chinese doctor

Mar

2018

Sincerity

✍️Wendy Brown

真

When the sage embraces

the divine sovereign heart

her voice can move

and transform the world

•

One who lacks purity and

sincerity cannot move others

•

When a person merges

with this truth in essence,

the shen-spirit may move

amongst the external world

with highest degree of sincerity

•
One who forces himself to

lament, though may sound

sad, will awaken no grief

•

One who forces himself to

be angry, though may sound

fierce, will arouse no awe

•

She who forces herself to

be affectionate, though may smile,

will create no air of harmony
•

True sadness need make

no sound to awaken grief
•

True anger need not

show itself to arouse awe
•

True affection need not

smile to create harmony

•

Truth and sincerity are

to be prized as a doctor

of Chinese medicine

•

People come from far

and wide for help

True healing is derived

from principles of

sincerity, truth, and purity

•

This intrinsic disposition

is what makes it so that

a patient listens to, and

hears, the practitioner

•

Humans loathe death

and delight in life.

A doctor of Chinese medicine

informs what in a patient’s

life can destroy them;

Tells them what can

be good for them;

Advises what is convenient

for their condition;

Exposes what brings them suffering

•

Even if they are the kind

of person who does not

follow The Way (Tao),

being without principles,

or does not follow the

patterns of the natural

order of life, how would

they not listen to the

doctor who is sincere

and pure in this medicine?
•
Lingshu Chapter 29

Oct

2017

Sun Simiao’s Code of Medical Ethics

✍️Wendy Brown, Lic. Ac.

Sun Si Miao 孙思邈 [581—682 A.D.], a revered Chinese alchemist, scholar, monk, and clinician, has been venerated as the ‘Medicine God,’ Medicine Buddha, a deity invoked during healing practices, and commonly referred to in China as ‘King of Medicine.’ During the Ming Dynasty [1527 A.D.], eight stone tablets engraved with quotations from his works were erected in his birthplace in Shanxi Province, and to this day there are activities each year in his hometown that celebrate his memory. Sun Simiao is credited with the first Chinese code of ethics for doctors, less a formal code per se, and more of the philosophy of a virtuous physician and values that suggest an ethical practitioner. The principles primarily focus on compassion, humility, conduct, and beneficence rather than physician truth-telling and self-importance. A Heart of empathy and quiet, free of wants and desires, pledged to heal and rescue sentient beings from their suffering.

• First develop compassion, not giving way to wishes, desires, and judgments.

• S/he sympathizes with those who experience grief as if s/he has been affected by it.

• S/he does not ponder fortune or misfortune of self, above preserving life and having compassion for it.

• By no means should there arise an attitude of rejection. Sympathy, compassion, and care should develop for whoever suffers from conditions looked upon with contempt by people.

• Treat all patients alike, whether powerful or humble, rich or poor, old or young, beautiful or ugly, resentful relatives or kind friends, locals or foreigners, fools or wise men.

• Neither dangerous mountain passes nor the time of day, neither weather conditions nor hunger, thirst nor fatigue should keep her/him from helping wholeheartedly.

• S/he makes a dignified appearance, neither luminous nor somber.

• It is not permissible to be talkative and make provocative speeches, make fun of others, raise one’s voice, decide right from wrong, and discuss other people and their business.

• The wealth of others should not be the reason to prescribe precious and expensive treatments. The object is to help.

• It is inappropriate to emphasize one’s reputation, belittle other physicians, and praise one’s virtue. Indeed, in actual life someone who has accidentally healed a disease then strides around with head held high, showing conceit, and announcing that no one in the entire world could have measured up to yield such results; underscoring one’s own merits and abilities. Such conduct has to be regarded as contrary to the teachings of magnanimity. In this respect, all physicians are, evidently, incurable!

Adaptation derived from a review of related articles by Paul Unschuld, Subhuti Dharmananda, and S.Y. Tan, MD.

Aug

2017

My Visit to Master Wang’s Clinic in Chengdu

While visiting Chengdu China in July of 2017, I observed and participated in treatments at Master Wang’s clinic. Master Wang’s work consists of his patients soaking in Chinese medicinal herbal baths in large bamboo tubs, followed by a uniquely vigorous type of manual therapy administered, simultaneously, by his two apprentices. As a practitioner of Chinese medicine myself, I was allowed to observe and palpate patients on the treatment table undergoing treatment, guided by Master Wang to discern the therapeutic changes taking effect. I also experienced the methods personally, as a patient. I experienced notable results for my sacrum and shoulder joint which at the time were nagging me, and right before my trekking pilgrimage in Tibet – a blessing to have resolved in one session of herbal bathing and 30 minutes of Master Wang’s highly vigorous manual therapy methods.

Patients from all over the world come to stay in Chengdu to be treated in Master Wang’s clinic. While there, Master Wang, his family, apprentices and I shared a delicious vegetarian lunch that was prepared by Master Wang’s wife and daughter-in-law. Over our leisurely meal I learned that Master Wang’s treatment methods were passed down to him despite cultural revolution precepts, by his life-long teacher, a Shaolin monk. Master Wang has only trained a handful of students in these methods during his 65 year career. Master Wang, his staff, and family were all warm and welcoming. I consider myself fortunate to have had this enriching educational and therapeutic opportunity while I was in Chengdu and am ever-grateful to those who helped to make it happen.