01/24/2014
What was my path to Chinese Medicine?.....(a history, ending in Ch. principles of health)
If you came into my shop, you would be hit with the unique smells of the 300 imported chinese raw herbs there. They are fascinating as well to see in their glass display, the meticulous way of slicing a root or tying a delicate bundle of stems and leaves. You immediately get a sense that this is a different kind of medicine than we are used to in the West. And this is a lot of what I want to address today: I would like to bring to you a different way of thinking about how to stay healthy and how to address health problems before they manifest and after.
I began my scholastic interest in the mechanistic world: both structural, chemical and medical. I wanted to know HOW it all worked. After graduating as Mechanical Engineer from Ga Tech, and working for the big company and later privately, I asked more and more WHY, and this led to internal and external Martial Arts to fine tune my body and understand what health was. I had always been interested in medicine, but was not attracted to the Western system that seemed not to empower the patient, and only dealt with disease. I was drawn to Ch system of healthy breathing and movement called Qi Gong through one of my teachers. With 10 Min a day, I never had a cold or immune problem for over 2 yrs. This was not normal for me. Later from the hard martial arts workouts, I had back problems that would not go away. I learned more Qi Gong and took prescribed formulas from a Ch Med Doc who would later allow my apprenticeship. The herbs not only solved my back problem, they taught my body a certain wisdom, and awareness of how my body should use and express its available energy. Only later did I travel 5 hours every month to experience acupuncture in a state where it was legal. I became aware that this was an ancient and wise medicine; it was formally taught in the US, and I had to learn it, both for my own health and to help others. After 4 yrs of full time schooling, I graduated with a Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine and began practice. I soon realized that my patients did not share my zeal and confidence, and on looking back I realized that my process had been slow as well, MAINLY due to my past limitations on thinking the Western paradigm of medicine: ‘here is my problem, what can YOU do to fix it?’.
The separation of patient from his healing process is perfect for a system that deals with SYMPTOMS, expressed after a ‘disease’ or imbalance has been hidden in the body for some time. An example might be a pain in the arm that won’t go away. Ch med looks for a series of diagnostic patterns derived from specific signs given by the body. WesternMed searches with expensive technology for damage or observable malfunction and if not found, usually prescribes medication to block pain, and physical therapy. In ChMed, the root cause will be addressed, usually in this case a limited flow of Qi force or blockage in the acupuncture channels that can have various organ based or lifestyle/diet sources. Qi is a quite subtle level of life energy, in that it can not be measured by any now-known scientific means. Most of us will not feel Qi in everyday life, but it is the basis of a system of medicine that has survived recorded history (remember the ‘Ice Man’). This method, which involves Acupuncture, ChHerbalMed, and Qi Gong, produces a more permanent solution, but may take time because the root problem could be of long duration or genetic momentum. The point is, masking a symptom is not curing anything, and when serious drugs are involved, over time, they can be more injurious than the original complaint. I am speaking of patients that have been on a cascade of medications for so long that they do not respond as a healthy human would.
None of this is anyone’s fault. It is just the way that all of us are used to thinking. Believe me, from my experience, that when it begins to change within someone, it can be miraculous. When one takes a responsibility to be healthy, all phases of life can change. I am not talking about running 3 miles a day, or doing ‘Cardio’, or becoming a food N**i. After you have become balanced to some degree, all that is necessary is about 15- 20 min. of easy body breathing or ‘energetics’ exercise, and knowing certain rules, that upon gradual implementation are easily accepted into lifestyle.
Qi Gong EVERY morning. Allow nature in. Nine Threading Breaths and Loose- Shaking Qi Gong
Breakfast Like a King, lunch like a Prince, and dinner like a Pauper.
Eat fresh foods that have been cooked; raw foods and meats/ protein should be a small part of the diet.
Lead a stress-free life. Anyone can eventually get there. (Stress can be emotional, chemical, or mechanical)
Have an awareness of toxins/addictions and moderate them. Do the best you can. The stress of demands and ultimatums can be worse than the addiction.
Do a dietary and/or acupuncture-herbal clearing occasionally to ‘reset’ health. Serious problems or personal weaknesses need diagnosis and balancing.
Become aware of the influence of mind on physical health; the body/mind connection.
Laugh as much as you can. Find the humor in being human.
More Tea, Less Coffee. More Vinegar, Less Sugar. More Love, Less Desire. More Acceptance, Less Anger. More Now-Action, Less Worry. More Grateful, Less Achievement.
