Modern & Traditional Acupuncture
33 Lesson Program
Over twelve hundred pages of printed materials incorporating applicable materials from the supplementary textbook (An Outline of Chinese Acupuncture) and set of four charts (by China Cultural Corp.). Starts off assuming you know nothing about acupuncture (a good place to start even if only as a thorough review of the basics) and takes you right through to the most heavy-duty advanced aspects of true, ‘energetical’ acupuncture. The finest and most comprehensive material in the English language, covers all seventy-one meridians of traditional acupuncture; that ‘missing sixty percent’ of acupuncture knowledge most “acupuncturists” have never even heard of; and, the modern electronic ‘needle-less’ treatment methods (Electro-Acupoint Therapy).
Over 3,000 students were originally enrolled in this famous Extension Training Program, and the OICS graduate listings read like a “Who’s Who of Acupuncture” in the English speaking world. This program takes you as far as anyone possibly can in a ‘written’ format prior to the clinical finesse and practicum needed to round out your acupuncture study to professional levels.
Development of this Modern & Traditional Acupuncture Program
Occidental Institute opened its doors in 1972 in a small warehouse/office unit in Weston, Ontario Canada as an acupuncture “school” and training organization. Drawing on the genius and research abilities of our founder Dr. Walter D. Sturm, a 31 Lesson “home study” style training program in Modern and Traditional Acupuncture was developed and published. Even though it has formed the basic curriculum of several resident training Acupuncture Schools over the years (including our own), to date that program has only been available in printed format. Working from old manually typed (yes, on a typewriter!) masters we laboriously photocopied and printed copies of this more than 1,200 page program.
But now the entire program (including the two published CEU Lessons #32 and #33) are available in digital format. Each paper “master copy” has been electronically scanned and then carefully proofread and re-formatted. Details and references have been checked, and new pictures and diagrams designed and incorporated. All thirty-three Lessons are now available in digital PDF format. Information can be easily located through the Adobe/PDF search engines making the core materials much more accessible and easier to study. All textbook references [original edition out of print] have been incorporated into the Lessons as well as all charts. Recommendations on how to obtain current texts, equipment and charts are provided.
Development of these materials was based on literature available at that time usually only in Asian and European languages. For his research and development, Dr. Sturm was able to access and utilize materials available in seven languages including English, German, French, Italian, Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese. I was personally involved with a lot of the initial French language translation work based on publications from the French and Vietnamese masters (such as Dr. A. Chamfrault, Dr. G. Fisch and Dr. Nguyen Van Nghi). Supported by a unique and practically experienced staff, final publication of these materials was completed in the mid-1980’s. In recent months after proofreading and formatting these materials for the digitization process, I remain amazed at the scope and presentation of these materials.
Without a doubt, this Modern & Traditional Acupuncture program remains – to this day! – the most comprehensive text on the subject in English. Dr. Sturm’s innate ability to research, comprehend and apply detailed information combined with his remarkable teaching skills has given us a practical look into the often esoteric traditional acupuncture philosophy and methodology from the viewpoint of an Occidental (or Western) practitioner.
Who will benefit from study of this program? Well . . .
- Practitioners interested in learning basic acupuncture skills.
- Practitioners interested in learning more about acupuncture applications.
- Practitioners currently working with acupuncture in their practice, but interested in improving their skills.
- Those who have worked with acupuncture for years, but now are looking for the challenge of more advanced and effective methods.
- Instructors and practitioners who need an easily accessible and reliable reference source. Here is a well organized and easily understood reference guide to both modern and traditional acupuncture theory and methods complete with practical application techniques.
- Practitioners who have been working with EAV or VEGA or any of the many point and medication testing methods, but have never really studied the meridian and energy system on which those methods are based.
- And then there is Lesson 31! This formulary (or “recipe book” as it has been called) alone is worth the cost of the course. It gives you not only the insight of the masters with highly effective treatment formulas, but also a way to incorporate acupuncture into your practice immediately while you take the time to study and grasp the basics and background.
I can think of so many reasons and I highly recommend these materials – especially now available in digital format – for all practitioners of Biological Medicine. Regardless of your background as acupuncturist, naturopath, chiropractor, physician, dentist, homeopath or health practitioner, you will find explanation, background and support for your experience, and a deeper understanding of healing and of caring for our patients.
Outline of Individual Lessons:
Continuing Education Lessons Added to the Program at a later date:
C.E.U. Lesson #32:
“The Process of The Penetration of the Perverse Energy and Its Evolution Into the Organs and Bowels”, as based on the work of Dr. Nguyen Van Nghi, and French language translation by Carolyn L. Winsor. Invaluable information for those working with the “Master of Acupuncture” translations.
C.E.U. Lesson #33:
“Japanese Ryodoraku”. This Lesson was compiled, edited, and written by Dr. Michael Coburn of OIRF staff, from standard English language sources on this technique. It is not intended to be a complete treatise on the subject, but rather provides a practical overview for practitioners working with colleagues trained in this specific technique.
Full Thirty-Three Lesson Program Includes:
All 33 Lessons, applicable supplementary textbook (An Outline of Chinese Acupuncture) passages and representation of set of acupuncture charts (China Cultural Corporation set of four). [Current versions of the textbook and charts can be easily obtained from suppliers of acupuncture books and supplies.] Program does not include printed materials, binders; or, any tutorial, examination, or certification privileges.
An Exclusive Instructional Homestudy Progam
Modern & Traditional Acupuncture
Initially Published July 1972
© Copyright 1972-current, Occidental Institute (OIRF)
and Praxis2Practice Consulting, Penticton, BC Canada
This Homestudy Acupuncture Program has been used for decades by several accredited Acupuncture schools and colleges as a core curriculum. Additionally it was used as the training materials for the Resident Training Programs of Occidental Institute of Chinese Studies Alumni Association in Florida and California. The final Lesson formats were the result of over a decade of study, research, translation and compilation of 1,000s of source materials in seven languages.
Under the guidance and expertise of our founder, Dr. Walter D. Sturm, a team consisting of staff associates, researchers and fellow seekers of knowledge tirelessly worked to create an understandable English language teaching manual for traditional acupunture. Our thanks goes out to this partial list of team members who made this program (and the resident training programs) possible:
Walter D. Sturm, BEd, DAcu, PhD, HMD †
Carolyn L. Winsor, BMus, BEd
Rev. Michael E. Coburn, DAcu, HMD, SGS†
Michael C. Barnett, DAcu, OMD, LAc (FL/CA)
Nancy (Nirmala) C. Graboski, DAcu
Sean Christian Marshall, DSc, DAcu
Alexander (Sandy) A. Wood, ND, DC †
Dr. C. McWilliams
