Update and TCM

So, what am I up to? I've been away for about a week, enjoying my leave from work and having way too much fun. I have a few days back at TCM school this week and then I'm on my long-awaited interstate road trip. I say "long-awaited" because it is a route I have not done before and I've been wanting to do it for a while. Going with the BF of course. We're hoping to do an overseas trip this year and next year so this is supposed to be a cheap getaway, but of course I expect it will be more expensive than going to Bali.

On Friday night we have a rooftop moonlight cinema at TCM school and I'm really looking forward to watching Seven Years in Tibet. I wish I owned bean bags. Cushins and blankets it will be. After that we start the trip.

I'm loving TCM. It's been really good for me to learn something other than biomedicine for a break. So far we've been learning Mandarin including pictographs and calligraphy, the history of China and TCM, and the fundamental philosophies of TCM. I'm loving learning about qi, the five phase elements, yin and yang, and the way the body works in health and illness according to TCM. And wow it's so different from western thinking. And I like different. There's also Kung fu on Fridays. <3

I've also been going to the school clinic and being treated by final year students (under the supervision of an experienced practitioner) for my chronic tonisilitis with acupuncture and herbs. I love preparing the raw herbs but I have pills for this week due to the road trip and we will be camping for most of it (unless I have a tantrum and demand we stay at the Hyatt, much like what happened in Kathmandu post the harsh Tibet trip back in September).

I'm currently reading The Web that has No Weaver by Kaptchuk and recommend that to anyone interested in TCM. The favored textbook is Foundations of Chinese Medicine by Maciocia.

And, yes, I can't wait to get back into western medicine and after my annual leave I will start my own study plan.

I'm back

So I guess it's been about a month since I stopped blogging. I've been through a shift in my life. It was unexpected but I have faith that it was part of my journey.

I deleted this blog before I knew it was coming - all I knew was that I needed to make a few changes but I hadn't intended on the changes which have happened. By bringing back creativity and healthy food in my life, my head space opened up.

And so, this blog is going to slightly change its trajectory.

Now; I'm a paramedic medical student that's pursing an interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and other forms of healing which are normally bundled in "complementary and alternative". I think the accepted term in western medicine is "integrative medicine", that is, not excluding western biomedicine for another form, and not simple adding onto western med, but integrating different approaches and theories. I am cautious as I go, knowing full-well there are lots of western med people out there that consider anything not western med to be, well, a sham. I don't look at it this way.

My health took a dive late last year and early this year. I got so run-down and depleted. I was worried I was getting chronic fatigue at the very least, and maybe even becoming toxic and pre-cancerous, and I had chronic tonsilitis (tonsiltiis for over a year continuously). I started adjusting things, listening to my intuition, doing practices in my day that stretch beyond simply eating well and resting adequately.

I listened to a TED talk by Lissa Rankin which explained the most important health determinants were things like happiness at home, job satisfaction, and spirituality. It made me think of how poorly we acknowledge the connection between these things and our health, and aren't all aspects of health worthy of the attention of the medical fraternity, even if it can't be viewed through a microscope with a clear cause and effect pattern?

So.... I don't know where I'm going with all this. All I know is I'm on a journey. And I feel like sharing again.

For the past few weeks I knew something big was happening but I didn't know what. I still don't know but I have settled a little into my new paradigm.

Ok so for those who are worried I am still studying med but I now have a break until August this year and I'm seriously considering deferring until Jan 2013, but I won't know until a few months time. I will update, of course, when I know.

I have taken this term off the Masters. I think that is only sensible seeing as I've enrolled In the Bachelor of Health Science (Chinese Medicine) and that I need more space in my life to find my path. The Chinese Med is only part time and I find the whole experience uplifting, but I'll post on that another time.

That's all for now. I'm excited...