Qiological Podcast

Chinese medicine has a treasure house of methods and treatment for women’s health. From the work of Sun Si Miao to modern day practitioners women’s health has been a key concern in our medicine. In this conversation with Genevieve Le Goff we explore the transformations of qi through the five phases and six confirmations as we discuss Fu Xing Jue and the mythic lost text, Tang Ye Jing. Listen in to this discussion of women’s health and some ways of thinking about our medicine from a non-modern perspective.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview. 

Chloe Weber, a Chinese medicine practitioner, dives into the world of CBD and its integration into holistic health. She questions whether CBD is the miracle cure it's marketed as and explains its connections to the endocannabinoid system. Chloe clarifies the differences between CBD and hemp seed oil and discusses the importance of product quality and transparency in the industry. The conversation explores CBD's synergy with traditional herbal medicine, its effects on mental health, and the potential risks involved with its use.

Our western world hides death. We are taught to avoid it. Avoid thinking about, do everything medically possible to prolong life, and focus on “more time” without regard to more of “what.” In this conversation with Tamsin Grainger we look into how death is inextricably entangled with life. How we care constantly dying to one moment as we emerge into a new one. Listen in to this conversation on living into the surprising unfolding of life and how the mindset of pilgrimage helps us to transition through the seasons of our lives.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview. 

In this “part two” conversation with Felip Caudet we get into the nuts and bolts of how he uses moxa, and how to find and treat “moxa points.”Additionally there is an excerpt from his soon to be published book String Moxa Method. Go to the show notes page to read or download it. 

Our medicine teaches us that all things move through cycles of generation, flourishing, decline and disappearance. It’s the way qi moves through this world and so not a surprise that at some point there is an end to the practice that has sustained us and allowed us to help others along the way.In this conversation with Charlie Braverman we discuss the sunset of an acupuncture practice. The opportunities that arise while you still have time to learn something new. The importance of having a kind of support when beginning that goes beyond getting the diagnosis right, and how success sometimes means it is time to move onto something else. Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview. 

Good cookware requires seasoning. A hearty stew takes heat and time. Good wine needs a few years; whiskey, that requires a decade or more. And to develop as a practitioner of Chinese medicine, that ripening can take a lifetime.In this conversation with Peter Mole we explore the dynamics of doubt and certainty, along with the role of intuition and artistry in the development of an acupuncturist. Listen into this conversation on the inner journey of becoming a Chinese medicine doctor.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview. 

Research when done well is an inquiry that can shift the foundation of your cognitive model. And that’s exactly what it is for. In this conversation with Brenda Le we both explore how TCM is seen in our Western Chinese medicine world, and how doing this research opened her up to aspects of medicine and practice that she did not previously see. Listen in to this conversation on inquiry, exploration and discovery.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.  

My initial introduction to moxibustion was the classic Chinese mugwort cigar. I hated it. But only because my lungs are the weak link in my chain of being. The smoke was intolerable. Japanese rice grain moxa, that was a whole other universe. It’s not that less is more, it’s that the focused and directed aspects of Japanese moxibustion invite a completely different experience of heat and sensation. In this conversation with Felip Caudet we follow his path of discovery with moxibustion. Listen in to this discussion on mugwort, calling and surrender to the path that beckons.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.  

The medicines and martial arts of Asia have long considered the lower belly and back to be of significant importance in health, wellbeing and as a kind of seat of power and presence.In this conversation with long time practitioner Jeffrey Dann we explore the structural powerhouse of the Koshi, the dynamic lower abdomen with all it’s energetic and physiological functions. Additionally we explore how to approach the body and appreciate the body and develop a sense of listening and connection that becomes the compass that guides our work.Listen into this discussion of discovery, appreciation and medicine.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.  

Ethics is never a simple black and white calculation, but rather the inquiry into proper relationship in a world filled with variability. It’s about considering the relationship with self, other, and society. And it’s a way to check ourselves for blind spots and to consider how our actions affect others, as well as ourselves.In this conversation with Laura Christensen we explore common ethical issues that all acupuncturists are likely to run up against. And you might be surprised to hear about how when considering ethical modes of practice we not only need to consider our patients, but our selves as well. Not operating our businesses in a sustainable way can also be seen as an ethical issue, as we put a burden on our patients when we are overburdened.Listen into this conversation on some surprising ways you might want to reconsider some of your ethical stances, and why there are situations where crossing ethical boundaries might be of benefit to the patient.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.