_______ Another Perspective: Studying the Classics For A Firm Foundation By Jason Blalack, LAc and Z’ev Rosenberg, LAc In Jake Paul Fratkin’s Acupuncture Today article entitled “Going Beyond the Classics,” it was suggested that Western practitioners of Chinese medicine are ignoring modern research only to be “married to the classic formulas.” Fratkin makes the case that China has been making advancement after advancement in medicine over the last 60 years that Westerners would be foolish to ignore. Thus, Chinese medicine…

There has been some recent discussion and debate on some online forums about the meaning of a slow pulse in Chinese medicine. Many believe this relates solely to rate of the heartbeat and thus corresponds to something like three beats per breath or less than 60 BPM. Although this is substantiated in modern and historical literature, it is only half the story. The slow pulse can correspond to a sluggishness or slowness in the arrival and departure of the wave. Consequently…

Issues in Using Antiviral Medicinals in the Treatment and Prevention of the Common Cold and Flu (Gan Mao) by Jason Blalack Originally published in the Chinese Medicine Times (Summer, 2011) Introduction There is a current trend for Chinese herbalists to prescribe medicinals based on their Western function. For example, modern research demonstrates that da qing ye (Isatidis Folium) and ban lan gen (Isatidis/Baphicacanthis Radix) are antiviral. Consequently, there are those in both Asia and the West that recommend their use…

A brief look at the term irritability / vexation(烦 fan) through the lens of the Discussion of Cold Damage (Shang Han Lun) by: Jason Blalack In Chinese medicine, our understanding of technical terms shapes our clinical picture and ultimately how we treat. One such term that recently peaked my interest was the term 烦 (fan), translated as vexation (Wiseman) or irritability (Eastland Press). These translations seem reasonable since modern dictionaries define it as: 1. vexed, irritated; annoyed, terribly upset, worried…

Update: As a few people informed me, there was some problems with the twitter & RSS feed notification system, however I think it has been resolved. Furthermore, while finishing up the final stages of my book I have had little time to post, so for those that  actually may have checked the website recently, I apologize for the lack of activity. However, at the moment I have more time and will resume posting. Please let me know if there is…

By: Qin Bo-Wei Translated By: Jason Blalack The names in the warm disease current are extremely complicated. Besides the name, warm disease itself, there is wind-warmth, spring-warmth, summerheat-warmth, autumn-warmth, winter-warmth, damp-warmth, warm-epidemic, warm-toxin, warm-malaria, as well as lurking summerheat, autumn-dryness etc. All of these are within the scope of warm disease. I think that these should be restructured with some added explanation. Only after we rectify these terms will we be able to perform some judicious pruning.

1. Spring-warmth: Warmth

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Original essay by: Qin Bo-Wei Translated, introduction, & commentary by: Jason Blalack Introduction: This essay on lurking pathogens (also referred to as lingering, hidden, deep-lying, or latent pathogens) is particularly relevant in today’s era, where we have students and practitioners using the term to describe all sorts of chronic disorders. Qin suggests that the utility of the term may be questionable. Although Qin emphasises the lurking pathogen theory that came out of the warm disease  tradition, his historical analysis and…

The relationship between warm disease (温病, wen bing) and cold damage (伤寒, shang han) By Qin Bo-Wei (秦伯未) This small essay in taken from Qin Bo-Wei’s larger Warm Disease thesis that was written in 1963. This essay was published in The Lantern Volume 8 No.2, May 2011, as part of a larger three-part essay entitled Some Issues in Warm Disease by Qin Bo-Wei. Warm disease (温病 wen bing) is a type of illness¹. Warm disease theory, though, is also a…

A Touch of Ling: Learning from ancient case records This article originally appeared in The Lantern, Volume 7, No.3 September 2010. by Jason Blalack Studying Chinese medicine case records is an invaluable way to enhance one’s clinical skills beyond basic textbook knowledge. Qin Bo-Wei, one of the most important educators and clinicians of the 20th century, strongly advocated detailed study of case records, and said that they are the “intimate integration between theory and practice.” Their study enables one…

Further thoughts on understanding Ye Tian-Shi’s case records. By: Jason Blalack Ye Tian-Shi is quite arguably one of the most important clinicians in Chinese medical history. His most important contribution, Case Records as a Guide to Clinical Practice (lin zheng zhi nan), is a compilation of case records by his students. It should be noted that, for a period of time in the Qing Dynasty that doctors/students would only study this book while ignoring the “classics.” Although criticized for this…