Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallee will explore how Yang Shen (Nurturing life) develops the physical and physiological recovery (diet, working of the Qi as Qigong or Taiji, treatments acupuncture, phyto, etc.). She will also examine how the inner working of Yang Shen balance the mind and the emptiness of the heart; Elisabeth will discuss finding a root or a place to center oneself and what that means in context of being centered and in relation to what. She will explain how to reduce what brings and nourishes fear and how to have reason to find and follow a sense for a meaningful life.

From her website: "More than 40 years ago I started out on an incredible journey across ancient languages and civilizations, striving to penetrate the root of life and the essence of existence. Quite early on, I was drawn in particular to the chinese tradition, the wealth and beauty of which I was able to grasp thanks to my guides and mentors Claude Larre and Jean Schatz.

Ever since, I have continued to study the medical, confucian and taoist Classics, drawing from them essential and vital understandings which I try to communicate in turn as widely as possible to all those who share this passion.

My experience with study groups all over the world has shown that when a genuine exploration of traditional chinese texts is constantly rooted in clinical practice and confronted with personal experience, it allows the practitioner to develop his art, invigorate his thought and raise his vision and conduct.

By means of this rigorous research into the movements of the qi and in a constantly open exchange of knowledge and experience, I have relentlessly worked to cultivate a loving relationship to the other and to help the people I met improve their living experience."

In this session, Tamara and Laurie invite participants into an embodied experience of several foundational principles of the system of healing known as Shan Ren Dao (“The Path of the Virtuous Person”). Rooted in Confucian philosophy and 5-element theory, this accessible system was formulated by Wang Fengyi (1864-1937) after his own miraculous healing catalyzed by an unexpected “change of heart." While a deep dive into this work provides entry into a profound system of medicine, our intention today is to offer powerful practices to strengthen and harmonize our own presence as practitioners and community members.

Tamara Staudt received her ND and MSOM degrees from NUNM (1998), where she also served as Dean of Clinical Education and continues as a faculty member. She has been practicing and teaching qigong and its medical applications for over 25 years and has led retreats worldwide. Experiencing the transformations of expanded consciousness in her own life following a Shan Ren Dao (SRD) immersion retreat in China in 2010 and seeing the value and accessibility of these teachings at this time to humanity, Tamara committed to bringing them to a greater audience. One way she has done this is through introducing SRD immersion retreats in the west. Whether through her facilitation of these immersion retreats, teaching qigong classes, online retreat offerings, practitioner mentor groups or her private practice, Tamara delights in guiding and companioning those desiring to align more fully to their own true nature, open to expanded levels of consciousness and reclaim their inherent wellbeing.

Laurie Regan received a PhD in Neurobiology from Harvard University (1991) and an ND from NUNM (1997), where she was dean of Classical Chinese Medicine from 2005-2020. For nearly three decades, she has mentored with Prof. Wang Qingyu, lineage holder of the Jinjing School of Qigong. Since attending mainland China's only Wang Fengyi Emotional Healing Retreat open to foreigners in 2010, she has supported Dr. Tamara Staudt in leading annual SRD retreats. Laurie teaches qigong for students, patients and the public, and combines her education and experience in diverse medical, healing and spiritual systems to support groups and individuals to transform their lives.

Yuki Itaya graduated from Emperor’s College, Santa Monica, in 2006. She is a trustee with MOXAFRICA, a British charity that is researching Japanese-style direct moxibustion as an adjunctive treatment for tuberculosis in developing nations. This work includes a 200-patient phase II RCT at Makerere University, Uganda. Yuki is also the only certified teacher of the M-Test outside of Japan, a movement-based diagnostic and treatment protocol developed by Prof. Mukaino Yoshito, MD, of Fukuoka University, Japan.

By the time Yuki was six years old, she had already developed a passion for Shinkyu (the Japanese word for acupuncture and moxibustion) that was born out of assisting a local vet treat horses. Determined to live a useful life, Yuki applied to work at the UN when she was eight. Although her application was declined, the experience motivated her to study abroad from an early age.

Yuki has lectured on moxibustion at many Japanese universities and is a regular contributor and translator for the North American Journal of Oriental Medicine. She believes in making medicine more accessible to the public and by empowering people to take control of their own health. Yuki teaches M-Test and moxibustion, and how to apply them where medical facilities are otherwise limited or absent.

When not in the clinic, Yuki can often be found in the forest looking for mushrooms with her husband and daughter.

While modern texts on Chinese medicine describe disorders of the shen-spirit in detail, they rarely discuss the hun. This is also true in ancient texts, but discussions, cases, and treatment for pathology of the hun can be found. Problems with the hun result in sleep disturbances as well as altered states of waking consciousness. This session will use translations from ancient medical texts (including medical cases and treatment) to explore the topic of hun disturbances.

Lorraine Wilcox has been a licensed acupuncturist in California since 1989. She is the author of two books on moxibustion and the translator of a number of old books on Chinese medicine. These include Miscellaneous Records of a Female Doctor and Raising the Dead and Returning Life. She delights in finding useful but forgotten information in ancient texts and making it available for English-speaking readers. She is currently working on translating Shao Yong's book, Plum Flower Change Calculation (Meihua Yishu).

In this lecture, Dr. Wilms will discuss the role of dé “virtue/power/efficacy” in classical Chinese medicine, on the basis of Sun Simiao's famous essay on medical ethics. By explaining the cultural context and philosophical roots for this concept, Dr. Wilms will inspire the audience to view their own clinical practice in light of Sun Simiao’s lofty vision of the “great healer.”

Sabine Wilms PhD, is the author and noted translator of two dozen books on Chinese medicine, from classical translations to integrative fertility treatments, working in Chinese, German, and English. In addition to writing, translating, and publishing her work through her company Happy Goat Productions, she lectures around the world and mentors students through her mentorship program at www.imperialtutor.com. Her living interests include learning to interconnect with nature in sustainable ways. Her book translations include many intriguing texts, most recent of these are Venerating the Root (Sun Simiao's writings on pediatrics) and Humming with Elephants: A Translation and Discussion of the Great Treatise on the Resonant Manifestations of Yin and Yang (a translation of the fifth chapter in the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic, Plain Questions). She also runs a rigorous training program in Chinese medicine translation and is building a translation collective at www.translatingChinesemedicine.com.

We are happy to welcome her back to NUNM, as she was a wonderful classical text teacher who is greatly missed.

We are excited to welcome back Judy Becker Worsley, whose talk will engage the key relationship between navigating life and natural order. Judy works with 5-Element medicine as consolidated and mentored through Professor J.R. Worsley and his studies of Chinese medicine.

Between 1973 and 1983, Judy received her licentiate, bachelor, master and doctorate certifications, via her study with Professor Worsley. She practiced, taught, and supervised at the College of Traditional Acupuncture (CTA) until 1995. During this time Judy and J.R. opened the Worsley Institute of Classical Acupuncture (WICA), an undergraduate program in the USA and in 1991 they were married. In 1996 J.R. and Judy created the Master Apprentice Program (MAP™) for ongoing postgraduate work. In 1998 J.R. publicly announced that Judy would succeed him as leader of this tradition, should he pre-decease her. In his final years he intensified his work with her, preparing her for the responsibility that would follow.

One of Judy’s designated responsibilities is to be affiliated with teaching organizations that are in a current professional relationship with her, and who demonstrate that they practice and/or teach Worsley Five-Element Acupuncture ® both in content and Spirit as taught by Professor J.R. Worsley and as now consolidated in conjunction with the Worsley Institute.

The eight extraordinary vessels distribute the blood and energy produced by the organs to our bodies in the three dimensions of space. As such, the eight vessels represent the main axes of the body and their structure can be derived from the study of the eight trigrams of the He Tu.

Understanding the function and the structure of the 8 vessels, and their relation to the rest of the body (San Jiao and organs on one hand, and the 12 channels on the other) is key to treating many modern pathologies. Sylvie will offer a deep dive study of the vessels as influenced by her extensive experience and her distinctive training.

Sylvie has studied acupuncture in France, imbibing the nuances of schools there with distinctive heritages, and holds a Diploma in Traditional Chinese Acupuncture, delivered by the French National Federation for Traditional Chinese Medicine, a member of the European Traditional Chinese Medicine Association.

Through extensive studies with Jacques Pialoux (acupuncture, energy work, the Indo-tibetan energy system) and Régis Blin, Sylvie has learned to practice acupuncture without needles.

Sylvie lived in China for 15 years, and is currently living and practicing in France. She teaches acupuncture in Chinese, English, and French, in China, Taiwan, and in France.