Qiological Podcast
Michael Max
Acupuncture and East Asian medicine was not developed in a laboratory. It does not advance through double-blind controlled studies, nor does it respond well to petri dish experimentation. Our medicine did not come from the statistical regression of randomized cohorts, but from the observation and treatment of individuals in their particular environment. It grows out of an embodied sense of understanding how life moves, unfolds, develops and declines.
Medicine comes from continuous, thoughtful practice of what we do in clinic, and how we approach that work. The practice of medicine is more — much more — than simply treating illness. It is more than acquiring skills and techniques. And it is more than memorizing the experiences of others. It takes a certain kind of eye, an inquiring mind and relentlessly inquisitive heart.
Qiological is an opportunity to deepen our practice with conversations that go deep into acupuncture, herbal medicine, cultivation practices, and the practice of having a practice. It’s an opportunity to sit in the company of others with similar interests, but perhaps very different minds. Through these dialogues perhaps we can better understand our craft.
Medicine comes from continuous, thoughtful practice of what we do in clinic, and how we approach that work. The practice of medicine is more — much more — than simply treating illness. It is more than acquiring skills and techniques. And it is more than memorizing the experiences of others. It takes a certain kind of eye, an inquiring mind and relentlessly inquisitive heart.
Qiological is an opportunity to deepen our practice with conversations that go deep into acupuncture, herbal medicine, cultivation practices, and the practice of having a practice. It’s an opportunity to sit in the company of others with similar interests, but perhaps very different minds. Through these dialogues perhaps we can better understand our craft.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 5, 2020 • 1h 8min
142 The NCCAOM Looks at Challenges & Opportunities for Acupuncturists • Mina Larson & Afua Bromley
Mina Larson, CEO of NCCAOM and expert in acupuncture, joins Afua Bromley, a professional in practice development, to tackle the evolution of acupuncture in the West. They discuss the historical challenges the profession faced, including past legal issues and the present impact of COVID-19. The conversation highlights the importance of advocacy, the rise of telemedicine, and the resources available for acupuncturists. They also explore the emotional toll of the pandemic on practitioners and the need for community support.
May 1, 2020 • 1h 40min
141 Social Connection & Knowing Our Essence • Panel Discussion
We are being invited, both by our conditions and circumstances and by people in our profession to “get online and do tele-medicine.” However much of what we do as acupuncturists does not translate well, as our most critical tool cannot be used in a digital form.The questions that I’ve been noodling through for the past month plus are what is the essence of my work when I don’t have access to my kit of tools? And how would I describe what I do, when I can use my needles?In this rebroadcast of a Lhasa webinar with Daniel Schulman, Alaine Duncan and Amy Mager as we explore the opportunities and challenges in this moment of transformation.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.
Apr 28, 2020 • 1h 17min
140 Copywriting for a Googlicious Website • Iselin Svalastog
Maybe you were one of those people who learned in English class that you weren’t very good at the standardized form of writing they were trying to teach. Perhaps you thought you weren’t a good writer. And you might want to reconsider that, because copywriting is a lot like talking. And it is about being expressive.In this conversation with Iselin Svalastog we explore the importance of putting your authentic voice on your website. And how there is a way to write that is persuasive , informative, connective and honest.Many people think that advertising and marketing is about manipulation, but the most effective marketing is about communicating in a way that is connective, respectful and helpful. Listen in to this conversation on creating compelling content that will make you show up more often in a Google search. And better yet, have people call you for an appointment because they connected with what they read on your website.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.
Apr 21, 2020 • 1h 15min
139 Treating Hashimoto's with Chinese Medicine • Heidi Lovie
You’ve probably seen patients who are on thyroid medication and the numbers are “fine” according the their conventional doctor, but they just don’t feel right. We know from our experience as practitioners that often our patients are deeply frustrated because they’ve been through thousands of dollars of testing and yet they are told “there is nothing wrong with you.” But the truth of situation more often is “we have not been able to find the source of the problem your having.”In this conversation with Heidi Lovie we taken a deep enough dive into the hormonal interactions of the thyroid that you’ll be able to better understand the numbers on a thyroid panel. And we then flip into how Chinese medicine, especially the ideas of Li Dong Yuan, can help you to make a substantial difference in your patient’s life.Understanding the story that certain key factors of the bloodwork tell along with the methods and perspectives of Chinese medicine can make a big difference in the life your Hashimoto’s patients. Listen in and find out how!Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.
Apr 18, 2020 • 1h 8min
138 The Essence of Our Work: An Exploration on Knowing What You Have to Offer Online • MB Huwe
With Covid-19 knocking the bottom out of our practices, there is a call from experts in the field to “get online.” Which isn’t bad advice as it does provide a channel to our patients in a time when we can't put our hands on them. But, and this is important, many of us don’t know what we would do online.Somehow the idea of teaching acupressure leaves me completely cold. And as to helping people with their nutrition, well, most people I see don’t have much of an interest in that anyway. Add on to it, the fact that there are some things I know in theory, but from an embodied understanding I don’t have much to say.So the question arises for me of “What in essence, and with integrity, can I share online?”In this conversation with MB Huwe as we dig into that question. Listen in if you have questions about what can you from that genuine place in your bones bring to the online world.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.
Apr 14, 2020 • 58min
137 Listening • Michael Max
Listening is not a skill that I expected to develop. I thought I’d get good with palpation or pulse reading. After all, the masters are said to get what they need with the pause and a few questions. That’s what I was aiming for, however it did not work out that way for me.I’ve found over the years that there is a way of listening to a patient that has allowed me to both uncover what I need to know to treat them, but more importantly, help me to better understand innate resources they have that they either are not in touch with, or curiously enough think are deficiencies or problems.Listening is not passive, nor about just hearing what the patient says, it also involves an inner ear to our own experience.This episode is a solo show in which I share some what my clinical experience has taught about an often overlooked yin aspect of our work— listening.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.
Apr 11, 2020 • 1h 8min
Encore Episode, Immunity and Resiliency • Chris Powell, Laura McGraw, Toby Daly
Chinese medicine does not have an immune system in the same way that we think about it with modern bio-medicine. It’s not that there is a lack processes that help the body to maintain its integrity and function— there are. But those processes are less about identifying and killing intruders, and more about helping the body to adapt and respond. Each individual will response a little differently to infections or external invasion, and the state and strength of our vitality also plays a key role. In this panel discussion with Laura McGraw, Toby Daly and Chris Powell we take a look at the “immune response” from the Chinese medicine point of view.
Apr 7, 2020 • 1h 24min
136 Abundance, Perspective and Practice • Lamya Kamel
The opinions we have about “doing business” can dramatically affect the kind of practice we have, the opportunities we recognize or are blind to, and how we feel about ourselves as we begin to generate some momentum and success in our work.Success brings its own issues. And it does not guarantee your insecurities will go away. The more successful you are, the more responsibility comes your way— and there is more to lose if it all comes apart. Sometimes it might seem “safer” to stay small, but our practices ask us to show up with spirit and resiliency.In this conversation with Lamya Kamel we look at how our practices ask us to grow in challenging, yet essential ways. And that while we may not have confidence in the beginning, over time it can arise when we approach our work with integrity and passion.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.
Mar 31, 2020 • 1h 23min
135 Trusting the Fundamentals-Using Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Epidemic Disease • Heiner Fruehauf
For those of us in North America the world changed about three weeks ago as the Covid-19 began to make itself known. And as Chinese medicine practitioners begin to close their in-person practice and open up video visits with patients for herbal consultations there is an increasing interest in how we in the modern world, facing this particular pandemic, can use our medicine to help.Heiner Fruehauf has been translating some of the writing and communications of his friend and colleague Dr Liu Li Hong who has been in Wu Han treating patients for a couple months now.In this conversation we touch both on the one size fits all formulas that have shown effect in protecting staff from infection, and the importance of applying our Chinese medicine 辨證理論 bian zheng li lun, principles of differential diagnosis.Listen into this report from the front lines of China, and how we can help our patients and each other as it is now our turn to confront this epidemic.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.
Mar 27, 2020 • 58min
134 Curiosity in the Time of Corona • Greg Bantick
Some of the difficulties faced by many of us in this time of pandemic are the disorientation, anxiety and fear that arise from uncertainty. But if you look more closely, you’ll see that there never is in this life the guarantee of certainty. It can feel that way because of habituation, but when you strip away the daily habits and sense of continuity, then the profound and often unbearable uncertainty that all self-aware mortal beings share, is always there.These past few months in Asia and past few weeks in the western world have been tearing away at our sense of certainty and security. We fear for our lives, our livelihoods, families and increasingly… our communities as well.In this conversation with Greg Bantick we look into how this ever-present moment arises from innumerable causes and conditions, and how curiosity can help us to more fully inhabit all the moments in which we find ourselves.This is an episode that is not just for practitioners, your patients, family and friends could benefit from this conversation as well.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.
