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
Feb 18, 2019 • 1h 15min
072 Center and Root: The Gentle And Effective Women's Health Medicine From Zhejiang • Steve Clavey
It’s not uncommon for children of doctors to also become doctors. Sometimes there will be a string of docs that run for a number of generations. Which can be a good thing as you can learn at lot at your grandparents knee. In today’s conversation we talk about a lineage of practice that goes not just a few generations, but a handful of centuries.Zhejiang province is well known for its fu ke, gynecological doctors. There are actually several streams of doctors that have attended to women’s health over the centuries. Listen in to this conversation on women’s health and pick up a few easy to employ in your clinic tips for making your herbal prescriptions both more effective and tasty 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.
Feb 13, 2019 • 54min
Encore Episode, Marketing in The Digital World • Marketing Mini-Series 5
We’ve all been on the “bad” of marketing. Have been subjected to intrusive and unskilled attempts at trying to convince us of something. It raises your hackles; it should.Lots of us mistake advertising for marketing. But these two, which related, are different. Marketing is about how you communicate, how you represent your authentic self to the world, and how to better understand others so you can see if you might be able to help.If your patients knew what your marketing plan was, would they still be willing to see you? If you can answer yes, then you’re probably on firm footing.And the good news is there has never been a better time to connect with the people that are already looking for someone like you.Listen in to this conversation dialing in your digital marketing mojo and learning to enjoy the process.
Feb 12, 2019 • 1h
071 Coming to Our Senses: Exploring Evidence and Logic • Nigel Dawes
How we make sense in clinic is not as simple as ticking items off a list. It’s more than mentally sorting through the models, theories, admonitions from our teachers and some chatter from a recent glimpse at Facebook.While the theories and mental models we crafted through our experience have a place in clinic, there is also the experience of sensing without a story being attached. If we are attentive and quiet enough there is something that arise in our mind, before the label of “it’s that!” gets attached to our experience. Sometimes we can have an experience in clinic that does not yet have words attached to it.In this discussion we explore perceiving, thinking, evidence and sensing. Listen into this conversation on how we make sense at the edge our unfolding clinical experience.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.
Feb 5, 2019 • 55min
070 Stages and Cycles of Practice • Sharon Weizenbaum
It is easy to think of Chinese medicine as a clear step by step process of diagnosis and treatment, but it does not always go that way in clinic. It can take time for a diagnosis to clarify, and then there is the level of skill we bring to treatment. It’s a process that reveals itself as we go. And while it is easy to look back and see the solid stepping stones that lead to a successful treatment; that clarity can be quite elusive while in the middle of the process.In this episode we discuss the experience of learning from our patients and clinical encounters. How diagnosis is not a series of boxes to check, but rather a process that emerges and clarifies as we engage with our patients and how they respond to our treatments.Listen in to this conversation with long time practitioner Sharon Weizenbaum as we explore the art of diagnosis and how the way we bring ourselves to the clinical encounter is an essential element of the treatment process.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.
Jan 29, 2019 • 1h 11min
069 Sinew, Structure and Function • Brian Lau
The textbooks tell us that sinew channels are important in the treatment of pain and musculoskeletal issues and they are accessed through the jing-well points. But beyond that not much else is said.In this conversation we investigate the channel sinews from both the Chinese medicine and western functional anatomy and physiological perspectives. This gives us a more nuanced look into how structure influences function and it further helps to illuminate channel theory and its profound impact on both organ function and channel based issues.Listen in to this conversation on how the tensegrity of the sinews and fascia influence health, movement and wellbeing.Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.
Jan 22, 2019 • 52min
068 Learning Acupuncture During the Beginning of AIDS • Susan Paul
It’s not hard to study acupuncture these days. A quick internet search will bring up plenty of choices. But back in the 1980’s, it was a different story.Our guest, like many of us, did not set out to become an acupuncturist. It was a process of fortuitous circumstances that opened those doors.Listen into this conversation that covers some of the early days of acupuncture in New York City at the beginning of AIDS 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.
Jan 15, 2019 • 1h 2min
067 Yi Jing as Operating System • Lorraine Wilcox
The Yi Jing speaks in the language of image, resonance and metaphor. Its not a good place to go for direct answers, but can be helpful in finding some guidence.Our converation today touches not just on the ways it is used for divination, but more importantly how it is a mirror and once you have a knack for it, you don’t need it for divination. We discuss how the commentaries are as important as the original text itself. And touch on how it is a kind of operating system that can help you to understand Chinese medicine, as well the curious unfolding of your own wondrously mysterious life.Listen in to this conversation on the power and importance of image and 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.
Jan 8, 2019 • 52min
Encore Episode, Further Discussion on Learning Saam Acupuncture • Panel Discussion
It is always hard at the beginning. It's difficult to learn to see and move in the world in ways that feel foreign and uncomfortable. We like to feel like we know what we're doing. We want to be of service to our patients and help in the best ways possible. And when learning something new it brings back all the discomfort of anytime we have had to grow into a larger version of ourselves.This is another conversation with Kristin Wisgirda and Tim McGee along with Toby Daly on learning to use the Saam method in their daily clinical work.Really, the only way to learn the work is to do the work. And it really helps to have the perspective of someone who has a little bit more experience.Listen in to this conversation as practitioners puzzle through adding this method to their clinical repertoire.
Jan 7, 2019 • 1h 18min
066 Martial Use of Acupuncture Points • Jonathan Bluestein
We know that Chinese medicine and the martial and cultivation arts of East Asia share a common root.In our healing practices we are paying attention to the medicinal side of this continuum. We don’t think about the points can be used for martial purposes, or how structures in the body can be used to generate power and force.Our conversation today looks at some of the internal dynamics and structures from the martial point of view, as well as a tour of some of the points that can be used in particular ways if you find yourself difficult situation.And as this conversation is the other side of the continuum we use in clinic, you’ll find some helpful clinic observations 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.
Jan 1, 2019 • 48min
065 New Year Reflections, The Practice of Practice And A Look At The Small Intestine That You've Probably Not Considered
Ahhh, the new year.A moment in time to reflect on the path recently traveled and what’s up around that bend in the road.This is a solo show reflecting on some of the podcast highlights of the past year, a glimpse into some things already on the calendar. Along with my clinical observations about using the Sa’am acupuncture method in clinical practice, how it has helped me to better understand the connections between the 六經, the six levels and the 五行, the five phases, and some thoughts on the forgotten fu organ in TCM— the small intestine. Head on over to the show notes page for more information about this episode and for links to the resources discussed in the interview.
