Instructor: Dr. Da'an Pan, Muhlenberg College
Time: 3:00-4:15 Tuesdays & Thursdays
Place: 214 Ettinger
Office: 135 Old Commons
Office Hours: 11:00-12:00 Tuesdays & Thursdays (or by appointment)
Phone & E-mail: x3642 (O), pan@hal.muhlberg.edu
Goals of the Course
This course explores the cross-cultural significance of Chinese acupuncture
in relation to the culture of pain in the West and particularly the United
States. As one of the key components of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture
rises in response to people's need to understand pain and cope with it.
Throughout its history, acupuncture has always been associated with the
concept of pain in theory as well as practice. The concept of pain figures
importantly in the West, giving rise to a unique and yet popular subculture.
Such a subculture generates a profound sociocultural discourse and turns
acupuncture from a foreign custom into a familiar cure.
Using the needle and pain as two antithetical metaphors, this course investigates
the symbolism of acupuncture as both a body booster and pain buster and
as a means to patient-empowerment. This course progresses through three
mutually related topics: It first examines the history and theory of Chinese
acupuncture in the larger context of traditional Chinese medicine. It then
investigates the culture of pain in terms of its psychosocial impact and
the triangular relationship between pain, the patient, and the doctor.
It finally explores the cross-cultural implications of acupuncture as an
alternative means of pain management in the particular context of contemporary
American society, in which this ancient Chinese practice gains increasing
acceptance among individual patients, the medical community, and the health
insurance industries.
This course serves as a complement to the existing course "The Tao
of the Body and the Mind: An Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine"
by focusing on one of the key components of traditional Chinese medicine
and by relating Chinese acupuncture to Western culture. It deepens students'
understanding of pain and the culture of pain by examining this concept
across cultures and disciplines. The comparative approach adopted by this
course contributes toward a genuine appreciation of the uniqueness of traditional
Chinese medicine and facilitates a cross-cultural understanding and dialogue
between the East and the West.
The Instructor's Philosophy and Pedagogy
This course aims at empowering students in a congenial and stimulating
learning environment. Integrating team work with individual contribution,
the class as a whole forms a think tank. The instructor encourages independent
and original research against parrot-thinking and xeroxized learning. Students
are expected to develop critical perspectives and analytical abilities
through a mutually challenging and mutually inspiring interaction with
the instructor and among themselves. Through focused reading, viewing,
and discussions students will learn to think creatively and critically.
Through instructor-guided writing of research papers students will learn
to synthesize knowledge, analyze textual-contextual data, and articulate
their thinking.
The Format of the Class
The format of this course is lecture-discussion with an emphasis on
students' engagement and contribution so as to realize the concept of student
empowerment in the learning process. Instructor's lectures on weekly topics
are augmented by students questions and comments and complemented by class
discussions. The midterm and final brainstorms help students refresh and
reinforce their comprehension of course subjects and materials.
Requirements
No foreign languages prerequisite; all the texts are read in English
translation. The instructor's support is available to those who are interested
in reading Chinese texts in the original to enhance their understanding.
Students are encouraged to discuss with the instructor on the various aspects
(conceptual as well as technical) of their term projects and the criteria
for grading. They are free to propose their own theses on chosen topics
and also have the option to work with the instructor to develop appropriate
theses.
Grading
Total grade consists of the following components:
a) Writing assignment (80% in total) includes three research papers on
three topics respectively:
1. Understanding acupuncture: 4 pages, 20%;
2. Understanding the culture of pain: 4 pages, 20%;
3. Understanding the relationship between acupuncture and the culture of
pain: 6 pages, 40%
All three papers should be word-processed in double space. Students are
advised to refer to the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (ISBN
0-87352-379-2) and the Muhlenberg Academic Behavior Code governing writing
assignments. The basic criteria for grading are creative thinking, critical
thinking, and clear thinking.
b) Class engagement (20% in total) includes regular attendance, timely
fulfillment of reading and writing assignments, and particularly active
participation in class. Passive presence in class is not participation.
A total of five absences without legitimate, non-frivolous excuses reduces
the total grade by 10%.
Required Reading
Chaitow. Acupuncture Treatment of Pain.
Eckman. In the Footsteps of the Yellow Emperor.
Morris. The Culture of Pain.
MacPherson & Kaptchuk. Acupuncture in Practice: Case History Insights
from the West.
In addition to the above-listed books, supplementary readings will be on reserve at the campus library or handed out in class.
Weekly Progress
WK 1 (Tues., 8/26; Thurs. 8/28)
:-) Get Acquainted with Your Instructor, Classmates, and Syllabus
:-) Topic: The Tao of the Body: From Philosophy to Medicine
Reading: The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine (trans., Ni): Chap. 1.
The Universal Truth;
Between Heaven and Earth (Beinfield & Korngold): Chap. 1. Our Journey
East: Exploring Foreign Territory;
In the Footsteps of the Yellow Emperor (Eckman): Chap. 4. From Mythology
to Medicine: A History of TCM
Viewing: The Mystery of Chi
WK 2 (Tues., 9/2; Thurs., 9/4)
Topic: The Body as Yin-Yang & the Qi: Physiology, Etiology,
& Pathology
Reading: The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine: Chap. 5. The Manifestation
of Yin and Yang from the Macrocosm to the Microcosm, Chap. 6. The Interplay
of Yin and Yang; Between Heaven and Earth: Chap. 4. Cycles of Circles:
A Theory of Relativity Yin- Yang
Viewing: Taoism
WK 3 (Tues., 9/9; Thurs., 9/11)
Topic: The Body as the Five Elements: Metaanatomy, Diagnostics, & Therapeutics
Reading: The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine: Chap. 4. The Truth from the Golden Chamber, Chap. 23. The Paradigm of The Five Elemental Phases, Chap. 67. The Five- Phase Circuits; Between Heaven and Earth: Chap. 6. Five-Phase Theory: Evolutionary Stages of Transformation
Viewing: Wu-xing
WK 4 (Tues., 9/16; Thurs., 9/18)
Topic: The Body as the Meridians: The Basics of Acupuncture--I
Reading: The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine: Chap. 59. Pathways
of the Channels, Chap. 62. Regulation of the Channels; Between Heaven and
Earth: Chap. 13. Acupuncture: A Unified Field of Invisible Channels; The
Acupuncture Treatment of Pain (Chaitow): Chap. 2. How Does Acupuncture
Work?, Chap. 3. How to Use Acupuncture, Chap. 4. When to Use Acupuncture
Viewing: China Zhenjiuology: Introduction
WK 5 (Tues., 9/23; Thurs., 9/25)
Topic: The Body as a Plumbing System: The Basics of Acupuncture--II
Reading: The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine: Chap. 21. Meridian
Pathology and Corresponding Pulse Signs, Chap. 49. Channel Pathology in
Accordance with the Energy Almanac; Between Heaven and Earth: Chap. 13.
Acupuncture: A Unified Field of Invisible Channels (continued) Viewing:
China Zhenjiuology: Jingluo
WK 6 (Tues., 9/30; Thurs., 10/2)
Topic: Acupuncture as Body-"Plumbing": The Basics of Acupuncture--III
Reading: Between Heaven and Earth: Chap. 13. Acupuncture: A Unified
Field of Invisible Channels (continued) Viewing: China Zhenjiuology: Points;
Needling Methods PAN: Acupuncture Page 5
WK 7 (Tues., 10/7; Thurs., 10/9)
Midterm
Brainstorm Paper #1 Due Before Fall Recess :-)
Fall Recess: Fri., 10/10 - Wed., 10/15
WK 8 (Thurs., 10/16)
Topic: The Body of Pain
Reading: Pain in America (Sheridan): 1. Feeling Pain; The Culture of
Pain (Morris): 7. Pain Is Always in Your Head; Migraine (Sacks): Chap.
1: Common Migraine Viewing: Cries and Whispers
WK 9 (Tues., 10/21; Thurs., 10/23)
Topic: The Culture of Pain
Reading: Pain in America: 2. Psychosocial Aspects of Pain; The Culture
of Pain (Morris): 3. An Invisible Epidemic
WK 10 (Tues., 10/28; Thurs., 10/30)
Topic: The Triangle of Pain: Patient, the Doctor, & Pain
Reading: Pain in America: 4. Professional Caregivers, 6. Patients; Migraine
(Sacks): Chap. 14: General Measures in the Management of Migraine; U.S.
News & World Report: No Excuse for Pain (Cover Story): "The Quality
of Mercy" (Brownlee & Schrof) Viewing: Healing from Within
WK 11 (Tues., 11/4; Thurs., 11/6)
Topic: The Tao of Pain: Tong (Pain) vs. Tong (Unclogged)
Reading: Pain in America: 10. Meanings, 11. In Search of Solutions;
The Culture of Pain (Morris): 2. The Meanings of Pain, 12. The Future of
Pain
Paper #2 Due
WK 12 (Tues., 11/11; Thurs., 11/13)
Topic: The Needle vs. Pain--I
Reading: In the Footsteps of the Yellow Emperor (Eckman): Chap. 5: History
as Mystery: Traditional Acupuncture's Journey to the West; The Acupuncture
Treatment of Pain (Chaitow): Chap. 1: Acupuncture for Pain Relief, Chap.
7. Acupuncture Anaesthesia; Acupuncture in Practice (Macpherson & Kaptchuk):
7. Treating the untreatable (Haines), 40. Headaches, angels and guiding
spirits (Young) Viewing: China Zhenjiuology: Diagnosis & Treatment
of Internal Medicine
WK 13 (Tues., 11/18; Thurs., 11/20)
Topic: The Needle vs. Pain--II
Reading: The Acupuncture Treatment of Pain (Chaitow): Chap. 6: Formulary
for the Treatment of Pain; Acupuncture in Practice: 12. Elinor in the dance
(Connelly), 22. Challenges that take their toll (Cote) Viewing: China Zhenjiuology:
Diagnosis & Treatment of Gynecology & Pediatrics
WK 14 (Tues., 11/25)
Topic: The Needle or the Pill, This Is a Question
Reading: Pain in America: 9. Relieving Pain; Time Special Issue: The Frontiers of Medicine: "Challenging the Main Stream" (Langone); Acupuncture in Practice: 1. The cruel virus: a case of HIV and AIDS (Thong), 31. Coffee, marijuana and back pain (Nielsen) "Acupuncture--NIH Consensus Development Statement" (NIH); Skeptic: Acupuncture's Secrets Revealed (Ulett) Viewing: China Zhenjiuology: Diagnosis & Treatment of E.N.T. Department & etc. :-)
Thanksgiving Recess: Wed., 11/26 - Mon., 12/1
WK 15 (Tues., 12/2; Thurs., 12/4)
Final Brainstorm
Paper #3 Due