Its a new year – the Wood Horse – now in the Chinese calendar – moving from years of swirly depth and maybe appropriate confusion into one of youthful exuberance and newness. In the talk I’m giving tomorrow (inside from the rain?) the keyword is ‘education’ for the year to come…can you feel it?
After a final clinic day on February 14th, I’m heading off for a month to Southeast Asia to travel with my oldest son Samuel – to Laos, Cambodia, and a little in Thailand. Years ago when I was spending a great deal of time in Thailand I found my favorite part was in the northern hills above Chiangmai, which I envision Laos to have the character of. Just recently I found out that my cousin Larry is working with a Laotian couple at “Pommalok Farm” (they are on Facebook) helping them get a funding grant for their organic farm project near Ventiane, the capital of Laos. So we’ll be visiting them on arrival.
What’s interesting is that they use the herbs they grow for “Traditional Laotian” healing, and the farm is run according to Buddhist principles. Larry has told me that the region of the village has had no need to use modern medicine at all for the last few years. Interesting – I think that modern medicines’ strong point is in treating acute emergencies (though I’m always quick to point out that the most famous Chinese herbal doctors historically were famous for treating epidemic diseases) -so maybe life is fairly free of unexpected trauma…OR they really have it together with those herbs… I’ll report back, but it seems a lot of the remedies involve using the herbs for joint injuries, problems… In my clinic I often use a line of Spring Wind compresses that come in a variety of formulas (many w/ interesting bugs and such) that are used to soak hardened or inflamed joints in – as well as using bulk herbs I have around. So maybe I’ll pick up a new trick or two – and hope we all get mutually get ‘educated’ as a result. Good year for that.
While I’m gone, my office manager (yes, very pregnant) Courtney will still be around a little to answer the phone and fill herb prescriptions. Also Jody Herriott will be there and available to see some of my clients on Wednesday mornings – you can reach her at 541-621-3378. I’ll be back March 18th.
All the best in the New Year!
Ken