Evidence Based Veterinary Acupuncture Small Animal Certification Course

Level Three: Acu-IM (internal medicine) and more species

Online Session One: Expanding the alphabet: Acupuncture Points, Channels and Regions

1. Learn the named Bladder Line points along the spine, and how they relate to back (Shu) points, and front (Mu) points.
2. Learn additional points that offer diagnostic and homeostatic effects without integrating as closely with known scientific constructs
3. Learn points on the head. Reinforce the sometimes aligned, and sometimes contradictory goals of treating along acupuncture meridians versus treating along myofascial kinetic chains.

Session One Objectives:

Increase the size of your acupuncture “alphabet” of points and expand indications for using these points. Add further clarity to the channels’ contribution to point locations and be comfortable following channels from beginning to end.

Session One Learning outcomes:

1. Have basic knowledge of the entire lexicon of transposed (and some named) acupuncture points.
2. Demonstrate comfort in following channels from beginning to end
3. Describe somato-visceral reflex loops and identify which acupuncture points are reported to engage somato-autonomic long-loop reflexes to identify and modify organ disease.

Online Session Two: Internal Medicine Paradigms for point formula

1. Review the neuro-immune function of the parasympathetic nervous system and the global effects of the vagus, as well as visceral pain embryology and common points that stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system.
2. Learn sensible approaches to a variety of internal medicine conditions (while continuing to base all treatments on what is found in your JAM exam)
3. Acupuncture treatments for the following conditions will be presented: immune system diseases, gastro-intestinal conditions and nausea/vomiting, laryngeal and respiratory conditions, special sensory systems- hearing, vision, taste, Urinary and Reproductive conditions, metabolic conditions, anesthesia augmentation, dental and orofacial pain diseases, cancer, animal behavior, ophthalmic conditions and palliative care.

Session Two Objectives:

This session introduces a whole new world for the blossoming acupuncturist- adding a diversity of diagnostic and treatment possibilities that formerly might have seemed unreachable. Recognizing the cross-talk between the touchable and un-touchable body systems will permanently transform your medical practice. 

Session Two Learning Outcomes:

1. Learn about pathophysiology and acupuncture for various medical conditions, and conditions of the head.
2. Note how internal medicine conditions often correlate with JAM exam findings, and why this might be the case.
3. Refine your application of point formula to minimize needles, but treat points that overlap with several of the objectives in your exam and treatment.

Online Session 3: Expanding the Boundaries

1. “Deepening” needling techniques and exploring TCVM personality traits as they relate to acupuncture
2. Balancing cost and quality in veterinary acupuncture
3. Translating and transposing: how to apply basic small animal acupuncture skills to other species.

Session Three Objectives:

In session three the practice of acupuncture has become skilled, and it can now be applied through various types of individuals, clinical and socio-economic settings, and even in less common species.

Session Three Learning Outcomes:

1. Explain how to treat various internal medicine conditions with acupuncture
2. Prepare comparative acupuncture and integrative medicine plans for families from three divergent economic locale, and evaluate the advantages of each
3. Pick a species of your choice and consider how you would transpose points, as well as approach this patient for acupuncture treatment.

Three canine (or feline) cases must be completed between Level One and Level Two. At least one sports medicine/mobility and one internal medicine cases should be included.  Case reports are required for all three. 

A Virtual real-time check in with Faculty and Students will be required the weekend before arriving to in-person course. All online material must be completed before starting the in-person course.