Introduction

[Guest guest]

Hi Chris, and thanks. I'll be sure to jump into or start conversations as

I'm able. Actually, I've already started. *g* And yes, I've noticed there

are plenty of knowledgeable folks here, and I can definitely relate to info

stored in the noggin!

 

Carol

 

Dragon's Pearls

http://www.dragonspearls.com

 

 

> Welcome Carol!!!!!

>

> Make yourself at home. Feel free to join in the conversation (or start

> one of your your own!). We have a great group of folks here who are very

> knowledgeable and willing to share the wealth of info they have stored

> in those noggins!

>

> *Smile*

> Chris (list mom)

[Guest guest]

I too am from PCOM San Diego. Mathew Schmitter was in a class or two behind

me, I think. I am practicing in Cleveland, Ohio, and my website is

www.clevelandacupuncture.com

I have an article in the April '02 archives of AcupunctureToday, entitled,

" Your Right To Bear Herbs In the State of Ohio. I am currently battling the

Medical board and Worker's Comp for the right to acupuncturists to be able to be

providers, which currently ONLY docs can get. This is a backwards place and I

will consider vacating if this next bill does not get modified to make us

providers. there is NO insurance reimbursement here except for docs. UGH!

Anne Kinchen

[Guest guest]

hi anne

i am from pcom nyc

good luck in your fight to use herbs

actually i dont use herbs and have had some remarkable successes with needles craniosacral therapy, aromatherapy and sound acupuncture using tuning forks. too many ny'ers are already on a drug soup to mix in more chemicals

enrico viselli

[Guest guest]

BRAVO Zev!

I totally agree. many patients are able to discontinue the heavy duty side

affect producing drugs, and find their way just as well or more efficiently

with appropriate herbal medicinals.

I think going in to a boxing ring (with one hand tied behind your back is

silly.....(to limit yourself to acupuncture) if you have been trained to use

herbs,...USE " EM! Let's not forget FIRST line of defense.....DIET!!!!!!!

Anything

you put into your mouth is going to have a powerful effect on the your body.

[Guest guest]

I don't think using herbal medicine is 'mixing in more chemicals'. It

is a possible way to get them less reliant on toxic drugs.

 

 

On Monday, May 26, 2003, at 02:36 PM, rizinrico wrote:

 

> too many ny'ers are already on a drug soup to mix in more chemicals

[Guest guest]

Hi Enrico.

 

The notion of chemicals in herbs, depends on how you think TCM

works. From a orthodox viewpoint, a typical TCM herbal therapy

contains some ten different herbs and hundreds of compounds, when

boiled together form complex compounds that affect the human body.

This has been the main reason for the failure of the systematic

study of TCM formulas within the randomised controlled trial (RCT)

model. Hence the calls for a clinical efficacy to be conducted in

human beings, against the normal empirical model of testing.

 

Acupuncture has been subjective, and can to come degree, fall witin

the empirical model of testing, i.e. acupuncture and addiction.

However, the mechainisms are still unknown. Therefore, do we then

look at the energetic system of mechanics?

 

From this viewpoint, herbs and acupuncture work at the etheric-

physcial level of the body, and to a degree, chemical compounds do

not take precedent. Rather, the vibrational frequencies of energy

interact with the vibrations at the cellular level. For more info,

Richard Gerber's Vibrational Medicine book is a good start.

 

Attilio

 

Chinese Medicine , rizinrico@a...

wrote:

> hi anne

> i am from pcom nyc

> good luck in your fight to use herbs

> actually i dont use herbs and have had some remarkable successes

with needles

> craniosacral therapy, aromatherapy and sound acupuncture using

tuning forks.

> too many ny'ers are already on a drug soup to mix in more chemicals

> enrico viselli

[Guest guest]

Lisa:

If you really want to understand food as it relates SPECIFICALLY to TCM,

check out Bob Flaws book on " The Tao of Healthy Eating " . I frequently make it

part

of my patient education requirement especially if a case is obviously tied up

with poor nutrition.

If you understand the principles of Chinese medicine, it is not so difficult

to apply them to herbal medicine or food selection. In fact, it is really one

and the same.

I find I get superior results and better compliance from patients who are

willing to take the time and make the effort to understand these principles.

They

can then apply them to all eating situations which makes much more sense than

just giving them a list of whats good for them or not. Many people do not

realize garlic and ginger are warm and spicy. They think only in terms of

pepper,

etc. it is a process of education. Perhaps not all will be interested to

grasp these concepts, but I feel it is part of our job as practitioners to offer

this. Anne K.

[Guest guest]

I, like Attilo, do not use specialized herbal formulary in my practice. I am an acupuncturist and energy worker who uses sound therapy and all the other tools of TCM (and few others). While I recognize that patent herbs are not as effective as raw herbs, I use them on occasion (with good results). If I have a patient that exhibits a strong need for a personalized herbal formula, I refer them. However, I have found that I have been able to treat my patients quite well without herbs and have had to refer very few to herbalists.

 

I do agree that diet is the first line of defense. Diet and lifestyle are major factors in any healing process. I respect the benefits of herbs but also feel that many jump to herbs too quickly without looking at diet and lifestyle.

We are all doing the work we are drawn to do ... there are those who are drawn to my approach and others will be drawn to the herbal/TCM approach. If we are all helping people effectively, does it matter? I would venture, no, it really doesn't. There many types of (reasons for) imbalance; there are about as many approaches and styles of bringing them into balance and well being.

 

Be well, Maya

 

 

"Problems cannot be solved at the same level of consciousness that created them.: ~ Albert Einstein

[Guest guest]

To TCM group,

Thank you for inviting me into this group. I am a chiropractor, certified

acupuncturist in practice for the last 8 years. While I don't prescribe herbs,

I

appreciate their usefulness and sometimes refer to a local herbalist who gets

good

results. Re: a recent comment on `the first line of defense being diet', I'm

grateful for a book by Pitchford entitled `Healing with Whole Foods'. It

enables me

to help patients choose healing foods with more specificity.

Lisa

[Guest guest]

The notion of chemicals in herbs, depends on how you think TCM works.

>>>Regardless on what one think they do contain chemicals.

alon

[Guest guest]

Yes Alon, you are absoutely right. I was wrong to seperate the two,

but i was trying to simplify the info i was trying to get across. I

believe that the chemicals form a complex set of compounds that

alter the negative feedback loop of cells therefre affecting the

vibrational frequency they omit. So in-acutal-fact the

etheric/physical and chemical theories are the same thing.

 

Attilio

 

Chinese Medicine , " Alon Marcus "

<alonmarcus@w...> wrote:

> The notion of chemicals in herbs, depends on how you think TCM

> works.

> >>>Regardless on what one think they do contain chemicals.

> alon

[Guest guest]

I'd like to know what you mean by etheric and vibrational frequencies

vis a vis Chinese medicine. How do you relate these ideas to the

Chinese medical literature?

 

 

On Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at 11:04 AM, wrote:

 

> I

> believe that the chemicals form a complex set of compounds that

> alter the negative feedback loop of cells therefre affecting the

> vibrational frequency they omit. So in-acutal-fact the

> etheric/physical and chemical theories are the same thing.

[Guest guest]

Hi Maya. I do use herbs aswell as acupuncture and nutrition. It may

have looked like i was attacking herbs because of their chemaical

compounds, but in actual fact i was just trying to explin how they

work. In-actual-fact, i'm studying a 5 years degree in both

acupuncture and herbal formula, so yeah i'm passionate about both of

them! I do however, believe that herbal formulary originated from

diet and nutrition and therefore is vitally important, as you are

what you eat!

 

To be honest, i feel that raw herbs act quicker to treat a disease

than just acupuncture alone. (Now, that's opened up a can of worms).

But that's just from personal experience. Although in the perfect

world, they should both we used together along with Qi Gong and

nutrition.

 

Attilio

 

Chinese Medicine , mvajra@a...

wrote:

> I, like Attilo, do not use specialized herbal formulary in my

practice. I am

> an acupuncturist and energy worker who uses sound therapy and all

the other

> tools of TCM (and few others). While I recognize that patent

herbs are not as

> effective as raw herbs, I use them on occasion (with good

results). If I have

> a patient that exhibits a strong need for a personalized herbal

formula, I

> refer them. However, I have found that I have been able to treat

my patients

> quite well without herbs and have had to refer very few to

herbalists.

>

> I do agree that diet is the first line of defense. Diet and

lifestyle are

> major factors in any healing process. I respect the benefits of

herbs but also

> feel that many jump to herbs too quickly without looking at diet

and

> lifestyle.

>

> We are all doing the work we are drawn to do ... there are those

who are

> drawn to my approach and others will be drawn to the herbal/TCM

approach. If we

> are all helping people effectively, does it matter? I would

venture, no, it

> really doesn't. There many types of (reasons for) imbalance;

there are about as

> many approaches and styles of bringing them into balance and well

being.

>

> Be well,

> Maya

>

>

> " Problems cannot be solved at the same level of consciousness that

created

> them.: ~ Albert Einstein

[Guest guest]

hi Attilo,

 

Actually, I was addressing another's comment in my email. But thank you for your clarification. I have heard folks disparage those who do not make herbs a primary focus in their practice and I feel this is a disservice. There are those who stay close to the classical information and then there are those who find their own path, using chinese medicine as a catalyst and reference point. Either choice is perfectly valid. I was just pointing out that it is important for us to remain respectful of our contemporaries as we are all "outside the gate" with regard to the currently medical paradigm, for starters.

 

Tis all I was saying.

Be well,

Maya

 

"Problems cannot be solved at the same level of consciousness that created them.: ~ Albert Einstein

[Guest guest]

Below is a extermely condensed summary from Richard Gerber's book Vibrational Medicine of the mechanisms of acupuncture.

 

As Gerber (1996, p197) explains the possible mechanism of acupuncture analgesia starts from the initial acupoint stimulation (see attached file). Through the acupuncture meridian network, Qi energies are transformed into DC-current changes, which are then slowly transmitted along perineural pathways throughout the glial network. At the level of the brain, these changes in DC potential are also associated with neurochemical mechanisms (i.e. endorphin release) that may precede or coincide with the action-potential changes in individual neurons.

 

I cannot do the subject beter justice, therefore if you require more information, i can only refer you to his book. I believe herbs work on the same principles, again i refer you to Gerber's book. <zrosenbe wrote: I'd like to know what you mean by etheric and vibrational frequencies vis a vis Chinese medicine. How do you relate these ideas to the Chinese medical literature?On Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at 11:04 AM, wrote:> I> believe that the chemicals form a complex set of compounds that> alter the negative feedback loop of cells therefre affecting the> vibrational frequency they omit. So in-acutal-fact the> etheric/physical and chemical theories are the same thing.Attilio

www.chinesedoctor.co.uk

Chinese Traditional MedicineIt's Samaritans' Week. Help Samaritans help others.

Call 08709 000032 to give or donate online now at

http://www.samaritans.org/support/donations.shtm

[Guest guest]

This is interesting stuff, but this is one man's research and

conclusions on the mechanism of acupuncture analgesia. It hardly

describes the phenomena of how herbal medicine works, or

acupuncture/moxa for that matter. In other words, it is speculative

and uses language that Chinese medicine doesn't use itself, such as

etheric or energetic. To use one person's ideas, no matter how

interesting, as a basis for discussion of the principles of Chinese

medicine loses the thread of what has been established in the system

already.

 

 

On Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at 02:09 PM, Attilio D'Alberto wrote:

 

> As Gerber (1996, p197) explains the possible mechanism of acupuncture

> analgesia starts from the initial acupoint stimulation (see attached

> file). Through the acupuncture meridian network, Qi energies are

> transformed into DC-current changes, which are then slowly transmitted

> along perineural pathways throughout the glial network. At the level

> of the brain, these changes in DC potential are also associated with

> neurochemical mechanisms (i.e. endorphin release) that may precede or

> coincide with the action-potential changes in individual neurons.

[Guest guest]

Z'ev. Everything starts with one man's idea or ideas

and it is from that one that the 10,000 things spring

forth. Reenah

--- <zrosenbe wrote:

> This is interesting stuff, but this is one man's

> research and

> conclusions on the mechanism of acupuncture

> analgesia. It hardly

> describes the phenomena of how herbal medicine

> works, or

> acupuncture/moxa for that matter. In other words,

> it is speculative

> and uses language that Chinese medicine doesn't use

> itself, such as

> etheric or energetic. To use one person's ideas, no

> matter how

> interesting, as a basis for discussion of the

> principles of Chinese

> medicine loses the thread of what has been

> established in the system

> already.

>

>

> On Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at 02:09 PM, Attilio

> D'Alberto wrote:

>

> > As Gerber (1996, p197) explains the possible

> mechanism of acupuncture

> > analgesia starts from the initial acupoint

> stimulation (see attached

> > file). Through the acupuncture meridian network,

> Qi energies are

> > transformed into DC-current changes, which are

> then slowly transmitted

> > along perineural pathways throughout the glial

> network. At the level

> > of the brain, these changes in DC potential are

> also associated with

> > neurochemical mechanisms (i.e. endorphin release)

> that may precede or

> > coincide with the action-potential changes in

> individual neurons.

 

 

 

 

Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook.

http://calendar.

[Guest guest]

That one man's idea in China was the germ of the Nei Jing, 2.000 or so

years ago (actually a compilation of many people's original ideas). It

is fine to start something new, but don't call it Chinese medicine. It

is vibrational healing. Let's not mix things up, call an orange a

potato. Otherwise we'll lose the thread.

 

 

On Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at 07:19 PM, reenah mcgill wrote:

 

> Z'ev.  Everything starts with one man's idea or ideas

> and it is from that one that the 10,000 things spring

> forth.  Reenah

[Guest guest]

Z'ev,

 

If I'm not mistaken, Attilio was responding to Alon's much vaunted appraisal of herbs as little packages of pharmacologically active biochemicals. Which of course they are. However, I believe CM herbal formulas use within their own paradigm have many advantages over attempts to use herbs for their allopathic potentials. We've visited this territory on CHA with vivid results. My commentary was to see the counter point between pharmacological effects of various biochemical molecules as compared to their in vivo physiological effects. This is where I referred to the human body's homeostatic ability to balance itself with it's own dosaging. I suggested that CM herbal formulas work to adjust homeostasis in less linear, one-to-one ways in which allopaths attempt to make pharmaceuticals work (and they end up not working as anticipated.) Eventually we got around to discussing Zheng Qi in counterpoint to Xie Qi wherein Fernando Bernal's beautiful definition actually made reference the possibility of Xie Qi arising out of prolonged use of pharmaceuticals in Western medical attempts to restore homeostasis or at least manage the imbalances. I nevertheless honor Alon's vision as true and potent.

 

Today, like many days, I had a vision of all the homeostatic steady state systems of individual cells interacting with each other's neighbors in very Zheng Qi ways. Imagine the billions of cells and their balanced homeostases all interacting. And then kick it up a notch and imagine the homeostatic interactions between neighboring tissues. And then go to organ interactions and then to the interactions of organ systems. Very simple adjustments have profound effects to reset these billions upon billions of interacting balances. A good night's sleep, a morning run on the beach, an hour of tai chi in the Ken Rose's garden, a delicious bowl of soup for lunch and so on. Such simple little nudges to shift these myriad of steady state systems back into the center of their balances. Kind of breaks my physiologist's heart to see people use herbs as allopathic tools. But then, hey, that's just another option, too.

 

Any way I thought I'd share my happy vision. Today was a gorgeous summer day in the San Francisco Bay area that ended for me with cool breezes off the Bay and an hour of tai chi with good friends.

 

In Gratitude,

Emmanuel Segmen

biochemist, physiologist, anatomist, herb importer/supplier

 

-

 

Chinese Medicine

Tuesday, May 27, 2003 5:12 PM

Re: [Chinese Medicine] Re: introduction

This is interesting stuff, but this is one man's research and conclusions on the mechanism of acupuncture analgesia. It hardly describes the phenomena of how herbal medicine works, or acupuncture/moxa for that matter. In other words, it is speculative and uses language that Chinese medicine doesn't use itself, such as etheric or energetic. To use one person's ideas, no matter how interesting, as a basis for discussion of the principles of Chinese medicine loses the thread of what has been established in the system already. On Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at 02:09 PM, Attilio D'Alberto wrote:

As Gerber (1996, p197) explains the possible mechanism of acupuncture analgesia starts from the initial acupoint stimulation (see attached file). Through the acupuncture meridian network, Qi energies are transformed into DC-current changes, which are then slowly transmitted along perineural pathways throughout the glial network. At the level of the brain, these changes in DC potential are also associated with neurochemical mechanisms (i.e. endorphin release) that may precede or coincide with the action-potential changes in individual neurons.

[Guest guest]

Z'ev,

 

I think you get stronger every day by maintaining the paradigm of CM amidst the competing and distracting forces that may draw one's attention away. I honor the force of your discipline and your practice.

 

Emmanuel Segmen

 

That one man's idea in China was the germ of the Nei Jing, 2.000 or so years ago (actually a compilation of many people's original ideas). It is fine to start something new, but don't call it Chinese medicine. It is vibrational healing. Let's not mix things up, call an orange a potato. Otherwise we'll lose the thread.On Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at 07:19 PM, reenah mcgill wrote:

Z'ev. Everything starts with one man's idea or ideasand it is from that one that the 10,000 things springforth. Reenah

[Guest guest]

Emmanuel,

I certainly have no problem with your descriptions of the phenomena

of how complex herbal prescriptions work on the body, in fact I find it

quite inspiring.

 

My comments on Attilio's posts were directed at the overall habit

in our profession of using metaphors from other systems, whether

biomedical or vibrational healing, to explain how Chinese medicinals

work. I'd simply like to challenge people to find answers of 'how

things work' from within the discipline itself. Yes, be creative, but

from a place that is informed and consistent with what the Chinese

have bequeathed us.

 

 

On Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at 09:50 PM, Emmanuel Segmen wrote:

 

> Z'ev,

>  

> If I'm not mistaken, Attilio was responding to Alon's much vaunted

> appraisal of herbs as little packages of pharmacologically active

> biochemicals.  Which of course they are.  However, I believe CM herbal

> formulas use within their own paradigm have many advantages over

> attempts to use herbs for their allopathic potentials.  We've visited

> this territory on CHA with vivid results.  My commentary was to see

> the counter point between pharmacological effects of various

> biochemical molecules as compared to their in vivo physiological

> effects.  This is where I referred to the human body's homeostatic

> ability to balance itself with it's own dosaging.  I suggested that CM

> herbal formulas work to adjust homeostasis in less linear, one-to-one

> ways in which allopaths attempt to make pharmaceuticals work (and they

> end up not working as anticipated.) 

[Guest guest]

And I honor how you imply such subtle intelligence to the subject of CM.

 

 

On Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at 10:01 PM, Emmanuel Segmen wrote:

 

> Z'ev,

>  

> I think you get stronger every day by maintaining the paradigm of CM

> amidst the competing and distracting forces that may draw one's

> attention away.  I honor the force of your discipline and your

> practice. 

>  

> Emmanuel Segmen

>

>

> That one man's idea in China was the germ of the Nei Jing, 2.000 or so

> years ago (actually a compilation of many people's original ideas). It

> is fine to start something new, but don't call it Chinese medicine. It

> is vibrational healing. Let's not mix things up, call an orange a

> potato. Otherwise we'll lose the thread.

>

>

> On Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at 07:19 PM, reenah mcgill wrote:

>

> Z'ev.  Everything starts with one man's idea or ideas

> and it is from that one that the 10,000 things spring

> forth.  Reenah

>

>

<image.tiff>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

It is far from one man's own research! But in actual-fact a

correlation of worldwide research. I suggest you read the book, it's

very informative. The notion of chemicals and `vibrational' medicine

are the one and same thing, just at different levels of the person.

Therefore, they are not theories from other systems but may seem

that way as everything has its own following and style. The idea of

vibrational medicine encompasses EVERYTHNIG and therefore can be

directed towards any subject. This is the only theory which I

found `fits' all aspects of life, from birth to death and disease in

between. Therefore, the mechanisms I've discussed are being

explained from within the whole sphere of CM, but just in a modern

tongue that may seem part of the new age but is far from it. I

believe that vibrational medicine can be traced back to the Golden

Age of China and beyond.

 

If you don't agree with this form of theory, how would you explain

the mechanisms of acupuncture and herbalism? Herbalism may be easily

explained through the notion of complex compounds being fused

together to form unique constructs, but how would you explain

acupuncture and the Jinglou system other than in terms of pain

management?

 

Attilio

 

 

Chinese Medicine , " Z'ev

Rosenberg " <zrosenbe@s...> wrote:

> Emmanuel,

> I certainly have no problem with your descriptions of the

phenomena

> of how complex herbal prescriptions work on the body, in fact I

find it

> quite inspiring.

>

> My comments on Attilio's posts were directed at the overall

habit

> in our profession of using metaphors from other systems, whether

> biomedical or vibrational healing, to explain how Chinese

medicinals

> work. I'd simply like to challenge people to find answers of 'how

> things work' from within the discipline itself. Yes, be creative,

but

> from a place that is informed and consistent with what the

Chinese

> have bequeathed us.

>

>

> On Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at 09:50 PM, Emmanuel Segmen wrote:

>

> > Z'ev,

> >  

> > If I'm not mistaken, Attilio was responding to Alon's much

vaunted

> > appraisal of herbs as little packages of pharmacologically

active

> > biochemicals.  Which of course they are.  However, I believe CM

herbal

> > formulas use within their own paradigm have many advantages over

> > attempts to use herbs for their allopathic potentials.  We've

visited

> > this territory on CHA with vivid results.  My commentary was to

see

> > the counter point between pharmacological effects of various

> > biochemical molecules as compared to their in vivo physiological

> > effects.  This is where I referred to the human body's

homeostatic

> > ability to balance itself with it's own dosaging.  I suggested

that CM

> > herbal formulas work to adjust homeostasis in less linear, one-

to-one

> > ways in which allopaths attempt to make pharmaceuticals work

(and they

> > end up not working as anticipated.) 

[Guest guest]

In an effort to explain the two together, i've enlosed an article i wrote on cellular memory and Zangfu theory. I hope this helps to bridge the two ideas together.

 

Atti <attiliodalberto wrote:

It is far from one man's own research! But in actual-fact a correlation of worldwide research. I suggest you read the book, it's very informative. The notion of chemicals and `vibrational' medicine are the one and same thing, just at different levels of the person. Therefore, they are not theories from other systems but may seem that way as everything has its own following and style. The idea of vibrational medicine encompasses EVERYTHNIG and therefore can be directed towards any subject. This is the only theory which I found `fits' all aspects of life, from birth to death and disease in between. Therefore, the mechanisms I've discussed are being explained from within the whole sphere of CM, but just in a modern tongue that may seem part of the new age but is far from it. I believe that vibrational medicine can be traced back to the Golden Age of China and beyond. If you don't agree with this form of theory, how would you explain the mechanisms of acupuncture and herbalism? Herbalism may be easily explained through the notion of complex compounds being fused together to form unique constructs, but how would you explain acupuncture and the Jinglou system other than in terms of pain management?AttilioChinese Medicine , "" <zrosenbe@s...> wrote:> Emmanuel,> I certainly have no problem with your descriptions of the phenomena > of how complex herbal prescriptions work on the body, in fact I find it > quite inspiring.> > My comments on Attilio's posts were directed at the overall habit > in our profession of using metaphors from other systems, whether > biomedical or vibrational healing, to explain how Chinese medicinals > work. I'd simply like to challenge people to find answers of 'how > things work' from within the discipline itself. Yes, be creative, but > from a place that is informed and consistent with what the Chinese > have bequeathed us.> > > On Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at 09:50 PM, Emmanuel Segmen wrote:> > > Z'ev,> > > > If I'm not mistaken, Attilio was responding to Alon's much vaunted > > appraisal of herbs as little packages of pharmacologically active > > biochemicals. Which of course they are. However, I believe CM herbal > > formulas use within their own paradigm have many advantages over > > attempts to use herbs for their allopathic potentials. We've visited > > this territory on CHA with vivid results. My commentary was to see > > the counter point between pharmacological effects of various > > biochemical molecules as compared to their in vivo physiological > > effects. This is where I referred to the human body's homeostatic > > ability to balance itself with it's own dosaging. I suggested that CM > > herbal formulas work to adjust homeostasis in less linear, one-to-one > > ways in which allopaths attempt to make pharmaceuticals work (and they > > end up not working as anticipated.)

[Guest guest]

The point is not whether I agree or disagree ( I have looked at

Gerber's work, and found it interesting), but that if the Chinese could

understand acupuncture and herbalism within the vast body of literature

of Chinese medicine, why do we need outside explanations to understand

it? This implies that the Chinese did not understand what they were

doing.

 

In other words, the understanding of a discipline has to FIRST come

from within that discipline. What I find offensive (not in this group)

in the present medical climate is the idea that somehow Chinese

medicine will not be valid, despite its centuries of employment,

without some type of Western explanation, whether biomedical or

'energetic'.

 

There is still a cavernous lack of understanding of the basic concepts

of our profession by many of its practitioners, students and teachers.

There are still misunderstandings about qi, channels, pattern

differentiation and other of the central concepts of Chinese medicine.

When we have these lacunae, we fill them up with explanations from

outside sources that never had any influence on the Chinese.

 

One great help is to begin the study of Chinese medical terminology and

medical Chinese. Even a little will go a long way in helping

understanding this product of generations that we need to practice and

study with great awe and respect. Otherwise we are guilty of the same

cultural bias we are so quick to criticize.

 

 

On Wednesday, May 28, 2003, at 12:29 AM, wrote:

 

> If you don't agree with this form of theory, how would you explain

> the mechanisms of acupuncture and herbalism? Herbalism may be easily

> explained through the notion of complex compounds being fused

> together to form unique constructs, but how would you explain

> acupuncture and the Jinglou system other than in terms of pain

> management?