Welcome to all the new NUHS students! I hope you had a wonderful
first week of classes. Also, welcome back to all the
returning NUHS students!
For me, this is the start of my final trimester for my MSOM. I
am filled with anticipation and excitement to see what this
trimester will bring. This trimester, I am taking my boards and
exit exam in addition to completing my classes for my
MSOM.
NUHS faculty member HB Kim
For many upper trimester MSOM degree (herbal) students, this
weekend was the beginning of HB Kim's Herbal Treatment Strategy
seminar. I blogged about HB Kim, LAc, and his accomplishments a few
trimesters ago. He is the author of several books used by the AOM
students at NUHS. He has two seminars offered in the NUHS AOM
curriculum. One seminar is Acupuncture Treatment Strategies (blogged about
previously) and the Herbal Treatment Strategy seminar. These
seminars are crucial for furthering students' knowledge and
understanding on acupuncture and herbs. HB Kim has a gift for
helping students build on the knowledge already gathered. He helps
us advance what we have already learned and built upon, prepares us
for board exams and expands our clinical knowledge. I believe his
seminars are instrumental for preparing us for board
exams.
Most herbal students have been looking forward to this seminar
since the beginning of the herbal part of the NUHS program. As the
pictures illustrate, everyone is in a pleasant mood and happy to be
participating in this seminar. Through the intellect of HB Kim, we
are being taught the intricate details of single herbs and herbal
formulas. Chinese herbs are written in pinyin, Latin, and English.
The way Chinese herbs are used and administered is very different
from biomedical pharmaceuticals. That stated, many students have
felt overwhelmed and intimidated by learning Chinese herbs during
some point of their education. I can think of two distinct moments
I strongly contemplated dropping herbs from my degree. I am very
thankful I decided against that idea.
In my opinion, Chinese herbs are instrumental in aiding the
patients' health and progress. There are many conditions that the
combination of Chinese herbs and acupuncture can successfully
treat. The advancement in the patients' well being often happens
rather quickly when herbs and acupuncture are combined.
Additionally, herbs and acupuncture are able to restore well being
to some conditions that biomedicine is unable to affect or takes a
long process of taking biomedical prescriptions.
Being in this seminar is aiding me, and all of the students, in
how to further compartmentalize and deeply understand the usage and
theory of herbs. It feels very satisfying to be participating in
this seminar with my peers, especially given the struggles most
students experienced initially in the herbal classes.