On the precipice of decisions

Decisions.......What to do? In my mind, it sounds like this first--
决定，几个决定 怎么办？

Those of you who know me are probably smiling, knowing my mind is like this middle place for Chinese and English in thought, philosophy, medicine, all things:-)

I cannot apologize for something that just is. Rather, I choose to embrace it with gratitude, knowing there is meaning and purpose both unforeseen and unknown within it.

It is not what I intended but an unexpected and unintended consequence of the journey. Admittedly, is is often a pleasant one I welcome. Yet, when decisions are needed and questions arise considering the path ahead, I am pulled.

My heart lies with learning and discovering more healing while healing others and, of course, concomitantly healing and cultivating myself. For this is the heart of Chinese medicine and, indeed, true healing!

The goals I seek for the world, of course, intersect these thoughts and propel me even further into the global equation and engage learning and sharing on many levels--As Liz would say, "Aggregate wisdom," and Ashis would contend, "Collective knowledge." Both friends are amazing gifts within my life and often reframe the world before me, serving as additional lenses through which to view the world and resources for nearly every aspect. They are also warm islands of friendship and acceptance, love and spirituality--amazing humanitarians with their own paths. (Interesting how all paths lead to one!)

Still, it seems we all ask and meditate on the question, "How can I best serve?"

For me, certainly, many institutions within China beckon, as does the quest for more learning. As China negotiates its place for Chinese Medicine within the official world health system, perhaps, the world of "not only but also" has never called more loudly, more profoundly.

Ideally, I would like to serve as a cross-cultural bridge. In many ways I am, but in many ways I am still becoming. Aren't we all?

A Confusing time for Global health part 1

Confusion for global healers

International friends of mine who are healers around the world, distributed throughout every region have recently alerted me to difficulties helping their global patients, especially with regard to naturally occurring substances such as chamomile and evidence reports conducted in countries outside the United States. More importantly, perhaps, every difficulty has pointed to their reference to the International Classification of Diseases (aka ICD), formally adopted by the WHO in 1948 to measure fatalities.

More recently and through the subsequent decades, the ICD has grown to accommodate "new" and emerging diseases. One could argue whether some of these conditions are, indeed, new, when in fact other cultures and civilizations have documented them for hundreds of years and in some cases millenia. Nevertheless, viruses mutate region to region, population to population and over time. Nature responds to every variable, internal and external. Regardless, the ICD has become a recent sore point for many health practitioners around the world, most especially outside the US.

Who owns the ICD?

As determined the Word Health Organization (WHO), it has been the gold standard of diagnosis and foundation for treatment protocol. Accordingly, it was formulated to serve as a "common language" for health workers. Therefore, it was made internationally accessible and translated into the four European languages of the UN at the time. While other medicinal practices have painstakingly researched and classified their more complex patterns of symptoms and classified them into the ICD within their countries, the US refuses or more poignantly refutes these classifications even though they were compiled and formulated according to scientific standards.

What is a health practitioner to do?

For many more persons throughout the world, the question becomes what IS a patient to do?

Indeed, there are as many ways to view illness and disease as there are cultures and ethnicities. No one sees anything exactly the same!

Currently, more and more patients in modern societies find themselves plagued with chronic and difficult conditions and the responsibility of navigating more complex medical information, managing their own healthcare and more often than not, trying to heal while remaining active in society- going to work, family, etc. More and more health practitioners CAM or Western medicine, are required to seek or need a Western diagnosis determined by the ICD. What happens when a diagnosis such as lupus or MS or countless others take years to obtain? What happens to the patient? To where does one turn?

For me, it led me to explore the archives of Sioux and ultimately to Chinese medicine. After all, both had considerable experience with lupus. In China, it was documented for more than two millenia. For many others, the "Alternative" path also calls. If they explore their options and an alternative treatment helps them, then they, too have been restricted with regard to language they can use to relay the results. Other friends of mine, patients, within the US have recently been told they cannot use the ICD terms such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc. in whatever they say to support other modalities through lectures, and in some cases, among their friends and family members.

What is a patient, a doctor, a healer, a friend or the global community to do?

The ICD is Internationally shared by the global family.

Accordingly, it is not wholly owned by anyone agency or body but a tool meant to serve the people.

It's all a matter of "translation"--of listening, understanding, valuing the many ways to see:)

Praying forward more global communication and understanding, increasing value of diverse medicinal expertise, health and true healing.

I am eternally grateful to have encountered the people and tools needed along the way to decipher and discern changes, ways to see and understand concepts and ideas and for all those who share so much of their lives and their work with me. I am truly honoured. Thank-you one and all for teaching and friendship. love to you all

On that note, wishing all the readers of my thoughts, health and happiness and a journey of the heart. Thank-you for your time and consideration. Namaste, 湘君