Book Report for Master Herbalist Program

Date: December 15, 2006

The Web That Has No Weaver

Author: Ted J. Kaptchuk O.M.D


Traditional Chinese Medicine (TMC) has been around for over 5000 years. It is said that Chinese philosophy and medicine are based on Taoist consciousness and on Yin-Yang theory, which is totally a different view from the West. The Chinese approach is a more holistic consideration of health and disease and the interconnection between all living forces on the earth. Their prospective on healing begins with knowing how the body is functioning from the inside and get down to the “root” of the problem. A TCM physician feels unworthy if his/her patient becomes ill, due to the fact they did not do their job well. This is preventative medicine to keep their patient healthy, happy and content in life (spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally). The physicians must understand the whole body and how it functions.

The Chinese Medicine has different ways of diagnosing the ailments of the person. By observing the functions of the body, mentioned below, the practitioner can prescribe e proper herbs and/or modalities. TCM is based on seeing the relationship of the symptom and how it relates to the whole body, not just where the problem lies. Mr. Kaptchuk compares the Easter medicine to Western as “Western medicine is concerned mainly with isolable disease categories or agents of disease which it zeroes in on, isolates and tries to change, control or destroy”. This is a completely different philosophy them TCM.

Diagnosing methods in TCM has 4 basic examinations: 1) Looking, 2) Listening, 3) Smelling and 4) Asking and Touching. Below are a few examples of how TCM physicians arrive at their diagnosis:

a) Colour of the face/skin ~ The colour of the face and its moistness are closely related to the body’s qi and blood. TCM believes that all body energies our upward into the face.
b) Pulse ~ The heart of the examination. TCM medicine emphasizes taking it at a radial artery near the wrist with both patient and physician relaxed. This is important because disharmonies in the body leave a clear imprint on the pulse.
c) Tongue ~ The interpretation is always essential when diagnosing the patient. It is one of the pillars of the four examinations of TCM, the pulse is the other. Chinese physicians make a distinction between the tongue material and the coating of the tongue.
d) Mental state ~ Chinese medicate practitioners have always recognized that emotional factors play a part in health and illness. Physical and emotional health cannot be separated. This is why concern for the psychological texture of the patient MUST be a part of the examination.
e) Diet ~ Considered an important influence on health and illness in TCM. They believe that deficient qi (pronounced chi) and blood will have effects on the spleen (which is responsible for transforming food into qi and blood). Qi is the energy flow around the outside and inside of the body.

TCM has the theory of Yin and Yang. This theory has greater flexibility in diagnosis of the patient. This theory is based on the philosophical construct of two polar compliments, which are opposites, however, neither forces nor material entities. They are convenient labels used to describe how thins function in relation to each other and to the universe. This includes the inside and the outside of the body. All organs react to other organs and how they react to what is going on in a persons’ life. Yin is associated with qualities of cold, rest responsiveness, passivity, darkness, downwardness, inwardness and decrease. Whereas Yang represents or implies the brightness, heat, stimulation, movement, activity, vigor, light, exterior, upward ness, outward ness and increase. As you can see, they are opposites yet need each other to complete the circle of life. However, Yin and Yang can be divided into themselves even further. The physician uses his perception (diagnosis mentioned above) to recognize disharmony and must apply his specialized skills to try to restore health – to achieve balance and harmony within a living organism. Yin and Yang produce each other, imply each other, and finally ARE each other.

Loa Tzu, the earliest Taoist sage, formulated the following understanding of the nature of reality:

To be bent is to become straight
To be empty is to be full
To be worn out is to be renewed
To have little is to possess

TCM ways to treat ailments:

1) Herbs ~ TCM has dedicated thousands of years to their cultivations and experiments of herbs and how the body reacts to them. The herbs go hand in hand with the treatment and diagnosis of the patient
2) Acupuncture ~ Insertion of very fine needles into points along the Meridian can rebalance the body’s disharmonies.
3) Physical Activity ~ Tai Chi – A form of exercise to move the body’s energy around using mind, body and spirit to help the meridians flow properly. Also, TCM believes it will help the qi.
4) Massage Therapy ~ Type of therapy TCM uses to move around the infernal and external qi (energy) and blood to help all the other organs heal and recognize what each is doing.
5) Essential Oils ~ Used to help the herbs and all the different modalities to work together as one body, one unit.
6) Energy Work ~ Helps to create an environment that the body can recognize and help everything work together to form the perfect healing/holy place. Energy work takes a lot of concentration and it’s usually something you must believe in, for it to be able to help you.

I believe this book and its methods can benefit Master Herbalist’s future by understanding TCM thought process. TCM has been mixing, managing and using different herbs from around the world for many, many years and with no invasive techniques. Simply by observing, feeling and smelling, they have helped the ‘whole person” not just his/her issues at hand.

People are not satisfied with today’s medicine. It’s not doing what they want. They have realized that they cannot get an instant cure for everything. The body takes time to process and heal. With TCM (The New Age Medicine), it helps the body heal itself with the different human modalities and the nature which God has given to us.