Re the importance of Chinese Language/cadavers

July 31, 2004

Hi All

While I take exception to Jason's tone on this subject and others, I

do concur that study of Chinese language can provide depths of

understanding and access to information which would be near

impossible or very ardous at least without language proficiency. I

don't, however, believe that it's impossible to be a good or even

superior practitioner without learning Chinese. In academics, it is

near indispensible probably; in practice, useful but not totally

necessary as evidenced by the many wonderful, elegant and effective

non-Chinese speaking/reading Western practitioners of Asian medicine

in our midst. Especially, now, in 2004, after 30 years of probing,

translating, studying, practicing and teaching by our Western

instructors and forefathers in the transmission of this wonderful

medicine to the world at large. For those who have a knack for

languages, the study of Chinese would be desireable and recommended

at some point--most effectively, I think, after having practiced for

a few years first. In this way, their understanding of the foreign

language materials would be more readily incorporated and understood

after having experiences to reference these materials to.

I see, however, no problem with requiring/offering some language

study in the basic education. Just like with cadaver study, I can't

think of any case in which too much information would be a bad

thing. With respect to someone's comment that points are not evident

in a corpse, I agree. Without life, there is no qi and without qi,

no point. But, the structure does remain mostly unchanged in a

corpse and actually seeing the structures and the distance to vital

structures such as major vessels, organs and the like would give us

spatial information which could be lacking in sources such as

Deadman's information on needling depth. I really think it would be

most informative to see several different sizes of corpses with

different body types to give us even more information about safe and

effective depths of needling. So in viewing a corpse we are not

searching for points per se but illuminating ourselves with respect

to the structures where the points would exist in a living person.

One subject I've always found interesting is learning about what

blood vessels and fascial structures lie near the points and what

they perfuse or wrap. I think this is really interesting with

respect to what is being stimulated and why when we stumulate a

point and how that may effect a healing response. Here I refer

everyone to " Hara Diagnosis: Reflections on the Sea " by Kiko

Matsumoto and Stephen Birch. There are several chapters in the first

half of that book on embriological development and hypotheses on the

origin of the meridians in the fetus as espoused in the ancient

literature. Very interesting and informative reading--really good to

give to a Western Medical Practitioner to help explain what might be

going on with respect to acupuncture, fascial planes, distant

effects and the like. There's also an interesting bit of information

concerning gravitational fields, geomagnetic fields, our evolution

herein and bone loss in astronauts. When they leave the fields of

our earth, they begin experiencing accelerated bone loss. Matsumoto

et al propose that this is because yin and yang are separating when

we leave earth and our bodies begin to dissolve without these fields

to " hold us together " . Yin is earth, near, solid, accumulating while

Yang is space, far, expansive, dissolving. Interesting stuff

especially if one has a basic understanding of Western Science.

Regards, Shanna

August 1, 2004

There are a few things to bear in mind when dealing with dead people

1) They don't give much feedback during treatment

2) They miss their appointments and never ring(so inconsiderate)

3)Their credit cards get refused(make them pay up front)

4)Difficult to treat,poor prognosis

5)Very uncooperative during intake

6)Shen is dull,complexion pale and rigid tongue, pulse hidden, hard to

diagnose

7)No sense of humor very serious

I doubt that this will make it pass the moderator but I couldn't resist as

there has been so much serious debate lately with everyone earnestly

defending their knowledge/position,its probably just me but so much of it

sounds like the scene in Monty Pythons " The life of Brian " when asked " are

you the Judean peoples front? " the character replies " **** off we are the

peoples front of Judea! "

Ray Ford

----

Chinese Medicine

Monday, 2 August 2004 12:15:44 AM