuition of their enrolled course(s) is paid, whether they finish the course or not. If you have a problem completing the class please contact us so we can help you find ways to help complete your studies. We can work with you to make up missed classes through recordings or apply to continue in a future course. You are required to agree to these terms and conditions when paying for the course.
COURSE EXTENSIONS
We give all participants an extra 3 months access to the online material beginning on the last day of the course. We’ve been told this is helpful for those who fall behind or need extra time to meet the quiz and other requirements for receiving CEU/PDA credit. After 3 months has expired, we offer a membership to continue. This is a wonderful opportunity to maintain access to the course and access to live regular events with Dr. Neal.
REFUND POLICY
Our tuition refund policy is as follows:
- Deposit/Early Start payment – non-refundable
- 15 days prior to first class – 100% of tuition balance refunded (not including deposit)
- 1 day prior to first class – 75% of tuition balance refunded (not including deposit)
- After first class – no refund
If you sign up for a payment plan and withdraw the course, you are still responsible for the balance due less your refund amount. We are always happy to worth with participants to equitable resolution when an issue arises, including pause course access and participation until the next year.
SCHOLARSHIPS
- We offer a limited number of scholarships (discounted tuition rate) for:
- Those working a significant amount of time with underserved populations (e.g. Acupuncturists Without Borders, non-profit organizations serving homeless/houseless populations or substance abuse rehabilitation, etc.) or working in underserved areas of the world.
- Those working in a country with a lower annual GDP rate than comparable higher-income countries (e.g. US, UK, France, Canada, etc.).
- THose experiencing significant work cutbacks due to the current Covid-19 pandemic.
- Scholarship discounts are available for the Online Lecture Series only. Due to site costs of Clinical Retreats, discounts are not offered for these workshops at this time.
- Scholarships are limited and determined on a first come first served basis.
- Scholarships are offered to established practitioners and students. If you are currently a student or working within the first two years of graduation, please register by using the Student option to receive an automatic tuition discount. Returning Participants who take a course for the second time receive an automatic 50% discount on the course tuition.
- Scholarship amounts are determined by several factors:
- The type and extent of the work you do.
- The cost of living estimated for the country you work in.
- The level of financial need.
- The amount of people and scholarship funds available in a given year.
Interested participants must file an application to be reviewed before receiving these scholarship discounts. We review applications on a rolling basis.
Onsite Clinical Retreats
Clinical Retreats DO NOT include the cost of accommodations, travel, meals or transportation to/from the event site. Participants should consider these added costs when making plans to attend the retreat. Please contact us with any questions.
UNITED STATES
Date and Time
CLINICAL RETREAT I – US
May 26-June 4, 2022
Students arrive in the afternoon or evening of the 25th and depart at the end of day on the 4th.
CLINICAL RETREAT II – US
October 13-19, 2022
Students arrive in the afternoon or evening of the 12th and depart at the end of day on the 19th.
**There are spaces for 18 participants in both Clinical Retreats
Location
TROUT LAKE ABBEY
Trout Lake, Washington
(approximately 100 minutes from Portland, Oregon)
WEBSITE: tlabbey.com
Cost
CLINICAL RETREAT I – US
Professional: $2100.00 USD
Students and Returning Participants: $1365.00 USD
CLINICAL RETREAT II – US
Professional: $2100.00 USD
Students and Returning Participants: $1365.00 USD
Accommodations for US Clinical Retreats
Clinical Retreats DO NOT include the cost of accommodations, travel, meals or transportation to/from the event site. Participants should consider these added costs when making plans to attend retreats.
NOTE: Students in the US Clinical Retreats need to make accommodations to stay with Trout Lake Abbey directly. You can inquire with them about the cost of the various room options available and make payments directly. For the US retreats, we offer catering, which is usually a minimal cost per student. We will invoice students directly at least 1 month before the retreat.
EUROPE
Date and Time
CLINICAL RETREAT I – EU
To Be Determined
Due to scheduling, Covid safety for participants, and the ability of Dr. Neal to travel during the ongoing Covid pandemic, we are still securing a location and dates for the European Clinical Retreats.
CLINICAL RETREAT II – EU
To Be Determined
Due to scheduling, Covid safety for participants, and the ability of Dr. Neal to travel during the ongoing Covid pandemic, we are still securing a location and dates for the European Clinical Retreats.
**There are spaces for 18 participants in both Clinical Retreats
Location
In the past, the EU Clinical Retreats have been held at the following locations. More information about location will be available when we finalize these Clinical Retreats.
AMARA VALLEY ECO RETREAT CENTER
Porqueres, Girona, Spain
WEBSITE: amaravalley.com
MOLINO DEL REY
Jorox, Malaga, Spain
WEBSITE: molinodelrey.com/
Cost
CLINICAL RETREAT I – EU
Professional: $2185.00 USD
Students and Returning Participants: $1420.00 USD
CLINICAL RETREAT II – EU
Professional: $2185.00 USD
Students and Returning Participants: $1420.00 USD
Accommodations for EU Clinical Retreats
Clinical Retreats DO NOT include the cost of accommodations, travel, meals or transportation to/from the event site. Participants should consider these added costs when making plans to attend retreats.
NOTE: All accommodations (meals and the cost of your room) for the EU Clinical Retreats are being organized by our UK Apricot Grove lead Deborah Woolf. Participants should contact Deborah directly via email to inquire about cost and arrange accommodations. Please do not contact the retreat center directly.
PREREQUISITES
No prerequisites are required for the Online Lecture Series. Students wishing to participate in clinical skills during Clinical Retreats must be medically licensed in the locality in which they live, or must be currently enrolled in a recognized training program. Acceptable medical licenses or training programs include LAc, MD, PA/FNP and RN.
COURSE INSTRUCTORS (2020/21)
PRIMARY INSTRUCTOR
Edward Neal, MD
GUEST INSTRUCTORS
Lorraine Wilcox, PhD (Moxabustion and External Therapies)
Dominique Hertzer, PhD (Sinology)
TEACHING ASSISTANTS
These are long-term students of the course who supervise the small discussion groups online and participate in the course with current students. They are available as a resource to help students in their learning process.
TBD for the 2022/23 course.
COURSE CONTENT, MATERIALS USE, AND AUTHORIZATION
Access to course lectures and materials is granted to individuals who are officially registered and whose course tuition has been received. Unauthorized sharing or use of course material will result in termination from the course without a tuition refund. Unauthorized sharing, copying, broadcasting or use of material in research, publications, or other media venues without prior written permission is strictly prohibited and grounds for dismissal from the course and/or legal action.
PROFESSIONALISM
Clinical medicine requires a high degree of ethics and professionalism. All teachers and course participants are held to the same standard of professional and ethical behavior. Although rare, participants may be expelled from classes for unprofessional, disrespectful or unsafe behavior at anytime without prior warning. Such decisions are made at the discretion of the teacher and are not subject to review or appeal. If a student is expelled for such behavior, no refund will be given.
CLASS SAFETY
Clinical training involves a variety of learning experiences from diagnostic exercises to physical palpation and needle insertion. Although instructors work hard to ensure the safety of the learning environment it is impossible to supervise all students at every moment. Because of this, student participants must take responsibility for their own self-wellness. Anytime a participant feels uncomfortable or unsure of what is happening or has an adverse reaction to an exercise, they should withdraw and notify the attending teacher. Participants should not involve themselves in activities that personally feel unsafe, invasive or uncomfortable. If a student feels tired or ill, they should excuse themselves, contact the teacher and refrain from participating in the activity. Acupuncture carries inherent risks. Students should not perform techniques observed in clinical demonstrations until they have been properly demonstrated and reviewed. In general, when learning new needle techniques students should avoid treating between the seventh cervical vertebrae and the second lumbar vertebrae in the thorax or in the axilla unless specifically directed. All needles must be accounted for and properly disposed of within an appropriate sharps container.
I’m concerned about COVID-19 (coronavirus). Should you still be offering this course?
Yes indeed! The Neijing Nature-Based Medicine: Theoretical and Clinical Foundations (Year I) is an online distance learning course, though there are two in-person Clinical Retreats offered for as optional add-ons to each yearly cohort if participants decide they would like to attend.
Is this course right for me?
This is an information-rich course. Students who do well in this course have a genuine interest in the early Chinese medical texts and theories and are willing to put in time for study and participation. Students who are hoping to learn a few quick techniques are likely to be disappointed and will find the study excessive. That being said it is not necessary for students to have extensive clinical experience or speak Chinese. This course is applicable to students who are beginning their studies in Chinese medicine as long as there is a genuine interest in the medical classics.
What is Early Start?
“Early Start” is a way for you to gain advanced access to the online classroom and the foundational material months before the course officially begins on February 6, 2022.
In the past, first time students have reported that being exposed to the material in advance of the first class was extremely helpful for their learning. We’re offering access to the first 10 recorded lectures of the 2020/21 course for study and preparation as soon as you pay the deposit and register.
Pay the “Early Start” deposit ($750) before February 1, 2022 to gain access to the online classroom and the first quarter of lectures (10 videos). Your payment will apply towards the total tuition cost.
What if I am having technical difficulties with online lectures or other content?
We use the latest in streaming and video conferencing technology, so while we don’t anticipate any technical issues, the instructor will provide contact information at the beginning of the class which can be used to address any technical problems.
May I record class material for personal use?
Yes, unless specified, teaching material (except online video lectures) audio recordings can be used for personal review and study. If excerpted translations are used for teaching, research or professional publications, users must first contact the teacher/ translator directly to review usage and give prior written consent.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes, payment plans are offered as an option during checkout. Participants can choose to have their tuition divided into 4 installments.
The payment plan due dates are as follows:
Deposit: $750 – Due at time of registration
1st Payment / 25% of balance due – February 1, 2022
2nd Payment / 25% of balance due – May 1, 2022
3rd Payment / 25% of balance due – August 1, 2022
4th Payment / 25% of balance due – November 1, 2022
IMPORTANT: Participants are responsible for all payments until the full tuition of their enrolled course(s) is paid, whether they finish the course or not. If you have a problem completing the class please contact us so we can help you find ways to complete your studies. We can work with you to make up missed classes through recordings or apply to continue in a future course.
Can I take the lecture series this year and take the on-site clinical training at another time?
Yes, this is possible when space is available.
Can I take the lecture portion if the class without participating in the on-site clinical training?
Yes, however students wishing to enroll in advanced clinical must complete all on-site clinical retreats prior to enrollment.
Will I receive a certificate at the end of this class?
Students who who participate fully and complete all course lecture material, quizzes, final exams (with a score 0f 75% or better) and evaluations will receive a certificate of completion in Neijing Nature-Based Medicine from Apricot Grove Educational Services, LLC.
What if I need a course refund?
Tuition refunds are given as follows:
- Deposit/Early Start deposit – non-refundable
- 15 days prior to first class – 100% of tuition balance refunded (not including deposit)
- 1 day prior to first class – 75% of tuition balance refunded (not including deposit)
- after first class – no refund
EARLY START Pre-Registration deposit is non-refundable, however it will be applied to your total tuition cost of the course.
Are CME/CEU/PDA credits offered for these classes?
In the United States, classes are accredited by the NCCAOM for Professional Development Activity credit. For live or recorded online lectures, students must sign into the online classroom to be documented and complete a post lecture quiz with a score of 75% or better. In order to receive credit for onsite clinical training, participants must sign-in daily.
Does my tuition at live clinical sessions include room and boarding?
When live Clinical Retreats are offered as an add-on to the Online Lecture Series, we work to identify retreat centers in beautiful natural settings that offer various lodging options to provide budget flexibility for students. We also arrange vegetarian catering for onsite meals. Students also have the option to arrange outside lodging and meals however these options may be limited in some locations. Lodging and food options and costs vary by site location and are not included in course tuition. Prior to clinical classes a list of lodging and food options is sent to all students.
Can I attend one live Clinical Retreat in the US and one in Europe?
Yes, course material is identical in the US and Europe. Students from the US and Europe may take clinical training at either location (space permitted). Note that Clinical Retreat I (US or EU) is a prerequisite for Clinical Retreat II (US or EU). You cannot register for only Clinical Retreat II unless you are registering for Clinical Retreat I or have previously completed it.
Can I complete the course by watching recordings and attending onsite clinical trainings only?
Yes, due to scheduling conflicts many students participate in the course by watching recorded material. Completion of the full class does include participation in both six-day clinical training sessions.
Are classes taught in Europe?
Yes, European students may complete the course by viewing online live and recorded content and attending on-site Clinical Retreats given in Europe.
What if I cannot complete the class in the time allowed?
All course material except material taught at the live Clinical Retreats is made available as online recorded lectures. Students have 3 months after classes end to review and study course material in their own time. We also offer an additional 3 months extension beyond the courtesy 3 months for an additional $450.00 USD. The extension(s) are often helpful for those who fell behind in their studies or need extra time in order to complete the requirements to receive CEU/PDA credit.
Where are the Clinical Retreats held?
When they are offered, onsite Clinical Retreats are held in two residential seven-day sessions. In the United States sessions are held in Washington State (near Portland, Oregon). In Europe, specific retreat centers are chosen traditionally based on their ability to meet the course and participant needs. The retreat centers are generally located in Western Europe (Spain, France, Portugal, Italy…).
At the end of the course will I be able to implement Neijing practice in my office fully?
Neijing Nature-Based Medicine: Theoretical and Clinical Foundations (Level I) is designed to provide a comprehensive introduction in Neijing studies in preparation for advanced clinical training in year two. While students do learn diagnostic skills and needle techniques in Level I, which they can begin to use in their practice, this class is designed to provide a theoretical basis for life-long learning in Neijing classical medicine and should not be seen as imparting advanced comprehensive clinical skills.
How are costs calculated?
Cost are reviewed annually to ensure that student costs are equitable and teachers research and preparation work is compensated. For the 2022/23 course, Professional tuition cost is calculated at $58.00 USD per class hour for the Online Lecture Series and $50.00 USD (US) / $52.00 USD (EU) per class hour for the Clinical Retreats. View the Pricing tab to learn more about these costs and for the Students and Returning Participants. Please contact us with any questions.
Do I need to be able to read Chinese to take this course?
While these texts are written in a classical Chinese, a majority of students taking this class have no experience with the Chinese. All required English translations are provided and reviewed by the instructors.
What is Neijing Classical Acupuncture?
Neijing classical acupuncture is a comprehensive medical system based on writings in early Chinese medical texts used to treat illnesses of all types of severity. It is based on detailed descriptions of patterns of Nature and the extrapolations of these observations to the human body. In these texts, acupuncture needles were used to regulate the body’s tissue planes and restore the vascular circulation. This allows the body to restore its inherent healing potential.
What is the Huangdi Neijing?
The Huangdi Neijing, or Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic is a compilation of medical writings from early China. It has been the unifying source text of Chinese medicine theory and practice for several thousand years. Written as a series of discussion between the Yellow Emperor and his ministers, in its current form the text consists of two sections, the Suwen ‘Plain Questions’ and Lingshu ‘Divine Pivot’. The former speaks primarily of basic medical theory and practice while the latter is the original text of acupuncture.
Scholarships available!
Scholarships are available for those in need and who meet the criteria. Please explore the Pricing tab above for more information and to learn how to submit your application.
Early Start Registration
EARLY START is a way to gain advanced access to the online classroom and the foundational material months before the course begins.
Your Early Start registration deposit is applied to the tuition cost, regardless of the payment option you choose. You’ll have access to an academic quarter’s worth of foundational lectures (10 recorded lectures from the 2020/21 course), and then proceed with fresh material and lectures when the full course begins.
EARLY START PROGRAM BEGINS AT REGISTRATION | GAIN ACCESS NOW !!
Note: Early Start deposits are non-refundable.
More Testimonials
PRAISE FROM PAST STUDENTS