ICOM, the acupuncture college UK - Third Year Curriculum -

TIAN GAN DI ZHI
(Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches)
Concept of cycles and sequences on large and small scales.
Detailed study of the BA KUA:
Eight Trigrams; their meaning and their correspondences.
Further study of the YI JING:
Book of Changes; specific trigrams and hexagrams, their meaning and their correspondences in relation to Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.
Arrangements of Fu Xi and King Wen and number symbolism.
Twenty-four Solar Periods.
Study of the relationship between Stem, Branch and Divisions.
The practical applications of Stems and Branches.
Endocrinology
4 Pillars
Forbidden Meridians

JIN ZHOU
(The Nine Continents)
Theory and practical applications.

CONCEPT OF LEFT and RIGHT
Theory and practical applications.

DIET (Therapeutic Advice)
Classification of foods: Hot, Warm, Mild, Cool, Cold, Five Flavours and their effect on the body.

SEMINARS
In-depth discussion on the various aspects of the theory of Chinese medicine including practice of pulses and case histories.

PRACTIONER DEVELOPMENT
Continuing to build upon the professional and personal development skills including reflective practice, self-evaluation, independent learning. A reflective portfolio of clinic experience is kept, and is particularly important due to students starting to treat patients in this year. Learning is still primarily through class based discussion groups and activities.

Differential Diagnosis and treatment of common disorders
Respiratory disorders:
asthma, acute and chronic bronchitis, emphysema, dyspnoea, chronic cough.
Digestive and bowel disorders:
constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, peptic and duodenal ulcers, appendicitis, haemorrhoids, gastritis, abdominal pain.
Urinary disorders:
cystitis, polyuria, anuria, kidney stones.
Menstrual and reproductive disorders:
Female: dysmenorrhoea, amenorrhoea, menorrhagia, leucorrhoea, pruritus vulvae, thrush, frigidity, sterility.
Male: enlarged prostate, impotence, spermatorrhoea, premature ejaculation.
Liver and Gallbladder disorders:
Hepatitis, enlarged liver, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis.
Cardiovascular disorders:
Angina pectoris, thrombosis, heart attack, stroke, hyper/hypotension.
Skin disorders:
acne, eczema, dandruff, dermatitis, psoriasis, sweating, chillblains, allergies.
Mental/Emotional disorders:
Depression, insomnia.
Backache, sciatica.
Management and treatment of cancer.

DEPRESSION
(Psychological Disorders)
Theory and practical applications
Mental and emotional disorders
Differential diagnosis of Yin and Yang depression
Sunsi Miao's thirteen Gui Points: Ghost Points

BA GANG
(Eight Principles)
Detailed study of principle and manifestation of Yin Yang and the six sub-divisions: Biao/Li:; External/Internal; Han/Re; Cold/Hot; Xu/Shi; Empty/Full.
Theory and practical applications.

PAEDIATRICS
Treatment in pregnancy and childbirth
Treatment of infants and children

Practical Days
During Practical Days (Semesters 4 and 5) students are now given the opportunity to take responsibility for the treatment of a patient. Small groups of students will see three patients in a day, giving ample time to take a full case history, to make subsequent diagnosis, to formulate and carry out an appropriate treatment. Each individual step of this process is fully supervised.

Supervised Clinics
During the first part of the final semester, individual students will work in the College Teaching Clinic and take responsibility for the treatment of a patient, supervised by one of our senior practitioners. Working on a one-to-one basis the student is able to bring together the many various skills taught this far, building personal confidence in a real clinical situation.

Trainee Clinics
This follows on from our supervised clinics, and may extend past the traditional end of the final semester. Each student will be working in the College Teaching Clinic, taking responsibility for treating patients but with full support from senior practitioners when required. It is a unique opportunity to work as a practitioner but from within the safety net of the college and as such is highly valued.

Supervised Pulse Diagnosis
Developing further skills and learning various combinations of the existing 28 pulse qualities.

Needle Technique
Further instruction in advanced techniques.

First Aid
A comprehensive course covering all aspects of emergency situations leading to a Public First Aid Certificate. Please note that this course needs to be taken before entering practical clinic days and is usually held in the week before the new academic year begins.

Orthodox Pathology
Analysis of common disorders, differential diagnosis, orthodox treatment methods, use of orthodox drugs and their possible side effects covering :

Nervous system
Cardiovascular
Respiratory
Gastro-Intestinal
Endocrine/Metabolic
Reproductive
Genito-Urinary

Blood and Body Fluids
Joint and Connective tissue
Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat
Dangerous and Emergency Conditions
Mental Health
Skin


	Practice Management
	Setting up practice Code of practice Code of ethics Sterilisation procedures Legal matters Marketing	Insurance Keeping patient files Bookkeeping Confidentiality Public relations Planning


	Dissertation Students are required to submit a 10,000 word dissertation. This is the opportunity to carry out a small-scale research study on a particular area of interest within acupuncture and to apply the skills and learning acquired, both theoretical and practical, throughout the length of the course.