OVERVIEW

Our Goals
Building Bridges for TCM seeks to expand health options and improve outcomes in the United States by educating CAM and conventional medical, healthcare and research communities about traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

TCM encompasses all aspects of the time-honored system, including its spiritual, philosophical and theoretical underpinnings, as well as the full complement of TCM modalities for prevention and treatment of health problems, including:

• Acupuncture
• Acupressure
• Herbal therapy
• Qigong
• Prescription of foods for healing
• Chinese psychology

Conference Goals:
The goals of Building Bridges for TCM are:

• Provide an innovative forum for the ongoing exchange of information on the philosophy, theories, techniques, scientific research and information about the full range of traditional Chinese medicine in a broad integrative healthcare context.


• Offer contemporary healthcare practitioners insight into TCM principles, theories, techniques, and case studies.


• Delineate the unique strengths of TCM:
  • in early diagnosis and prevention;
  • its synergistic effect when used in complement with Western interventions for certain conditions;
  • its philosophy of health and prevention that encompasses the body, mind, and spirit.
  
  
• Offer clinical practitioners reliable information and practical ways to integrate this holistic medical system into their practice.


• Raise awareness and increase implementation of TCM in the United States by providing in-depth information about the challenges and advantages of integrating TCM with Western medicine.

Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this program, participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the current and potential role of TCM in contemporary healthcare.


• Describe the philosophical and theoretical framework within which TCM operates.


• Identify the primary theories and treatment modalities that comprise TCM.


• Distinguish and identify TCM therapies that have been shown to benefit certain conditions.


• Demonstrate an ability to hold an informed discussion with patients about TCM as a complementary therapy for certain health conditions.