Tuesday, December 4, 2012

help studying for the nccaom herbal board exam

I have just published an album of songs to help students and practitioners learn and remember Chinese medicinal herbs and formulas.  They are available as an album called "Supplemental Herb Songs" at www.cdbaby.com/cd/jasonbussell . 

This work was inspired by the work of Joe Curcio.  He wrote and recorded 58 songs covering over 70 formulas.  Each song goes through each verse three times.   The first time, you listen, second time, you sing along, and the third time you sing solo.  This helped me a lot, but I wished there were more songs.  So I wrote 38 more songs covering 56 more formulas, following the same format.  You can preview the songs with lyrics at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHpaABCjLqg and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leuT7CWs2lI . 

Whoever can benefit from my songs should also buy Joe's.  His are also available at www.cdbaby.com under the title "Tunes on Tangs and Songs on Sans".

And as a bonus, at the end of the lyrics (listed under "album info"), I have included some herbal mnemonics that were also helpful in my studying.  Things like:
"Di Yu  know that you’re bleeding?  (Do you know that you’re bleeding)
Because Di Yu (Sanguisorbae Radix) cools the blood and stops bleeding.

Huai Hua Mi?  Huia Mi?  Huai am I bleeding out my ass? (why am I bleeding)
Because Huai Hua Mi (Sophorae Flos Immaturus) treats bloody dysentery, bleeding hemorrhoids and heat in the LI; (as well as coughing blood, nosebleeds and uterine bleeding).


You do not need to buy the album to see the mnemonics. 


I hope this can help you. 


-Jason