That herb market in China is eye candy. Love the insider videos. I’m curious:
1) Adulteration of food and herbs from China is a big concern. How are the herbs certified organic in China? Is the USDA equivalent agency or organic certification process in China trustworthy considering the level of corruption in China?
2) I had always thought most revered TCM is taught through the family line. How does the TCM taught in schools differ from those passed on from the parents who supposedly came from the line of the imperial doctor of the Qing dynasty? Is that still a thing to care about the heritage of the TCM doctor?
Excellent questions! I think these are both great topics to cover in future articles!
With regards to your first question I might ask if you think corruption in any country could influence the organic certification process. I really like your second question and may just tackle that in my next article.
I enjoyed this article very much! Lately, I've been curious about the lunar calendar, the 24 solar terms, and traditional thoughts on transitioning from season to season, especially the 5th element (Earth) transitions, as they seem to cause me problems. Would love to know how you approach seasonal living. What books/calendars(s) do you rely on to keep track of the solar terms?
Thank you for your comment and questions Darcy. The lunar calendar is a pretty complicated subject and I'll admit that I am not an expert. However, I do believe that these transitions that you are talking about are influential and people can notice challenges during some of these transitions. I think an article about seasonal living is a great idea and I can tie some of the calendar information into it with, perhaps, a bit on foods we eat in China during certain times. I'll look at putting that out soon. Thanks for the idea!
I enjoyed this article very much! What you say about the younger Chinese is backed up by a friend of my husband's, she lives in China, born and raised, she's been sick the last 2-3 years and is in the hospital often. My husband asked her if she uses Traditional Chinese Medicine and she said "No" she knows nothing about it because it is "For the old". That really surprised me. I guess it shouldn't, I thought Xi was all for the traditional ways and wants all to embrace TCM.
I guess the story I saw could have been the media trying to make Xi and the Chinese people look backwards and uneducated.
BTW, I enjoy reading about your years in China, such an interesting, intriguing and beautiful country.
Thanks for your comment. There is, in fact, a very strong push by the government to support Chinese medicine; it is even taught in elementary schools now, at least the basics. I am not surprised by this person's response, as sad as it might be.
Please let me know if there's anything specific you'd like me to write about.
Thanks for this fascinating read! This also makes me think of the story behind Yunnan Baiyao. After working in a (American) Chinese Acupuncture Clinic, I found several patent medicines to be essential to my home kit: YB, culing pills, chin wang hun, plasters, etc., and wonder about the general public perception and use, along with other first line/home-based remedies including therapies like gua sha.
Further, I would love to know more about your observation and understating around self prescribing(?) Panax spp., and other traditions including nutritional medicine and herbs. Does this come mainly from family traditions, or from physicians? In a place where healthcare looks pretty different from "the west", do these traditions contribute to a deeper general understanding of health and wellbeing?
Looking forward to your next post about this topic especially!
wonderful article. I wonder if you can offer your view regarding the quality of herbs coming from China. There a lot of denigration of Chinese herbs that Western herbalists casually say which can play into the competition between the West and China and to my borders on sounding racist in some instances.
Fascinating, thanks for this. I got a glimpse when I was on a sourcing trip for two weeks, but not the deep understanding of 15 years!
Thanks Ben! I hope my time there will serve our greater herbal community in some way.
That herb market in China is eye candy. Love the insider videos. I’m curious:
1) Adulteration of food and herbs from China is a big concern. How are the herbs certified organic in China? Is the USDA equivalent agency or organic certification process in China trustworthy considering the level of corruption in China?
2) I had always thought most revered TCM is taught through the family line. How does the TCM taught in schools differ from those passed on from the parents who supposedly came from the line of the imperial doctor of the Qing dynasty? Is that still a thing to care about the heritage of the TCM doctor?
Hi Aileen,
Thanks for your comment.
Excellent questions! I think these are both great topics to cover in future articles!
With regards to your first question I might ask if you think corruption in any country could influence the organic certification process. I really like your second question and may just tackle that in my next article.
I enjoyed this article very much! Lately, I've been curious about the lunar calendar, the 24 solar terms, and traditional thoughts on transitioning from season to season, especially the 5th element (Earth) transitions, as they seem to cause me problems. Would love to know how you approach seasonal living. What books/calendars(s) do you rely on to keep track of the solar terms?
Thank you for your comment and questions Darcy. The lunar calendar is a pretty complicated subject and I'll admit that I am not an expert. However, I do believe that these transitions that you are talking about are influential and people can notice challenges during some of these transitions. I think an article about seasonal living is a great idea and I can tie some of the calendar information into it with, perhaps, a bit on foods we eat in China during certain times. I'll look at putting that out soon. Thanks for the idea!
I enjoyed this article very much! What you say about the younger Chinese is backed up by a friend of my husband's, she lives in China, born and raised, she's been sick the last 2-3 years and is in the hospital often. My husband asked her if she uses Traditional Chinese Medicine and she said "No" she knows nothing about it because it is "For the old". That really surprised me. I guess it shouldn't, I thought Xi was all for the traditional ways and wants all to embrace TCM.
I guess the story I saw could have been the media trying to make Xi and the Chinese people look backwards and uneducated.
BTW, I enjoy reading about your years in China, such an interesting, intriguing and beautiful country.
Thank you,
Terry
Hi Terry,
Thanks for your comment. There is, in fact, a very strong push by the government to support Chinese medicine; it is even taught in elementary schools now, at least the basics. I am not surprised by this person's response, as sad as it might be.
Please let me know if there's anything specific you'd like me to write about.
Interesting, indeed. And have a great trip!
Thanks for this fascinating read! This also makes me think of the story behind Yunnan Baiyao. After working in a (American) Chinese Acupuncture Clinic, I found several patent medicines to be essential to my home kit: YB, culing pills, chin wang hun, plasters, etc., and wonder about the general public perception and use, along with other first line/home-based remedies including therapies like gua sha.
Further, I would love to know more about your observation and understating around self prescribing(?) Panax spp., and other traditions including nutritional medicine and herbs. Does this come mainly from family traditions, or from physicians? In a place where healthcare looks pretty different from "the west", do these traditions contribute to a deeper general understanding of health and wellbeing?
Looking forward to your next post about this topic especially!
wonderful article. I wonder if you can offer your view regarding the quality of herbs coming from China. There a lot of denigration of Chinese herbs that Western herbalists casually say which can play into the competition between the West and China and to my borders on sounding racist in some instances.