Insights and Updates

Outside the window the autumn rain falls without end. Waking in the small hours, I toss and turn, unable to sleep; the pain in my heart rises wave after wave and will not let go. In the first half of my life I always wanted…

At every moment of life, a person is both the image of his future and the likeness of his past. — Oscar Wilde, De Profundis Every time my wife's workplace organizes a health checkup, once the results come back, several colleagues are found to have…

The formula for Zixinyin Oral Liquid appears in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, Part I, 2005 edition. It consists of four herbs: Maimendong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Chishao (Paeoniae Radix rubra), Beishashen (Glehniae Radix), and Sanqi (Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma), prepared by a specified…

Chaiping Tang (Bupleurum-Cnidium Decoction) comes from the Jingyue Quanshu and is an experienced formula of the Ming-dynasty physician Zhang Jingyue. Its composition: Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Renshen (Ginseng), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Cangzhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma),…

Attaining the mean and harmony—then heaven and earth are set in their places, and all things are nourished. — Liji, Zhongyong (Doctrine of the Mean) A person living in this world must have a qi of centered harmony. "Zhong" means not leaning to either side,…

Comorbidity is a common phenomenon. In English it is called comorbidity; some translate it as "co-illness" or "concurrent disease," but in Chinese the term that best captures the English word is gongbing (comorbidity). It means the simultaneous presence of two or more diseases. For example,…

Walking the plain path, one follows only one's own will. The secluded person remains upright and auspicious, never losing composure within. — Xici/Xiang Commentary I, on the Hexagram Lu (Treading) After our child left for college, an extra room opened up in our home. I…

In Zhang Jingyue's Jingyue Quanshu (Complete Writings of [Zhang] Jingyue) there is a formula called Liangyi Gao (Two-Aspect Paste). Its composition is: Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) 120–250 g (converted into modern measure), and large Shudihuang (processed Rehmanniae Radix) 500 g (same conversion). Preparation: soak…

All men are ants, but I wish to be a glittering ant. — Winston Churchill September 1st is the first day of the new school year, and every school is welcoming its new students. This date is a special one in China, as it has…

Yanling Yishou Dan (Life-Extending Longevity Pellet) comes from the Cixi Guangxu Yifang Xuanyi (Selected Comments on the Medical Prescriptions of Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu). Its composition is: Fushen (Poria with hostwood) 5 qian (15 g); Yuanzhi (Polygala Root) 3 qian (9 g); Hang…