Traditional Chinese Medicine 101:

Know more about your body and yourself

Overview
This course is an introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), including its theories,
diagnostic methods, and its relation to our diet, emotions and science. Students will be
introduced to the basic theories in TCM such as Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, Jing, Qi and
Shen, as well as how our common illnesses such as flu, nausea, stomachache, amnesia, etc are
explained and treated in TCM. Also, we will talk about how to apply TCM to decide on diet and
manage emotions to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Throughout the course, students will be
exposed to demonstrations of different TCM techniques such as acupuncture, Tui Na (massage),
Qi Gong, and moxibustion.

Learning Outcomes
- Have an appreciation of TCM and Chinese culture
- Acquire a basic understanding of TCM (basic theories, differences from western medicine) so
as to let students rethink what “medicine” truly means
- Ultimate goal: learn how to use the knowledge of TCM to decide on diet, manage illnesses and
emotions, and introduce the resources available for further study

Method of Instructions
- Lecture: taught by both the facilitators and the professors from Acupuncture and Integrative
Medicine College, Berkeley (AIMC)
- Discussion
- Demonstration (acupuncture, massage, moxibustion)

Grade Distribution
Attendance and Participation 500
Quizzes 100
Papers 100
Field Assignment 100
Presentation 200
IMPORTANT NOTE: To receive Pass for the course, students need to complete every
assignment with an overall grade ≥70%

Attendance and Participation

Attendance and participation is mandatory, and we highly encourage you to come to every class.
However, students are allowed 2 absences without valid reason, after which the course will be
failed. Only time conflicts of other exams or courses are considered valid reasons for absence.
Lateness of more than 30 minutes will be counted as 11/2 of an absence. To be specific, one
tardiness means 25 points deduction of total grade and one absence means 50 points deduction.

Quizzes
We will give out ten weekly quizzes from 2/2 to 4/20. The quizzes can be found on bCourses
after each lecture and students will be given time until the next lecture to finish the quiz. The
questions will not be hard and most are based on the previous lecture. Each quiz takes up 10
points of the total grade.

Papers
Two reflection papers are assigned, and each takes up 50 points. The first one will be assigned
after the first lecture, while the second one on the 10th lecture. Students will have two weeks to
finish the papers. To be specific, the first paper asks questions like “Why are you interested in
medicine in general?”, “What about TCM interests you the most?”, “What is your experience
with TCM before”, “What do you expect to learn from the course?”, etc. The second paper is
more like a reflection paper, and students will be expected to answer questions like “What have
you learned from the course?”, “Have your perspectives on medicine and TCM changed
throughout the semester?”, “What else do you want to learn about in TCM?”, “How do you think
the course can be improved?”, etc. On the other hand, students are allowed to substitute one of
them by making a field trip to the herb area at Berkeley Botanical Garden and submitting
pictures (with students in them) afterwards.

Field Assignment (Choose one only)

1. In the middle of the semester, students will make a visit to AIMC or other TCM
institutions to get a TCM diagnosis, during which students should record the doctor’s
diagnoses and explanations and submit their notes to receive points.
2. Alternatively, students can make a field trip to the Chinese herb area at Berkeley
Botanical Garden and submit at least 4 pictures afterwards. The student should be in at
least one picture to prove that they have actually visited the garden. Also, a description of
at least one herb during the visit should be included.

Presentation
At the end of the course, students will make a presentation about an illness from the perspective
of TCM in a group of approximately four students. Students will have about a month to prepare
for their presentation, which takes up 200 points.
Facilitator Contact Information
Dawei Liu
[Link]@[Link]
Helen Gao
[Link]@[Link]

Weekly Schedule: Th 6:30-8:00pm @TBA

No. Date Topic Speaker Reading (from the
list below)
1 2/2 Introduction: Why TCM? Nishanga Bliss 1&2

2 2/9 TCM Basics: Yin Yang, the Five Element Dawei Liu 3& 5
Theory, Jing, Qi and Shen
Paper 1 Due
3 2/16 TCM Basics: Zang Fu Organ Theory Dawei Liu 4

4 2/23 Causes and Mechanisms of Illnesses Dennis von Elgg 6&7

5 3/2 TCM Diagnosis: Tongue and Pulse Dennis von Elgg 8&9

6 3/9 Introduction to Herbs Dennis von Elgg 10 & 11

7 3/16 Introduction to acupuncture, Demonstration Nishanga Bliss 12 & 13

with students
Field Assignment Due
8 3/23 Diet Nishanga Bliss 14

9 4/6 Common Illnesses: Cold/Flu, stomachache, Dawei Liu 15 & 16 & 17

menstruation illnesses
10 4/13 Demonstration: patient treatment Dawei Liu 18 & 19

11 4/20 Presentation Dawei Liu 20 & 21

13 4/27 Presentation
Paper 2 Due

Reading List
1. Historical Timeline of Chinese Medicine: Understanding the Past, by Professor Wang Jin-
Huai ([Link]
2. Chinese Medicine In Crisis: Science, Politics, And The Making of “TCM”, by Heiner
Freuharuf ([Link]
3. Yin and Yang in Chinese Medicine ([Link]
medicine/get/yin-yang)
4. The 5 Elements or 5 Phases in Chinese Medicine
([Link]
metal-water-wood)
5. Qi (Life Force) - Vital Substances in TCM ([Link]
chinese-medicine/get/qi-life-force-vital-substance)
6. The Six Evils or Six Pernicious Influences in Chinese Medicine
([Link]
7. The Seven Emotions in Chinese Medicine ([Link]
chinese-medicine/get/causes-illness-7-emotions)
8. Commentary on Li Shi Zhen’s “Pulse Diagnosis”, by James Ramholz
([Link]
9. Tongue Gallery ([Link]
10. An Introduction to Chinese Herbs, by Subhuti Dharmananda
([Link]
11. Taste and Action of Chinese Herbs: Traditional and Modern Viewpoints, by Subhuti
Dharmananda ([Link]
12. An Introduction to Acupuncture and How It Works, by Subhuti Dharmananda
([Link]
13. Jing Luo (Channels and Collaterals | Meridians and Sub-Meridians)
([Link]
14. Energetics of Food - a beginner’s guide
([Link]
15. Raynaud’s Disease: Chinese Medical Perspective, by Subhuti Dharmananda
([Link]
16. East/West Protocols for Winter Health, by Craig Williams
([Link]
17. Crohn’s Disease: Western and Oriental Perspectives, Part II, by John Chen
([Link]
18. How to Treat Acne According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, by Tracy Raftl
([Link]
medicine/)
19. Phases of the Menstrual Cycle From a Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective, by
Kaleb Montgomery ([Link]
20. Broadening Strategies In the Treatment of Insomnia, by Jake Paul Fratkin
([Link]
21. The Emotions ([Link]
22. Chinese Cupping Therapy — Relaxing, Healing and Pain Relieving | ASMR Triggers
([Link]
23. The Practice of Chinese Medicine: What is Moxibustion?
([Link]

Supplements
Book: The Web That Has No Weaver, by Kaptchuk
Book: Real Food All Year, by Nishanga Bliss
Movie: 10,000 Needles

Oakland acupuncture project