Formula Tweaking

[Guest guest]

Todd -

 

The decision by physicians to modify formulas is probably in origin more

economically driven than principle driven as you suggest. However, to your

point,

the finest practitioners (formula writers) often have spent extraordinary

amounts of time studying the Yi Jing. I say this from the perspective of working

with 50-60 faculty members over a period of six years in Los Angeles, arguably

one of the finest talent pools of Chinese practitioners in the world.

 

Will

 

>

> This is a clear example of the vital necessity of adapting strategies to

> circumstances. I have a new transfer student who began her internship

> elsehwere. And in that other place she was fairly well indoctrinated by a

kanpo

> afficionado who had taught her that classical formulas were sacrosanct and

should

> not be adjusted in any way from the source text. I find this japanese idea

> ironic as it is so not chinese. Chinese SHL px do indeed modify their rx and

> all I have studies with make a point of noting this. CM is rooted in the yi

> jing, the classic of changes, change being the only constant. This is the

> heart of chinese philosophy, IMO and thus to declare anything as unchangeable

> is what seems anthema to me. In the case of wen bing formulas, if one were to

> just uncritically apply such formulas, your patients will end up with yang

> vacuity and phlegm.

>

 

 

 

William R. Morris, L.Ac., O.M.D., MSEd

Dean of Educational Advancement

Emperor's College of Oriental Medicine

310-453-8300 phone

310-829-3838 fax

will

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

, WMorris116@A... wrote:

-

>

> The decision by physicians to modify formulas is probably in origin more

> economically driven than principle driven as you suggest.

 

I am aware of Unschuld's position on this matter. As usual, I am intrigued by

his idea, but

not swayed by his evidence. Whatever the motivation of physicians competing

with

apothecaries in ancient times, the positions of modern writers like jiao shu de,

zhang xi

chun and qin bo wei is most certainly principle driven. Sometimes economic

motivations

drive the discovery of lasting principles. Finally, the herbalists I refer to

think of

themselves as physicians in the Japanese scholarly tradition; they are not the

purveyors of

patents who Unschuld contrasts with the chinese literati. This Japanese

philosophy is

based upon reverance, not at all upon economics.

 

[Guest guest]

I would say that reverence, clinical application and economics drive

the current Kanpo methods in Japan.

 

Will

 

>Finally, the herbalists I refer to think of

> themselves as physicians in the Japanese scholarly tradition; they

are not the purveyors of

> patents who Unschuld contrasts with the chinese literati. This

Japanese philosophy is

> based upon reverance, not at all upon economics.

>