Qiological Podcast

Wind isn’t just a breeze, it's also an agent of change. Not metaphorical change—but literal, seasonal, even cosmological change that moves through bodies, weather, and even geopolitics. The energies of nature are not only magnificent forces that sculpt landscapes. But also unfold within us as a kind of inner weather.In this conversation with Christine Cannon, we continue our exploration of the celestial influences that shape our lives—not just in theory, but how these influences manifest in the world around us, and in the clinic. Christine draws from the rhythms of the Five Movements and Six Qi to trace how this year’s inadequate metal has influenced the first part of the year, and what to expect as we move forward.Listen into this discussion as we explore the implications of excess fire and runaway wood, the potential “revenge” of water, and the subtle influence of seasonal delay. We’ll also investigate the partnership between Imperial and Ministerial fire in bringing ideas from the still void of inspiration into manifest reality. The Shaoyin and Shaoyang—there’s a reason for why they’re both considered to be pivots.

Ever wonder if the body tells its own version of your inner story? That maybe the channels don’t just carry qi—but also the shape of your longings, the tempo of your fears, and the echo of old emotional weather? What if meridians are a kind of cartography, not just for physiology, but for the inner landscape of the self?In this conversation with Andreas Brüch, we explore how Saam acupuncture offers a tri-dimensional system for working with emotion, physiology, and the mind. Andreas brings a background in psychology and decades of clinical practice to this discussion on the inseparability of mental and physical experience—and how Korean Saam theory makes that relationship clinically usable.Listen into this discussion as we explore the tri-axial framework of damp/dry, hot/cold, and inward/outward movement; how meridians can reflect patterns of hunger, power, and satisfaction; and why emotional imbalance might be best addressed through constitutional physiology.This one’s for anyone who’s ever sensed that symptoms are also signals—that the channel system is more than flow, it’s also the message.

Sometimes the tools that help us see clearly aren’t visible at all—like magnetism, sound, and light. We feel their effects more than we can explain them, but when you start to work with these in clinic, something subtle shifts.In this conversation with Greg Bartosiewicz, we get into a layered discussion of acupuncture, magnetism, light, and biofields. Greg’s background in proteomics and medical lab science blends with his acupuncture training to create a practice that’s both grounded and wildly exploratory. He brings insight from decades in high-end biotech and fuses that with Chinese medicine principles in a way that might have you rethinking the tools at your disposal.Listen into this discussion as we explore how electromagnetic fields might influence healing, what red light and sound frequency can offer in a clinical setting, and why Greg uses magnetically-induced fields around needles to shift physiology and perception.This is a conversation for those who suspect there’s more to the medicine than we can see—and who are curious about how principles from physics, biotech, and acupuncture might just be playing together more than we think.

In the early 80’s as acupuncture was emerging into the mainstream culture in the West, it developed differently in response to the established medical and educational systems already in place.In the USA there was no national health service, while in the UK, that was a pillar of the socio-political landscape. Sybil Coldham was not a practitioner of acupuncture, instead she was involved with the education of acupuncturists and found herself in the center of cultural and political forces that had and have, an influence on the profession. She's the focus of a documentary that was discussed in episode 363 Acupuncture’s  Journey to the West. Listen into this discussion about building standards from scratch, pushing back against guru culture, the politics of legitimacy, how Chinese medicine has both struggled with and resisted being absorbed by mainstream systems.

In this enlightening discussion, Henry McCann, an acupuncturist with over 26 years of experience and a former music teacher, dives into the intersection of mastery in medicine and music. He reflects on how discipline and structured practice from his musical background shape his clinical approach. The conversation touches on the importance of personal cultivation, the role of repetition in developing intuition, and the need for a holistic view of health. McCann emphasizes that motivation, patience, and adaptability are vital for success in both healing and personal growth.

Sometimes it’s not what we hear, but what emerges in the space just before—where meaning hasn’t formed yet—but something is already calling your attention. It’s that quiet edge of awareness where both healing and mystery tend to show up.In this conversation with Christoph Wiesendanger, a jazz pianist with an abiding interest in Chinese medicine, we explore how rhythm, resonance, and reflective awareness shape both music and healing. Christoph’s journey from childhood exposure to Daoist classics, to martial arts training, the sonic influence of Milford Graves, and years of study with Z’ev Rosenberg, offers a surprising look at the interweavings of music and medicine.Listen into this discussion as we explore how the pulse relates to rhythm, the difference between keeping time and making it, the idea of cultivating yourself through sound, and how silence and intention shape both clinical and musical presence.

In this conversation, Lan Li, a historian and filmmaker at the intersection of medicine and imagination, invites us to rethink the body as an improvisational landscape rather than a fixed map. She sheds light on how anatomy is deeply influenced by culture and our personal narratives. Topics include the dynamic interplay between nerves and meridians, the importance of creativity in clinical practice, and how ancient wisdom in Chinese medicine continues to inform modern healing approaches. Li’s insights inspire a fresh understanding of connection, inquiry, and the art of listening.

Lan Li, a historian and filmmaker at the intersection of medicine and creativity, dives into the improvisational nature of the body and clinical practice. She discusses how anatomy serves as a malleable metaphor rather than a fixed map influenced by culture. Explore the connections between traditional Chinese medicine and modern neuroscience, the significance of imagination in healing, and the interplay between energy channels like meridians and the body's systems. Lan encourages a rethinking of medical knowledge as an evolving narrative, blending art and science.

The roots of tradition sometimes take hold in unexpected soil. What happens when traditions from France, Korea, and China converge in one practitioner’s hands? There’s a kind of alchemy in the way knowledge travels—through stories, teachers, and clinical results that raise the question of what is going on here.In this conversation with Jacques MoraMarco, we explore the shape of a career that’s spanned over five decades. From his early exposure to French-Vietnamese and Korean teachings, to his role in building acupuncture education in the U.S.—Jacques has carried multiple lineages while helping to shape what Chinese medicine looks like in the modern clinic.Listen into this discussion as we talk about the perspective of different streams of practice, the shift from apprenticeship to formal schooling, and how European and Korean influences still echo in his work.

In this thought-provoking conversation, Ed Neal and Mel Hopper Koppelman share their insights on navigating troubled times through a lens of Chinese medicine and ecological understanding. Ed, a practitioner rooted in classical Chinese texts, and Mel, an advocate for systems thinking, explore how despair and hope coexist. They discuss embracing change, the importance of compassionate communication, and finding harmony in cycles of life and economy. The duo urges listeners to stay present, adapt traditions, and seek deeper narratives that promote connection and healing amidst chaos.