Dear Friends and Patients,
It’s been awhile and definitely feels like a good time to catch up and share my experiences here.
I’ve been taking time away from Thailand to be in Taiwan lately, exploring the local culture and also the traditions of Chinese medicine.
In Thailand in October I went on the latest trip with the mobile MedCMU clinic for 3 days. It was one the most interesting and great experiences of doing this so far. The journey was an adventure in itself – we spent over 4 hours driving through winding roads, fording rivers. The convoy stopped along the way at a mountain shrine to pay respects to the mountain. ⛰️
(If you’d like to see more footage of the trip, here is the Thai FB video about it: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1719761348849475)
We visited the Karin tribe in the mountains of Doi Tao, south of Chiang Mai. We came to provide medical, dental, and acupuncture services, along with other needed things for the people there who live so remotely.
I was struck by the camaraderie between the medical practitioners, and the relatability between us educated professionals and the tribespeople.
In November I went back to Taiwan, where I am presently. I came to visit my son who teaches here and to explore more of this fascinating country. There’s a lot of little things I really appreciate, like the tea culture and the ease of getting around a city like Taipei along the river with a bicycle.
Taiwan also has a rich culture around using Chinese herbs. In Taipei there are many many herb shops, especially in Dihua district. This is one has herbs that are covered by national health insurance.
We visited the KPC granule factory in Tainan, as I’ve been using these granules for over 20 years now. I met with Jason, the fifth-generation herbalist and owner of the company. We had a thorough tour of the production process and the company’s commitment to quality, sustainability, and the tradition were very evident.
As I continue on this journey, I’m reminded of the importance of balance and harmony in our lives. In Chinese medicine, we talk about the interplay between Yin and Yang, and how this balance affects our health and well-being.
Whatever stresses life may bring us, following along the course of the seasons and the balancing our activities through the day and night can help us to maintain health and enhance longevity.
As Winter and the cold set in, it is the time naturally to focus on herbs that enhance the “Kidney yang” like the Golden Book formula (jin qui shen qi wan 金匮肾气丸), as well as famous single herbs like Ginseng (renshen 人参) that benefit the Qi generally.
Chinese herbs are traditionally designed to enhance this process – to aid immune and hormonal function and benefit longevity.
It’s good to know if your type and condition are the right fit, because this kind of tonification isn’t for everyone. You might need something different, or really nothing at all.
From abroad I’ve been doing Zoom consultations for a variety of issues, often followed by doing herbal drop-off by mail to clients back in the US.
If you are interested in this, please feel free to drop me a line:
Text (and Whatsapp) Number: 541-621-7101
