In this episode, Angeli Chitale and I discuss Ayurvedic medicine, past and present, and across cultures. From her grandparent’s home in India to her naturopathic practice on the west coast of Canada, Ayurveda has had a major influence on her view of health. Speaking about her relatives both as medical practitioners and as patients, she shares much that she has learned from them. We also cover topics such as the dangers of self prescribing herbal medicines, diabetes and various approaches to treating those afflicted, and milk, from enzymes to digest it to cultural traditions and ancient preserv ..read more

Judy Becker Worsley and David Berkshire return for another episode and a deeper dive into the Worsley Five Element lineage. Judy continues to share with us the impact on her life of the philosophies of the Five Elements system and how it has always served as a compass for her. The teachings of JR Worsley, that she and David continue to passionately share, help to liberate practitioners from the brainwashing of society, including the fallacy that by labelling people, we better understand them. Foundational to JR’s teaching are the practices of humility, curiosity, and presence. These not only a ..read more

I waited a very long time to have this discussion with Bill Porter, and it was well worth the wait. Bill is a prolific writer and adventurer, and also, under the pen name of Red Pine, a renowned translator of ancient Chinese works from Cold Mountain to Lao Tze. Bill has written and translated dozens of books over many decades, and his radio shows in China were tuned into by millions a day. Those shows featured the accounts of his ambitious adventures, including travelling the length of the Yellow River from its mouth to its source. Bill also sought out and found hermits living in the mountains ..read more

In this episode Elham Ansari takes us on a millennia-long journey inside of Ayurvedic medicine. In expert fashion, she distills down what can be a dauting philosophy to make pragmatic into a practice that anyone can adopt into their daily routine. We spend a lot of time covering Ayurvedic nutrition, from the exotic to the local, including animal-based food medicine. We also discuss other aspects of Ayurveda including marma points, which are similar to acupuncture points, and other therapeutic tools, and the philosophical foundations of Ayurveda, including the doshas and elements. From within t ..read more

Judy Becker Worsley has been a devoted student of Professor JR Worsley since 1973, and was designated by JR to succeed him as Master of the lineage upon his death. Prior to his death, they founded the Worsley Institute, which is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Worsley Five Element Acupuncture tradition that is rooted in natural law. Joining Judy in this episode is David Berkshire, President of the Worsley Institute, located in Portland, Oregon, where David also has a busy clinical practice. Judy shares with us her quest to find something more meaningful in life than her law ..read more

Julian Scott is a legend in the field of acupuncture and holds special distinction in pediatrics. He has more than 40 years of practical experience and has authored numerous books including Acupuncture in the Treatment of Children and Acupuncture for the Eyes. We enjoy a very easy-going conversation exploring Julian’s path to becoming an influential figure in the spread of acupuncture to the West, along with some of his well-known colleagues. He shares stories of and lessons from multiple mentors from whom he gleaned much of his knowledge and clinical acumen. Julian explains how he was sought ..read more

Sajah Popham is a renowned herbalist, educator, and author committed to the balance of the science and spirituality of plant medicine. As the founder of the School of Evolutionary Herbalism, he trains herbalists in a holistic system of plant medicine that encompasses clinical Western herbalism, medical astrology, Ayurveda, and spagyric alchemy. Spagyric alchemy might not be something you are familiar with, and so we go to some depth exploring what this field of herbalism is and how it is applicable in modern practice. From his laboratory on a homestead in the foothills of Mt. Baker, Washington ..read more

7Song is a renowned herbalist who has been studying and practicing herbal medicine for nearly 40 years. Having studied under legends such as Rosemary Gladstar and Michael Moore, he opened the Northeast School of Herbal Medicine in Ithaca, New York, and is the Director of Holistic Medicine at the Ithaca Free Clinic. 7Song shares much of his wisdom in this episode. We talk about herbal first aid and many of his favourite herbs for conditions such as fever, pain, and anxiety. We explore the genesis of the Northeast School of Herbal Medicine and the physical herbal medicine that he focusses on in ..read more

Angela Hicks is joint principal and co-founder of the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine in Reading, England, and author or co-author of six books including the textbook Five Element Constitutional Acupuncture that she co-wrote with her husband John Hicks and previous podcast guest Peter Mole. Angela has been a profound inspiration in the field of acupuncture for nearly fifty years. We explore her experience starting a prominent college and her leadership role there for more than three decades. We also discuss her current PhD work and the research that she is compiling to help show the lon ..read more

Lorie Eve Dechar is a legendary alchemical acupuncturist, a pioneer who has inspired countless through her teaching, writing, and clinical practice. She is perhaps best known for her book Five Spirits: Alchemical Acupuncture for Psychological and Spiritual Healing, which for 15 years has helped guide a generation of acupuncturists into deeper levels of healing, personally and for their patients. Within this episode is profound treasure. Lorie guides us along a rich exploration of alchemical acupuncture, and alchemy in general, which has at its roots the concept of transformation and not restor ..read more