I have to admit to some weirdness around the concept of “constitution.” This is absolutely unfounded, I have no clinical or theoretical information to back up my feeling. I think I’ve just seen this concept be misused. Once you get an idea in your head that a patient is a “Chaihu person,” or a “Bladder CF,” or a “Shaoyang patient,” it seems to be a little difficult to think outside that box. It offends my desire to meet the patient where they are without preconceptions.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I realize that this is part of what WE DO in Chinese medicine in particular and natural medicine in general. We look at the gestalt of the patient, and we make a helpful generalization about their condition and the treatment that is likely to rectify it. We look into past and future and consider how the patient came to be where they are and where they might be going, and treat them based on all of this information. I have no problem with that. But, I find myself a little worried when I persistently think about a person as, say, a “Chaihu” person, even before they come in – and use that lens to view whatever it is they might be presenting with in the current moment.

Before you click on the comment button prematurely – know that this is an attitude that is changing for me. The more patients I see, the more I see really weird cases. These cases involve patients who present with a certain picture that so strongly speaks to a particular treatment strategy but for whom that treatment strategy does not work. Searching for a remedy usually guides me in a very unexpected direction. In retrospect, looking through the patient’s case, I usually see a certain pattern emerge.

Here’s an example from my time in the student clinic.

A patient presenting with very serious symptoms (serious blood stasis, ongoing memory loss, digestive chaos, emotional instability and more) also had a *very* excess pulse – pounding, tight and wiry at all depths with some choppiness throughout. A dong (flicking bean) pulse was found on both sides between the first and second positions. A lot of stasis in the tongue. The supervising doctor and I discussed the case for a while, trying to seek out the best formula. For the next six or eight weeks, we used some variation of Taohe Chengqi Tang + Zhishi Xiebai Guizhi Tang with some incorporation of Guizhi Fuling Wan. We wanted to treat the most excess, the most “outward” of the symptom picture first.

As the treatment progressed, however, it… uh, didn’t. The patient’s symptoms didn’t lessen much, the pulse picture didn’t change. We decided to work from another direction. Following the recommendation from one of my mentors, I used a modification of Shenqi Wan with some additional blood movement incorporated. The patient found almost immediate improvement and continued to improve for the next several months. Later acute episodes found us changing our formula strategy a bit, but Fuzi has always been involved and when the Fuzi is removed, the patient worsens.

Now part of this is just my clinical immaturity and maybe my inability to see signs that, for a more experienced practitioner, would seem obvious. I’m sure there are several of you in the audience shaking your heads sagely – ah yes, of course, Fuzi. But, one could easily see something about “constitution” in this case. I’ve had similar experiences otherwise. It’s not always obvious in the pulse, it’s not always clear in the history, but when you go with it – improvement is found on all levels.

There doesn’t seem to be something that binds these cases together in every case. For instance, I am in no way convinced that if a different person with a similar presentation as above were to come to the clinic that I would be able to resolve their situation in the same way. But, I may be able to look at this person and – over time – learn some basic characteristics that help me to identify patients who might need this approach… this is, to me, constitution.
I’ve been reading the Classicalformulas.com blog over the last couple of months, though I have not yet read the book “10 Formula Families.” I’ve recently requested it on Interlibrary Loan and will review it as soon as I am able. Anyway – a recent post got me thinking about the constitution question again : http://classicformulas.com/constitutin-formula-scope/ . Has anyone read this book yet? Find it valuable? Definitely leave your impressions in the comments.

I’m wondering about others’ experience with constitution, or similar concepts. Have you seen a constitutional approach be crucial in your success with patients? Have you seen problems with the approach? If so, what were they? How did you resolve them? Where is the classical support for this method? What have you been learning in your classes and seminars about constitution? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

—–

Site updates : Please notice the “Follow Me” tab on the left side of your screen. If you’re on Twitter and don’t already follow me – you can click that button to read my tweets. You can also check out the Twitter feed for my clinic, which is in some ways more tightly focused on Chinese medicine, but intended primarily for patients. Finally, please consider joining the burgeoning Classical Chinese language online study group, mentioned in my prior post about Richard Goodman’s fine texts. If you are interested, please contact me sooner rather than later. It should be a good time!

By the way – If you’re confused about Twitter and Social media in general, I’ve got some excellent beginners information for you. Links to some incredible, simple instructional videos. Definitely watch these in a place where you can listen to the audio.

• About social media in general : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpIOClX1jPE
• About Twitter in particular : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO9idmax0o

The concept of constitution in Chinese herbal medicine

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I’ve been a little slow out of the gate with this one, folks, and I’m sorry about that. Richard Goodman, author of the excellent Classical Chinese Medical Texts: Learning to Read the Classics of Chinese Medicine Vol I has released Volume II of the series! I have to say that I have never encountered a clearer, more enriching text about Chinese language anywhere. For those of us who don’t have easy access to someone to teach us classical Chinese in person, this text is a great resource. Even if you are already learning Chinese (modern or classical) you will find tremendous benefit in the book.   

As I’ve discussed in many places, I believe that learning to read the Classical texts of Chinese medicine is one of the most important, and least appreciated, skills for the contemporary Chinese medicine practitioner. While nothing can replace clinical experience and the one-on-one education one receives in discipleship, delving into the roots of our medicine is not only intellectually stimulating but often directly applicable with patients. While this is not a simple task, it is well worth the effort. Texts like what Rick has written are a master key in acquiring this important skill.

A review of the newest volume on Amazon.com says:

“Since reading the first volume, I can now get through medical texts at a much faster rate and find that I need to rely less on the software I was using. Both volumes are mind opening due to the fact that the author uses texts that provide information that is now rarely taught. Most importantly, this series has given me the language skills that have allowed me to access the classics-I have learned more about Chinese medicine in the last 6 months than I had in the previous 5 years. I hope that eventually this series is used as required reading for Chinese medicine students.”

You can read many more reviews on Goodman’s site at Windstone Press.

The texts are further enhanced by the fact that Goodman is now teaching a free online class to accompany the text – the six lessons already out will be an incredible addition to your Chinese language learning. I’m sure there will be more to come. You can check out the class by clicking this link. You can also get free MP3 files and PLECO flashcards to enhance your learning experience. What more do you need, really?

Only one more thing is needed – the commitment to make Chinese language learning a central part of your study going forward. If you plan to make this commitment, why not announce it in the comments of this post? If enough people express interest, either in the comments or by private email, perhaps we could go through it as a group. I’d gladly start over in exchange for some company in the journey.

If all of this wasn’t enough, Rick has offered a special deal for Deepest Health readers. By using the link below, you can get both volumes of Classical Chinese Medical Texts : Learning to Read the Classics of Chinese Medicine for 55.95 with free shipping. On Amazon.com right now you could by both texts for just over $58. However, by purchasing using my link, a small portion of the sales will go to support ongoing writing on Deepest Health. Further, as I said, if enough people buy through my link and commit to going through the books, I’ll put together a special part of the site just for our collaborative learning process. More details on that if it becomes reality.

To take advantage of this offer, and help support Deepest Health by doing so, click on this link to purchase Richard Goodman’s texts, both Volume I and Volume II.

You can also, of course, buy the texts through Amazon or another outlet. That’s the option you’ll want to choose if you only want one of the books, as well.

Thanks for reading!

Eric

Learn to read classical Chinese medical texts – special deal for Deepest Health readers

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Today, on a walk I was taught an important lesson by some late migrating geese. In the late summer and autumn, we get a whole lot of geese flying overhead in my neighborhood. We live pretty close to a couple of wildlife refuges, one being specifically devoted to waterfowl. In general, in Portland, the autumn is always accompanied by the resonant, melodic sound of Canadian geese fleeing Canada. It’s one of those things that is commonplace, yet never seems to lose its magic. I’ve noticed a lot of things in Autumn are like that – the leaves turning, the miracle of the harvest, the start of formal schooling and so on.

Anyway, today I had one of those magic moments – fog bank just rolled in, walking on a hill in clear view of the setting full moon and the rising sun reflecting pink and crimson off of morning clouds. Mushrooms bursting from beneath damp fallen leaves. People out, coffee in hand, walking overly excited dogs. That nestled place between Lung and Large Intestine time – things cracking forth, but the calm and presence of the early morning still laying on its soothing balm. Very nice.

Then there were the geese. There were seven or eight of them, so just a paltry flock. There was some confusion (not uncommon) where they seemed to be trying to figure out which way to go. Now, I know enough about geese to know that just because they seem to be flying North doesn’t mean they’re lost – often they’re just heading to a feeding or resting ground. It’s the larger direction that matters, not my little snapshot views. But, that doesn’t matter for my story. There was some confusion in the sky, and about half started heading clearly North, the other half clearly South. One goose was caught – she flew North, she flew South, she started calling loudly – she seemed pretty distressed by the whole thing.

Finally, she broke South – doing double time to catch up with her chosen group and they continued off into the distance. As I watched them cruise, I got a series of images as I faced South – the direction that all Sages must face, the direction that helps us make sense of so much Chinese medicine physiology and pathology. Mostly, I just got a sense of great peace, of openness, of newness and warmth and a bright future. I thought – good choice, little goose.

Now, I’ve been particularly prone to reading signs in everything these last few weeks, so pardon me. But, the whole drama (!) seemed curiously familiar. I think it might seem familiar to some of you, as well.

At NCNM, I was introduced to a wide variety of schools of thought regarding medicine – herbalism in particular. Without getting too much into it, let’s just say that people can get a little spirited about what they see as the “truth” of the matter. I certainly have been guilty of this. As students, I think we were looking for something to hold on to. Something to call our own – or rather – something to say, “This is right, this is true and I know it, I subscribe to it.” Some way to make sense of the seemingly insurmountable task of learning a medicine that is thousands of years old and must be translated into what we have available in contemporary times.***

I’ve sometimes felt torn because of my particular proclivities and the wrinkles and folds of my personal situation. I had moments when I didn’t want to practice medicine at all. It seemed too impossible to figure out what was right – the clinical stage didn’t clarify things any better than the classroom and I just felt totally overwhelmed. I had moments where I wanted to have a time travel machine and visit Han dynasty and ask Zhang Zhongjing what the whole deal was really about. There were also times when I felt pretty confident, pretty sure, and even a little fanatical about what I was learning. Those times were always followed by a lesson (pride precedes a fall, afterall).

In the last month, things have settled out. I felt very much like that goose for the last year or so, and I’ve started flying in a particular direction. It hasn’t been without its consequences. Moving towards one thing almost always means leaving another behind. Some good goose friends had to be parted from, on some level. I only have so much time and attention. I have had to repeatedly remind myself that the direction I’m turning away from is not WRONG, just different. Demonizing people who think differently from we do only serves to make us demons in the eyes of others. It never serves the quest for knowledge and healing.

You know? Darnit if I don’t feel just like I felt on that hilltop watching those geese disappear. Warmth, openness, a surge of energy, signs from all over God and Creation. It’s not that the other way is wrong, it’s just that this way is right. It leads to more, not less. It opens me into an endless realm of possibility and sweetness. I have already seen the results in my acupuncture, in my herbal prescriptions, in my presence with my patients, and in my bank account.

So, to any of you who are feeling this – particularly you students – take heart. You will find your way. Sit quietly with yourself, go on walks, get treatment, sing songs, talk to animals and go through your rebirth. Getting born is rarely pain-free, but it always opens into a whole universe of experience that was previously unavailable to you. I promise.

—

***Note : I’m not saying that ancient medicine isn’t directly relevant to contemporary times and people. Please. I’m just saying that some of the things they had available, we don’t have available – or very nearly (Fulonggan, for one – Sheng Fuzi for another – there are legal implications for some acupuncture techniques). Further, while there is truly nothing new under the sun – people do have a different way of living, eating, and even dying today and we would be idiots not to at least consider that fact sometimes, even if we are just “treating what we see,” and even if we are (correctly) not taking into account Western disease names and categories, etc…

The sages of Chinese antiquity stood facing South

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It’s been hard for me to write lately. It’s mostly because when I look at my old entries, particularly those that got a lot of attention, they are nothing like what I think about and write about now. During my second year, and the summer after, I was really just reading and re-reading the material I got from my teachers and thinking about how it applies to life. The summer in particular was an experiment for me, simply to see if I could build a blog talking about Chinese medicine.

Well, I did. With some help from my friends – near and far.

I got an email from a reader recently who told me that he missed my more frequent posting. He wondered what happened to me. In our ensuing exchange, I got some valuable advice. This reader encouraged me to write about whatever it is that I’m working on because that’s what he’s always loved about reading Deepest Health – it’s about one man’s journey into the wild world that is Classical Chinese Medicine. Thanks, reader. You know who you are. It’s true that when I started this blog, I really wanted to dive into everyplace this medicine takes me – how the theory plays out in real life, how it opens into a million different directions, how it changes me – and my patients.

Who knows how I got off track. Let’s get on with it. Today, I’d like to talk about something that’s been on my mind for a couple of weeks as I go about my work stabilizing a new practice in the competitive market of Portland, Oregon.

As a new graduate in Chinese medicine, I had a few options open to me:

Finding balance between Chinese medicine and running a Chinese medicine based business

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So, I didn’t write much about using the faculty of sight in learning Chinese herbs. That’s mostly because I’m doing other research about it, particularly around the doctrine of signatures and I’d prefer to write more when I have more to say. I’m already retooling my NCNM class for next year based on what I’ve learned. Let it suffice to say for now that, in class, we enjoyed ourselves working with our eyes. Overall, one of the most interesting things I learned is that many have resistance many people have to just sitting with something and looking at it. Maybe it’s because so many cultures find it rude to stare? I don’t think the plants care. Anyway…

Many people seem to believe that what they see at first glance is as much as there is to see. Nothing could be further from the truth. My hope is to encourage students, and consistently re-encourage myself, to really SEE things in their fullness. The subtle changes in color, the textures, the shadows cast, the subtle suggestions of where they were on the plant, how they were treated during growth and in processing. It isn’t as if this information is recorded as data and filed away for use in therapy – but just like getting to know a person, all of these tiny pieces of information fill in the skeletal lines of first impressions with color, depth, beauty.

Sight aside, I’ve had a lot of fun with the students at NCNM working with our underused faculty of touch. We have been working with two types of touch, though I haven’t had time to go into depth with either. One of the hardest things about this class is the fact that it’s only an hour. That’s why an online version will be so great – more time, more space! However, this limitation does force me to try to get the teaching down to essentials.

The two ways we are using touch:

1. The most basic – “just touching.” There is a ton of information a person can get from touching an herb, even at the most superficial level. You can get a sense for its density, its heft – particularly in relation to other herbs. You get a greater sense for the texture of the herb. With some herbs, like Mutong, you can start to understand what the herb does – it feels like a filter! Or think about something like Ganjiang that feels like it is, drying and warm. Aside from looking to get a sense for what part of the plant is, simple touching can also give you some good information for the doctrine of signatures. Light things may tend to rise, heavier things to sink – and so on.
2. A little deeper. At NCNM, we are taught a variety of ways to use our hands to perceive more subtle sensations. But, anyone can get good information by just sitting with an herb in their hands. I usually take some time to do some Qigong or prayer, just connecting with subtle reality. Then I close my eyes and touch the herb, allowing my mind to rest and eventually to wander. I may just hold the herb in place, or may manipulate it. Usually, going deeper in this way allows one to get information that is a little outside of what one would expect. Actions, temperatures, even colors start to flood the mind.

This week, with the class, we used blindfolds to isolate the feeling faculty. While in practice I encourage everyone to use all of their senses, it can sometimes be extraordinarily helpful to just focus on one at a time. Exhaust it! See what you can find.

Just using touch, the class interacted with Baihe – lily bulb. Now, note, these are second year students – just learning herbs. Here is the list of qualities they got, blindfolded, without knowing the name of the herb or anything about it beforehand.

• Lung
• Treats diabetes
• Treats arthritis
• Neutral to cooling
• Expels phlegm
• Whitish yellow (I kid you not)
• Slightly transparent (seriously)
• Taiyin
• Claws
• Relieves dampness
• Clears heat
• Pungent – bitter
• Cold
• Replenishing
• Moves, but not through Yang force

There are a lot of interesting observations here, I think you will agree!

Baihe is sweet, according to the Shennong Bencao Jing (SNBCJ) – though later commentators say it is sweet and slightly bitter. In the SNBCJ it is listed as neutral, though later commentators say it is slightly cooling. Of these basic affinities, only the bitter is out of place in what the students found. It does clear heat, and while the dampness and phlegm properties are contrary to basic understanding of the herb, it’s not so far out of the realm of possibility. It is indeed replenishing, related to Taiyin and interestingly, is known to treat diabetes!

Most interesting to me is the symbolic association of the Lung organ system. Lily, in channel affinity language, does enter the Lung (as well as the Heart). Again, we do have the relationship with Taiyin. But what about the claws?! Now Baihe in its dried form does feel a little like toenails, as many students jokingly remarked. The claw association could have something to do with that, but more than one student did get a sense of actual claws or talons. This, to me, is related to the Tiger – the animal associated with the earthly branch Tai and the Lung organ system. I just thought it was interesting that these associations came up so consistently.

We did several other herbs in class, and I was just astonished at how much information we could get with just an hour of holding the herbs. If you haven’t tried this before, I recommend it. Yes, just the dried herb. While fresh herbs are great, while plants are great, I do believe that the dried herb holds a lot of information in a holographic way. Students in class were getting senses of the way the plant grows, what kinds of conditions it likes, all without having any contact with the living plant at all. Give it a try!

I want to make clear that I’m not suggesting people just sit with herbs and use that information exclusively. It’s a matter of using our sensory experience to enhance and ground the head knowledge of which we get so much. Also, I wonder how long it will take for these students to forget that Baihe is related to the Lung? Won’t they have a slightly better understanding of the herb, having spent a little time with it? What if they were to use all their senses, and consistently reengage with it over a period of months, years? It gives me high hopes for their future as herbalists! Give it a try, and come back here to tell us how it went – add your thoughts in the comments!

Reawakening the faculty of touch in learning Chinese herbs

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Hello my patient readers,

I have a few items of interest for you today.

1. I am working hard on several things for the blog. My work has been stymied somewhat by the new course I’m teaching at NCNM (have to get my teaching legs under me) and the intense amount of activity going on at Watershed Community Wellness. In the queue are the following:

• Information, currently being worked on with students at NCNM, about the relationship method of learning Chinese herbs
• A special offer for Deepest Health readers on some excellent books for learning Classical Chinese in the context of Classical Chinese medical texts
• An interview with Paul Rosenberg, tea monk in Portland, about the energetics of tea

2. Watershed Community Wellness is currently upgrading our website. You can see the newest iteration by clicking on the link in this sentence. New to the site is a sign-up page for our newsletter. Geared towards patients and people looking for useful, accurate everyday health information, it may be of interest to some of Deepest Health’s readers – so go ahead and sign up if you are interested. Thanks!

3. A question : who would like to see the weekly Eric rambling about Chinese medicine podcast return to Deepest Health?

4. Michael Givens, MAEC, MSOM, recent graduate of NCNM and long time student of Chinese medicine, history and culture has several courses coming up at Watershed Community Wellness. Below find a schedule of his current offerings. If you are interested, please contact him directly.

Classical Studies Saturday Series

Reviving the old to gain knowledge of the new…

At Watershed Community Wellness

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with Michael Givens, MAEC, MSOM

Advanced Formulas Study – new class beginning soon!

This course is an advanced study of the Shanghan zabing lun. Beginners are welcome and will benefit from taking the course, but it is geared towardsthose who have an interest in studying the depth and intricacies of the work of Zhang Zhongjing.

We will discuss the major formulas in each of the six conformations, including their internal and modular structure, their directional quality according to classical physiology, and their relation to many other formulas in the Shanghan lun and Jingui Yaolue lun.

This course will also demonstrate the seasonal wisdom inherent in the system of the six conformations as understood both from the Neijing Suwen and the Shanghan lun. Students in the course will begin to see the diverse application of classical formulas and thus will be able to begin using them to treat the diverse diseases and imbalances of the modern patient.

We will cover the six conformations in this order so as to correspond with the seasons:

9/26:             Taiyang

11/7:            Yangming

12/5:             Taiyin

1/9:             Shaoyin and Jueyin

1/16:             Shaoyang

Time:                         9-noon

Location:             Watershed Community Wellness, SE 9^th and Morrison

Fee:                         $300 or $70 per class (drop-in : you can commence at any time after the first class and still benefit)

Introduction to the Shanghan lun

This course will prepare you for studying the classical formulas of the Shanghan lun, as well as establish a firm basis of all formulas study. The Shanghan lun offers us a deep understanding of physiology, pathology and the correct approach to treating all diseases. This class is for the beginning and advanced student. Even if you already have a strong formulas education but would like to dig deeper into the text of the Shanghan lun, this class is for you.

We will be reading and analyzing the introductory lines of each of the conformations in the Shanghan lun, and discussing the fundamental formulas in each chapter and how they are representative of the physiology and pathology of each of the conformations.

Dates: Saturday 10/3 and Saturday 10/17

Time: 9-noon

Location: Watershed Community Wellness, SE 9^th and Morrison

Fee: $120

Discussion of the Trigrams in the Yijing

This course will deepen your understanding of the core principles of the Yijing (The Classic of Change). Through carefully looking at the Shuogua (the Discussion of the Trigrams) we will unearth core principles of Chinese medicine, and the philosophy of the superior physician.

The Shuogua is one of the “wings” of the Yijing, ancient commentaries which had a significant impact upon the understanding of the Yijing, as well as on the theories of the ancient classics of medicine. We will discuss the deeper aspects of the trigrams, numerology, symbolism and correspondence, as well as moral philosophy, as they came to influence Chinese medicine.

The Shuogua introduces many key concepts found in Chinese medicine, especially within the theories of Yin and Yang and Five Phases, as seen in the Hetu (Yellow River Map) and the Luoshu (River Luo Writings). This pre-Confucian treatise offers for us a glimpse of the root of these very fundamental theories.

Dates:                         Saturday 10/10 and Saturday 10/24

Time:                         9-noon

Location:             Watershed Community Wellness, SE 9^th and Morrison

Fee:                         $120

The Great Battle of the Dragon and Turtle

A 3 hour lecture on the Open – Close – Pivot (Kai He Shu) theory in the Neijing Suwen chapter 6, as understood through the lens of ancient Yijing calendrical science and the Six Conformations of the Shanghan lun. This class will present a unique way of looking at time and change (and transformation) as well as a deeper understanding of physiology, pathology and the fundamental concept of “one yang.”

Date:                         10/31

Time:                         9-noon

Location:             Watershed Community Wellness, SE 9^th and Morrison

Fee:                         $60

The Joy of Learning, the Delight of Discussion

An Introduction to the Confucian Analects for the Chinese Medicine Practitioner

“To learn and at due times to repeat what one has learnt, is that not after all a pleasure? That friends should come to one from afar, is this not after all delightful?

“The Master said: Let a [student] first be incited by the Songs (Shijing, Book of Odes), then given a firm footing by the study of Li 禮 (ritual / virtue of the Heart), and finally perfected by Yue 樂 (music).”

Following the example of this statement found in the Analects, we will discuss the ancient Odes (Shijing) of the early Zhou dynasty, then explore the depth and meaning of Li 禮, and then finally engage with the concept of music and joy (yue / le 樂) in the Analects as well as in the art of Chinese medicine. Please join Michael in on two Saturdays in November for this discussion series on the wisdom Confucius can offer to students and practitioners of Chinese medicine.

Dates:                         11/14, 11/28

Time:                         9-noon

Location:             Watershed Community Wellness, SE 9^th and Morrison

Fee:                         $120

The Erdan and Liushen Formulas in the Tangye jing

This course will present the important Erdan and Liushen formulas in the Tangye jing (the ancient all-but-lost classic of formulas), which have been shown to be precursors to the formulas in the Shanghan lun. They provide for us an ancient perspective of seasonal illness.

There are two sets of Erdan formulas (the Yang Dan formulas, and the Yin Dan formulas or the Sunlight in the Sunrise formulas, and the Shade in the Sunrise formulas), which include a total of five formulas, the most important being Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction).

The Liushen formulas are based upon the six directions (North, South, East, West, Above and Below), but also can be seen as corresponding to the Twelve Branches, as understood in classical Chinese medical theory. They are the original Dragon, Phoenix, Tiger, and Turtle formulas.

Both of these sets of formulas treat Tianxing (or seasonal diseases or epidemics). This course will provide an understanding of how these ancient formulas are very relevant for modern epidemic diseases.

Dates:                         11/21, 12/12

Time:                         9-noon

Location:             Watershed Community Wellness, SE 9^th and Morrison

Fee:                         $120

More Classical Chinese Medicine courses in Portland, an update and a question

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Pardon the period of relative silence, I can only hope it won’t last long. I’m currently being taught the truest meaning of a hexagram I threw twice in a row when contemplating the Autumn and what is in store for me during this transitional period from light to dark. I hope my dear readers will forgive me a quite personal post – I’ll try to throw some teaching in there somewhere. :)

The hexagram I threw is number 23, Bo 剝 - often translated as “Stripping” is my teacher for late summer and early autumn of 2009.

In Karcher’s excellent translation, he states:

“Stripping describes your situation in terms of habits and ideas that are outmoded and worn out. The way to deal with it is to strip away what has become unusable. This brings renewal. Remove and uncover things. Cut into the problem and strip away the unessential without thought of immediate gain…”

This hexagram is associated with the Pericardium. The Pericardium is associated with the 9th month, after the Autumn equinox. In Portland, that time of year is typically quite cool, yet still full of harvest activity. It is the perfect symbol of cutting something away, moving through death, and harvesting so much from that transition – flourishing, rebirthing, reawakening. The Pericardium is the organ system that helps us regulate what we let into our innermost sanctum, and what we choose to hold away. It is the dog at the foot of the Master’s bed. We call it the Heart Protector, but in some cases it’s best function is to make us stripped, bare, utterly vulnerable and open to what is happening.

For me, this connects to Karcher’s translation in a few ways. When we protect ourselves, trying to stay too comfortable for too long, we hold on to habits (of thought and otherwise) that no longer serve us. In an effort to keep everything steady and safe, we stagnate. A function of the Pericardium, then, is to allow us to change – but in deep ways. It allows us to let go of long held beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that seem almost impossible to release. These are probably things we think of as part of our “personality,” they may be family traits, things that keep bringing us affection and protection, and so on.

This could, of course, have a number of meanings as a teacher for the autumn season. However, given that is is Ramadan, it has special implications for me. There is the simplest interpretation – that I am not eating or drinking as much, stilling the many consumption based habits that rule all of us for so much of our lives. This year, this practice has helped me to utterly break my attachment to alcohol, even little amounts. That’s a very positive thing for me. Also brought to mind is the spiritual mandate in Islam to leave that which does not concern one. We all accumulate habits, hobbies and even friends and acquaintances that are not really in our best interest. They are, at best, frivolous and at worst, self-destructive. Regardless, they take us away from spiritual peace – and that is something I am very serious about finding in my lifetime.

So, I’m trying to see this stripping in a positive – though not entirely pleasant – light. I’m accepting the lessons of this teacher with as much grace as I can muster. I am clearing away the old to make way for the new. It is a very difficult process. In the last week, I have lost my grandmother, had a number of ridiculous material mishaps (car broke down, etc) and have been suffering, like all of us, the painful effects of this limping economy. Yet, I have also started teaching at NCNM, gained several new patients at Watershed Community Wellness and have made real progress on a number of projects. Most importantly, I can feel some great spiritual shifts coming on. While I’m happy this will have positive benefits for my practice of Chinese medicine, mostly I’m just happy to see some real movement in that realm of my life.

All of this to say, my friends, that I’m terribly sorry for the long delay. I am writing up all the articles for the ongoing herbal relationship series, and so much more is cooking. I just have to give myself the space to complete this stripping process. In the meantime, please peruse the Archives, comment on recent articles, and feel free to email me to request articles, features, and just to say hello. It’s always appreciated.

Thanks!

Stripped to the bone

Related posts:

1. The 12th Lunar month and Hexagram 19 : read Brandon Brown’s fantastic article!
2. An autumnal blog posting schedule
3. The importance of the Spleen in studying Classical Chinese Medicine

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I’m busily working on my next post on the relational method of learning Chinese herbs. I’ll get it out as soon as possible. However, as I’ve been working on this series, something else has been unfolding. I thought I would share it with all of you – my version of shouting it from the rooftops! I was hired to teach a class at NCNM – Herbs lab! The Herbs lab accompanies the single herbs and combinations class. In times past, a variety of formats have been used. I, of course, plan to bring the relational method into play as well as using all the skills I have learned (and will learn) from the incomparable Willem Larsen and Evan Gardner to co-create a community of engaged, rooted learner-teachers. I’m really, really excited. It’s the class I always wanted to teach, and I plan to make the best of it.

Even more exciting, my dear friend Michael Givens is going to be teaching at NCNM as well, as part of the team delivering Formulas knowledge to 3rd year NCNM students. It’s a great honor for me to teach alongside him and, of course, my brother Brandt Stickley. It’s very nearly overwhelming, also, to think about teaching on the same faculty as Heiner Fruehauf, Haosheng Zhang, Paul Kalnins and all the rest of my esteemed teachers. It’s an honor beyond honors.

So, to all of you NCNM 2nd years reading this blog : Let’s get to work developing Chinese herbal FLUENCY!

To the rest of my readers, I’m sure I will have lots of interesting new stories to share. I will also be able to kick my online course creation process into high gear, as I will be testing and refining all of my ideas on a live audience! :)

I hope to get the next post in the series out tomorrow.

A quick update : I’m never leaving NCNM!

Related posts:

1. A relational method of learning Chinese herbs
2. Setting yourself up for learning success : First, know thyself
3. More Classical Chinese Medicine courses in Portland, an update and a question

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