Introduction

Introduction
The International Master Program in Acupuncture, under the guidance of College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University was founded in 2008.  The College of Chinese Medicine has been devoted to Chinese medicine education for more than forty years, and provides the best environment for cultivating international acupuncturists and related researchers. This program is open for international western doctors, Chinese medicine doctors, dentists and Acupuncturists. The program conducts courses and research geared toward the integration of traditional Chinese medical science and modern clinical science.  Currently the efficacy of acupuncture has been globally accepted and acknowledged by the World Health Organization, attracting many international scientists to devote themselves to the study of acupuncture.  One fundamental goal of this program is to improve the worldwide understanding of abstruse acupunctural concepts in order to allow the global community to be more receptive to this treatment venture. The program aims to promote traditional Chinese medicine and Acupuncture both inside and outside of Taiwan through the use of modern scientific technology in order to enhance interdisciplinary research.

Basic literacy
本學程基本素養：「仁、慎、勤、廉」
Basic literacy：「Compassion、Prudence、Diligence、Integrity」

Our Aims
本學程教育目標：
培養具獨立思考與解決問題能力之針灸人才
培育具研究與語言表達能力之針灸人才
培育具國際觀之針灸人才
Our Aims：
To promote acupuncture science and cultivate acupuncture teachers and researchers
Cultivate acupuncture talents with research and communication skills
Cultivate acupuncture talents with an international perspective

Core Competencies
本學程核心能力：
以針灸為主軸之獨立思考能力
客觀分析問題，並解決問題能力
針灸領域之專業研究能力
針灸領域之教授能力
建立針灸國際化之能力
Core Competencies：
Independent thinking
Objective problem solving
Acupuncture related research capabilities
Teaching ability
Internationalization of acupuncture

Areas of Excellence
We have focused our research interest majorly on 14 meridians and related acupoints. To do this, teachers have developed several topics from clinical setting to animal models. Now, we have several excellent achievements, which include researches on therapies and mechanisms of acupuncture on stroke patients; reconstruction of medical images to3D images to evaluate relationship between central nerve system diseases and acupuncture; establish new and original topics about curative therapy of acupuncture on itchiness and drug addiction; investigate on the analgesia effect of acupuncture in clinical patients and its cellular mechanisms using animal models. This institute is the first and a unique institute in Taiwan on acupuncture and moxibustion research, and is ranked as one of the outstanding meridian research groups in the field.

Advancing Achievement
In the institute, students can learn about both traditional meridian-acupoint theories and current scientific research in clinical or animal laboratory settings.  Based on a variety of developed novel techniques, our institute has provided a premier platform for aspiring scholars to conduct research that has led to the improvement of acupuncture science in both clinical settings and epidemiological frontiers. Understating the fundamental basis of traditional Chinese medicine and providing scientific evidence that supports the functional mechanisms thereof form a central aim of the research conducted at the institute. Innovative ideas in several areas have been currently identified, and are constantly expanded upon by students. Scholarly research papers published at the institute include a vast scope of topics for which acupuncture and Chinese medicine has displayed beneficial treatment effects, such as in stroke-induced neural deficits; inflammatory and neuropathic pain conditions; chronic pain, various allegic responses; decreases in cocaine-induced animal death etc. Furthermore, with the reconstruction of medical diagnostic images to 3D images, several specific acupuncture functioning areas were located and are in the process of being defined on a molecular level. With our previous work, several functioning areas and detailed mechanisms about meridian-acupoint theories have been recognized by the scientific community across the globe. It is by the virtue of the research conducted at our institution that we aim to characterize acupuncture and Chinese medicine in a scientific way so that the global standing of this age old treatment may be on par with western medicine. By these works, we hope to understand acupuncture and Chinese medicine in a modern way and to polish its value so that it may better serve the healthcare industry and be recognized in all lights for the valuable treatment that it provides.