The British Conference
of
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

A Step Further in Obstetric Acupuncture

This workshop poses the following question:

Many acupuncturists have experience in treating pregnant women, but how aware are they of some of the potentially serious complications that can arise in pregnancy?

Sarah will look at some of these complications in depth and highlight 'red flag' issues, including when it may be wiser and more appropriate to refer a patient rather than offer acupuncture.

Practitioner - Patient Boundaries

All professionals face challenges in setting and maintaining appropriate boundaries. Issues of setting and time, disclosure of personal information, the dilemmas of dual relationships and the proscription on sexual contact with clients are critical to an understanding of the needs of both client and professional.

Informed by new guidelines developed by the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence, Jonathan (Chief Executive of Witness) will draw on knowledge gained from a national helpline and from training and development work. His talk will outline the notions of boundary crossing and boundary violation and will provide tips for practitioners on how to manage and maintain safe boundaries.

Cultivating Qi Perception

In this session participants will work primarily with the qi ball, learning eight basic consecutive stances and some movements. Daverick states that the qi ball is an excellent method of increasing our ability to feel the qi, strengthen our qi field and improve the function of all the organs.

Participants will work with moving forms which activate the qi circulation and open the channels, including the small and large circulations of qi (microcosmic and macrocosmic).

This workshop promises to be a refreshing and invigorating start to the day.

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Headaches

In this lecture Radha will discuss the differential diagnosis and treatment for headaches in different locations. She will also consider how to interpret a patient's descriptions, how to analyse different causes of headache in order to offer the correct choice of treatment, how to treat symptoms associated with a headache, and how to identify early warning signs of serious underlying diseases that warrant referral.

Treating Fear With Acupuncture Therapy

What is anxiety, fear or phobia? What organs are affected by these emotions? Which physical symptoms would follow these emotions? How would one treat a phobia of an insect or fear of entering a lift? How can we help fear before an exam or interview?

Radha will share her experiences in the treatment of the above problems using short case histories, clear and precise point prescriptions, and patient advice.

Treating Mental Illness

Chris will be discussing the treatment of a diverse range of mental/emotional conditions amongst both in- and out- patient populations. He will share his experience of working with psychiatrists, nurses and other mental health professionals and will talk about the benefits and difficulties of working in mainstream hospital environments.

Chris describes himself as a five element practitioner working within the National Health Service. He will refer to case histories from his clinical experience and seek to demonstrate that acupuncture can be a very powerful tool for treating mental illness.

An Introduction To Pandemic Disease Part 1

Pandemic diseases are often the topic of newspaper articles throughout the world. Professor Wu Boping will give us his own unique insight into how these diseases are treated in China and how this knowledge can be utilised in the West to help prevent infection and to treat illness.

These two separate lectures will include the aetiology, pathology and treatment of influenza, the hepatitis group of viruses and Lyme disease. Professor Wu Boping will also present his views on the new diseases that are emerging in Asia such as SARS and bird flu and discuss how TCM has proved effective in combating these diseases in China generally and within his own personal clinical experience.

Pandemic Diseases

The incidence of both SARS and Bird Flu in Hong Kong has meant that the topic of Pandemic diseases has been the subject of much discussion lately. Professor Tu will give handson experience of how these diseases are treated by his TCM hospital team in Guangzhou and how this knowledge can be utilised more widely to help prevent infection and to treat illness.
His lecture will include the aetiology, pathology and treatment of influenza, the Hepatitis group of viruses and Lyme disease. Professor Tu will also present his personal case study on the ‘new’ diseases which are emerging in Asia and will discuss with examples how TCM has proved effective in combating these diseases in Hong Kong and in China generally.

How to Increase your Patient List with Creative Marketing

Business planning is becoming ever more important to those who work outside the umbrella of a large organisation. Acupuncture practitioners also need a strategy. With a long career in strategic management at an international level, Julian suggests that business planning is a tool that can allow for more creativity in your practice, offer clear direction and peace of mind, and free you to do what you do best.

In this workshop he will help you define your aspirations, clarify your strengths, and give you the ability to formulate your very own personal plan.

The Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a slowly progressive auto-immune disease characterised by disseminated patches of demyelination in the brain and spinal cord. The causes of MS in Chinese medicine are listed as external invasion or internal accumulation of damp, inadequate diet and over-taxation.

Barbara has found from clinical practice that invasion of heat pathogens, damp heat and underlying blood or yin deficiency are very important causative factors in blocking the jing luo resulting in malnourishment of tissues, tendons and muscles. She will make a strong case for the benefits of Chinese medicine, especially in the beginning stages of MS.

Research Sessions      Student Forum

Research:
Engaging practitioners in research: the latest findings

Student Forum and The Use of Auricular Acupuncture (Five-Point Protocol) in the Treatment of Addiction
The 'five-point protocol' is currently used in diverse settings around the world. It features predominantly as a part of drug/alcohol rehabilitation programmes in the treatment of addiction. More recently the same protocol has been used in areas such as cancer care, helping with trauma and smoking cessation, and the treatment of behavioural disorders among boys who 'fail' in mainstream schools. In this workshop Rachel Peckham will look at how this simple treatment can be used effectively.
There will be a practical demonstration.

The Saturday Afternoon Plenary:

How Do We Test a Holistic System of Therapy?

'If acupuncture is a holistic and complex intervention, then it is essential that we develop viable models for testing acupuncture that leave these dimensions of the therapy intact.'

This session will involve 30-minute presentations from three renowned researchers with a keen interest and involvement in this field: Stephen Birch, Dr Hugh MacPherson and Dr Volker Scheid. Following each presentation there will be opportunity for discussion and questions.

This workshop is ideal for those interested in discovering the progress that is being made in dedicated acupuncture research, an approach which avoids the methodological limitations and challenges of conventional research.