“Master of Acupuncture” Program
The “Master of Acupuncture” Program is a self-study program for advanced acupuncture practitioners, based on translations of three classical Chinese acupuncture texts (namely the Su Wen, Ling Shu and Nan Ching). These materials assume extensive background in energetical acupuncture and work at master’s level.
Two thousand years ago, a group of outstanding physicians in China felt the need to record for posterity the experience and knowledge of acupuncture and Chinese medicine that had accumulated up to that time. The format of their record was a book (The Nei Ching or Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine) written primarily in the manner of a conversation between the legendary Yellow Emperor (Huang Ti) and his personal physician and advisor (Chi Po). This book is divided into two parts—the Su Wen and Ling Shu – both with eighty-one chapters apiece. The Su Wen portion presents the essential theory of internal medicine such as the energetical physiology, pathogenesis and pathology. The Ling Shu covers the practical aspects of Chinese medicine and develops the different therapeutical principles of acupuncture and moxibustion. The Nei Ching (Su Wen and Ling Shu together) forms the foundation for the practice of traditional acupuncture and is still the most authoritative reference book and teaching text in China on the subject. This book remains highly relevant today as well as for the future, and its valuable principles have almost unlimited application in clinical practice, making its study essential. Very few, if any, traditional acupuncturists would dare to challenge the basic contents of this celebrated two thousand year old book to this very day.
The Nan Ching, or “Difficult Classic” as it is often called, is an explanation of some of the more difficult to understand passages of the Nei Ching, and thus we feel it is of great assistance in the study of the Su Wen and Ling Shu translations. Attributed to the famous Chinese physician, Pien Ch’iao, and dated by many authorities around the third century B.C., it covers some of the most difficult problems of acupuncture, which were not answered in the Nei Ching itself. It consists of six sections, with a total of 81 chapters (or questions posed and then answered); concerning diagnosis, meridians, energetical physiology and pathology, acupuncture points, techniques, and treatment. It is almost a necessity for complete comprehension of the Nei Ching by independent study, and simply had to be made available in English as well.
Throughout the years, the Institute spent a king’s ransom obtaining several complete copies and editions of both the Su Wen and Ling Shu portions of the ancient Nei Ching, and one edition of the classic Nan Ching. Translation and redaction of all texts completed by OICSAA staff. We realize this program will only be of interest to a select few of you, but recognize that books which have looked after the health of a quarter of the world’s people for two thousand years, simply cannot be ignored.
NOTE: Program includes digital (PDF) format of translated materials only. It does not include printed materials, binders, nor any tutorial, examination or certification privileges.
A Exclusive Instructional Self Study Progam
Master of Acupuncture (Translations)
Initially Published July 1978
© Copyright 1978-current, Occidental Institute (OIRF)
and Praxis2Practice Consulting, Penticton, BC Canada
This Self Study Acupuncture Program has been used for decades as an advanced Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture 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, leading to DAcu certification. The final translations were the result of years 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 translation of these ancient traditional acupunture treatises. 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
