Conference presentations
Barak Gombosh
Dror Omer Mohadav
Prof. Yigal Mirovsky
Dear Therapists!
After the previous conference, we are meeting again, and this time the conference will focus on orthopedics and pain.
We are excited to invite you to the 2023 conference, featuring the best experts and speakers in the country. This year, the conference will focus on back pain: “The Back from Then to Now”. During the conference, we will present various methods and techniques from Chinese medicine for treating imbalances: common pathologies, characteristic syndromes, and treatment methods using different tools from the world of Chinese medicine: acupuncture methods and techniques, medicinal herbs, and more.
- For your convenience, there will be display booths and sales of various products from leading companies at special prices for the conference day.
- Booths displaying Chinese medicine books.
- Quality catering.
- Raffles for conference attendees.
- Many surprises to come…
Conference Objectives:
- Sharing knowledge and clinical experience in Chinese medicine for treating back pain
- Sharing knowledge accumulated in Israel and worldwide on various pathologies related to back pain
- Developing therapeutic skills and new therapeutic tools.
- Connecting people – conferences are a wonderful place to meet, share, create collaborations, and more.
Target Audience:
Therapists and students of Chinese medicine and complementary medicine professionals in other fields –
- Naturopaths,
- Herbalists,
- Shiatsu and Tui Na therapists,
- MD physicians,
- Chinese medicine students.
Where and how much?
Association member
Early registration (until 20.11)
180 ₪
Association member
(after early registration)
220 ₪
Guest
non-association member
300 ₪
Student
at a recognized college
150 ₪
Members of ILAM / Herbologists / Naturopathy associations
250 NIS
Members of Maccabi Tivi
or Meuchedet Mashlima
320 ₪
Address: The conference took place at the Eretz Israel Museum, 2 Haim Levanon St., Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv.
Arriving by private car:
- Enter in Waze “Eretz Israel Museum” and it will take you directly to the paid parking lot adjacent to the museum.
- Parking fee: 25 NIS.
- For disabled badge holders – parking is free.
Arriving by public transportation:
- Dan: 7, 13, 24, 25, 45, 127
- Egged: 126, 171, 270, 271
- Afikim: 121
- Kavim: 94
- Nateev Express: 604
Train: University Station
Association office:
- Phone: 054-6310070
- Email: olga@tcmisrael.org.il
Conference program
Lecture times may change*
| Time | Event content |
|---|---|
| 8:30 | Gathering and mingling |
| 9:00 | Opening remarks: Yaniv Patia – Association Chairman, Avi Peled – Spokesperson, Mr. Roy Cohen – LAHAV President |
| 9:20 | Barak Gombosh – How to cause less pain to patients |
| 9:40 | Dror Omer Mohadav – Diagnosis and treatment of upper neck and back problems |
| 10:30 | Prof. Yigal Mirovsky – Red and yellow flags: What to be cautious of |
| 11:15 | Break |
| 11:30 | Adi Frum and Guy Polk – Spinal diseases and neck pain treatment using the balance method |
| 13:00 | Lunch break |
| 14:00 | Prize raffle |
| 14:15 | Asina Arder – Effective clinical tools for lower back treatment |
| 15:00 | Meir Glazer – Auriculotherapy and auricular medicine (in the main hall) |
| 15:00 | Keren Michaeli – Soo-Tai (in hall 2) |
| 15:45 | Break |
| 16:00 | Ophir Bloch – Electro-acupuncture (in the main hall) |
| 16:00 | Tom Mor – External medicinal herbs (in hall 2) |
| 17:00 | Conclusion |
Prize raffles for conference participants!
Here’s a list of prizes that will be awarded as gifts and/or in a raffle held on the conference day. Prizes are updated in real-time. For raffle rules
Tao Herbs Offers a Free Herbal Formula to all Conference Attendees!
Also, a set of children’s formulas from the Dragon series will be raffled off on the conference day. Worth it!!!
Bara Herbs Celebrates 25 Years and You Benefit!
A special personal gift for everyone who visits Bara’s booth at the conference, and additionally, one person will win a super high-quality product set worth 500 NIS in the raffle.
Want more? Get a 40% discount on a variety of products especially for the conference day.
Medicine Boom Offers all Conference Attendees a Particularly Useful Gift: a Portable Needle Container!
Inside the container, you’ll find another nice gift… but it’s a secret 🙂 And if that’s not enough, in the raffle held at the conference, one person will win a professional Medicine Boom massager as a gift!!!
*Worth 399 NIS
Trifolium Pharmacy Will Raffle off 10 Myrrh and Frankincense Pain Relief Ointments!
Who among you will be the lucky winners?
Drorit – Myherbs Offers a 200 NIS Coupon in the Raffle!
And also a crazy year-end sale when purchasing from a variety of products at the booth on the conference day.
And What Will the Association Give You as a Gift?
A valuable and particularly useful gift for all conference attendees. And also a cool souvenir that will magnetize the event for you. And another tasty treat will be distributed at the conference.
Will there be food?
We've arranged an excellent catering by Nectar, both vegan and delicious.
Snacks:
- Spelt and coconut sugar carrot cake – 8 NIS
- Date and cashew balls – 8 NIS
- Bagel with onion jam, cashew cheese and arugula – 15 NIS
- Carrot “smoked salmon” with cashew cheese and arugula – 15 NIS
Drinks:
- Indian chai / Cocoa and honey espresso / Instant coffee – 10 NIS
- Tea / Black coffee – 8 NIS
- Hot milk addition – 4 NIS
- Mineral water – 7 NIS
Lunch:
- Green salad – 15 NIS
- Tofu, mushroom, and green bean stew – 35 NIS
- Thai curry – 35 NIS
- Indian lentil dal with fennel and cauliflower – 35 NIS
*Stews are served with white/brown rice
for Payment and Advance Orders: Michal – 053-9232137
- Payment can be made in cash or via the Bit app.
- To reduce congestion during the lunch break, it’s advisable to order lunch and pay in advance.
Conference Sponsors
About the Speakers
How to Cause Less Pain
Short bonus lecture on issues we all experience in the clinic:
Does acupuncture hurt? And if so, why?
What factors influence the acupuncture experience for patients?
How do we deal with needle phobia and how can we provide a sense of security in the treatment and in the therapist?
All these and more in a brief lecture that will open the conference, based on personal insights from Barak’s clinic.
About the Speaker:
Certified Chinese medicine practitioner since 2012 from Reidman College. Specialized in meridian theory and advanced acupuncture with Sean Goodman. Previously lectured at Reidman College in Jerusalem.
Barak is a board member and manages the media department of the association.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Neck and Upper Back
On the theory from the Nan Jing that addresses neck and upper back problems through diagnoses, both of the Five Phases and the Eight Extraordinary.
I will explain how each of the theories is clinically expressed and their combination using Chinese formulas and acupuncture combinations with stretches to treat various issues: numbness in the hands, dizziness, neck pain, upper back pain, and more.
- Neck and upper back problems.
- Five Phases and Eight Extraordinary diagnoses in classical and modern views.
- Treatment methods using Chinese formulas and acupuncture combinations.
- Appropriate stretching forms as homework for the patient.
About the Speaker:
Practitioner and lecturer since 1994. Rich clinical experience of over 28 years. Specialized in Nan Jing, Shang Han Lun, and Kampo treatment methods. Studied under world-renowned experts, as well as in leading university hospitals in Taiwan and China. One of the founders of the Chinese herbs program in Israel. Lectured and managed herbal medicine programs at various colleges. (The College for Complementary Medicine, Medicine College, The College of Management, Tmurot College, and more).
One of the founders of the first herbal company in Israel “China Shop” and provided professional advice and guidance in herbal medicine to leading companies in the field in Israel.
Currently, he treats at his private clinic, lectures at Tmurot College, and about 8 years ago established the School of Diagnostics in Chinese Medicine.
Conducts continuing education courses for practitioners dealing with classical treatment methods
Nan Jing
Shang Han Lun
& Kampo.
Red Flags – What to Be Cautious Of
The Lecture: Back pain is a very common complaint and about 85% of us will suffer from it at some stage of life.
The range of causes for pain is vast, but the most common cause is pain due to wear and tear processes involving the disc in front and the facet joints behind. Kirkaldy Willis defined these wear processes “as the cycle of life” passing through 3 periods:
The period of “inflammation” (ages 20-40) during which tears begin in the disc and facet joints and are manifested in short attacks of back pain.
The period of “instability” (ages 40-60) during which, due to ongoing wear, vertebral instability events and disc herniations develop, clinically manifested in back “catches” and radiations to the legs.
The period of “stabilization” (ages 60 and above) when the degenerative changes become so significant that they cause canal narrowing and the phenomenon of leg pain appearing during walking and relieved by sitting.
In about 90% of cases, the pain has an episodic nature and passes within a few weeks regardless of treatment. However, drug treatments, physiotherapy, complementary medicine treatments, pain medicine, and others can reduce pain intensity and help the patient get through the attack more easily.
It is very important to identify among the routine cases those cases where behind the pain lies a much more significant problem that requires urgent investigation and possibly surgery. For this purpose, “task forces” in different countries have defined warning signs that should draw our attention that this is not just another routine case, and they are included in what is called:
“Red flags” – which are anamnestic and clinical details that raise suspicion that behind the pain lurks a tumorous disease, infections, neurological symptoms, or pain that appeared after trauma.
“Yellow flags” which are an expression of the pain becoming chronic, a condition in which the organic pathology is no longer the main component of the pain.
Identifying these signs has significant implications for the patient’s future functioning and health and also has heavy medicolegal implications.
About the Speaker:
Graduate of Tel Aviv University School of Medicine, orthopedics specialist, holds a master’s degree in orthopedics from Tel Aviv University, orthopedic physician – senior surgeon.
Previously: Chairman of the Israeli Spine Society, Chairman of the Israeli branch of AO Spine, Director of SIRAM (Complementary Medicine Service) at “Assaf Harofeh” Hospital, Director of the Spine Surgery Unit at “Assaf Harofeh” Hospital and later Director of Orthopedic Department B at the hospital. Clinical Professor Emeritus at Tel Aviv University School of Medicine, board member of the Association for Medicine and Law.
Lecture 3: Spinal Diseases and Neck Pain in the Balance Method
Spinal diseases led by Guy Polak. In light of the success of Chinese medicine treatments and extensive research on back pain treatment topics worldwide, collaborations between Western medicine and Chinese medicine are tightening and the expectation for good results is increasing. This reality presents us with a great challenge as the complaints and diseases we encounter become more complex.
In this lecture, we will delve into complex spinal diseases. Does a Western diagnosis influence the treatment decision and its outcomes? What are spondylolysis, vertebral lysis, axial pain, and how do we treat them? How can radiological findings help me during treatment decision-making, and how do I translate damage to different tissues into acupuncture treatment? We will learn differential diagnosis between local mechanism, meridian mechanism, and zang-fu mechanism, and review common treatments in the clinic that you can implement immediately after the lecture.
About the Speaker:
Guy Polak (Dip.CM(IATCM), married with 3 children, resident of Tel Aviv. He has 18 years of experience in Chinese medicine, including specialization in China at Hangzhou Hospital. Expert in treating orthopedic neurological pain and urological pain diseases. Chairman of the Israeli Association for Chinese Medicine 2013-2018. Practitioner and manager of Chinese medicine at Assaf Harofeh Hospital 2003-2018. Founder of the complementary medicine system at Assuta Ashdod Public Hospital 2018-2020. Co-founder of Tan Israel ITC center. Author of two books on the Balance Method. Lecturer and teacher of the Balance Method in 11 countries worldwide.
Lecture 4: Treating Neck Pain Using the Balance Method Led by Adi Fromm
Neck pain has become a central complaint in seeking medical assistance in recent years.
Modern lifestyle leads to maintaining the body and head in unnatural positions for long periods, resulting in an increase in the number of complainants and a decrease in the age of complaints.
The many years I worked at Assaf Harofeh Hospital together with the best spine specialists led to the creation of many treatment protocols for such problems. The ability to understand the problem, correctly diagnose the muscle, and tailor an accurate treatment is one of the reasons why acupuncture using Dr. Tan’s Balance Method has gained fame worldwide. In this lecture, we will be happy to teach you Dr. Tan’s work, the method of diagnosis and treatment in three simple steps. We will also cover the developments of Tan Israel Center regarding the treatment of cervical problems for immediate implementation in your clinic.
About the Speaker:
Adi Fromm is the director of the School of Chinese Medicine at Reidman College, former head of the Complementary Medicine Department at Assaf Harofeh Hospital, has been practicing for more than 20 years, holds an official teaching certificate from Dr. Tan and is authorized to teach the method on his behalf, author of two books on the Balance Method, and teaches the method in more than 10 countries worldwide.
Effective Clinical Tools for Lower Back Treatment
Asina Arder Dipl. Acupuncture & Herbology
About the Lecture:
How do we choose acupuncture points that will bring significant improvement in range of motion and a clear reduction in pain? Precise needling, in the right direction and depth, will allow balancing of the spine and back muscle system. Treatment of movement chains through meridians reduces the load on the spine while reducing pain and strengthening the supporting muscle system.
In this lecture, aimed at providing effective clinical tools for lower back treatment, a diagnosis and treatment technique will be presented based on lessons and insights from the last 20 years in a busy clinic treating various pains.
About the Speaker:
Certified practitioner of Chinese and Japanese medicine since 2002. Teaches in the two-year program for Japanese medicine in the Kiiko Matsumoto method and lectures in advanced seminars for various Japanese acupuncture techniques. Worked as a senior therapist at Assaf Harofeh and gained experience of thousands of treatments in orthopedics. Established and manages the Tevamd clinic for Japanese medicine where students and experienced practitioners specialize and learn.
Auriculotherapy and Auricular Medicine
The Lecture:
Treatment of acute and chronic back pain using auriculotherapy and auricular medicine.
In this lecture, we will familiarize ourselves with the ear map and its structure. We will discuss the difference between auriculotherapy and auricular medicine, learn about main treatment points and correct ear acupuncture to improve treatment results. We will get to know working tools in this medicine for finding active points on the ear and leave time for demonstrations.
About the Speaker:
Certified practitioner of traditional and classical Chinese medicine since 2002 with a clinic in Tel Aviv. Advanced studies in YNSA, Master Tung in Taiwan, laser and auricular medicine. In 2004, founded ‘Bamboo – The Israeli Magazine for Chinese Medicine’, which was the first of its kind in the country on this topic, and managed the BSH Chinese Medicine Forum until its closure. Previously lectured at the Israeli College for Complementary Medicine and other frameworks. Served as an auditor of the Chamber of Chinese Medicine upon its establishment. Currently manages the ‘Free’ discussion group on Facebook. Published a booklet on differential diagnosis in Chinese medicine.
Sotai
Sotai is a treatment method developed in Japan in the 20th century by a Japanese doctor named Dr. Hashimoto. Dr. Hashimoto served as a doctor in the Japanese army in both World Wars I and II, and from his extensive experience with many severe orthopedic problems, he developed the method. Dr. Hashimoto also studied Chinese medicine and kinesiology and incorporated all the knowledge he gained, both Western and Chinese, into Sotai. The meaning of the word Sotai in Japanese is ‘working on the body’ – SO work, TAI body.
Sotai is a manual, practical, and easy-to-implement treatment method that brings immediate results in the clinic. In Sotai, the patient is active throughout the treatment and learns to move their body correctly, preventing future damage and pain.
In the workshop, we will demonstrate the principles of the method, exercises related to the cervical, lumbar, and lower spine, as well as the 6 home exercises.
About the Speaker:
She began her professional journey in 2000 with Shiatsu studies at Genesis College and simultaneously, Chinese medicine studies at Seminar Hakibbutzim. Certified since 2008. In 2019, she studied Channel Theory and Master Tung with Shawn Goodman. Keren treats and lectures on Chinese medicine topics in various private settings.
“I had the privilege of being a student of Adi Ziv z”l, who brought Sotai to Israel…”
Electro-Acupuncture
Theoretical lecture and practical workshop for treating back problems using electro-acupuncture in Chinese and Japanese medicine.
We will familiarize ourselves with the terminology and how to operate the device in the electro world, discuss contraindications for treatment, and learn treatment protocols for general back problems, neck, shoulders, and lower back. We will also touch on the use of electro through YNSA and conclude with demonstrations.
About the Speaker:
Practitioner of Japanese and Chinese medicine. Completed Chinese medicine studies at Broshim College in 2010 and continued studies in Japanese medicine, Kiiko style, with Ran Califf, where he was also an assistant for about 4 years. In 2013, studied YNSA in Japan with Toshikatsu Yamamoto and later was exposed to and deepened his knowledge in the field of electro from three masters in the field: Michael Coradino, Rick Bernard & Jeremy Steiner. Studied Master Tung’s acupuncture with Shawn Goodman. Teaches advanced touch techniques, electro-acupuncture studies, and YNSA. Treats in clinics in Tel Aviv, Herzliya, and Kibbutz Ein Hamifratz. Among other things, Ophir holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology/Life Sciences and a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Computer Science.
External Herbal Medicine
External use of herbal medicine for treating spinal diseases and lower back pain.
There are two main treatment methods for herbal medicine therapy.
– Di Da Jiao, or literally translated “Wine for Falls and Injuries,” is a well-known Eastern herbal tincture for external use. It is a spray based on herbs and essential oils that supports the process of reducing pain and inflammation, and rehabilitation of tendons, ligaments, and bones.
– Di Da Yao Gao, or literally translated “ointment for falls and injuries”, is a herbal mixture for bandaging based on sesame oil and beeswax.
Unlike other ointments where the herbs undergo only an extraction process, the ground herbs are part of the ointment itself. The ointment is applied to the affected area, wrapped with gauze and an elastic bandage for 6 to 24 hours. The ointment is intended for cases requiring intensive treatment.
The lecture will include an explanation of the treatment technique, sources and development of the treatment, and we will receive tools for working in the clinic.
About the lecturer:
Practitioner of Chinese medicine specializing in Chinese acupuncture, Tui Na, herbal medicine, cupping, and Gua Sha since 2014.
Further studies:
Courses in internal medicine and orthopedics at Assaf Harofeh Hospital, followed by a pregnancy and fertility course – Keren Zelicha
In 2018, he traveled to Hong Kong and studied with Master Siking Zhang Kao-wa, specializing in practical herbal medicine for orthopedic issues.
Among other things, Tom completed advanced aromatherapy courses at the Centre of Excellence
Certified instructor of White Crane Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and Qi Gong. Former Kung Fu trainer for children.
He was an assistant in the Tui Na course for therapists and practiced Tui Na at Maccabi Tivi.
Currently runs a private clinic and also practices Chinese acupuncture at Meuhedet Complementary Medicine, and owns an online store selling complementary products based on Traditional Chinese Medicine principles.