Study Oriental Medicine at New York College of Health Professions

Oriental Medicine is a general term encompassing a range of traditions, philosophies and practices of ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Although its practice dates back to the ancient culture of China approximately 3,000 B.C., Oriental Medicine did not become popular in Western society until the 1980’s. Today, many of its modalities including acupuncture and herbalism are becoming widely used and incorporated into Western medicine as complementary therapies. Individuals looking to practice Oriental Medicine must acquire the proper education and licensing from an accredited program such as the one offered at New York College of Health Professions.

Oriental Medicine covers the modalities of acupuncture, Asian bodywork and herbal medicine. If you are already in the medical field, it is suggested that you research your market to find out which schools have the best programs. On average, a student will spend 3 to 4 years thoroughly studying Western health sciences such as physiology and anatomy, as well as the Oriental sciences, acupuncture, TCM history and philosophy, herbalism as well as T’ai Chi Chuan and Yoga. As part of their courses, students will learn about the components of Oriental Medicine, which include:

• ying-yang theory – the idea that two conflicting, yet complementary forces make up all life.
• the theory of five elements – the idea that fire, water, wood, earth and metal correspond to particular tissues and organs in the body and hence, can be used to explain how the body works.
• qi – the vital energy travels through the body via a series of pathways identified as meridians.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the use of acupuncture and Oriental Medicine by Americans has increased by 50% between 2002 and 2007 with 17.6 million acupuncture visits in 2007. With proper education, an Oriental Medicine practitioner has an opportunity to either develop a new career or further their existing one.
The Graduate School of Oriental Medicine at New York College of Health Professions offers a ten-trimester, 185-credit, accredited degree program from which successful students graduate with a Bachelor of Professional Studies/Masters of Science -Oriental Medicine. To ensure that their students are ready for this competitive field, the curriculum includes Western and Eastern nutrition, TCM diagnosis and holistic methods as well as Yoga, T’ai Chi Chuan and Qi Gong. To find out more about this Oriental Medicine Program and New York College of Health Professions which has 4 locations in the metro New York City area, visit http://www.nycollege.edu/academics/school-of-oriental-medicine.