CITCM > Introduction

Natural medicine is one of the fastest growing occupational fields in modern society.   Western society is starting to understand the benefits of natural medicine, and is becoming more open to different methods of health care. Have you ever thought about choosing a career path that enables people to heal naturally? 

At the Canadian Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CITCM) we promote natural health care by providing career training in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.  We are also educating the public about the benefits of natural medicine and its role in the healing process.
Founded in 2002 by Dr. Xia Cheng, the school is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  The international atmosphere of the school is reflected in the diversity of both its professors and student body.  Professors and students alike are from countries such as China, the United States, Barbados, Iran, Pakistan, and England.

The role of the Institute is to deliver the message that natural medicine can prevent disease and assist the body in healing itself with a minimum of side effects.  Natural medicine is a fast growing industry that will have more and more influence on future health care. That is now being demonstrated through the fact that many western medical schools are now offering basic nutrition, herbology, and acupuncture as part of their curriculum.  Many insurance companies also pay for acupuncture treatments as a result of acupuncture’s continued success in the treatment of numerous ailments and market demand. We believe that acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine will work side by side with conventional medicine to provide our community with a more preventative and natural way of health care. 

The school itself is located about 20 minutes on foot from scenic downtown Calgary.  It is also close to a major shopping mall, a public transit station, and many restaurants and grocery stores.  For those looking to explore in their time off, the Rocky Mountains, Banff, Lake Louise, Kananaskis, and Sunshine Village are all within about an hour and a half drive.  That means that you can enjoy hiking or biking all summer and skiing all winter in some of the most beautiful settings in the world.  Edmonton, the Alberta capital, is only a three hour drive away with such attractions as West Edmonton Mall and White Avenue for other weekend trips.  Vancouver is only a 1 hour flight away, making Calgary very central to many other areas of Western Canada.
Additionally, Calgary has a rich multi-cultural life with many of the ethnic communities having a strong presence; so no matter where you are from you will likely be able to find others who share your interests and background.  The current student body and teaching staff are able to offer a great deal of information about the area, and are often able to direct a student towards different events and institutions within Calgary.