#146 The Privilege of Wellness with Acupuncturist Russell Brown

Dec 14, 2021

In this conversation, Russell Brown, an acupuncturist and founder of Poke Acupuncture LA, shares his journey from film production to holistic health. He critiques the wellness industry, addressing issues of cultural appropriation and privilege. Russell dives into concepts like the Eight Extraordinary meridians and the Five Elements, linking them to life trajectories and emotional well-being. Their dialogue emphasizes the importance of conscious social activism within the wellness space, advocating for a more inclusive and authentic approach to healing.

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Intro

00:00 • 5min

Wellness in a Distorted Reality

04:54 • 12min

Miriam Lee: Pioneer of Acupuncture in America

16:24 • 15min

Navigating Social Encounters with a Facade

31:45 • 2min

The Poetic Healing of Acupuncture

33:33 • 10min

The Five Elements and Seasonal Cycles

44:00 • 10min

Navigating Grief and Wellness

53:48 • 13min

Gratitude and Future Ventures in Wellness

01:06:39 • 2min

Today on the podcast, we have acupuncturist Russell Brown; Founder of Poke Acupuncture LA, with over 15 years of experience practicing this ancient medicine with exquisite finesse. Using his distinctive voice and gentle wisdom, Russell advocates for a realisation of the constraints and meritocracy of the current whitewashed, capitalist-driven wellness industry. Russell is an educator and a brilliantly poetic writer who brings forth the kind of gentle healing one's soul longs to fall into at the end of the day. As a practitioner of acupuncture, Russell operates through the subtle energetic realms of Chinese medicine with ease, translating the insightful metaphors of this ancient knowledge into soothing remedies for the intensity of modern life. In this episode, Russell offers his nuanced perspective on the invention and westernised packaging of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the existence of cultural appropriation and privilege within the wellness industry, and how conscious social activism lies at the confluence of these topics. Tahnee and Russell discuss the Eight Extraordinary meridians, constitutional energy and life trajectory, The Five Elements, and the type of strength required of practitioners to support their patients through healing.

Tahnee and Russell discuss:

-The Wei Qi.

-Yuan Qi (source Qi).

-The Five Elements.

-The eight extraordinary meridians.

-Doing the work of social activism.

-The whitewashing of the wellness industry.

-Stomach 36 and our relationship to nourishment.

-The importance of creating and nurturing as humans.

-The history of Traditional Chinese Medicine communism.

-The institutionalisation and education system around TCM.

-Becoming very clear on your perspective as a practitioner.

Resources:

Poke Acupuncture Instagram

Russell's website - Poke Acupuncture

Subscribe to Poke Acupuncture Substack

Check Out The Transcript Here:

https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/the-privilege-of-wellness-with-acupuncturist-russell-brown-ep-146