厥 — Reversal, Counterflow, and the Broken Connection of Yin and Yang Huang Di, What is jué reversal? Qi Bo knocked his head three times on the floor out of respect and said “what a wise question, I shall answer it as best I can”. Qi Bo, The word 厥 (jué)
We all know what it feels like to be tired. Sometimes the reason is obvious. We have worked too hard, slept badly, or simply had too much going on. Usually, a good night's sleep is enough to put things right. But sometimes tiredness becomes something else. We wake
Introduction The Six Conformations are often learned as six separate categories: Tai Yang, Yang Ming, Shao Yang, Tai Yin, Shao Yin, and Jue Yin. Each is associated with particular channels, organs, symptoms, and patterns of disease. While this is useful, it can also make the Six Conformations appear as six
A simple architecture of Chinese medicine I have come to think that it is not necessary to understand every aspect of ancient Chinese thought in order to understand Chinese medicine. This may seem like a strange conclusion, because Chinese medicine is surrounded by a remarkable number of ancient systems of
Introduction: When a Formula Name Opens a Cosmological Door When we encounter formulas such as Bai Hu Tang (White Tiger Decoction), Xiao Qing Long Tang (Minor Blue-Green Dragon Decoction), and Zhen Wu Tang (True Warrior Decoction) in the Shang Han Lun, it is tempting to focus immediately on their
Most practitioners learn abdominal diagnosis as a collection of interesting pressure points and tender areas. But what if the abdomen could tell you which herbal formula the patient needs? This guide brings together the clinical wisdom of Kampo, Kiiko Matsumoto Style, and the classical formula tradition of the Shang Han
Recently a friend challenged me by asking me to write a piece about Chinese Medicine that would be understood be someone that has no background in ancient Chinese thought. This is for you neighbour Paul. Many people who begin studying Chinese medicine quickly discover that it feels unfamiliar. The concepts
Recently, I gained a deeper appreciation for the clinical relationship between Jue Yin and Shao Yang. While studying the classics, it is easy to view the Six Conformations as distinct stages or categories. In practice, however, the boundaries are often less clear. Patients rarely arrive presenting textbook patterns, and it
In Chinese medicine, ideas rarely stand alone. Concepts are woven together from different directions—literally and figuratively. The East, Wind, Wood, Jue Yin, Shao Yang, Blood, and the prevention of disease all form part of a larger picture of how life unfolds through change and transformation. One of the most
Are we treating symptoms, or are we helping people reconnect with their true nature? Most people visit a Chinese Medicine practitioner because of a specific complaint. It may be headaches, back pain, digestive problems, insomnia, or fatigue. Naturally, they want relief from their symptoms. But when we study the classical
Classical Chinese medicine contains a curious observation: the same formula may treat excessive urination and difficult urination, while two different formulas may address remarkably similar urinary symptoms. This apparent contradiction begins to resolve when the focus shifts from urine itself to the governance of water. Shen qi wan and Zhen