“East is east and west is west, and never the twain shall meet”
-Rudyard Kipling-
The purpose of this blog is to explain how the concepts of sickness and health are viewed in Chinese philosophy. I will try to avoid smothering the rich flavours and deep colours of this age-old tradition in complicated theoretical arguments and hope not to obscure its crystal-clear patterns by resorting to woolly mystification. My aim is to try to clarify and dispel a number of misconceptions regarding Chinese medicine and to highlight the value of the contribution it can make to our healthcare system. Though I will refer regularly to the fundamental differences between Western and Eastern thinking and methods of observation, my primary objective is to build a bridge between these two schools of thought. The ultimate dream for me would be to make a contribution to achieving greater cooperation between the ‘norm’ and the ‘alternative’ in our thinking on healthcare, with the help of an open mind as regards the inherent qualities and limitations of both perspectives.
It is my fervent hope that this blog will stimulate and inspire all who read it and I more than welcome your own thoughts on the subject!
