by Malia Kirby

Here at Blue Poppy, we're almost working on something new.  There's almost always a book or two in the works, new formulas, new moxa, new...something.  So, here's a quick lowdown on what's up and running and what you can expect to see with us in the continuing education world.

Kicking off our live seminar scheduling for the year are Jason and Linda Hao, our two newest Blue Poppy authors, and will be teaching Chinese Scalp Acupuncture here in Boulder on May 12-13.

Dr. Jason Hao received his bachelor and master's degrees in TCM from Heilongjiang University of TCM in 1982 and 1987, respectively, and received his MBA from the University of Phoenix in 2004.  He was among an early group of doctors who studied scalp acupuncture in China and even had the opportunity to learn it directly from our most famous experts in the field.  These instructors included Jiao Shunfa, the founder of Chinese scalp acupuncture, Yu Zhishun, professor of scalp acupuncture development, and Sun Shentian, professor of scalp acupuncture research.

Jason has been practicing and researching scalp acupuncture for thirty years and has been teaching  classes and seminars in the West since 1989.  He has trained hundreds of practitioners and treated thousands of patients with disorders of the central nervous system in the United States and Europe, including seminars over the past ten years sponsored by UCLA and Stanford, and a scalp acupuncture seminar at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC, successfully demonstrating the efficacy of scalp acupuncture treatment of phantom pain in veterans.  His case histories have been printed in the US Army publication Stripes, in China Daily, and in Alternative Therapies. His new book, Chinese Scalp Acupuncture, was published in November of 2011.  He currently serves as chairman of the acupuncture  committee for the NCCAOM, as president of the board of directors at Southwest Acupuncture College, and as president of the International Academy of Scalp Acupuncture.

Dr. Linda Hao was born in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China, and is a licensed and certified Doctor of Oriental Medicine.  Beyond that training, she holds a doctorate degree of acupunctutre from Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China with a concentration in scalp acupuncture.  She is also an appointed professor at Southwest Acupuncture College in Santa Fe, NM, where she received her Master's degree of TCM.

Linda studied for four years under Dr. Sun Shentian, a highly acclaimed professor of scalp acupuncture development and research.  She also studed with Dr. Jiao Shunfa, the founder of the scalp acupuncture movement.  Today, she is a successful practitioner with a well-established practice in Santa Fe and has collaborated with her husband, Dr. Jason Hao, in presenting seminars across the United States and in Europe.

Throuout her professional career, Dr. Linda Hao has published several articles in Acupunture Today, Chinese Journal of Information of Traditonal Chinese Medicine, and The World Federation of Acupuncture in Beijing. Her article about clinical research on fibromyalgia, published in Traditional Medicine and People's Health by the Third International Congress on Traditional Medicine, was awarded the highest honor in Beijing, China, in 2003.  Linda was the associate editor-in-chief for a university textbook on Chinese Herbal Medicine published in China and has also been featured in the Albupuerque Journal and New Mexico Women Magazine. She is president of the National Healthcare Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is also the founder and vice president of the International Academy of Scalp Acupuncture.

If you're interested in joining us for the class or would like more information, CLICK HERE to be directed to the seminar's informational page.  Be aware, though, that time is running out to take advantage of the early registration discount, and seats are filling up quickly!

Next up in our live seminar schedule is Valerie Hobbs,  MSOM, Dipl.OM, L.Ac, who will be teaching An Integrative Approach to the Treatment of Women During Pregnancy, which will be held on July 28-29, also in Boulder.

Valerie began her healthcare career in 1979 as a direct-entry homebirth midwife.  She has been a recognized authority in that field for the use of Western herbs in pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.  It was this study of herbology and her experience using herbs for health care that eventually led to her interest in studying Chinese medicine.  She completed a diploma program through the Colorado School of Chinese Medicine in 1995, an MSOM from Southwest Acupuncutre College in 2007, and has been providing health care using acupuncture and Chinese herbology for the past 17 years.

In 1999, she was hired as faculty at Southwest Acupuncture College in Boulder, Colorado, where she eventually became a Full Professor and Campus Director.  Among her interests are promoting the profession politically, and she is active in professional groups across the United States.  Valerie has developed the TCM OB/GYN curriculum and specialty clinics and the Boulder branch of Southwest Acupuncture College.  Now in her thirty-third year of providing health care, Valerie specializes in the treatment of menstrual disorders, perimenopause, infertility, pregnancy, and postpartum.

Anyone with an interest in OB/GYN or who may be treating women during pregnancy or postpartum should not miss out on this class!  Valerie is an absolutely spectacular instructor and her passion for the subject shows in ther teaching style.  For more information about her upcoming class or to reserve your seat, CLICK HERE.

Last on our schedule (for the time being) is An Introduction to Five-Element Acupuncture, a survey course focusing on the distinguishing characteristics of Five-Element acupuncture to build a more efficient patient-pracititoner rapport, taught by Abbye Silverstein on October 13-14 (not yet available for sale).

Abbye is a Colorado licensed Acupuncturist, holding a Masters of Acupuncture from the Traditional Acupuncture Institute in Laurel, Maryland, and has been in private practice since 1999. Over the years,  she has worked at the Baltimore Women’s Detention Acudetox Clinic, and a Washington, D.C. AIDS Clinic.

While living in South Florida, she was an instructor and clinical supervisor at the Academy for Five Element Acupuncture, developing and teaching an NCCAOM exam prep course emphasizing the integration of Five Element and TCM. During her tenure at the school, she was instrumental in developing and implementing two off-site NADA/acudetox programs.  Since 2005, Abbye has been a clinic supervisor and associate professor as well as clinic director at Southwest Acupuncture College in Boulder, CO.

Clinically, Abbye has worked at the Baltimore Women’s Detention Acudetox Clinic, a Washington, D.C. AIDS Clinic, as well as developing and administering the acupuncture recovery program for Larimer County Probation and Community Corrections Center in Fort Collins, CO.

Abbye's background includes training at a master’s level in humanistic and transpersonal psychology counseling at John F. Kennedy University in Orinda,CA,  3 years in addictions counseling, and 16 years in corporate human resources specializing in recruiting and training and development.  Stay tuned to the Live Seminars section of our website for more information coming soon!