7:30-8:15 a.m. Morning Taiji with Joseph Acquah
Tai Chi Chuan is an ancient martial art refined into a series of slow rhythmic exercises used for millennia for healing. Recent research evidence proves that this practice increases energy circulation throughout the body, improves balance, and calms the mind. Join longtime practitioner Joseph Acquah as he reviews and practices the basic movements of the Yang-style long form.

8:00-9:00 a.m. Complimentary Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall

9:00-10:00 a.m. Keynote
Nan Lu, OMD
Five-Element Consciousness: Ancient Wisdom for Whole-Person Healing
Most physical conditions are the manifestation of emotional imbalances. The body communicates constantly with the mind from deeper levels, which we know as consciousness and subconsciousness. These levels of being, directly or indirectly, reflect emotions and emotional vibrations. Chinese medicine not only treats physical conditions, but also has a theoretical framework for understanding that underneath these conditions lies emotional energy stagnation. The Five-Element theory provides an ancient architecture for recognizing that the body's five major organ systems each possess their own emotions and emotional energy vibrations that are a reflection of consciousness. Understanding these core emotions as the true root cause of health problems can help practitioners and patients reach ultimate health. Dr. Lu discusses the application of the ancient Five-Element theory to unlock the power of consciousness to identify and resolve health conditions.

10:00-10:30 a.m. Break in the Exhibit Hall

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Panels

Reports from the Field: Research on TCM
Moderator: Xiu-Min Li, MD

Xiaoding Cao, MD, PhD
Report on Acupuncture Research at Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University
Dr. Cao presents highlights from her forty years of acupuncture research. For this panel, she focuses on the "Protective Effect of Acupuncture on Immunosuppression" and the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) for several conditions including pain and neurological diseases.

Kevin Chen, PhD, MPH
Report on Qigong Research in the U.S.
With two NIH grants to study Qigong therapy, Dr. Chen presents a survey of NIH-funded studies of Qigong and mind-body energy therapies in the U.S.: what has been funded, the results to date, the major challenges in these projects, and how to improve research methodology in this promising area. He will also share his knowledge of the extensive research on Qigong in China.

Lixing Lao, PhD, MD, LAc
Report from Research Conference at Edmonton
Dr. Lao, cochair of the Society for Acupuncture Research, reports on the seminal, international North American Research Conference on Complementary and Integrative Medicine that took place in May 2006 in Edmonton, Canada, convened by the 28-member Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine.

Xiuling Ma, PhD, MD, MS, LAc , Malcolm Taw, MD
PART I. Clinical Problem-Solving: An Introduction to the UCLA East-West Approach
Drs. Ma and Taw provide an in-depth introduction to the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine's model for blending the best of Western and Chinese medicines in an innovative approach to clinical problem-solving. Modeled on the Center's medical student and CME courses at UCLA and in China, this session highlights, compares, and contrasts key principles of both conventional Western and traditional Chinese medical paradigms. Emphasis is placed on health promotion and disease prevention, stressing the integrity of the human body and its relationship with the social and natural environments, including the effects of physical, nutritional, psychosocial, and genetic factors on health and disease. This two-part workshop is an ideal introduction to an integrative medical model for physicians, nurse practitioners, and other Western medical health-care providers.

Larry Baskind, MD, FAAP, Stephen Cowan, MD, FAAP,
Efrem Korngold, OMD, LAc
TCM and Pediatrics: Five Phases of Asthma
An estimated four million children have had an asthma attack in the past 12 months and many more have "hidden" or undiagnosed asthma. Asthma is the most common cause of school absence due to chronic disease. This workshop presents an innovative model, a blending of Western alternative and Chinese traditional perspectives, for understanding five types of asthma that allows the practitioner to develop a treatment plan tailored for each patient. Through an understanding of the organization of seemingly unrelated Western symptoms within the paradigm of TCM, participants will gain a holistic and pragmatic approach to treating pediatric asthma.

Misha Ruth Cohen, OMD, LAc
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a common, often painful condition in women defined by the presence and growth of uterine glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity. Endometriosis affects about 10 percent of all reproductive-aged women. The prevalence rate rises to 20 to 50 percent in infertile women. The etiology of endometriosis is not well understood by Western medicine; the most widely accepted view is the theory of "retrograde menstruation." Chinese herbal medicine has been used successfully in the treatment of the various patterns associated with endometriosis. This workshop explores Western approaches, Chinese pattern differentiation and the use of Chinese herbs for the treatment of endometriosis.

12:30-2:00 p.m. Networking Luncheon

Join old colleagues. Make new friends. Share what you've learned. Ask questions. Take some time to make lasting connections. Our complimentary luncheon is designed as a lighthearted networking gathering for conference participants and faculty.

2:00-2:30 p.m. Meditation for Healing

For millennia, meditation has been practiced by Eastern and Western seekers of physical and spiritual health. Modern science has demonstrated its physiological effects, including improved physical health and a sense of well-being. In this guided, experiential session, participants will be led in mindful meditation.

3:00-5:00 p.m. Concurrent Workshops

Moderator: Xiao-Tian Shen, MD, LAc, MPH
David L. Felten, MD, PhD, Joseph Acquah, OMD, MS, LAc,
Wanda Ferrauiola, AOBTA
TCM and Metabolic Syndrome: The Combined Risks of Obesity, Diabetes, and Heart Disease
Metabolic syndrome, which affects more than 50 million Americans, consists of multiple, interrelated factors that carry a two-fold higher risk of heart disease, and a five-fold higher diabetes risk. This workshop draws together a group of clinicians/researchers who will discuss these interrelated risk factors, possible efficacious clinical interventions, and the viable application of TCM modalities in complementing biomedical interventions. Treatment modalities are aimed toward prevention and treatment of the related risk factors of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. A unique TCM program that has demonstrated clinical effectiveness in dealing with the factors related to metabolic syndrome will be presented.

Yongli Ni, MD, MPH, LAc
Women's Health in the 21st Century: Ancient Wisdom for Overcoming Serious Conditions
Dr. Ni presents an integrated approach to preventing, diagnosing, and addressing serious conditions that affect women's health today. Offering a provocative discussion of TCM's comprehensive approach to women's health, Dr. Ni draws on her extensive clinical experience with patients here and abroad. She challenges practitioners from all professions to re-examine TCM's classical concepts while outlining practical tools for prevention, diagnosis and treatment, including foods for healing, Qigong movement, exercise, music, the prescription of Chinese herbs, and acupuncture. She also explores the deeper emotional imbalances that underpin serious conditions.

Discussant: Lixing Lao, PhD, MD, LAc
Xiaoding Cao, MD, PhD
The Scientific Bases of Acupuncture Analgesia
Dr. Cao presents her research on the physiological bases of acupuncture analgesia (AA) on normal subjects, patients, and animals. Her research has studied the effect of acupuncture on pain perception in normal subjects and as compared with sham acupuncture. It was shown that the analgesic effect of acupuncture has a physiological basis. Using neurophysiological, neuropharmacological, neurobiochemical and neuromorphological methods, the neurohumoral mechanism of AA was studied from the peripheral neural pathway of acupuncture sensation (De-Qi sensation in Chinese traditional medicine) to the central neuromodulatory effect of AA. Dr. Cao will present the numerous findings of this study. This workshop offers a rare opportunity for a special dialogue with one of the world's most renowned and accomplished experts in acupuncture research.

Efrem Korngold, OMD, LAc, Stephen Cowan MD, FAAP,
Larry Baskind MD, FAAP
Growing the Dao: The Five Infant Types
The goal of pediatric health care is to promote growth and well-being through the child's life experiences and to prevent small imbalances from transforming into disease. Through the use of engaging video illustrations, participants will learn how to identify the five types of children based on the Five-Phase Typology proposed by Harriet Beinfield and Efrem Korngold in their book Between Heaven and Earth. Recognizing and modifying patterns of disharmony within the psyche and soma of the child and between a particular infant's type and those of its parents and siblings is shown to be an effective way of ameliorating common pediatric problems.

Xiuling Ma, PhD, MD, MS, LAc, Malcolm B. Taw, MD
PART II. Clinical Problem-Solving: An Introduction to the UCLA East-West Approach
A continuation of the morning session. Participants are exposed to therapeutic approaches such as acupressure and acupuncture, trigger point injections, lifestyle changes, dietary and herbal supplements through case studies and hands-on learning. Drs. Ma and Taw provide an in-depth discussion of the application of the integrative East-West approach to a case study involving a patient diagnosed with an intractable medical condition. Brief presentations of other successfully treated intractable conditions will also be provided.

6:00-7:30 p.m. Networking Dinner

8:00-9:30 p.m.
Abdul Alim Muhammad, MD, Nan Lu, OMD
Transformation: Spirit in Healing
We may be smarter than previous generations, but sadly we're sicker. Lack of compassion and toxic lifestyles have created a nation unable to claim its healing power. A new medical paradigm is emerging to replace the broken one. Compassion, caring and nurturing of spirit are its keys. In this provocative dialogue, two passionate presenters discuss the evolution of this paradigm. They examine how the art of medicine is being lost because the doctor's intuition and empathy have been drained from its practice. The result is that patients increasingly turn to complementary medicine for humanistic approaches to wellness. Traditional healing practices can help strengthen trust in our healing wisdom and encourage development of healthy relationships at all levels, especially the familial. We invite you to join this evening's exploration of the transformative role of spirit in healing.