Chinese Medicine
Posted on October 12, 2008 by Yael
I started studying Chinese Medicine 10 years ago.
My friends are more or less used by now that I do things in a different way than others- I didn’t go to university, I seek help of psychology when I feel I need it, even my wedding was different than most people’s.
So studying Chinese Medicine didn’t come as a terrible shock to people, but it did raise one simple questions: What *is* Chinese Medicine??
Trying to explain
It’s been 10 years now that people are asking me about Chinese Medicine, and it’s been the same 10 years that I’ve been trying to think of the best answer that I can- and the answer I have is pretty lame.
I can some how describe Qi, and I can more or less explain the concept of Yin Yang.
But seriously, how are you suppose to explain about the Dao? On second thought- do you really need to go and explain about the Dao??
Yes, I think it’s getting complicated, and the simple question suddenly seems like a very difficult question to answer.
I don’t know if I should address the things I mentioned above, maybe I should talk about other things, and maybe, just maybe- I should just send people to books??
That’s Qi Baby
It’s been about 2 years now, maybe more, that I think that the best way to know what Chinese Medicine really is, is by experiencing it.
When I was on my first year, I started Chinese Medicine sessions with my practitioner/healer, who turned to be my mentor. The more I talked to him, the more I was engaged with the sessions, the more I understood what it is, to be a patient of Chinese Medicine. I understood more what he was doing- by feeling it and by asking him.
Forget all I can tell you about Qi- I felt Qi. I will never forget how on the first session, the practitioner put the needles, and left the room and I felt as though the earth was moving. When I said this to my practitioner he smiled and said “that’s Qi”.
That’s a very powerful feeling to feel, and I think that it’s best to experience it rather than talk about it.
And experiencing it makes you curious.
It’s not something you read about, it didn’t happen to your neighbour. It happened to *you*- you were there!
Conclusion
In order to really understand what Chinese Medicine is, I recommend you first go and get treatments.
Really commit to a number of sessions, give it your most.
Afterwards, start investigating.
Over to you
Do you agree? Disagree? Want to share your experiences?
Leave your comments, I’d love to read them.
Tags: acupuncture, chinese herbs, chinese medicine
Categories: General notes, Personal notes
A variety of forces, life-experiences and intuitions told me to study acupuncture but I had never had a treatment. This was the early 90s. So I went to an acupuncturist, had one treatment and was certain that the forces that seemed to converge and send me on a new career were correct. I was on my way. Perfect advice, Yael.
This is interesting. To be honest, I will probably seek alternative medicine only if something really bad happens and I feel that mainstream medicine is unable to help. But this is interesting and informative - stumbled!
Thank you Julie for your beautiful comment.
Like you, I started studying shiatsu just because it really made sense to do so. Then I realized that it would make very good sense to study CM- not just shiatsu.
And then I started getting treatments and it just made everything a whole lot better.
Not to mention healthier.
Thanks Julie- I’m running to read your new post!
Hey Vered,
Thank you for your comment and for the stumble.
I always feel that combining Western medicine and Chinese medicine is a very good way to go. I do so with my boy’s health and sometimes with my own, and I can see very good changes when I apply CM on my husband.
I hope nothing really bad ever happens to you!
Thanks again and happy Sukot,
Yael