I fell in love with Chinese medicine over twenty five years ago while I was studying for my psychology degree.
Even though I’d discovered meditation in my teens and had begun a regular yoga practice, I was still pretty new to the world of energy cultivation, mind-body practices and so on.
I’d started dipping my toe into the vast waters of Eastern knowledge and practices, but still very much living like a Western person. The unbalanced Western lifestyle of stress, rushing, artificial medications, alcohol and stimulants can *never* be maintained without cost. I was lucky that I felt the signs early.
I developed a health issue that made me frequently miserable and started to impact not only on my quality of life but even my ability to function at my best. I was taking time off my work and my studies and I knew something had to change.
One evening, I was feeling so bad that I reached for a Chinese medicine flyer that I’d been hanging onto for some reason (a great reason as it turns out!). I called the number and luckily the practitioner was able to see me right away.
I was greeted at the door by a softly spoken Chinese woman, dressed in a traditional white doctor’s coat. She led me down the hallway decorated with scrolls of Chinese writing and into the consultation room. Around me I could see odd instruments, small mannequins with acupoints marked on them, jars of dried mushrooms, bottles of various coloured liquids all marked with Chinese writing…
I was fascinated by the questions she asked me, the way she seemed to gently study me while I talked with her (I now know she was assessing my “Shen” – vitality of spirit), the way she attentively “listened” with her fingertips as she read my wrist pulses. It was all very new and a bit weird… but somehow I felt it was right for me.
She then went to a huge wall of drawers and proceeded to take out various twigs, roots, shells, flowers, bark and so on. She wrapped them up into packages, gave me a special clay pot and instructed me on how to boil up the herbal medicine. I was very excited to take my strange bundle of things home and I cooked up my first brew that night.
It stunk terribly, the texture was very weird and the taste was completely bizarre – a bit metallic, bitter… strange! But I’d been feeling so awful and was very motivated to feel better, so I took it and continued with it for the rest of the week.
Funnily enough, each day it became easier and after some time I started to look forward to my weird little brew… because I was feeling WAY better. I felt lighter, clearer, more peaceful… happier.
And my symptoms resolved much sooner than I had thought possible – a huge relief.
During the remainder of my psychology studies I would go back to her from time to time – whenever my stressful lifestyle played catch-up with my health! I didn’t really understand how I could live any differently. I was totally immersed in the 1990s Western way of life and didn’t have any role models who were living in a healthier way. Luckily, the Chinese herbs and occasional acupuncture really helped to keep me balanced.
After living and working overseas, I returned to Australia and made the decision to study Chinese medicine full-time. As a mature student, this was a huge commitment and I soaked up as much knowledge as I could from my many dedicated, amazing teachers.
I started with a half-year course in Chinese remedial massage and then into the very intensive, four-year university degree program of Chinese medical theory and philosophy, herbal medicines and formulas, classical studies, acupuncture theory and practice, specialities such as gynaecology, paediatrics, dermatology, sports injury and pain, internal medicine (eg digestion, respiratory), ear-nose-throat, eye diseases and so on.
This immersion into Eastern health practices culminated in a three-month internship at the Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine in Nanjing, People’s Republic of China. They see about a million outpatients per year through the various specialist departments and acupuncture clinics, as well as having excellent inpatient wards such as gynaecology, dermatology, stroke rehabilitation and paediatrics.
I studied with some amazing doctors and was gratified to know that even though some of the details were different (like a few different herbs and so on) the main part of the practice that we had been taught in Australia was the same as the practice in China. We had learned the same foundation as our Chinese counterparts, and we now have the task of bringing this beautiful form of healthcare to Westerners.
In the past decade I’ve been exploring what’s loosely called Classical Chinese Medicine. This is the body of knowledge that existed in China before the dramatic changes of 20th century China.
I have been very lucky to have studied in advanced Continuing Professional Education programs with highly regarded Australian and international teachers and practitioners. As a Chinese medicine practitioner, this passion for knowledge and understanding is a life-long motivation to continue to develop and deepen in the practice, to be able to share our skill and knowledge with the community – to relieve suffering and help people to find ease and joy in life again.
A big part of my role as a Western practitioner of Chinese medicine is to translate Chinese medicine wisdom into plain English. I’m often asked by my patients, “This is so beautiful and inspiring – how can I read more about it? How can I find out more?” Many people have asked if I would write a book about what I teach them in the clinic, so that may be something for the future!
In the meantime, I love sharing the depth of knowledge and inspiration with people in clinic and online. This knowledge becomes yours, and you can simply experience the truth for yourself. When you feel the benefits then the motivation to continue naturally comes from within.
I love to share these insights with you so that you can see yourself, and your health, in a new and positive light.
