TCM WRITINGS
All these articles, unless noted otherwise, were written for AcuAtlanta and are published in their blog or website.
Ladies, we are in good company. There are few female mammals who can expect to live a substantial period of their lives in a post-reproductive state. Humans are one of these mammals along with killer whales, short-finned pilot whales, narwhals and beluga whales.(1) Menopause is an unusual trait.
Balance is relative
Balance is a relative thing yet it is the keystone of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). When treating with herbs, the overarching principle is to choose a formula that is the opposite of the imbalance.
Achey heads
Tell me about your headache. Where is it? What is the pain like? What makes it worse? Heads can ache in so many different ways. From a nagging dull discomfort to a full-blown put me in a dark room with a vomit pail migraine.
Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang
As I write this there are wildfires raging over my home state. One of them is the largest in California’s recorded history. The combination of heat, dry and a little random combustion produces a conflagration of epic proportions. The natural world echoes in our own bodies. though we are not likely to actually catch fire from within, internal heat can create havoc in the body.
Itchy Scratchy
Traditional Chinese Medical students spend a significant portion of their practical clinic courses hanging around in the herb room. Back in the day there were 4-5 students shadowing a teacher. With every patient we would first all crowd into one of the small treatment rooms. After the teacher gathered information and placed needles, we all hustled back the herb room.
Hundred day cough
I used to live in an apartment building with many neighbors and thin walls. Building acoustics were quite remarkable. In my head, I’d prescribe herbs to neighbors based on their coughs. Dry coughs, wet coughs, weak and strong coughs.
Do you have the guts?
Gut health is a hot topic. Gut refers to the intestines, large and small. The scientific research of the past decade shows how profoundly the functioning of the gut affects the rest of the body. Gut health reflects how well the microorganisms in your intestines get along with the tissues in your intestines.
On the road with yin qiao san
Yin Qiao. Yin for the herb Jin Yin Hua or honeysuckle flower. Qiao for Lian Qiao or forsythia fruit. Both of these herbal allies would be quite at home in your garden. For many people, Yin Qiao was their first introduction to Chinese herbal medicine.
My Books
More writings and illustrations, possibly some photos of rabbits.
ASSEMBLAGE
The words in this book were originally written in November of 2011 for NaNoWriMo, the National Novel Writing Month challenge. I freely admit that many cardinal rules of writing and novels have been disregarded, though I have taken some pains to use capital letters and punctuation. If you don't like to read there are photos and illustrations.
Herb Apothecary coloring book
54 common and important Chinese herbs on classy cream paper beg for color. Though stylized, the drawings are more accurate than not. Each herb is shown in both plant and dried form. The simplified Chinese character for each herb is included as well.
Mini Materia medica
Part of HERB APOCALYPSE: Three Games this little book is lighter take on 54 Chinese Herbs. It contain the same information as the coloring book, but is a smaller size..