Posts in ACM Theory
Isolation, Fear, Confusion and Anger

The highest physician treats the kingdom, the competent physician treats the person, the lowest physician treats the disease. Drawing on the six phasic model of the Shanghan Lun, specifically that of Jueyin pathology, this post is an effort to come to terms with the many unprecedented events continuing to unfold here in America through the eyes of a Chinese medical practitioner. Please note that this article examines some difficult questions that may be challenging for some readers.

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Calming the Wind: Chinese Medical Views on Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Other Autoimmune Conditions

Roughly one in twelve Americans is currently living with some form of autoimmune dysfunction, 75% of whom are women. General thyroid dysfunction and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are common clinical presentations that I have helped patients to normalize both in terms of their bloodwork indicators and their own sense of well-being. So what does Chinese medicine have to say about these autoimmune conditions and how can lifestyle changes contribute to the healing process? Start by calming the wind...

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Underneath the Epidemic

To better appreciate the role of the macro-level influences on patient presentations, Chinese physicians of the past paid close attention to the shifting dynamics of environmental factors commonly referred to as wu yun liu qi(五運六氣wǔ yùn liù qì). This article takes a closer look at the overlay of key environmental factors from last November through the present according to the ancient system of wu yun liu qi in order to shed some light on the mechanism of the current outbreak of Covid-19, effective herbal strategies for its treatment and most importantly, its prevention.

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The Middle: Transformation, Assimilation and the Role of the Spleen in Chinese Medicine

Throughout written history, China has referred to itself and its empire as 中国 Zhongguo, the Middle Kingdom. The inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom are the descendants of a great mythological figure known as 黄帝 Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor. Coming to the throne at a very young age, legend has it that the boy emperor was endowed with a miraculous power to converse with the immortals through dream.

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Circular Dynamics of Ancient Chinese Medicine III

Those who would like to study Chinese medicine must first understand the reasoning for the names of the twelve meridians; in order to understand the reasoning for the names of the twelve meridians, one must first understand the principles of yin and yang, five elements and six environmental factors; in order to understand the principles of yin and yang, five elements and six environmental factors, one must first understand the 24 solar terms as the circular movement of the heat from the sun as it strikes the surface of the earth and descends, stores, rises or expands.

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Circular Dynamics of Ancient Chinese Medicine II

Those who would like to study Chinese medicine must first understand the reasoning for the names of the twelve meridians; in order to understand the reasoning for the names of the twelve meridians, one must first understand the principles of yin and yang, five elements and six environmental factors; in order to understand the principles of yin and yang, five elements and six environmental factors, one must first understand the 24 solar terms as the circular movement of the heat from the sun as it strikes the surface of the earth and descends, stores, rises or expands.

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Circular Dynamics of Ancient Chinese Medicine I

Those who would like to study Chinese medicine must first understand the reasoning for the names of the twelve meridians; in order to understand the reasoning for the names of the twelve meridians, one must first understand the principles of yin and yang, five elements and six environmental factors; in order to understand the principles of yin and yang, five elements and six environmental factors, one must first understand the 24 solar terms as the circular movement of the heat from the sun as it strikes the surface of the earth and descends, stores, rises or expands.

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