April 30, 2009

Real Odds. The Possibility of Winning the Euro Millions and Does Anybody Stand a True Chance of Winning the Jackpot

Filed under: Best Gambling, Coin Flips, Lifestyle Infos — admin @ 8:33 pm

The prospects of scooping the Euromillions jackpot is a far-off 1 : 76 million but the possibility of acquiring a cash prize is a somewhat decent one in 24. If the jack-pot is not won on a given week, it is carried over to the following lottery draw which results in an ever increasing jackpot prize. New regulations brought in on the 09-Feb-07 limit the amount of consecutive roll-overs to eleven, with the jack-pot rolling down to smaller prize levels on the eleventh draw when the prize is not won.

The Euromillions lotto or the Euro lotto, as it’s ordinarily renowned, gathers the lotto ticket revenues of the nine partaking European countries showing a immense Euro Lotto jack-pot. With the sum of countries joining the EU on the increase, that will without question will lead to new countries partaking in the EuroMillions lotto. A growth in the number of individuals partaking in the Euro Millions lottery will lead to a prolonged increase of the already immense Euro Millions jackpots.

The recent regulations likewise initiated EuroMillions Super Draw which happen twice yearly plus they offer jackpots in the region of 100 million pounds. The difference with Super Draws is that the jackpot has to be won during the week of the lottery draw; this means, if there is no ticket corresponding, all the numbers drawn and the top prize will then be allotted to the lotto ticket bearer(s) on the succeeding winning prize tier.

Each and every player has to pick out 5 primary numbers from one to fifty and two Lucky-star numbers from 1 to 9. During the Euromillions draw five primary plus two lucky star numbers are then selected at random from 2 lottery draw machines containing numbered lottery balls.

Academic Credibility Called into Question

Filed under: College Education — admin @ 3:13 pm

So often we are given reports and feed supposed research data from academia which is indeed nothing short of pure horseshit. Rarely do we call academic research into question, yet we need to. Why? Well we see that more than 60% of the Chinese students admit to cheating on data in research projects.

People were quite alarmed when they learned this yet, you may be surprised that cheating or fabricating data is not a Chinese only thing, imagine how much US based academic research is also utter hokum. I bet although not nearly as high as in the US, that it is a significant figure? So is it 30%, 20% or maybe only 10%?

Well considering the massive cheating in High Schools, Colleges and Universities; not to mention government and also considering that these people also come from our educational system we should not be surprised if the research data is corrupted. In fact I call academic research into question.

Especially those research projects funded by businesses with a profit incentive in the results or government-funded projects with a political agenda. They say you can only believe half of what you read? Well what is it for academic research?

Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and let’s say you can believe in this venue about 75% of what you read? Fair enough right? Well is that good enough for you? Not me, we must hold academia to a higher standard and tell them to stop BS’ing and cheating or feeding us bogus research. Consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow - EzineArticles Expert Author

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

The Colon Cleansing Formula of Purity 12 Is Proven

Filed under: Internet Health, Looking Good, University of Products — admin @ 4:14 am

Feel Alive Again After Purity12

You may use Purity 12 Cleanse in the privacy of your house, with no need to endure a shameful trip to your doctor. An soiled colon will lead to a poisonous waste build up in your colon, augmenting your body’s poison level. Be this as it may, you don’t have to live like that for you can naturally detoxification your body to rid yourself of the poisonous waste build up in your colon. Using all natural ingredients in this colon cleaner guarantees this products safety.As it contains only all natural ingredients, this amazing colon cleansing system will not harm your body in any way whatsoever, but can only help you.

Having a poisonous colon can be highly dangerous to your fitness. These toxins can be exposed via pollutants in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and, including but not limited to, the foods we eat. Not only is harboring potentially harmful toxins in your system an unhealthy practice, but having this toxic waste build up can lead to other things as well. When the gut is so backed up, the surplus gas may not be able to pass as simply or as fast as it should be ready to. You can now purge your body of its poisonous fecal matter and revive your colon to health. Purity 12 Colon Cleanse will help you by removing the poisonous material from your body.

Colon cleansing is a medical practice that has been occurring for many years, decades, centuries, and even a millennium! In fact, colon cleansing has been documented as having been going on since as early as 1500 B.C. in Egypt. Though many medical practices and treatments have come and gone throughout history, colon cleansing has stood strong and is even still practiced today, many years, decades, centuries-even a millennium later! To be more precise, colon cleansing has been being practiced since the beginning of our time, or at least since the beginning of recorded history. It worked ages ago, and it still works today. With a colon cleansing system like Purity 12 Colon Cleanse, the benefits are just too significant to ignore.The benefits of colon cleansing are hard to ignore, therefore you should not ignore them, but instead engage in the act of colon cleansing.

April 29, 2009

Scented Candles Votive Candles Everywhere, Any Time

Filed under: Home Improvement Parlor, Lifestyle Infos, Shopping Online — admin @ 5:52 am

With spring in the air or maybe winter soon disappearing nowadays is the time to cram away the winter apparel and it take away your flip flops! It is also the time to rekindle & refresh even if it be your self or a home. Scented candles are also a wonderful practice to usher when we move to revived season. It can be time to come to put out those nutty and pine perfumed candles & welcome the new scents of the season. Florals with fruity fragrance are likewise what people should only experiencing at the moment. Along with both zephyr coming through one’s windows the Sweet-smelling candle smell may float through out your home. They are likewise remarkably welcoming when the person is meeting people for the hotter times. When your festivity begins to relocates outside putting swimming Scented Candles to a decor is obvious fire way to add farther aura. pool 1 come in so a myriad of shapes & measurements however my favorite are the flower shaped candles. Positioning some bigger pieces within a swimming pool or perhaps pond bring back memories of cotillions and it’s outstanding gatherings of moments gone by. Votivo Scented Candles might often occasionally be tried out in the slot of Positioning candles. Make certain to take the votive candles from of its hardware jar so that it could afloat correctly. If you are considering purchasing candles have a look here.

By the hotter months allowing people to entertain outdoor and reside open-air candles care will vary. Of course Positioning Scented Candles tried out outdoors is brilliant however, what happens As there is gust or better still what occurs when there is an enormous whiff? Your Scented Candles go out and out and out. It will probably get particularly troublesome, consequently for those windy patio nights candle holders are ideal. candles holders appear in legions of appearance & measurements simply even like each and every other candle. Personally appreciate the ones that have several crystal shapes as these give off uncommon radiance. The candle holder are creating an enclosure for some Scented Candles safekeeping them afire and delighted. One message of advice then again, when getting candle holder for utilization in the outdoors make sure that there are no cutouts, alternatively people are also back to square one with the 1 going out faster than birthday candles on a 5 year olds b-day party! Those might well work in the indoors or perhaps hush after hours still not if those is whatever blow? Another alternative on all these nights is to use electric candles.

April 28, 2009

The Mathematics of Foreclosure

Filed under: Credit Matters, Financing, The Helping Hand — admin @ 3:41 pm

Many times, consumers will have to select between filing bankruptcy or permitting their mortgage lender to foreclose their home. If monthly mortgage payments are not received as agreed, the lender will file for a foreclosure on the property. Not anything shy of paying for the mortgage as agreed is assured halt the foreclosure proceedings. Foreclosure is essentially the same for all who have not paid her mortgage; the lender can foreclose on the house. House loans are very much like auto loans; if you cannot make your monthly payments you will get it repossessed.

Bankruptcy is a legal act that is filed by a person who is unable to pay her debt as agreed. Once bankruptcy is filed, all active civil legal proceedings connected with the home loan will be stopped. Legally, a home loan creditor has to interrupt every collection action including, but not limited to, foreclosure. A mortgage loan company may be allowed to go forward if they ask for relief from the stay period; and once it is granted, may go ahead with the aforementioned action. Filing for Bankruptcy will not halt foreclosure and you have to pay back your loan. Going into bankruptcy just makes the foreclosure proceedings proceed at a slower pace, it can not resolve the underlying problems.

Although bankruptcy can not permanently end foreclosure, it gives an individual time to pay back the past due or at a minimum it can make it bit easier to repay a home loan. Bankruptcy laws necessitates that a lender to put a hold on foreclosure actions, a debtor will have a short time to raise the cash necessary to pay back the lender. Legal insolvency is a last option for all debtors. This will eventually happen when he is completely incapable of meeting their creditor’s terms of repayment. With insolvency, some non-secured debt will in all probability be dismissed but the mortgage will remain. The borrower has to be prepared to repay the real estate loan within the allotted time frame as the debt is secured by assets. Additionally, Chapter thirteen bankruptcy has a fee schedule that will be court-ordered, and allows the borrower make payments on her home loan to get caught up on their balance.

Bankruptcy is not a guarantee. The home owner must meet particular standards to meet the conditions and if so, there are legal fees. It may cost the home owner more in legal fees than it does to simply knuckle down and clear up the back owed real estate loan payments. If you know somebody that is of the mind that filing for bankruptcy can help to solve the situation, a bankruptcy lawyer should be capable of answering whatever questions. Simply put, bankruptcy is very complicated and detailed, the home owner really ought not seek to do it by themselves.

This article contains basic information that may or may not be relevant in any or all states. This is not legal advice.

Chapter Seven Bankruptcy Information

Filed under: Credit Matters, Financing — admin @ 10:27 am

There are two alternatives for filing bankruptcy as a single person or married couple, chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcy. Chapter 7 is often called liquidation as all of your valuable property that is not exempted is sold in order to pay off your debts. Exempt belongings is that property that the bankruptcy trustee allows you to keep in order to live your life normally, like a automobile, clothes, furniture to sit on, etc. Every state sets their bankruptcy exemptions, as well as Federal exemptions that can be used in some states.In order to qualify to file a chapter 7 bankruptcy petition, have to be an individual, not a business or farm, you must complete a credit counseling course from an approved agency within the 180 days before filing for chapter 7 bankruptcy relief, and qualify the means test which is filled out with your petition.In a chapter 7 petition, you will have to file schedules that list your creditors, belongings, earnings and bills. The bankruptcy court may also request to see tax returns, pay stubs and credit counseling certificate. Bankruptcy filers who are married must provide the spouses information even if they are not filing bankruptcy together so the court can determine the households ability to pay the debts.When filling out your petition, you will have the option to keep paying and saving your property if you are able to, such as your dwelling or auto, by making a reaffirmation agreement with the company that holds the debt. By reaffirming the debt you are acknowledging that you intend to make payments. If the trustee grants your reaffirmation agreement, the creditor may be able to file a lawsuit against you if you do not pay in the future.When you file your chapter 7 bankruptcy petition you will have to pay a filing fee of $299. This fee can be paid in installments, up to 4 no later than 120 days after you file. Once the petition is filed, the bankruptcy stay is in effect, and your creditors cannot try to collect on the debts or continue lawsuits, or wage garnishments. Each of your credit companies will be advised that you have filed bankruptcy and yielded a chance to reply. Within 20-40 days a 341 meeting will be called. During this group meeting, the trustee and your creditors may ask questions about your petition.In the next 10 days the trustee rules on whether your case is abusive. If the trustee finds a presumption of abuse you can be forced to file ch 13 instead.The bankruptcy trustee is then responsible for liquidating your assets that are not exempt, meaning they are not protected by filing bankruptcy, and giving the proceeds from the sales to your unsecured creditors. Once liquidation is completed, you are granted a discharge wiping out your debts.

April 27, 2009

Fear of Publishing and What to Do About It

Filed under: College Education — admin @ 1:44 am

You’re almost done with the whole article. You should feel relieved. Instead you feel like you’ve written a bunch of junk.

It’s funny, though. At other times you’ve felt that you’ve written something worthwhile.

Now, however, you feel the urge to read several more articles, add more footnotes, edit it some more, or check your email. Anything but wrap it up and send it in.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a “revise and resubmit” article for a journal or a draft chapter to show to your dissertation advisor. There’s something anxiety-provoking about letting go of your work and putting it out there for the wider world to see.

One very brilliant client of mine told me how she had a similar feeling when she was 9 months pregnant. The baby’s room wasn’t ready, and she had so much more to do. She tried to will herself not to give birth yet. Luckily, her body didn’t cooperate. Now she tries to do the same with journal articles.

This reluctance to release one’s work is so common in academia, that it may well be the norm. In some cases, though, it can become crippling.
Reasons for Reluctance to Release Writing
Here are the kinds of statements that I hear from academics in regards to this issue. Each statement is followed by an alternate way to look at the situation. If you’ve found yourself saying anything like this to yourself, try the alternate way of thinking on for size.

Who am I to make that definitive a statement?
o If not you, then who? What makes someone else an authority and not you? Where and when did the current authorities start having the authority to make their statements?
I have an idea, but I can’t find any references to cite that say what I’m thinking.
o Maybe that’s because it’s an original idea! Sometimes new ideas really are leaps. Run it by some colleagues and see what they think.
I’m intimidated by the fact that others have written about my subject for much longer than I have.
o Sometimes people who are steeped in a subject can’t think about that subject in as clear a light as a newcomer.
o A new voice is always welcome (and if it isn’t, too bad for them.)
My viewpoint doesn’t fit the mental maps of academics in my field, so they will disagree with what I say.
o Try to welcome disagreement! The best scholarly contributions often incite others to argue vociferously against the new ideas. By generating discussion you’re advancing the field.
o The critical nature of academia is paralyzing to some. It’s important to realize that academics enjoy thinking and puzzling things out. The “devil’s advocate” approach that looks for holes in your logic is just part of the process. Try not to take that part personally.
o Remember that some of the most famous theorists, even the ones with scads of data to back them up, invited the most invective. Charles Darwin comes to mind - I’m sure you can think of others.
What if I just don’t know what I’m talking about?
o Then finish the piece, have others read it, and find out! Chances are you’re not completely out of your mind.
Everything I’ve written is junk. It doesn’t make any sense to me any more.
o It’s time to finish the up the part you’re writing, give it a rest, and let someone else look at it. Either fresher eyes or new eyes will help you see it in a new light.
o If you’re not totally burned out, push past that feeling. Trust the process. As one client said, don’t flip out just when you’re at the cusp of turning it from cream into butter. It seems like nothing is happening, but if you perservere, you will see that you have produced something worthwhile.
I can see that it’s not perfectly written. I’m a sham and a charlatan and I don’t deserve to be in this field.
o It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be good enough.
o You don’t have to be perfect. If you’ve gotten this far, you ARE good enough. Besides, everyone in academia feels that way every once in a while.
o Looking over already published papers will remind you that imperfect writing still gets published. And has some value!
There’s so much more I could say about this subject.
o You can use this excuse never to complete a project about the subject.
o It’s OK to keep writing about the subject. In your next paper, chapter, or presentation, that is. Finish this one - you’ve probably said enough for now.

So Give Birth To That Baby!
The world deserves to hear what you have to say. Don’t deprive the universe of your ideas! Release them from your brain and get them out there!

Gina J Hiatt, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, tenure coach and dissertation coach and enjoys helping faculty and graduate students complete research, writing projects, and publish, while maintaining high teaching standards and other commitments. In addition to dissertation coaching, she teaches workshops and teleclasses on time management, writing, career planning and grad student/advisor relationships. Sign up for my free newsletter at www.academicladder.com or call me at (703) 734-4945.

April 25, 2009

Discover Superb Investment Opportunities In Getting Property Overseas

Filed under: Web Of Travel — admin @ 6:31 am

To a great extent people are purchasing European real estate as they see a great amount of reservations in stocks market. Though not each and every investor has what is needed to buy a property abroad, it is still a tremendous method of rising your money. When buying a real estate overseas, it is very important to recognise where exactly to search. People can receive the necessary funds for property in Europe from countries with property tax motivations. Click here to search the UK’s fastest growing property website and find the overseas property of your dreams.

Austria is currently a terrific country to buy. The major factor for this is that (according to newest financial newspapers) two-thousand & eight it is the 1st time in the past ten years or more that real estate prices have fallen. For instance, prices of villas have slumped by twenty-three percent in the previous quarter alone, and by thirty one percent in the previous twelve months. Therefore, with real estate prices slumping & financial lending being more and more difficult to gain, ready cash buyers are taking pleasure in a win-win position.

Whether purchasing locally or overseas, time is of the essence. Just like purchasing stocks and shares and other assets, you must know when the overseas property can in fact be obtained. This is critical as the more time it takes to purchase; the more and more likely it will be that the fee of maintenance, expansions and repairs will increase.

In leasing investment property, you should have an outstanding credit status. This way, there is a tremendous possibility of getting lenders to supply loans to purchase the European property. Furthermore with first-rate credit rating, there is the likelihood that the interest rate will likely be a great deal lower.

Getting European property has the potential to be an outstanding choice as an investment. What you are advised to do is to make a plan starting with time periods and a first-rate credit status. With the whole thing in place, you should be able to get the investment.

April 24, 2009

You Too Can Be A Foreign Exchange Student

Filed under: College Education — admin @ 2:23 pm

Have you ever wondered why there are so many foreign students at your school, college or university? Have you considered the possibility of you studying abroad as part of you studies?

Many full time overseas students are studying for a full degree at your college and stay for the 3 or 4 years it takes to complete the course.

There are however, thousands of foreign students studying on a short term basis, usually for the second or third year of their course. These are exchange students and as these exchange programs are generally reciprocal you may be able, as part of your study program, to study at an overseas university for a year.

Each year there are also thousands of school children who also attend school in another country for periods up to a year. Again it is not because their families have moved during the summer but it’s because they are foreign exchange students and their experience abroad is as much a part of their education as their regular classroom studies.

Foreign exchange students can be found in many different countries all over the world. They generally have an avid interest in the culture of the area they have traveled to and usually have to have at least a basic grasp of the language.

By living abroad they gain an insider’s knowledge that they could never aquire from a text book back in their homeland thousands of miles away. In addition they learn the language, often becoming fluent during their time abroad

Foreign exchange students embark on an adventure that includes living in the home of virtual strangers for months at a time. The program involves recruiting host families who provide a place to stay as well as the essentials for the foreign exchange students.

Host families are carefully screened and chosen based on certain criteria. When a host family applies to the program they are asked if they have a preference regarding the gender of the foreign exchange students or the age. The majority of foreign exchange students are in the mid to late teens.

Once the host family is chosen they are given more information on the student that will be living with them. This helps them prepare for their arrival.

The foreign exchange students in the program have usually studied the language and the culture of the country they are visiting and therefore have the ability to communicate, at least at a basic level, with their host family. Sometimes host families are surprised by the level of comprehension that the foreign exchange students have.

Foreign exchange students also have to go through a series of steps to enroll and participate in the program. Being away from their homes and familiar surroundings can be difficult and therefore they are normally expected to undergo several psychological tests including speaking with a professional. It is important for the foreign exchange students, their parents and the host family that the children are able to handle and embrace the experience.

Many foreign exchange students become an honorary member of the family they visit. When their visit has ended and it’s time for them to return home it can be a bittersweet experience. It can also be difficult for the host family as they have to say goodbye to the young person who lived with them for months.

Frequently the host family and student become lifelong friends and visit each other regularly.

If your school or college participate in a student exchange program (and most do) and you are studying a course where you will benefit from the overseas experience (e.g. a foreign language) then enquire and see whether you could be spending the next academic year abroad. Whether you are one of the foreign exchange students or part of the host family the experience can be one of the most enriching and rewarding things you will ever do.

John is 51 and recently completed a degree in Creative Writing and now writes on education at In Education where there is a large selection of articles on education for all ages. For more information on course selection go to Online College Courses.

Acupuncture Schools: A Comparison of Acupuncture Schools in North America

Filed under: College Education — admin @ 1:12 pm

For thousands of years, there were no schools of Chinese Medicine as we know them today. To understand the development of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine as it is taught today in the west requires a brief look at Chinese history.

Well over 2000 years ago, Chinese Medicine existed within the body of knowledge known as the Taoist Healing Arts. As healers, the ancient Taoists did not make a distinction between science and spirit. They saw the human body as a combination of physical matter, spirit, and Qi (which can be roughly translated as vital energy). By focusing on balancing one’s Qi, one can develop the ability to synchronize oneself with the balanced Qi of nature, which serves to restore and preserve one’s health. The oldest book known to describe Chinese medicine in detail is the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine, which dates back to at least 2000 years BCE. Acupuncture is first described here as a practice that restores the normal flow of Qi through the channels (meridians) by stimulating acupuncture points.

As the Taoist Healing Arts were refined over thousands of years, the secrets were passed down orally and through hands on experience within a student-master relationship. Acupuncture Schools, as such, did not exist. In some cases there were families of master healers who amassed a great body of special healing techniques and integral practices. Generation upon generation were taught and, in turn, contributed to the wealth of healing knowledge. By the 20th century, there were several outstanding lineage-based styles of Chinese Medicine whose depth of knowledge and styles of treatment went far beyond what is taught today as Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The Great Divide:

Chinese Medicine undertook a drastic change in the 1950’s. In an effort to standardize a national medicine of the Marxist state, The People’s Republic of China stripped the ancient teachings and practices of its spiritual dimension, which was deemed “superstitious”. In turn, the government created a single form of teaching that more closely emulated the western biomedical model and censored much of the knowledge gained over thousands of years within the lineage-based styles of Chinese Medicine.

The resulting form of Traditional Chinese Medicine is taught today in Universities throughout China. This is also the model taught in most acupuncture schools in North America. Although it is based on traditional models of Chinese Medicine, it is only a small portion of the wealth of technique developed by healing masters and handed down during the past 2,000 years

Types of Acupuncture Schools

Today, there are roughly 3 styles of accredited acupuncture schools in North America:

* TCM schools that follow the standardized curriculum of state run universities developed in Maoist era China. The curriculum is vital, but homogenized to produce western style practitioners.

* Complementary and Alternative Medicine schools that teach an abbreviated form of acupuncture for those who use it as an adjunct to their primary practice. Primarily M.D.’s and D.O.’s may practice acupuncture with as little as 300 hours of formal training.

* Lineage-based Schools of Chinese Medicine that teach both the standardized curriculum required for national TCM accreditation plus the ancient teachings and healing techniques that require a spiritual dimension to understand and practice.

About TCM Schools:

While it may seem a harsh judgement, most of the TCM schools represent an Americanized version of Chinese Medicine that bears a growing resemblence to western biomedical training. As Mark Seem (President and CEO, Tri-State College of Acupuncture) notes in the article below, “acupuncture is about to be lost and scattered to the four winds of the health care world.” He continues, “The Oriental medicine or TCM style of acupuncture taught at most schools and practiced by most practitioners (especially on the West Coast, where TCM had its biggest influence) is a watered down version of acupuncture in which informed touch plays virtually no role at all.”

More to the point, the study of Qi is fundamental to Chinese Medicine. While Qi is not a religious concept, it does have a spiritual dimensionsimply defined as the energy of nature that also exists in the human body. Practitioners who have balance and mastery of their own Qi will be better healers, and most TCM schools do not recognize or emphasize this.

When you evaluate a TCM school, look into the tradition and teachings of the founder and senior instructors, as well as the curriculum. If the founder is a western businessman, the school is less likely to teach healing technique from ancient Chinese masters. If the curriculum does not include some form of Qi cultivation for its students, it will most likely be limited to the western biomedical model of Chinese Medicine which does not recognize the body of teaching developed from ancient times.

About Complementary and Alternative Medicine Schools:

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Schools primarily represent an effort to bridge and blend both eastern and western healing arts. In most cases, they do not offer the curriculum that meets the national standards for certification to practice acupuncture, unless you already have an M.D. or D.O. license.

One notable exception exists, however, in Tai Sophia, Institute, Maryland. Tai Sophia Institute is a graduate school for the healing arts offering three graduate programs in Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine and Applied Healing Arts. Under the guidance of Bob Duggan, M.A., M.Ac, the Institute has been recognized as an anchoring academic institute for the nation’s emerging wellness system, and sets the standard in the field of CAM study, as well as an excellent acupuncture program.

(For more information on CAM, read “Complementary and Alternative Medical Therapies: Implications for Medical Education” by Miriam S. Wetzel, PhD; Ted J. Kaptchuk, OMD; Aviad Haramati, PhD; and David M. Eisenberg, MD)

About Lineage-based Schools of Chinese Medicine:

While the lineage-based schools encompass all of the modern medicine required for national accreditation and licensing individuals to practice acupuncture, they also include ancient wisdom that is essential for self-development of the healer. Their approach differs from the western biomedical model in that “The essential art of Chinese medicine is the foretelling and prevention of disease rather than the treatment of illness after it has manifested as painful or distressing physical and mental symptoms”. Their teaching is more focused on Qi Cultivation and the subtle laws of energy response. In the ancient tradition, the healer must become the medicine. In addition to learning the appropriate clinical skills, the student must refine their personal energy before one is qualified to practice.

In a study called Tracing the Contours of Daoism in North America published by the University of California Press, Louis Komjathy says, “The connection between Daoism and health in North America finds its culmination in the establishment of Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Los Angeles) by Ni Hua-ching and his sons; and Liu Ming’s (then Charles Belyea) involvement in the founding of Five Branches Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Santa Cruz).”

He further identifies all of the lineage based teachers active in North America, including Jeffery Yuen who is currently the academic dean of acupuncture at Swedish Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Studies (New York). Other teachers are active at schools focusing on the teaching of Taiji quan, Qigong, Daoist meditation,
Daoist philosophy, and traditional Chinese healing methods, however they are not accredited to license acupuncturists.

(For more information on lineage-based schools, read “Tracing the Contours of Daoism in North America” by Louis Komjathy)

Differences in Curriculum:

While the lineage-based schools draw from a greater body of knowledge and tradition than other TCM schools, one can also expect to find a slight difference in curriculum. For example, the student handbook of Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine states, “At Yo San University, Taoism is a guiding philosophy, not a religion.” It further states, “Yo San’s Qi Development curriculum emanates from our belief that practitioners who have balance and mastery of their Qi will be better healers. The study of Qi is not just an academic exercise but is cultivation through daily practice, The program is designed to provide students the opportunity to heal and cultivate themselves and also to directly experience the balance and harmony that underlie Taoism and the medicine that has developed from it.”

About the Author: Lauren Stomel

Mr. Stomel has made a serious occupation in the study of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, particularly in the Five Eements Chinese tradition. As both a student and patient of Acupuncture, Acupressure, Tai Chi and Chi Gung for over 25 years, he has both a solid empirical understanding and personal understanding of benefits from the Mastery of Chi movement throught the body. However, he does not hold a Doctorate degree in these sciences. His information is presented here simply as the common person viewpoint. Please consult your personal physician before attempting a cure through Alternative Medicine.

Mr. Stomel is on the advisory board and board of directors of several Acupuncture Schools and TCM-based healing modalities in North America.

He is also the publisher of a site that gives sincere, objective guidance to those seeking advice on Acupunture Schools, http://www.acupuncture-schools.us