MedicineTraditions for TCM Practitioners
How Can MedicineTraditions be used by TCM Practitioners?
As a Practitioner of TCM for more than 25 years, I have great respect for TCM and have seen many wonders achieved with its use. However, for the past 20 years I have also studied various other Traditions including Tibetan Medicine, Unani and the Western Tradition in particular.
My primary interest has been in Materia Medica and Formulas, and from these other systems, I have been able to incorporate various new Materia Medica and Formulas into my practice with ease and great success.
We all have patients that seem to not respond to standard TCM treatment, or perhaps do not fit a standard TCM diagnosis for their presenting symptoms. This is where using different approaches often achieves marvellous results.
Unani medicine doctors (Arabs practicing Greek medicine) were found in major Chinese cities 1000 years ago, and they were known to cure conditions when the local doctors had failed. Unani Doctors were also praised by Tibetan Doctors and evidently Tibetan Medicine had a lot of direct influence from Middle Eastern sources. Likewise today in Western China, when TCM fails, locals often look to Tibetan Medicine.
My article in The Lantern demonstrates that early Acupuncture originated from Bloodletting, and that Bloodletting was most probably introduced to China from the West. Even the concept of San Bao (Three Tresures of Jing, Qi and Shen) can be found in early Greek writings, and possibly even before Chinese sources!
The point is, Traditional Medicine systems along the Silk Road have been constantly influenced by each other in Theory, Materia Medica and Treatment. While there are differences between the systems, fundamentally, a large percentage of the knowledge is common. Thus, once we have training in one system, it is relatively easy to incorporate aspects from other systems.
Modifying Chinese Formulas based on ideas from other systems
A major Yin tonic formula of the Western Tradition is the Cooling Powder of Pearl, Diamargariton Frigidum. As its name suggests, the primary medicine is Pearl. Years ago, I began adding a little Pearl powder (approximately 5%) to my Liu Wei Di Huang Wan powder. The difference was very noticeable and quite amazing to both me and my patients who had been using my Liu Wei without Pearl. Sleep improved, deficient Heat symptoms such as restless legs and hot flushes were settled, irritability lessened while the Yin tonic effects appeared to be enhanced also. I add an equivalent weight of Cinnamon (Rou Gui or Gui Pi) to correct the coldness of the Pearl and enhance the Kidney-strengthening effect, and in this form I have used Liu Wei Di Huang Wan in my clinic for over 10 years.
Another example is the combination of Peony and Mistletoe in the Western Tradition. Peony is fairly equivalent of Bai Shao while Mistletoe is a variety of Sang Ji Sheng. These 2 medicines were always combined for Internal Wind conditions such as Epilepsy, Convulsions and Paralysis in the West. Years ago, I was treating a man in his early 40's who had Hemiplegia and loss of Speech from a CVA 6 months earlier. I was giving him acupuncture twice weekly with a powdered version of Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin as he showed clear signs of Liver Heat. After nearly 3 months of Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin as a powder, I decided to add Peony (Western Peony, Paeonia officinalis). To our amazement, 3 days after starting the new powder, he could talk. His mother was staying with him from Interstate and was likewise amazed. I had told him in front of his mother that the powder had an extra ingredient and should be stronger. Since then, I always add Peony to Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin when made as a powder.
One other example is Shilajit. Shilajit is a pitch-like substance collected from the Himalayas and used in Ayurveda, Tibetan Medicine and in Unani. It is regarded in Ayurveda as a panacea, a cure-all. Even Charaka, one of the most famous books of the Ayurvedic tradition said all diseases are benefited with Shilajit. Shilajit is composed of broken down organic matter and has a host of minerals and trace minerals, combined with Humic acid to make them highly absorbable. It is especially regarded as a Kidney tonic, an Aphrodisiac, used to treat Impotence, Joint disease and Diabetes. I began enhancing my Kidney tonics such as Liu Wei Di Huang Wan and Shen Qi Wan with 5–10% Shilajit powder when appropriate. Being a Kidney tonic and containing useful trace minerals, it is indicated in various chronic diseases, especially in the elderly.
These are just a few of the simple modifications that can be made integrating other Traditional Medicine with TCM formulas.
Introducing New Formulas
There are some truly beautiful formulas from other systems available to TCM practitioners. Many of the Tibetan and Western Formulas in particular are composed primarily of medicines a TCM practitioner is familiar with. In some cases, these formulas can be used for inspiration, in other cases they can be recreated.
As a Practitioner of TCM for more than 25 years, I have great respect for TCM and have seen many wonders achieved with its use. However, for the past 20 years I have also studied various other Traditions including Tibetan Medicine, Unani and the Western Tradition in particular.
My primary interest has been in Materia Medica and Formulas, and from these other systems, I have been able to incorporate various new Materia Medica and Formulas into my practice with ease and great success.
We all have patients that seem to not respond to standard TCM treatment, or perhaps do not fit a standard TCM diagnosis for their presenting symptoms. This is where using different approaches often achieves marvellous results.
Unani medicine doctors (Arabs practicing Greek medicine) were found in major Chinese cities 1000 years ago, and they were known to cure conditions when the local doctors had failed. Unani Doctors were also praised by Tibetan Doctors and evidently Tibetan Medicine had a lot of direct influence from Middle Eastern sources. Likewise today in Western China, when TCM fails, locals often look to Tibetan Medicine.
My article in The Lantern demonstrates that early Acupuncture originated from Bloodletting, and that Bloodletting was most probably introduced to China from the West. Even the concept of San Bao (Three Tresures of Jing, Qi and Shen) can be found in early Greek writings, and possibly even before Chinese sources!
The point is, Traditional Medicine systems along the Silk Road have been constantly influenced by each other in Theory, Materia Medica and Treatment. While there are differences between the systems, fundamentally, a large percentage of the knowledge is common. Thus, once we have training in one system, it is relatively easy to incorporate aspects from other systems.
Modifying Chinese Formulas based on ideas from other systems
A major Yin tonic formula of the Western Tradition is the Cooling Powder of Pearl, Diamargariton Frigidum. As its name suggests, the primary medicine is Pearl. Years ago, I began adding a little Pearl powder (approximately 5%) to my Liu Wei Di Huang Wan powder. The difference was very noticeable and quite amazing to both me and my patients who had been using my Liu Wei without Pearl. Sleep improved, deficient Heat symptoms such as restless legs and hot flushes were settled, irritability lessened while the Yin tonic effects appeared to be enhanced also. I add an equivalent weight of Cinnamon (Rou Gui or Gui Pi) to correct the coldness of the Pearl and enhance the Kidney-strengthening effect, and in this form I have used Liu Wei Di Huang Wan in my clinic for over 10 years.
Another example is the combination of Peony and Mistletoe in the Western Tradition. Peony is fairly equivalent of Bai Shao while Mistletoe is a variety of Sang Ji Sheng. These 2 medicines were always combined for Internal Wind conditions such as Epilepsy, Convulsions and Paralysis in the West. Years ago, I was treating a man in his early 40's who had Hemiplegia and loss of Speech from a CVA 6 months earlier. I was giving him acupuncture twice weekly with a powdered version of Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin as he showed clear signs of Liver Heat. After nearly 3 months of Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin as a powder, I decided to add Peony (Western Peony, Paeonia officinalis). To our amazement, 3 days after starting the new powder, he could talk. His mother was staying with him from Interstate and was likewise amazed. I had told him in front of his mother that the powder had an extra ingredient and should be stronger. Since then, I always add Peony to Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin when made as a powder.
One other example is Shilajit. Shilajit is a pitch-like substance collected from the Himalayas and used in Ayurveda, Tibetan Medicine and in Unani. It is regarded in Ayurveda as a panacea, a cure-all. Even Charaka, one of the most famous books of the Ayurvedic tradition said all diseases are benefited with Shilajit. Shilajit is composed of broken down organic matter and has a host of minerals and trace minerals, combined with Humic acid to make them highly absorbable. It is especially regarded as a Kidney tonic, an Aphrodisiac, used to treat Impotence, Joint disease and Diabetes. I began enhancing my Kidney tonics such as Liu Wei Di Huang Wan and Shen Qi Wan with 5–10% Shilajit powder when appropriate. Being a Kidney tonic and containing useful trace minerals, it is indicated in various chronic diseases, especially in the elderly.
These are just a few of the simple modifications that can be made integrating other Traditional Medicine with TCM formulas.
Introducing New Formulas
There are some truly beautiful formulas from other systems available to TCM practitioners. Many of the Tibetan and Western Formulas in particular are composed primarily of medicines a TCM practitioner is familiar with. In some cases, these formulas can be used for inspiration, in other cases they can be recreated.
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Troches of Gum Lacca.
Using TCM herbs, we can rewrite it thus: Zi Cao Rong (Lacca) Da Huang (Rhubarb) Qian Cao (Madder) Mu Xiang (Costus) Xian He Cao (Agrimony) Long Dan Cao (Gentian) Tao Ren (instead of Bitter Almond) Xi Xin (Asarabacca) Xiao Hui Xiang (Fennel) Gan Cao (instead of Mastic) Valerian (instead of Indian Spikenard) |
The above formula is a formula for 'opening obstructions' of the Liver, Kidneys and Abdomen in general. It is primarily a Blood moving formula and was written about 1000 years ago, and thus predates the major Blood-moving formulas (the three 'Zhu Yu' formulas) of TCM by more than 700 years. It combines potent medicine to move the Blood, resolve Phlegm, clear Heat and activate Qi. Despite the cooling herbs, the overall formula was viewed as Warm. It is very effective, despite being used in powder form, its effects can be more pronounced than Blood-moving formulas of TCM which are normally decocted and therefore taken in much larger dose. I have seen benefit when used for Fibroids, painful scar tissue and adhesions and also believe this to be useful in Prostatitis, and possibly Prostate Tumors. It is likewise indicated in Gynecological Tumors such as Ovarian Cysts and Fibroids, as well as severe Menstrual Pain.
There are many, many, great formulas contained within this Website, and many can be used by TCM practitioners with little modification.
Conclusion
I've heard numerous TCM practitioners say that 'TCM is big enough already, I don't need to learn anything else', or 'its hard enough to master TCM without confusing it with other knowledge'.
To these I say, TCM is not one system. TCM is a number of systems, developed over a period of more than 2000 years. And some of those theories have already been influenced by systems outside China.
The fact is, once you have a firm grounding in TCM, you can apply this to knowledge from other systems. For example, if a Western Formulas is used as an Aphrodisiac in cases with 'Cold and Weak Kidneys', we can immediately recognise this as a Kidney Yang tonic formula. And such formulas in the West regularly used Testicles or Genitals of various animals and well as lizards, much like Kidney Yang tonic formulas of TCM.
I personally have replaced a number of my TCM formulas for Traditional Western formulas because they work well, sometimes better, than TCM formulas I was using beforehand. I believe we shouldn't be dogmatic about TCM. The great masters of the past in all Traditions would have relished the opportunity to converse with doctors from other traditions and would not be afraid to introduce new medicines or formulas. And many of the greatest Doctors in history became that way by doing exactly that: enhancing their knowledge from other systems. Avicenna was perhaps the greatest example of this, but there are many.
This is the purpose of MedicineTraditions. I hope it inspires you, stimulates the use of Traditional Medicine, and helps the health of all people while working in harmony with Nature.
Adam Tate
Practitioner of Traditional Medicine
Founder of MedicineTraditions
December 2016