*  About the Year of the Rat

*  Membership Drive Coming Up

Greetings in the Year of the Earth Rat!  The Chinese new year starts with spring, and spring began on February 6th.  This is now the 4705th Chinese year, calculated from the year the Yellow Emperor became king in 2697 B.C.

About the Rat

The Rat is first in sequence of the 12 calendar animals (next is the Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Ox, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig).  Legend goes that once the God of Heaven wanted to choose 12 animal names as the sequence of the calendar. He held an animal race to determine the order. When the race date was closing, Cat forgot the time and asked Rat the schedule. Alert Rat gave Cat the wrong time on purpose. The Rat cleverly perched on the horn of the Ox while crossing the river, then jumped over the bank to reach the final line to become the champion. Cat missed the race and swore to kill Rat for generations. That's why the Cat chases the Rat forever.

Rats thus are associated with enterprising and aggressive qualities. To list the traits of a Rat, it is important to first know what this animal image stands for in Chinese philosophy. It is a Yang sign, and part of the Water group--associated with wisdom, black, lust and cold.  Its time is 11p.m. to 1 a.m.  The Rat has strong associations with material success such as wealth and other luxuries of life. It is their aggression, charm, hard work, discipline and passionate nature that gives an edge to their persona in comparison to others.  Rats can be wealthy and professionally successful . They are quick, energetic and mold themselves easily according to the situation, which makes them excellent problem solvers too. Unlike most of other zodiac signs, Rats believe in having a handful of friends, but they share a special bonding with all of them.

When it comes to competition, nobody can be as manipulative as they are. They are tactful and can go to great extents to win a battle. Yet honesty and unprejudiced attitude is something others need to learn from Rats. A heavy karma chakra may lead to inner conflicts. It is likely for them to indulge in speculation and other adventurous tasks in order to give an outlet to their emotions. If this kind of an outlet is not available, they might turn to self-destruction. The best spiritual message Chinese sages give to Rats is to observe self-control and be considerate while dealing with people around them. Their dynamism can be accessed with the diversity of professions they can choose. On one hand they can lend a perfection to works of art in literature, on the other hand they can also be excellent detectives, accountants, engineers and pathologists. Law and politics are some other areas they can try their hands on. Hope this year of Rats 2008 becomes the harbinger of health, wealth and good fortune for all of us. Following are the years that belong to the mighty Rats:1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 (Keep adding 12 years in the series).  (Credit to www.chinesenewyear2008.com and www.chinesefortunecalendar.com for this information).

Looking ahead:  We will be asking you to renew your ASDC membership or become a new  member within the next couple of months.  You can save us a stamp and paper if you go ahead and renew now! Membership rates are on the website:  dcacupuncture.org.  Professional membership rates are still just $75, and keep your 100% volunteer-run organization going!  Checks can be mailed to:  ASDC, c/o Lisa Eaves, 4545 42nd Street., N.W., Washington, D.C.  20016.

Workshops and Seminars

March 15 – 16:   Four Related Topics in Chinese Medicine:  Spirituality, Yang Sheng (nourishing  life and preventing disease), Breast Health, and Prostate Health with Alex Tiberi. Discussion of  spiritual techniques in healing; techniques of health cultivation, including diet, herbs, elixirs, Dao Yin, Qigong and sex; the pathophysiology of the breast in Chinese Medicine and well as prevention or breast diseases; and much more.  Maryland Acupuncture Society.  Columbia, MD.    MAS members $270 by Feb 15.  Non-members: $330;  ASDC members: $300.  443-320-1695.  www.maryland-acupuncture.org.

March 15:   Facial Rejuvenation with Dr. A Li Song (China).  This course focuses on the etiology of wrinkles.  Treatment principle and therapeutic methods to treat  wrinkles will be covered, including acupuncture and herbal formulas, Tui Na, Qigong and nutrition.  New York College of Health Professions, Syosset, NY.  $100 before March 8.  Syosset, NY.  1-800-922-7337 x358.

March 28 – 30.  Bringing Balance Back to Health with Sheng Seng, Mikio Sankey, Paul Pitchford, Master Li Jung Feng, Sharon Weisenbaum, Honora Wolfe, Miki Shima and others.  Southwest Symposium 2008, Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin.  Austin, TX.  800-824-9987 x 238. www.aoma.edu

March 29 & 30:  An  Overview of Western Psychiatric Diagnoses and their TCM Patterns and Treatments with Tom Nash.  Learn strategies and techniques to help patients with various forms of depression and anxiety disorders.  $250 by March 22.  New York College of Health Professions, Syosset, NY.  1-800-922-7337 x358.

April 4 – 20:  Shanghai TCM Clinical Training Tour with Vivian Zhang.   2-week intensive training at Shanghai University of TCM and the Shanghai Yue Yang Integrated Medicine Hospital.  Includes internship in 5 outpatient departments: Oncology, Dermatology, Gynecology, Acupuncture and Pediatrics.  51.5 CEUS.  Sponsored by Honso.  Contact 888-461-5808 or 480-377-8787.

April 5 – 6:  An Introduction to Waike: Expelling External Pathogens to Treat Limitations of Movement and the Classical Art of Changweike:  Generating post-Natal Qi (Digestion Specialty) with Steven Alpern, L.Ac.  Philadelphia, PA  Golden Flower Professional Education Program 2008.  1-800-729-8509.  www.gfherbs.com.

April 5 -6:  Medicinal Plant Workshop: Exploring the Science Behind the Folklore with Wendell Combest, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology, Bernard Dunn School of Pharmacy, Shenandoah University.  Focus on botany, chemical makeup, pharmacology and the medicinal plants organized by disease state and/or body system.  $200.Winchester, VA.  Registration and information: debbie_h_smith@yahoo.com.

April 12:   How to Treat Obesity with TCM with Dr. A Li Song (China).   This course teaches how to master the diagnosis and therapeutic methods to treat obesity view TCM.  New York College of Health Profession, Syosset, NY.  1-800-922-7337 x358.

April 13: Post-Stroke Sequels and TCM Treatment with  Rong Da Zhu (China).  Students will learn to identify different post-stroke sequels and the pathological meaning behind them and how to treat accordingly.  New York College of Health Professions, Syosset, NY.  $50 by April 6.  1-800-922-7337 x358.

April 26:  Clinical Insights from a Senior Herbalist: Leaky Gut Syndrome and Common Pediatric Disorders with Jake Fratkin, OMD.  Washington, DC.  Golden Flower Professional Education Program 20008. 1-800-729-8509.  www.gfherbs.com.

April 26-27: Treating liver Zang Disorders with Jake Fratkin, OMD.  Covers liver imbalances as central to chronic conditions involving fatigue, poor digestion, menstrual disorders; hepatitis, IBS, esophageal reflux, depression, plus Chinese medicine support during chemotherapy.  Treating Prostate Disease and Male Infertility with TCM  with

Haihe Tian, Ph.D., A.P.  Covers TCM diagnosis of prostate and infertility problems; analysis of infertility factors using Oriental and Western diagnoses and treatment principles; and TCM patterns and acupuncture.  $285.  New England School of Acupuncture  New York, NY.  Honso Seminars: 888-461-5808. www.Honsousaa.com.

April 27:  Pain Management with TCM Therapies with Rong Da Zhu (China).  This workshop focuses on understanding pain patterns, etiology, treatment principles and protocols including acupuncture and herbs.  New York College of Health Professions, Syosset, NY.  $50 by April 20^th.  1-800-922-7337 x358.

May 3-4:  TCM and Western Reproductive Medicine in the Diagnosis & Treatment of Infertility with Mike Berkeley, L.Ac. Topics include High FSH, blocked tubes, endometriosis, hyperprolactinemia, PCOS, Fibroids, the "idiopathic" patient, and more.  Berkeley Center for Reproductive Wellness.  New York City.  www.regonline.com/berkeleyseminars.

May 16 – 18:  Master Tung’s Magic Acupuncture Points with Susan Johnson, L.Ac.  Golden Flower Professional Education Program 2008.  Boston, MA.  1-800-729-8509.  www.gfherbs.com

May 17 – 18:  The Psyche in Chinese Medicine: Treatment of Mental-Emotional Disorders.  Part 2: Extraordinary Meridians with Giovanni Maciocia.  Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, New York City.  1-800-729-0941. http://store.PacificCollege.edu.

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