Grand Opening Of Tong Ren Tang In The US (2)

Tong Ren Tang's clinic in Manhattan is headed by Dr. Jin Ming. She has been practicing TCM for over 30 years and is a trusted and renowned reputation here in the US and in China. It's for a very specific set of reasons that Dr. Jin's clinic was chosen: 

Manhattan is... one of the regions in the United States with the densest population, fastest development, and most vivacious energy. It is comparable to the Qianmen area in Beijing. Qianmen is the most bustling and densely populated economic district in Beijing, China. It is also where TRT originated. This is why we chose Manhattan: we must proactively integrate into the American mainstream and allow the American people the opportunity to get to know Beijing TRT, learn about Chinese Medicine culture, fall in love with a time-tested brand from China, and choose a lifestyle that is inspired by Eastern wisdom. Manhattan is also the hub of world-renowned brands. Here you will find not only the pulse of economic vitality, but also the deep influence of world brands and cultures. These unique characteristics attracted Beijing TRT, which is not only an economic entity, but also a physical representation and carrier of Chinese culture. We sincerely hope to plant the seed for Chinese medicine in the fertile grounds of Manhattan, which will grow to allow the rich history of Chinese medicine culture to be presented to the world and make great contributions for the health of people worldwide. 

I was offered the unique opportunity to partake in this event because I was affiliated with Dr. Jin and she knew of my translation abilities and recommended me to Tong Ren Tang (TRT) when they were looking for someone to translate the speeches of and interpret for Mdm Ding during the opening ceremony and potentially other events. Fortunately, they were satisfied with my experience and asked me to both translate the speeches as well as interpret for her, especially for the Q&A.  

Beijing Tong Ren Tang @ Manhattan.

Being able to combine both of my skill sets (and careers), Translator and TCM practitioner, was a dream come true. It had been my hope that eventually I would be able to do translations in the field of TCM, and this was a small taste of what it would be like. When you are put under immense pressure is the time when your experience and preparation really shows, and I'm glad my years in these two industries have helped me prepare for this event (and hopefully more in the future).

An extra happy coincidence was when we found out that one of TRT's partners on the West coast was CIIS (ACTCM), which is my alma mater, and it just happened that Ms. Lixin Huang (who used to be the president of ACTCM) was going to be a guest at the ceremony! It was quite a joyous event, where my former self merged with my present self, and we all look forward to the new influence and changes that TCM will take in the US in the coming days.

I enjoyed the event immensely, and it was truly inspiring, particularly because the three people whom I worked with, Mdm Ding, Dr. Jin, and Ms. Huang, were all women - strong, powerful, independent, and most importantly, passionate women who are determined to bring TCM to more people and spread its benefits. I am honored to be part of this process and look forward to contributing my skills for this purpose!

Grand Opening of Tong Ren Tang in the US (1)

On September 26, 2016, Beijing Tong Ren Tang (TRT), indisputably the most well known and respected brand name in Chinese Medicine, officially opened its first shop in the United States.

While TRT had already established a presence in North America (its first NA shop was in Toronto) since 2010, this was the first shop opening in the United States, which marked a momentous occasion both commemorating the expansion of TRT overseas as well as the proliferation of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the West. 

During the Rio Summer Olympics, Michael Phelps piqued interest of viewers when he showed off round marks all over his back. This is a technique called "cupping," which has been practiced for many hundreds of years in many regions but is particularly an important part of Chinese medicine. As many people have noted, as a result, the general public developed a desire to try out this (and similar) technique and many practitioners have seen an increase in patient flow.  

That is the receptive and open attitude that greeted the unveiling of the first TRT shop in the US. The Opening Ceremony was held at the Avalon Hotel in Midtown Manhattan and TRT General Manager, Mdm Ding Yong Ling represented TRT. She is second from the left in the photo above. Also in the photo was Ms. Lixin Huang, former president of American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, my alma mater, which is now a part of the California Institute of Integral Studies. More on that later.

During the press conference, several statements in Mdm Ding's speech struck me as important: 

 In the company’s 347 years history, TRT has always abided by our motto of "No compromise on cost and labour despite the complexity of processing herbal medicines; no compromise on quality and standard despite the rareness of ingredient of medicines." With the spirit of true craftsmen, we have manufactured high quality products that have unique formulas, superior raw ingredients, created with superb techniques and show distinguished efficacy.

This paragraph, while deftly summarizing what TRT represents in the world of TCM with its long and esteemed history, also highlights the important point that regardless of if we are practitioners using or manufacturers of herbal medicine, we must focus first on the safety and quality of the herbs that we are prescribing to our patients. Authenticity of the herbs is a major issue that faces our community, and we must all band together to find a solution. She also said:

We don’t just want to bring the amazing effects of authentic Chinese medicine to Americans, we also want to open our arms and embrace the findings of the most innovative scientific research in our efforts to allow Americans to better understand why TRT and Chinese medicine can achieve such extraordinary results.  Chinese medicine originated from China, but the need for health is shared by people all over the world... We don’t just want to bring high quality Chinese herbs and superior clinical skills to Americans. We also want to showcase the profound wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine through servicing the health needs of Americans and forge a new chapter in the friendship, written by Chinese medicine, between the Chinese and American people.

This also should be the goal of all practitioners of TCM. We can certainly celebrate our own successful practice, but we should not limit ourselves to our bubble. We should expand ourselves and communicate with other practitioners, work together as a group to protect the integrity of our amazing medicine.

Quite a few members of the media attended the press conference. See here for media coverage in English. Many Chinese outlets also reported extensively on the event and you can find articles published in SingTao Daily, World Journal, People.cn, zy.china.com.cn, Ynet, Huanqiu. The shop openings in the US include ones in Manhattan and Flushing (Queens) in New York City. There are also Educational Centers and shops opening in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

I was fortunate enough to participate in this event and will describe my experience in detail in the next post.

What are the Meridians?

As the second article in the three articles planned by my mentor, Dr. Zhang, as published in the October issue of Acupuncture Today.

In it, Dr. Zhang discusses the qualities of the Meridian System from multiple angles, coming to a conclusion that seems so obvious, yet seems difficult to grasp for those of us who are firmly planted in what we understand of the physical world. While this may seem to be an esoteric and academic topic to some, the idea is to challenge the way we view the space that exists all around us and hopefully to raise our skills in recognizing root causes of illness as clinicians.  

Please have a read!

Where are the Meridians

Due to the new format of Acupuncture Today, I am unable to link directly to the article. The article is split into 4 sections, located on pps 28, 32, 43 and 45. I apologize for the trouble. For those of you who wish to read the whole document off the AT website, you can do so here.

Any comments or thoughts on Dr. Zhang's theories are welcomed and I promise to relay them to Dr. Zhang if I am not able to answer them. 

Discourse on the Similarities Between the Use of Herbal Medicine and Tactics in War

This is a translation from when I was in ACTCM of a famous essay (用兵如用藥論) written by Dachun Xu 徐大椿 (1693-1771) that I did for a teacher. I recalled it today while studying Chinese medicine and thought I would share it again, as the ideas are crucial for how we, as TCM practitioners, must be very cautious and knowledgeable while composing herbal formulas. There are other translated versions of this by esteemed authors in the field, but comparing translations is also a way for people to extract information about the original text (which is also included below).

Strategy & Tactics

The Sages were able to sustain the lives of their people through the following: the five grains to nourish, the five fruits to assist, the five livestock to benefit, and the five vegetables to fill.  As for toxic herbs, they were used to combat pathogens. Even with [herbs such as] Gancao, Renshen, improper use would lead to harm, [since they] still belong to toxic herbs. In antiquity, people who practiced consumption of pills. [1] would inevitably have many ailments befall [them]. This was similar to people who were eager to engage and prove themselves in war, [they] inevitably would be met with many disasters. Therefore, the purpose of keeping an army is to eliminate those who are vile and cruel, and [it] should not be deployed unless absolutely necessary. The purpose of preparing herbs is to fight disease, also not to be used unless absolutely necessary. The way of both is the same. 

The problem with disease is that a minor one will injure the essence, and a severe one can harm one’s life, as if it is a potential enemy state. By using the specific properties of plants to fight the specific excesses of the Zang Fu organs, [one] will then be able to become as familiar with one’s enemy as one does with oneself, use many methods to defeat it, as well as avert the danger of death. Therefore, with a pathogen that is being transmitted through the channels, one must first control where it has not yet reached, which would effectively cut off the enemy’s vital passageway. For diseases that are severe and acute, one must act quickly to protect that which has not taken ill; this is the same as safeguarding one’s defense fortresses. For those who are sick due to stagnant food, eliminate the food, which would be the same as destroying the enemy’s food storage. Those who become sick and already have a preexisting illness, it is vital to prevent them from becoming combined. This is the same as eliminating the undercover enemy agents in one’s own camps. To correctly identify the diseased channels and not use herbs haphazardly, this can be viewed as an army being led by a guide. Identifying heat and cold, then using contrary methods to treat [them], this is considered alienating the enemy troops against one another. To treat different parts of one disease separately, one can employ the method of using one to defeat many, and cause [the enemy] to be unable to connect between its own camps, which would weaken its momentum. When treating many diseases together, then one should combine one’s forces and attack the enemy’s control center, which would disperse the enemy and take away its leader, causing it to fall into shambles. When the disease is first entering [the body], avoid where it is the strongest, but instead secure one’s Yuanqi, and thereby leisurely wait for it to weaken. When the disease is starting to recede, then one must chase the retreating troops, gather and sharpen one’s weapons and head straight for the source. 

If one is deficient and has a pathogen, then the attacking tactics cannot be overly aggressive. Use harmonizing herbs as a base and supplement them with harsher herbs. This is the same as when a country is in decline, do not further exhaust its resources to their entirety. If one has an excess pathogen, then the attacks must be quick and strong. Use harsh and powerful herbs, and harmonize them with milder herbs. This is the same as for a rich country, one can further strengthen its fighting power. However, the selection of herbs must be appropriate, the tools used must be in good condition, the timing must not be delayed, [and] the methods employed must have purpose. The ways are numerous and cannot be all included in here. In the thirteen Chapter’s of Sun Zi’s Art of War, the ways to treat diseases are fully explored.

[1] Refers to the practice of Daoist priests to consume pills made from a variety herbs, often including cinnabar, which the priests believed would provide benefits such as prolonging life and nourishing the essence. 

用药如用兵论（原文）

徐大椿（清）

   圣人之所以全民生也，五谷为养，五果为助，五畜为益，五菜为充。而毒药则以之攻邪，故虽甘草、人参，误用致害，皆毒药之类也。古人好服食者，必生奇疾，犹之好战胜者，必有奇殃。是故兵之设也以除暴，不得已而后兴；药之设也以攻疾，亦不得已而后用，其道同也。

   故病之为患也，小则耗精，大则伤命，隐然一敌国也。以草木偏性，攻脏腑之偏胜，必能知彼知己。多方以制之，而后无丧身殒命之忧。是故传经之邪，而先夺其未至，则所以断敌之耍道也；横暴之疾，而急保其未病，则所以守我之岩疆也。挟宿食而病者，先除其食，则敌之资粮已焚；合旧疾而发者，必防其并，则敌之内应既绝。办经络而无泛用之药，此之谓向导之师；因寒热而有反用之方，此之谓行间之术。一病而分治之，则用寡可以胜众，使前后不相救，而势自衰；数病而合治之，则并力捣其中坚，使离散无所统，而众悉溃。病方进，则不治其太甚，固守元气，所以老其师；病方衰，则必穷其所之，更益精锐，所以捣其穴。

    若夫虚邪之体，攻不可过，本和平之药，而以峻药补之，衰敝之日不可穷民力也；实邪之伤，攻不可缓，用峻厉之药，而以常药和之，富强之国可以振威武也。然而选材必当，器械必良，克期不愆，布阵有方，此又不可更仆数也。孙武子十三篇，治病之法尽之矣。

Search For The Meridians

Just in time for Leap Day, this is the first in a series of articles that my mentor Dr. Kezhen Zhang of Beijing Tai Ji Tang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital will write about the Meridian System in Traditional Chinese Medicine and published in Acupuncture Today. I'm honored to be his translator for these articles and I hope that his revolutionary ideas will help the TCM professionals and the scientific research community take a second look at existing experimental design for research into the Meridian system. 

Search for the Meridians

Footsteps of the Sages: An Apprenticeship with Dr. Kezhen Zhang

This is an article that I wrote for Acupuncture Today (November 2015) about my experiences apprenticing with Dr. Zhang in China. He is a brilliant practitioner and I am very fortunate and honored to have had the chance to study with him.

Footsteps of the Sages: An Apprenticeship with Dr. Kezhan Zhang

June 2015, with Dr. Kezhen Zhang in his office.

Video of Marilyn Allen's visit to Tai Ji Tang

Here are the Chinese and English versions of a video that was compiled from footage of the visit that Marilyn Allen of Acupuncture Today paid to Tai Ji Tang in June 2015. You get a good view of the beautiful facilities of the hospital as well as the exciting conversations that were transpiring during the visit. 

2015年6月Marilyn Allen女士參觀北京泰濟堂中醫醫院視頻。

English Version

中文版

June 2, 2015. Marilyn Allan and other delegates visit Dr. Zhang and Traditional Chinese Medicine representatives in China.

Enjoy！

Marilyn Allen Visits Beijing Tai Ji Tang TCM Hospital

Here is an article on Xinhuanet about a meeting I mediated and interpreted for while studying in China with Dr. Zhang at his hospital this past May/June, 2015:

Article is in Chinese. Here is a quick summary: 
World renown traditional medicine experts Marilyn Allen, Rachel M Brooker, and Eric Raymond Buckley visited Beijing Taijitang hospital and experienced TCM diagnosis and treatment first hand. They showed great interest in acupuncture theory and Chinese herbal medicine. 
Dr. Kezhen Zhang feels that TCM is receiving more recognition worldwide, although there are still difficulties facing wider acceptance and the promotion of TCM, such as how to truly integrate TCM with WM and modern sciences, as well as how standards for TCM theory and clinical practice should be established. For example, there is no accepted standard for how meridians should be measured or even whether or not they are an objective existence. Therefore, setting up such a standard should be of the utmost importance.

June 2, 2015. Marilyn Allan and other delegates visit Dr. Zhang and Traditional Chinese Medicine representatives in China.