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
Oct 27, 2020 • 1h 11min
171 Inner Development of the Practitioner • Peter Mole
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.
Oct 20, 2020 • 1h 12min
170 Researching Attitudes Toward TCM • Brenda Le
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.
Oct 13, 2020 • 1h 14min
169 Path of Moxibustion • Felip Caudet
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.
Oct 11, 2020 • 1h 23min
Encore Episode, Stress is Not Manageable • Heidi Lovie
Stress management is something we started to hear about in the 1980’s. But compare the “stress” of the 80’s with the 2000’s and we are talking very different worlds. Then 2020 arrives and we wish we had the stress and problems of just a year or two ago. In this conversation with Heidi Lovie we look at how to handle life when things change more in four months than they used to change in four years. Heidi’s take no prisoners approach to Covid, social unrest, failing economies, troublesome landlords and political monkeyshines will give you some hope for our off the rails world.
Oct 6, 2020 • 1h 22min
168 Balancing the Koshi • Jeffrey Dann
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.
Sep 30, 2020 • 1h 1min
167 The Challenge of Ethics in a Healing Relationship • Laura Christensen
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.
Sep 22, 2020 • 1h 8min
166 The Spirit of Medicine • Elisabeth Rochat
There is a kind of poetry to Chinese characters. They gives hints and clues about the names we give to the world. They tell a story. In this conversation with Elisabeth Rochat we explore, like you’d explore bottles of fine wine, some of the meaning and nuance in the characters 意 yi， 通 tong， 命 ming，and 理 li. There are some delicious surprises in this conversation as I’m more conversant with the common meanings of these characters, and Elisabeth’s perspective gives me a whole new appreciation for Chinese language and thought. Listen in to this discussion of characters, medicine and what it takes to be a human being.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.
Sep 15, 2020 • 1h 10min
165 Treating Cancer with Acupuncture • Yair Maimon
Jing, Qi and Shen— the three treasures. Like so many of these pithy quotes about Chinese medicine there is a lot here if you have taken the time to investigate it and see how it fits within your experience of practicing medicine. In this conversation with Yair Maimon we touch on the three treasures as they relate to treating cancer with acupuncture, immunology from Chinese medicine perspective, and ways of working with research that help us to further our understanding of our medicine here in the modern day.Listen in to this discussion that touches both on the classics and modern day perspectives in health and healing.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.
Sep 8, 2020 • 1h 4min
164 The Resonant Hum of Yin and Yang • Sabine Wilms
Chinese is not that easy, and the 文言文 (wen yan wen) the classical Chinese, that stuff is a whole other order of magnitude in challenge to the modern Western mind.And yet if we are going to practice this medicine with deep roots into a long gone time and culture, we need access to the stepping stones that have been handed down to us over centuries through books and writing.Translating language is one thing. But translating culture, bringing something of the mind and perception from another time, that is a whole other task.It helps if you can understand the poetry, the stories, the world view and beliefs of the time. And it helps if you can track the changes in the meaning of words and ideas across the centuries of commentary.In this episode we are sitting down for tea with Sabine Wilms, a self described "lover of dead languages," for a discussion of Resonance from chapter five of the Simple Questions.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.
Sep 6, 2020 • 1h
Encore Episode, The Problem With the Medical Model • Alice Whieldon
The medical model is useful for certain conditions and problems. It also lends itself to a factory sort of medicine that allows a large number of people to be served using protocols and standard procedures. But when a patient’s issues don’t fit neatly into “the machine” then that system of medicine is not just not helpful, it can bring harm.Engaging with a patient free of flowcharts and diagnostic codes invites into a space free of agenda and technique. It allows for a kind of non-doing that can allow for a patient connecting with resources they did not know they had.Listen into this Part Two conversation with with Alice Whieldon on the cost of the medical model.
