Cultural Expectations in Disease and Medicine; Chinese Zeitgeist in an Age of Evidence Based Medicine

About Living Medicine

Medicine is a science but remains in practice, an art. This sometimes-uneasy alliance of art and science is a source of skill for a practitioner. This is my goal.

I want to find the best and safest treatments for patients and I want to do solid research on the many therapeutic compounds available today. I also want to share my insights with colleagues to maintain the dialogue so important to practice. This is the science.

The art is communicating with the patient as a person and not as a disease. The art is in the mostly imperceptible observation of myriad patterns found in distress and summing these observations up into a comprehensive protocol. The art is staying human in the face of suffering.

I have been practicing what is now called Traditional Medicine / Complimentary Alternative Medicine (TM-CAM) for nearly 35 years. I began my studies in Boston and went on to the UK to formalise that training. As I began practice in London in 1973, I found an excitement and an intellectual challenge that has never left me. In the early days Alternative Medicine was looked upon with what was at worst suspicion and at best benevolent humour. Today only the most narrow minded suspect TM-CAM of being a fringe cult. We have over these few years become increasingly mainstream. TM-CAM is now even being taught in medical schools. What used to be suspicion now is cooperation.

The same is true in our training, where much of TM-CAM is taught in University. The quality of therapeutic compounds and the research to support their use has been nothing short of revolutionary.

Living Medicine is just that, a living growing thing that matures and contributes. Living Medicine is a philosophy and a discipline for me. I have learned a great deal in the nearly 40 years since I began study but I believe the greatest is yet to come. The profound relationships forged in treatment are a powerful stimulus to my continuing practice. The new research and efficacious products continually being created are challenging in number and I look forward to setting down at my computer and studying. My enthusiasm grows daily.

My medicine sustains my body and soul. I want to share that with patients and colleagues.