Please select one of the many topics for exploration: Classical Chinese Medicine, Translations, Clinical Information, or the Science of Symbols.
WITH BOB QUINN
INTERVIEW BY SUSANNE ERÇETIN
IN GERMAN
In this lively interview, Bob Quinn and Susanne Erçetin explore Japanese meridian therapy, non-insertive treatment techniques, history, and application using the teishin. Technique demonstrations and instructions included in this article.
WITH HEINER FRUEHAUF
INTERVIEW BY BOB QUINN
One question students and practitioners of Chinese medicine frequently ask Heiner Fruehauf, "How does one translate the symbolism and cosmology inherent in classical Chinese medicine into a modern clinical practice?" This article is a recent dialogue between Heiner and his colleague Bob Quinn where they discuss the role of ancient cosmology, symbolism and dreams in the context of clinical diagnosis and treatment. (August 2022)
A MESSAGE FROM HEINER FRUEHAUF
It is with great sadness that I inform you of Prof. Deng Zhongjia’s passing on February 26, 2022. Prof. Deng’s prolific work and academic philosophy was perhaps the most important influence on the process of founding the College of Classical Chinese Medicine at NUNM thirty years ago.
Born into a family of professors in Shanghai, he contracted an optic nerve inflammation as a teenager and soon thereafter was declared blind. With the help of acupuncture, Chinese herbs and Qigong he was able to miraculously recover his eyesight, an event that inspired him to pursue Chinese medicine as a career.
BY HEINER FRUEHAUF
Dr. Fruehauf offers important insights for the Chinese medicine etiology and potential treatment approaches to the coronavirus epidemic using Chinese herbal medicine; based on medical treatment reports from China and his own clinical experience during the recent flu season.
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 2020, REVISED SEPTEMBER 2021 AND JANUARY 2022
LIVE VIDEO PRESENTATION
WITH HEINER FRUEHAUF
In this 90 minute video lecture, Heiner Fruehauf summarizes the successful Chinese herbal medicine treatment approaches for COVID-19 based on first hand knowledge by physicians on the front line of the epidemic in China like Dr. Liu Lihong.
WITH HEINER FRUEHAUF
INTERVIEW BY SCOTT FORSGREN
In a wide-ranging interview with health writer Scott Forsgren, Heiner outlines the unique relevance of anti-Gu treatment strategies for many modern mystery afflictions such as Lyme disease, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue disorder. He shares practical advice based on his own clinical experience with inflammatory disorders that involve chronic overwhelm of the immune system by multiple layers of inflammatory pathogens like viruses, spirochetes, fungi and a variety of recalcitrant biofilms. Heiner points, out, moreover, that ancient Gu Syndrome treatment approaches may even contain potential lessons for the treatment of COVID-19.
BY LIU LIHONG
TRANSLATED BY HEINER FRUEHAUF
Here is yet another, this time more philosophical piece by the author of Classical Chinese Medicine, created in quarantine after leaving the COVID-19 ward in Wuhan. Dr. Liu suggests that it is time to lighten our investment in the “punitive measures” of modern medicine and shift toward a more unity oriented perspective on health and disease.
WITH HEINER FRUEHAUF
FACILITATED BY ROSS MCCALLUM
This presentation by Heiner Fruehauf summarizes recent news from the front line of Chinese medicine treatments of COVID-19 in hospitals in Wuhan and elsewhere. He discusses different diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to the disease, and emphasizes the importance of Chinese medicine participation at this unique moment in time.
QIOLOGICAL PODCAST WITH MICHAEL MAX
INTERVIEW WITH HEINER FRUEHAUF
This conversation between seasoned Chinese medicine practitioners Michael Max and Heiner Fruehauf includes news from the front line of Chinese medicine treatments in hospitals in Wuhan and elsewhere, and discusses both the common nature of the current epidemic pathogen as well as the importance of applying differential diagnosis (bianzheng lunzhi) in approaching it with the modalities of Chinese medicine.
BY ZHANG WEILAN, WANG XIANGDONG, WANG YUJIN, TAN CONG'E
TRANSLATED BY KENDRA DALE AND HEINER FRUEHAUF
Lessons for the treatment of COVID-19 from the late Dr. Deng Tietao, the master herbalist from Guangzhou who showed the world during the SARS outbreak in 2003 that viral epidemics can be successfully treated with Chinese medicine.
TRANSCRIPT
BY LIU LIHONG
TRANSLATED BY HEINER FRUEHAUF AND BRYAN MCMAHON
Transcript of a 2-hour video lecture from a COVID-19 hospital in Wuhan, delivered by the prominent Chinese medicine scholar-physician Liu Lihong. Dr. Liu describes the important role of Chinese medicine in the treatment of this epidemic, and emphasizes the importance of the classical six-phase approach in diagnosis.
LIVE VIDEO PRESENTATION
BY LIU LIHONG
TRANSLATED BY HEINER FRUEHAUF AND BRYAN MCMAHON
A 2-hour video lecture from a COVID-19 hospital in Wuhan, delivered by the prominent Chinese medicine scholar-physician Liu Lihong. Dr. Liu describes the important role of Chinese medicine in the treatment of this epidemic, and emphasizes the importance of the classical six-phase approach in diagnosis.
BY BRYAN MCMAHON
The author explores the ancient Chinese science of seasonal atmospheric influences (wuyun liuqi) to explain the pathogenesis of disease, with a particular focus on the energetic background of the COVID-19 outbreak.
BY XUE YAN, ZHANG WEI, XU GUIHUA, CHENXIAORONG, LUYUNFEI, WANG ZHENWEI, SHI KEHUA, WUHUAN, YU JIAN
REDACTED AND TRANSLATED BY HEINER FRUEHAUF
A recent report based on the clinical experience of front-line physicians in Shanghai. After treating more than 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19, they are of the opinion that this disease should be classified as belonging to the traditional rubric of “damp epidemic” (shiwen 濕瘟).
BY WANG YONGYAN, WANG XUEFENG, MA RONG
SYNTHESIZED AND TRANSLATED
BY HEINER FRUEHAUF
After observing an idiopathic outbreak of viral pneumonia in December 2019, later termed the COVID-19 infection, increased numbers of infected children have come to the attention of relevant medical agencies in China. Includes a detailed outline of the government's official TCM treatment guidelines that have been employed at Chinese hospitals since late January for both children and adults.
BY HEINER FRUEHAUF
Dr. Fruehauf suggests simple natural remedies and approaches for protecting the respiratory system during the current flu season, based on the particular energetics of this time.
BY LIU LIHONG
TRANSLATED BY HEINER FRUEHAUF
A report from one of the first Chinese medicine responders to the front lines of treating COVID-19 in Wuhan. Dr. Liu Lihong offers first-hand insights into the etiology of the disease and suggests possible treatment approaches using the modalities of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.
BY HEINER FRUEHAUF
This impromptu three part editorial by Heiner Fruehauf is an attempt to make sense of the recent US presidential elections through the constructive lens of Chinese medicine systems science.
WITH HEINER FRUEHAUF
INTERVIEW BY BOB QUINN
Heiner Fruehauf sat down recently with his long-time student and colleague at National University of Natural Medicine, Bob Quinn, to discuss ascending and descending functions in the body. While on the surface a seemingly simple topic, it is in reality crucial to understand the up-down movement dynamic if one is to practice herbal medicine effectively.
By Heiner Fruehauf Heiner Fruehauf's prolific research trip to China and Vietnam in the summer of 2014 to source high quality, potent, directly-traded Chinese herbs from small family farms provided a significant amount of material and information about didao yocai and paozhi - terroir [...]
WITH HEINER FRUEHAUF
INTERVIEW BY REGINA WEICHART
Chinese medicine continues to be an extremely relevant clinical modality in modern times, in part because an increasing array of chronic disorders with autoimmune implications remain unrecognized, unexplained and unresolved by the parameters of western medicine. In this interview, Heiner Fruehauf explains the unique benefits and potential advantages of the Chinese medicine approach to patients and practitioners working with Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
BY HEINER FRUEHAUF
GERMAN TRANSLATION BY MARKUS GOEKE
The six conformations represent another system of symbolic methodology that is of great importance for the practice of classical Chinese medicine. Its origins are related to both yin-yang and five phase element theory, yet it is often the primary diagnostic modality that certain practitioners, especially those trained in the lineage of Shanghan lun herbalism, choose to utilize.
BY VARIOUS AUTHORS
TRANSLATED BY HEINER FRUEHAUF
The nature of wood is to spread. Once food qi enters the stomach, it relies entirely on the spreading and dredging function of liver wood, and it is only because of this influence that the food is transformed. If the liver's pure Yang does not rise, it cannot spread and dredge the grain and fluids, and distention and discomfort in the middle region will be the inevitable result. The liver is associated with wood.
BY HEINER FRUEHAUF
GERMAN TRANSLATION BY SEPP LEEB
This article is based on the conviction that the traditional art of Oriental medicine is dying—both in mainland China, home of the mother trunk of the field, and consequently overseas where branches of the tree are trying to grow. It may be an anachronistic piece, written at a time when TCM administrators around the world are celebrating major advances in the field, such as increasing numbers of students, practitioners, patients, colleges, universities, and hospitals, which all appear to reflect a booming state of Oriental medicine.
BY ZHANG XICHUN (1860-1933)
TRANSLATED AND INTRODUCED
BY HEINER FRUEHAUF
GERMAN TRANSLATION BY MARKUS GOEKE
Zhang Xichun (1860-1933) is one of China's great scholar-physicians. He is primarily remembered for his prominent role in spearheading the early movement of Chinese-Western medicine integration during the first three decades of this century. The depth of his knowledge and the broad range of his activities, moreover, distinguish him as one of the last of the classical cast of renaissance physicians.
BY SUBHUTI DHARMANDANDA
AND HEINER FRUEHAUF
In the Western hemisphere, the gingko tree has long been a symbol for the exotic atmospheres of East Asia. More recently, German researchers have tapped into the memory enhancing effect of the gingko leaf, triggering an avalanche of books and articles on the medicinal properties of the gingko. As the Western public becomes increasingly exposed to various gingko products, I would like to take the opportunity and reflect on the rich cultural lore and early medicinal usage that characterize this plant in its country of origin, China.
BY HEINER FRUEHAUF
National University of Natural Medicine,
College of Classical Chinese Medicine
Most modern clinicians find that a majority of their patients suffer from the symptom complex generally referred to as “stress.” Emotional stress, however, is usually regarded as a confounding rather than a causative factor in pathophysiology. This assessment is contrary to the tenets of classical Chinese medicine, which originally regarded emotional imbalance as a spiritual affliction of primary significance. While ancient Chinese philosophy considered emotional sensibility as our greatest asset in the process of fulfilling human destiny, it also regarded human temperaments as our greatest liability due to vast pathogenetic potential.
BY WU SHENG'AN (Xi'an Master Folk Physician)
INTERPRETED AND TRANSLATED
BY HEINER FRUEHAUF
It has been the declared purpose of ClassicalChineseMedicine.org to rediscover and preserve some of the diverse classical and folk medicine practices that have been neglected in standardized TCM teaching in both China and the West. One of the clinical gems we discovered during the last 3 years is the unique clinical system of Dr. Wu Sheng’an from Xi’an, who is a 6th generation disciple of the Qing dynasty scholar physician Huang Yuanyu (1704-1758), more often referred to by his nickname Huang Kunzai (Huang Who Stabilizes Like the Earth, a reference to the spleen/stomach focused approach by this influential doctor).
GERMAN TRANSLATION BY ALEXANDER SIMON
BY HEINER FRUEHAUF
GERMAN TRANSLATION BY MARKUS GOEKE
This presentation is an attempt to participate in the process of ‘medical archaeology’ by exploring one of the submerged areas of Oriental medicine, namely the complex and variegated clinical approach to the diagnosis and treatment of Gu syndrome (gu zheng). A review of the modern research literature shows that this topic has remained virtually unexplored in both China and the West. Although there are too many classical references to entirely ignore the phenomenon of Gu syndrome, mainland Chinese scholars generally dismiss it as an “ancient, feudalist and superstitious” belief in demons and exorcist practices that has little or no value in modern clinical practice.
BY HEINER FRUEHAUF
GERMAN TRANSLATION BY MARKUS GOEKE
Gancao Xiexin Tang was first recorded by the Han physician Zhang Zhongjing about 1,800 years ago. Both Shanghan lun and Jingui yaolüe, the now separated parts of his classic guidebook on herbal formulas (Shanghan zabing lun), cite this particular formula. In modern times, this formula is usually regarded as a variation of the widely used Pinellia Purge the Heart Decoction (Banxia Xiexin Tang) and thus most often prescribed as a remedy for Banxia Xiexin Tang symptom complex (discomfort in stomach area, belching, diarrhea). This is precisely the usage suggested for this remedy in the Shanghai lan, where Gancao Xiexin Tang and Shengjiang Xiexin Tang are listed as variations of the standard Banxia Xiexin Tang.