The Yellow Monkey Emperor’s CLASSIC of CHINESE MEDICINE Damo Mitchell and Spencer Hill Artwork by Spencer Hill
LONDON AND PHILADELPHIA
CONTENTS
PREFACE – v MEETING BEE BO – 1
SUMMER AND THE HEART HEART AND SMALL INTESTINE SYNDROMES – 53 Heart Qi Deficiency – 57
SPRINGTIME LESSONS LIVER AND GALLBLADDER SYNDROMES – 8
Heart Yin Deficiency with Empty Heat – 59 Heart Yang Deficiency – 63
Liver Qi Deficiency – 12
Heart Blood Deficiency – 66
Liver Yang Deficiency – 15
Heart Fire Blazing – 69
Liver Blood Deficiency – 18
Heart Blood Stagnation – 71
Liver Blood Deficiency Causing Internal Wind – 22
Phlegm Fire Bothering the Heart – 75
Liver Qi Stagnation – 25
Phlegm Misting the Mind – 77
Liver Blood Stagnation – 28
Small Intestine Cold & Deficient – 85
Liver Blood Stasis – 30 Liver Fire Blazing – 33 Rebellious Liver Qi – 37 Damp Heat in the Liver – 39 Liver & Spleen Disharmony – 41 Heat in the Gallbladder + Gallbladder Deficiency – 44 Damp Heat in the Gallbladder – 48 Damp Cold Invading the Gallbladder – 50
BANANA CHEESECAKE SPLEEN AND STOMACH SYNDROMES – 89 Spleen Qi Deficiency + Spleen Yang Deficiency – 94 Spleen Yin Deficiency + Heat In The Spleen – 97 Spleen Yin Deficiency with Empty Heat – 100 Spleen Blood Deficiency – 103 Spleen Qi Sinking – 106 Spleen & Kidney Deficiency – 109
Spleen & Liver Blood Deficiency – 111
Wind Cold in the Lungs – 196
Spleen & Lung Qi Deficiency – 114
Cold Phlegm in the Lungs – 202
Spleen Failing to Control Blood – 117
Dry Phlegm in the Lungs – 205
Damp Heat Invades the Spleen – 120
Phlegm Heat in the Lungs – 199
Damp Phlegm in the Lungs – 209 Cold in the Large Intestine – 212
Cold Invasion of the Spleen – 123
Heat in the Large Intestine – 214
Spleen Cold Damp Invasion – 125
Dryness in the Large Intestine – 217
Stomach Qi Deficiency – 128 Stomach Yin Deficiency – 132 Rebellious Stomach Qi – 136 Stomach Fire – 139
Cold Invasion in the Large Intestine – 220 Damp Heat in the Large Intestine – 223
Damp Heat in the Stomach – 142 Cold Invasion of the Stomach – 145 Blood Stasis in the Stomach – 148 Stomach Food Retention – 151
WINTER IN THE JUNGLE KIDNEY AND BLADDER SYNDROMES – 226 Kidney Qi Deficiency – 233 Kidney Yin Deficiency – 237
AUTUMN DRYNESS LUNG AND LARGE INTESTINE SYNDROMES – 154 Lung Qi Deficiency – 160
Kidney Yang Deficiency – 239 Kidney Essence Deficiency – 242 Kidneys Failing to Grasp the Qi – 246
Lung Qi Deficiency Leading to a Build Up of Phlegm – 163
Kidneys & Heart Disharmony – 249
Lung Yin Deficiency – 166
Damp Heat in the Bladder – 255
Lung Yang Deficiency – 170
Damp Cold Invades the Bladder – 257
Lung Qi Stagnation – 173
Bladder Cold & Deficient – 253
Lung Qi Collapse – 175 Heat in the Lungs – 179
BEE BO’S END – 260
Dryness in the Lungs – 182
AUTHOR PROFILES – 263
Wind Cold Invades the Lungs – 185 Wind Dryness Invades the Lungs – 188 Wind Heat Invades the Lungs – 190 Wind Damp Invades the Lungs – 193
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS – 264
PREFACE One of the biggest challenges for people starting out in a study of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) is the huge amount of memorisation involved. Not only are there hundreds of meridian point locations and names to learn, anatomical landmarks, and a vast array of esoteric terms and concepts, but there is a sizeable list of Zang Fu syndromes as w ell. For many students this can be a very difficult hurdle to overcome, and during my ow n training I saw many students either give up their study altogether as their overloaded brain could not cope, or else decide to drop some aspects of the practice. I have know n many acupuncturists in particular w ho decided that Zang Fu syndromes w ere so difficult to learn that they w ould no longer use them and instead treated acupuncture practice as a symptomatic method of alleviating the kinds of diseases w e w ould be used to w ithin a Western framew ork. This is a true shame, as essentially it is the syndromes that enable us to identify underlying patterns of disharmony that are actually grounded in classical Chinese medical theory. Spencer Hill is a good friend of mine and has been for many years. He has also been a student of the Daoist arts for a long time. During the time I have know n him he has been a pleasure to teach for the simple reason that he can’t take anything seriously! He lives in a very different w orld to most other people that I have met: a w orld full of cartoons, jokes, puns and humour. No matter w hat I w ould try to teach him, he w ould alw ays find the ‘hidden joke’ that existed w ithin each exercise or principle I w as trying to teach. I am sure many teachers w ould have found this rather annoying but I found him refreshing. Though I train in a very dedicated manner, I alw ays believe that the arts you practice should be fun. Humour can be a great learning tool if applied correctly. I remember one particular alchemy course w here I had been delivering a series of lectures on fairly complex Daoist cosmological teachings. The lectures w ere long and I could see that many of the students w ere finding it hard to follow the ancient paradigms w e w ere w orking on. Spencer, on
the other hand, had been doodling in the corner throughout my talks and produced a series of cartoon sketches based upon w hat I w as saying. Each sketch w as a joke centred around one of the philosophical concepts interw oven throughout all Daoist practice. When I looked at the cartoons it w as very clear to me that Spencer had managed to do tw o things: first, he had managed to condense a difficult concept that took me a long time to explain into a single draw ing and second, he had made an easy w ay for other students on the course to remember w hat I w as teaching. This is the beauty of images. Whereas a long list of terms can be difficult to learn, a single draw ing or collection of draw ings can make that list very easy to remember. That is the thought behind this book. When people w ish to learn the location and function of the meridian points, there is a certain ease to it because of the situation of the points upon the three-dimensional landscape of the human body. Sure, some of them can still be tricky to memorise at first, but in the vast majority of cases it is not too difficult. As w ell as this, each point name has an image described w ithin its name. Points like ‘Bright Eyes’, ‘Earth Granary’ and ‘Shining Sea’ have names that appeal to the ‘visual’ aspect of our brain and so they are easy to commit to memory. The syndromes of disharmony present w ithin the Zang Fu organs are not so simple. Of course, it is possible to try to visualise the symptoms and perhaps equate them to illnesses you yourself have had in the past, but at some point you w ill still have to sit and memorise a lot of symptom lists! This book presents 78 key Zang Fu syndromes of disharmony, the kind you w ould find w ithin the TCM style of Chinese medicine, in a w ay that w ill be easier to learn. I have selected 78 syndromes that I feel are representative of the various imbalances that may affect the Zang Fu organs. Though the common syndromes are in this book I have also tried to select those that w ill enable you to develop a more complete picture of how the various excess and deficient imbalances manifest w ithin the body and how they affect the organs. If you learn the syndromes here, then it w ill be fairly simple to understand
how
any
other
syndromes
w ill
manifest
and
w hy
they do w hat they do to the body. In an attempt to make these syndromes easy to learn I have done the follow ing: •
First, I selected syndromes that show the different w ays in w hich excessand deficiency-based imbalances w ill affect each of the Zang Fu organs. I have tried to include syndromes (w here possible) for w hen an organ becomes too Yin and w hen it becomes too Yang.
•
Second, I only selected the symptoms/manifestations of these syndromes that are clear and easy to detect. Though the symptom list for each syndrome could be longer, I have tried to hone in on the key symptoms that make each syndrome easy to identify. For this reason, this book should be seen as a starting point. Once you understand the syndromes and can identify them easily enough then you should add to your know ledge by seeking out more comprehensive lists of symptoms or, even better, make your ow n lists based upon w hat you see in your ow n practice.
•
I have not included the tongue and pulse readings w ithin the cartoon strips as I feel that the syndromes should be learnt by their body-based symptoms, but since many w ill disagree w ith me on this I have included the common tongue and pulse manifestations in pink boxes w ithin the syndrome lists that appear at the end of the cartoon section.
Try to read through the cartoon strips and use the connection betw een imagery, humour and symptoms to commit each syndrome to memory. Spencer has included a w hole host of hidden Daoist esoteric know ledge w ithin many of the cartoons as w ell. Nothing in the cartoons has been chosen randomly. The names of the characters, the locations they visit and a w hole host of other pieces of information are dotted around w ithin the stories. Some references may be a little obscure for those only studying Chinese medicine, but the Qi Gong, Nei Gong and alchemy practitioners amongst you should have a lot of fun finding out just how much of a Daoist nerd you really are.
Damo Mitchell
MEETING BEE BO When the legendary Yellow Monkey Emperor w as born he quickly impressed all of his teachers w ith his innate w isdom. Even as a young monkey his teachers w ould find that they tried to teach him A but he already knew Z. His ability to learn through observation of the w ays of nature w as astounding to all w ho met him. His skills in tree-sw inging, banana selection, flea-picking and poo-flinging w ere already at the level of a fully grow n ape by the time he w as only three. Naturally, w ith such skills he quickly became recognised as a born leader and thus he w as made emperor of the w hole jungle.
Despite the fun he w as having being in charge and w hiling aw ay his days in mutual grooming, his main passion in life w as the study of ancient medicinal methods. He w anted more than anything to understand the nature of disease and so before long he w as sent to the w ise sage Bee Bo.
Yellow Monkey Emperor: Oh w ise one, I have heard that in ages past all the animals of the jungle lived to be one hundred years of age w ithout show ing any signs of w eakness or disease. Why is that in our time so many of us animals do not live anyw here near as long? Bee Bo: Things w ere different in ancient times. The animals of the w orld practiced the w ay of Dao. They adhered to the principles of Yin and Yang, ate healthy food, harmonised w ith the universe and practiced internal exercise. They arose at a sensible hour and w ent to sleep at regular times, they did not overtax their bodies and they understood the importance of self-regulation. In contrast, the youth of today are irresponsible and have stepped aw ay from the natural rhythms of the universe. They abuse themselves w ith media, intoxicants and sense-based pleasures. They do not respect the health of their bodies and they ignore the w ell-being of the Zang Fu organs. Why just the other day I saw one young fellow, can’t have been any older than a few months…ramble, ramble, blah blah blah… Yellow Monkey Emperor: Yes, yes, I get it. Kids these days just aren’t as w ise as they w ere back in the golden age. But more importantly, oh honeyridden one, tell me about the principles of Chinese medicine.
Bee Bo: The study of Chinese medicine is essentially the study of the level of harmony w ithin the body and mind of the patient. On top of this it is also the study of how connected that patient is to the w ider environment and how w ell they are able to deal w ith and be in synchronisation w ith the Qi of the external w orld. No living creature on this planet exists apart from the realm of Heaven and Earth and as such our health is a reflection of our level of connection to these tw o great pow ers. The energy of Heaven is primarily draw n into our body via the air w e breathe but w e also experience this energy via our relationship w ith the shifting seasons and climates. The energy of Earth is mainly given to us through the food that w e eat as w ell as manifesting through our physical health. Sat betw een these tw o poles, a kind of conduit betw een them, is our energetic system, w hich flow s through our meridian netw ork, as w ell as the spirits that make up living consciousness.
Attaining good health requires that w e harmonise all of these factors according to the governing principles of Yin and Yang and that our Qi and Blood are flow ing smoothly throughout the body. The spirit must be calm and centred and the Jing, our essence, should be regulated and conserved. When all of these factors are addressed then health w ill be in abundance. Yellow Monkey Emperor: You are indeed w ise; much w iser than you look. I had no idea the insect w orld contained such sages. Tell me more of Chinese medicine, how is disease determined? Bee Bo: Disease is determined according to the eight guiding principles of Yin, Yang, interior, exterior, deficient, excess, cold and hot. The skilled physician understands the root cause of diseases according to these categories. With such an understanding they may determine the location, severity and type of imbalance that is present w ithin the body. Diagnosis of said categories takes place through observing the patient’s behaviour and appearance, asking them questions about the nature of their condition, checking the tongue and palpating the body, meridians, abdomen and pulse. Only w hen a complete picture of the patient’s condition has been ascertained can a full diagnosis be given. Yellow Monkey Emperor: I see; after diagnosis it is then possible to see w hether a person has illnesses such as
the common cold, the flu, migraine
headaches or chronic flea infestation?
Bee Bo: Not quite, I am afraid. You see, the ancient Chinese doctors did not view the nature of disease in the same w ay as modern creatures. All of these illnesses you are familiar w ith w ould simply be manifestations of a deeper underlying disharmony. Yes, your patient may be suffering from migraine headaches but there must be an underlying reason w hy this is the case. It is this underlying cause that w e must track dow n and understand if w e are to treat it effectively. These underlying causes w ill often lie w ithin a creature’s spirit. Maybe they are stressed? Perhaps old fears are plaguing them? There are countless w ays in w hich a patient’s spirit w ill be causing negative symptoms w ithin the body. As w ell as this there are the Zang Fu organs of the body. It is here that many diseases have their origin and it is w ith these organs that our lessons w ill begin. Yellow Monkey Emperor: The Zang Fu organs? What are these? Tell me of these organs. Bee Bo: The organs of the body form a unified w hole; one integrated system of life that exists w ithin us. No organ can be seen as a separate entity; each is a part of a w ider system of connected function. In order for there to be good health there must be harmonisation of the Zang Fu organs’ functions, as w ell their relationship w ith one another. This is the key tenet upon w hich all Chinese medical thought about the body is based. The theory of Zang Fu is based upon an older theory know n as Zang Xiang. The term Zang refers to the physiological structure of the organs themselves, w hilst Xiang refers to the manner in w hich the energy and spirit of these organs is expressed. This expression of the organs is important for understanding their definition because it enables you to understand just how the ancient Chinese view ed the body.
Yellow Monkey Emperor: So w hat you are telling me is that the definition of organs according to Chinese medicine is not just based upon their actual physical structure but also upon the various biochemical, energetic and even spiritual w ays in w hich they manifest w ithin the w ider body system? Bee Bo: Hmm, you are a clever monkey; I can see w hy they put you in charge. Though, to be honest, it w ouldn’t take much to raise yourself above that un-evolved bunch of primates you call a tribe… Yellow Monkey Emperor: So w hat is the difference betw een the Zang and the Fu then? I am guessing they are tw o different types of organ.
Bee Bo: Yes, you are correct again. Chinese medical thought focuses upon several organs of the body and view s them as being key to a person’s
w ell-being. These organs are then divided into tw o main groups know n as the Zang and the Fu organs. The first category is that of the Zang organs. These are the Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lungs and Kidneys. As w ell as this there is the Pericardium, though it is often seen as secondary in importance to the previous five w ithin many systems of Chinese medicine practice. The five key Zang organs are Yin in comparison to the Fu organs. They are responsible for the storage of essence as w ell as the housing of the five spirits. The Fu organs are the Gallbladder, Small Intestine, Stomach, Large Intestine and Bladder. As w ell as this there is the Triple-Heater, w hich is seen as an addition to the Fu organs category. The Fu organs are Yang in nature,
hollow
and
primarily
responsible
for
the
transportation,
transformation and excretion of food matter. Yellow Monkey Emperor: Okay. I think I am starting to understand a little more now. These organs must be kept in harmony to ensure health and happiness. That sounds simple enough to me! Bee Bo: Don’t be so sure of that, my young student. Though the initial theory of the organs is simple enough, the inter-relationship of the Zang Fu and the nature of their disease can be quite complex w hen you first encounter them. Whether you are an acupuncturist, massage therapist, Qi Gong teacher or herbalist these theories must be understood, for they form the backbone of Chinese medical thought. So let us begin our lessons then, let us start w ith the first organ - the Liver. Spring is upon us and w e have much to learn, so listen carefully…
SPRINGTIME LESSONS LIVER AND GALL BLADDER SYNDROMES
Bee Bo and the Yellow Monkey Emperor are w alking through the jungle together discussing the Liver and its paired organ, the Gallbladder. It is early spring and a gentle breeze is blow ing through the trees. The light filtering dow n through the canopy of trees bathes them in a green hue. For some unknow n reason the Yellow Monkey Emperor is feeling a little frustrated inside.
Yellow Monkey Emperor: So then Bee Bo, w hat of the Liver? Tell me of this organ and be quick about it, my patience grow s thin w ith these lessons! Bee Bo: Ah the Liver, the general and the planner. Though the Heart is the over-riding ruler of the organs, it is the Liver that is in charge of giving directions to the movement of Qi throughout the body. If the Liver ’s job of ‘smoothing’ the Qi becomes impaired then energetic tightness and stagnation may occur. This w ill manifest w ithin the body as w ell as causing a lack of fluidity w ithin the mind. When the Qi flow is impaired there w ill likely be anger, frustration, depression and even a lack of patience, my hairy friend. Yellow Monkey Emperor: How dare you! Are you implying my Liver is w eak? I am the emperor of all the animal kingdom. Who are you to speak to me like so? You are just a teacher! Bee Bo: It is the Liver that governs such thoughts and mind sets. You think in terms of boundaries, status, social standing and pow er. These are all Liverrelated symptoms, a sign of the Liver ’s function of ‘governing the free flow of Qi’ being impaired. May I suggest you find some w ay to relax, calm your mind; maybe go for a banana-scented bubble bath? Or I suppose your other option is to let it out. In some cases repression of Liver energy can be just as detrimental. Why not go and hurl some poo at Geng the Pig? You know that alw ays make you feel better…
Yellow Monkey Emperor: Yes, maybe you are right, I have been feeling quite agitated of late. I have also had a slight pain in my chest region as w ell as a bitter taste in my mouth. Could these be related? Bee Bo: Indeed, the Liver is also in charge of the free flow of Qi throughout the physical body. If the Qi is tightened discomfort in the chest and torso is common. If this stagnation also obstructs the flow of bile through the body then a bitter taste can be produced. This can also come w ith bad breath and repeated belching. That is w hy I am keeping my distance a little. Yellow Monkey Emperor: Tell me more of the Liver. What of its other functions? Bee Bo: The Liver also houses the Blood, w hich is kept there during times of rest, it houses the Hun, governs the health of the nails and has a very important role in menstrual health and regularity. The Blood housed w ithin the Liver helps to keep muscles nourished and tendons soft. Problems here can lead to tightness in the body, an increased risk of pulls and tears and even tremors and spasms in the body - a condition w e call internal Wind, the pathogen related to the Liver. The spirit of the Hun resides w ithin the Liver. This is the Yang aspect of our soul, the part of our consciousness involved in dreams, plans and schemes. At night it is free to w ander the realm of dreams and in the day it returns to us, giving us the ability to generate concepts and ideas.
Yellow Monkey Emperor: What of sickness of the Liver? What conditions may manifest w hen w e are in a state of imbalance?
Bee Bo: When the Liver is in a state of imbalance the follow ing syndromes can occur: Liver Qi deficiency, Liver Yang deficiency, Liver Blood deficiency, Liver Blood deficiency leading to internal Wind, Liver Qi stagnation, Liver Blood stagnation, Liver Blood stasis, Liver Fire blazing, rebellious Liver Qi, Damp Heat in the Liver, Liver and Spleen disharmony, Heat in the Gallbladder, Gallbladder deficiency, Damp Heat in the Gallbladder and Damp Cold in the Gallbladder. Yellow Monkey Emperor: Okay then my teacher, I feel I understand the Liver. What of its paired organ, the Gallbladder? Bee Bo: The Gallbladder is the store-house of the bile. It aids in the process of digestion and also governs our ability to make decisions. Are you a decisive person? This is dependent upon the strength of the Gallbladder.
SUMMER AND THE HEART HEART AND SMALL INTESTINE SYNDROMES
Perched high in the treetops of the jungle, the Yellow Monkey Emperor and Bee Bo are discussing the Heart and the associated organ of the Small Intestine. The heat of the mid-day is glaring dow n on the tw o of them and they both sw elter under the unforgiving glare of the summer sun.
Yellow Monkey Emperor: Tell me, oh w ise one, w hat of the Heart? What is its significance in the nature of health and life? Bee Bo: It is true that the Heart is highly significant in the nature of life. It is the monarch of organs, the king of the Zang Fu and the seat of all emotions. It is the spirit of the Heart that gives us joy, excitement and the ability to find fun in life. Functionally it governs the creation and circulation of Blood, controls the blood vessels, manifests in the facial complexion, houses the spirit, opens into the tongue and relates to our ability to sw eat. In Monkeys it also, rather annoyingly, governs their need to constantly torment me w ith tricks, cheekiness and general childish behaviour. If any of these functional activities of the Heart become w eakened then the health w ill fail. Yellow Monkey Emperor: So you are telling me that the monkey nature is a gift from the Heart? Bee Bo: Yes indeed, my flea-bitten friend. A gift or a curse; it depends w hose position you are looking at it from. The Qi of the Heart moves in response to the emotion of Joy. In turn, the emotion of Joy expresses itself according to the Heart’s Qi. Like a fire glow ing in the centre of the chest, it gives us a feeling of pleasure and happiness; if this fire goes out there w ill be connection to the positive feelings in life. If the fire blazes too brightly then excitement and even mania can manifest. Such is the emotional expression of the Heart spirit.
Yellow Monkey Emperor: Tell me more of the Heart’s function. I must understand this w onderful organ. What is its relationship to the Blood? Bee Bo: The first and most important thing to understand is that the Blood is, in part, created from the energy of our food - the sacred Gu Qi. It is the action of the Heart that converts the Gu Qi into Blood. In your case this is purely the Gu Qi of bananas, but in the case of other creatures there should be an even balance of the five flavours to help generate a healthy quality of Gu Qi. This helps the Spleen generate the energy sent to the Heart. In this w ay the Heart has the fuel it needs to generate healthy Blood. This Blood nourishes the tissues of the body and makes us vibrant beings. On top of this, it is the role of the Heart to ensure that Blood flow s smoothly through our body via the vessels. If the Heart’s function is impaired in some w ay, this circulation can be w eakened and the body w ill become pale and cold. It is also the seat of our Shen, the divine spirit that gives us connection to higher purpose. The connection betw een our ability to experience joy, compassion and spiritual grow th are absolute and the connection to these states of mind take place w ithin the organ of the Heart. Yellow Monkey Emperor: What of sickness of the Heart? How does imbalance manifest w ithin the monarch?
Bee Bo: There are many conditions w hich may affect the Heart. The most common are: Heart Qi deficiency, Heart Yin deficiency, Heart Yin deficiency w ith Empty Heat, Heart Yang deficiency, Heart Blood deficiency, Heart Fire blazing, Phlegm Fire bothering the Heart, Phlegm misting the Mind and Small Intestinal Cold deficiency. Each of these conditions can be problematic and the skill of the physician is determined primarily by their skill in differentiating betw een said sicknesses. A poor skill in diagnosis w ill result in ineffective treatment. Yellow Monkey Emperor: What of the Heart’s paired organ, the Small Intestine? Bee Bo: This is an aspect of the system of digestion; it is the key organ for sorting the ‘pure form the impure’. This concerns its affects upon the digestive process as w ell as the w ay you sort your thoughts and actions. Right from w rong, good from bad - in part these aspects of the monkey mind are determined by the health of the Small Intestine.
BANANA CHEESECAKE SPLEEN AND STOMACH SYNDROMES
It is late summer and the Yellow Monkey Emperor is sat receiving his daily lessons from the great sage Bee Bo. The season’s sun casts a yellow light over the pair as they w ork their w ay through piles of ancient parchments and texts. The air is damp and uncomfortable but still they push onw ards in the Yellow Monkey Emperor ’s pursuit of Chinese medical mastery. Hungry and somew hat bored, the little monkey emperor hides some banana cheesecake under his books, taking small bites w hen the ever-w atchful master is not paying attention.
Yellow Monkey Emperor: Uh, this damp is almost completely unbearable. This time of year my body alw ays feels so heavy and my movements so slow. Despite this, I must focus my concentration on the task at hand. Tell me, master Bee Bo. What of the Spleen? What is this organ for? Bee Bo: The Spleen is the great ‘transporter and transformer ’; it is primarily concerned w ith the manner in w hich w e digest our food and absorb its energy into our body. Working w ith the Spleen is its paired organ, the Stomach. When w e take in food or drink it is first taken into the Stomach. Here it is said that the Stomach ‘rots and ripens’ said food… Yellow Monkey Emperor: It ‘rots and ripens’ our food? That sounds pretty disgusting to me! It also sounds contradictory; does it rot or ripen? Food can only be one or the other. I w ould not eat a rotten banana, nor w ould I eat one that w as not ripe; I am a monkey of great discernment after all. Bee Bo: You stupid monkey… This term refers to the process of dealing w ith the food taken into the Stomach, not the food itself. The Stomach takes the food and ferments it into a state w hereby it can be further processed in the body, namely via the Small Intestine. The process of fermenting the food is w hat is know n as ‘rotting and ripening’ the food. The resulting substance is then interacted w ith via the Spleen, w hich then extracts the Qi from this food. This ‘food Qi’ is called ‘Gu Qi’ and it is highly important for the health of your body. This is the key function of the Spleen w ith regards to your digestive process – to generate this type of Qi. If the health of the Spleen is compromised then all manner of illnesses can develop.
Yellow Monkey Emperor: How so? Bee Bo: The Gu Qi from the Spleen is sent to various locations w ithin the body. It is sent upw ards to nourish the Lungs and form Zong Qi. Via the Heart it is involved in the creation of Blood. On top of this the Gu Qi also divides into five ‘flavours’, five directional movements of Qi that correspond to the key organs of the body. Bitter Gu Qi is sent to the Heart, Sour Gu Qi is sent to the Liver, Pungent Gu Qi goes to the Lungs, Salty Gu Qi goes to the Kidneys and finally Sw eet Gu Qi returns to nourish the Spleen once more. Though all our food contains the five ‘flavours’ of Qi, different foods have more or less of each of these flavours. Too much or too little of these forms of Gu Qi w ill have a negative effect upon each of the organs involved. In particular, sw eet food, like those banana chocolate cheesecake things you like so much, sends an excess of pathogenic sw eet Gu Qi to the Spleen, w hich causes it to become unhealthy. This in turn w eakens its ability to produce the other four ‘flavours’ and as such all of the other organs become w eakened as w ell. Yellow Monkey Emperor: Scoff, scoff, w hat banana chocolate cheesecakes? Anyw ay, continue w ith your lesson oh w ordy one. Bee Bo: This function of transportation also applies to the body’s fluids. Never underestimate the importance of regulation of the body’s fluids in treatment, my young apprentice. The Spleen sends cleaner fluids upw ards tow ards the Lungs, w here they are distributed outw ards into the skin to keep it moist. The fluids know n as ‘turbid’ fluids are sent dow nw ards through the body tow ards the intestines. If this function of the Spleen is impaired then the body w ill become w hat w e call ‘internally damp’. This means that it begins to sw ell, feel heavy and often start to gain w eight.
Yellow Monkey Emperor: You mean like Geng the Pig? I think he must be extremely damp. Bee Bo: No, he is just big boned… Yellow Monkey Emperor: Continue, my honey-obsessed teacher - tell me more of the Spleen and its role in health. Bee Bo: The Spleen also has a vital role in maintaining the Blood w ithin the vessels. If the Spleen is impaired in any w ay then the Blood can ‘leak’, w hich results in random bruising. As w ell as this it nourishes the muscles and keeps them strong and healthy. Spleen impairment equals a w eak, flaccid body. If you ever w ant to meet a nice lady-monkey you need to keep the Spleen healthy or else she w ill think you are a nerdy w eakling; keep nourishing that Spleen w ith something better than cheesecake. Yellow Monkey Emperor: What of the mind? How does the Spleen affect the monkey mind? Bee Bo: The Yi is housed w ithin the Spleen. The Yi is the centre of all thought processes, cognitive aw areness and focus. The strength of your ability to concentrate on tasks for more than a few seconds is dependent upon the health of your Spleen… Yellow Monkey Emperor: Sorry, say that again? My mind w andered for a second…
Bee Bo: The Yi is the place w ithin your mind that all sensory information is processed; it is the place w here the messages from the other aspects of spirit are considered and turned into logical thought. Basically, if you w ant to be smart and strong, it is the Spleen that you need to take care of. Yellow Monkey Emperor: What of imbalances of the Spleen? What conditions can manifest w hen the Spleen is unhealthy? Bee Bo: There are many conditions that can affect the Spleen. These include: Spleen Qi deficiency, Spleen Yang deficiency, Spleen Yin deficiency, Heat in the Spleen, Spleen Yin deficiency w ith Empty Heat, Spleen Blood deficiency, Spleen Qi sinking, Spleen and Kidney Qi deficiency, Spleen and Liver Blood deficiency, Spleen and Lung Qi deficiency, Spleen failing to control the Blood, Damp Heat invading the Spleen, Cold invading the Spleen and Cold Damp invading the Spleen. As w ell as these conditions it is also possible for the paired organ of the Stomach to experience: Stomach Qi deficiency, Stomach Yin deficiency, rebellious Stomach Qi, Stomach Fire, Damp Heat in the Stomach, Cold invading the Stomach, Stasis of Blood in the Stomach and food retained in the Stomach.
AUTUMN DRYNESS LUNG AND LARGE INTESTINE SYNDROMES
By the time the autumn w eather starts to set in, the Yellow Monkey Emperor is starting to become quite proficient in his studies of Chinese medical theories. His teacher Bee Bo has tutored him w ell and so he is soon ready to become a fully-fledged doctor of the classical methods. Some of his final lessons take place in a cave high above the jungles w here they take their lessons in the w armer months. The air in the cave is dry and the pair study under the w hite light of the stars that shine in through the cave entrance.
Yellow Monkey Emperor: So, oh exalted teacher, tell me of the Lungs. What of their function and their role in the health of the body? Bee Bo: The Lungs are vitally important in the w ell-being of the body, my young furry apprentice. They w ork in a synchronised fashion w ith the Heart as they both reside w ithin the space of the chest cavity. The Heart may be the ‘emperor ’ of the organs but the Lungs are the ‘prime minister ’. Whilst the Heart governs the Blood, the Lungs govern the Qi. With the pow er of the breath it is the Lungs w hich take in the Qi from our surrounding environment and give us the breath of life. Through the rhythmic action of breathing it is the Lungs that control many of the physiological functions of the body; functions that rely upon the movement and properties of Qi itself. Yellow Monkey Emperor: So the Lungs are connected to the functions of Qi then? Tell me more of this? I need to understand this Qi stuff as I have heard it can help a monkey live forever if it is mastered. Bee Bo: You are of course referring to the art of Qi Gong, my smelly little friend. Yes, it is true that Qi Gong masters learn to harness their Qi to accomplish extraordinary feats. They long understood the importance of the mysterious Qi and its connection to deep, rhythmic breathing exercises. As much as anything they w ere tapping into the natural functions of the Lungs if they w ere in a healthy state. You see, it is the combination of the air w e breathe w ith the Gu Qi sent upw ards by the Spleen that generates the Qi of the rest of our body. Add just a little Yuan Qi from the Kidneys and you get the Zong Qi; the Qi w hich resides w ithin the Lungs and the chest. This special Qi is generated by the Lungs and in turn helps to nourish the Lungs, as w ell as forming the Qi that flow s throughout the rest of the body, reaching, via the meridian system, all of
our tissues and organs. It is for this reason that ancient practised the esoteric art of Qi Gong. Now that I think of it, you had better start your practice quick, you are ten years old after all; you are already middle-aged for a monkey! Yellow Monkey Emperor: I had better start soon?! You are a bee; you only live for one year! Bee Bo: Yes, that is w hy w e must get your lessons completed soon. It is already autumn and there is still much to learn. Let me tell you more of the Lungs and their w onderful attributes. The connection betw een the Qi and Blood goes even deeper than that w hich w e have so far discussed. You see, the Qi form the Lungs not only circulates w ithin the meridian system but also w ithin all of the vessels. This means that it flow s along w ith the Blood as w ell; in fact, it serves to propel the Blood along w ith the action of the Heart. If the Qi is w eakened for w hatever reason then the Blood cannot reach our extremities and thus a young monkey w ith w eak Qi w ill also have cold hands and feet. This generally comes w ith chronic feelings of tiredness and a pale face. Many a time these kinds of symptoms have their origin in the w ell-being of the Lungs themselves. Yellow Monkey Emperor: Is it only Qi that the Lungs are responsible
for?
I have
found
that
w hen
the
environment is dry it makes my throat and chest feel a little tight. How is this linked to the Lungs?
Bee Bo: How very observant of you; yes, you are correct. The Lungs are also closely connected to the circulation of fluids throughout the body. This function w as understood to be a part of the Lung’s ability to ‘disperse and descend’. The Spleen sends fluids up to the Lungs, w hich in turn generates a fine mist. This mist is ‘sprayed’ over the rest of the body, ensuring that everything stays healthily moist. Much of this fluid reaches dow n, along w ith Qi from the upper body, tow ards the Bladder and Kidneys. This fluid cycle then continues w ithin the body, like the w ater-cycle of the external w orld. Throughout this process the Lungs are seen as a kind of ‘canopy’, much like the canopy of the jungle trees. If the Lungs are impaired or attacked by the pathogen of Dryness then it is normal for this cycle to become w eakened. This w eakness w ill often manifest w ithin the skin, as the skin is governed by the Lungs. It is the fluid from the Lungs that helps to keep your skin soft and healthy; in your case it is also the Lungs that give you a healthy covering of simian body hair. Yellow Monkey Emperor: What of the mind? How is this linked to the Lungs? Bee Bo: The Lungs are the house of the Po. Within our medical theory w e only really talk of one Po but in the ancient Daoist methods they had seven Po. They w ere seen as rather mournful spirits that had the cheerful names of Corpse Dog, Kidnapping Corpse, Dark Bird, Greedy Robber, Flying Poison and Rotten Lung. Yellow Monkey Emperor: What miserable names! You are telling me I have these seven aw ful-sounding creatures living in my Lungs? I think I’m going to have nightmares.
Bee Bo: No, they are not living inside of you; don’t w orry. It is just a model of understanding that w e don’t use any more. The ancient Daoists w ere very creative w ith their practice…or else they just had too much time on their hands. What is important about the Po is that it is the part of our spirit that enables us to have tangible sensation of the external w orld. If the Po is w eakened for w hatever reason a person w ill become emotionally ‘numb’. It is also the aspect of our consciousness that enables us to experience grief and feelings of loss. If the Po is healthy w e are able to process these feelings in a healthy manner, but if the Lungs are in a state of imbalance then it is possible to experience lingering feelings of sadness. Yellow Monkey Emperor: Like that time w hen you w anted to teach me about external pathogens and I w as too upset about losing my last banana? Bee Bo: Well…generally the Po is affected by more traumatic losses… Yellow Monkey Emperor: That w as traumatic! Don’t you remember how much I cried? I w as so upset my breathing became shorter, my voice w as w eak, I w as sw eating and my face became very pale. It w as very sad; I didn’t think I w ould ever recover… In fact, I’m too sad to listen to you any more, I think w e should end the class for today… Bee Bo: You are a strange little creature. We shall ignore the state of your Po and carry on w ith the lesson; it’s important stuff… The paired organ to the Lungs is the Large Intestine. This organ’s main role is to excrete w aste from the body after it has been digested and passed through us. Emotionally it is also the Large Intestine that enables us to process and ‘let go’ of traumas w e have experienced.
Yellow Monkey Emperor: Like my banana trauma? I feel better now. Bee Bo: Yes, you feel better because of the role of the Large Intestine. The Lungs house the Po and they enabled you to experience the feeling of loss associated w ith the missing banana. The trauma of this loss is then processed and shed from your mind by the Large Intestine, w hich enables a monkey like yourself to healthily let go of such calamities. Yellow Monkey Emperor: What of disease of the Lungs then? Tell me more about w hat happens w hen w e become sick? Bee Bo: There are many conditions that can affect the Lung’s health. Some of these are: Lung Qi deficiency, Lung Qi deficiency leading to a build up of Phlegm, Lung Yin deficiency, Lung Yang deficiency, Lung Qi stagnation, Lung Qi collapse, Heat in the Lungs, Dryness in the Lungs, Wind Cold invading the Lungs, Wind Dryness invades the Lungs, Wind Heat invades the Lungs, Wind Damp invades the Lungs, Wind Cold in the Lungs, Phlegm Heat in the Lungs, Cold Phlegm in Lungs, Dry Phlegm in the Lungs and Damp Phlegm in the Lungs. As w ell as this w e also have such conditions as Cold in the Large Intestine, Heat in the Large Intestine, Dryness in the Large Intestine, Cold invading the Large Intestine and Damp Heat in the Large Intestine.
WINTER IN THE JUNGLE KIDNEY AND BLADDER SYNDROMES
The chilling cold of w inter has set in but still the lessons continue. Bee Bo looks w eary from the effort of his lessons but dutifully he must continue to pass on his w isdom to his young student. The Yellow Monkey Emperor is reaching the end of his lessons in the Zang Fu organs and their diseases. The mist of his breath can be seen in the air and the tips of his fingers are slightly blue along w ith the end of his nose. It is an unusually cold year for the jungle-dw ellers and many of them are suffering w ith stiff joints and aching backs as a result of the temperature.
Yellow Monkey Emperor: You are looking tired, my master. Your age is catching up w ith you I see. You have survived for four seasons now ; that is a long time for a bee such as yourself. I w ould like to hear about the Kidneys and their functions if you have the strength left in you. But only if you don’t need to rest. I don’t w ant you dropping dead before I finish my classes. Bee Bo: Yes, it is true, I am coming to the end of my life. Four seasons have come and gone. I have seen many things during that time and my earthly w isdom is great. I am an old bee but I am also a bee w ith a purpose. I w ill finish your lessons before my time is up. Let us explore the Kidneys and their functions. Yellow Monkey Emperor: Good, I am glad, tell me of their role in the health of all living creatures, oh w ise one. Bee Bo: The Kidneys are very important organs to understand. They are the root of Yin and Yang w ithin the body and the storehouse of all life. It is said that one w ho protects their Kidneys and the associated essence w ill live a long and healthy life. Within traditional medicine teachings w e talk of the Kidneys having a Yin and Yang aspect to them. The Yin aspect of the Kidneys serves to generate the material basis of life. It is through this manifestation of the Kidney function that all life is nourished. The Yang aspect of the Kidneys w orks to generate the w armth required for life, all internal function and also to act as a catalyst for all of the energetic transformations that take place w ithin us.
Yellow Monkey Emperor: Hmmm, it sounds a little like an engine to me. Perhaps w e could think of Kidney Yin providing the fuel for the body w hilst Kidney Yang generates the activity in the engine that uses that fuel? Bee Bo: Well, I am a little confused as to how a monkey w ould know of such things as engines…but yes, it is a simple but accurate analogy. This is added to by the fact that both Kidney Yin and Yang serve to balance each other. If there is a lack of Yang then there is no w armth, no activity in the body and the ‘fuel’ does not get used properly. Everything goes into a state of hypofunction and so disease develops. If there is a lack of Yin then the opposite happens. The Yang aspect burns out of control; there is too much activity, too much heat and not enough sustenance from Yin to keep the hyperactivity of the organs in check. Once again imbalance has developed. Yellow Monkey Emperor: It sounds as if it is a tricky thing to keep Yin and Yang in balance w ith each other then? Bee Bo: Yes, it can be. Mastering the art of Yin and Yang lies at the heart of Daoist longevity teachings. As much as anything that is the role of the Chinese medical therapist - to help harmonise these tw o poles. Of course, Yin and Yang exist in innumerable w ays w ithin the body but it is arguably w ithin the seat of the Kidneys that w e most readily see the ill-effects of a Yin and Yang disharmony. Yellow Monkey Emperor: How does this affect life then? I have heard the Kidneys are linked to ageing as w ell as reproduction.
Bee Bo: Yes, that is true. For a smelly simian you are learning w ell. Kidneys are the root of all life. This is mainly because of the Jing, the essence that is housed w ithin the Kidneys. The Jing is responsible for our birth, grow th, ageing and eventual decline. Like the oil in a lamp it burns out over the course of our lives and thus w e die. This Jing exists in tw o parts. The first is the congenital Jing, w hich w as given to us by our parents, and the second is the acquired Jing, w hich w e can add to through eating healthy food maintaining a peaceful mind. We have little to control over the congenital Jing but the w ay w e live our lives is an important factor in the quality and amount of our acquired Jing. How fast w e ‘burn’ through the oil in the lamp w ill depend upon how w e manage this Jing. Yellow Monkey Emperor: What about mating, master? I have heard that w hen a primate takes a mate he uses up some of this Jing. Bee Bo: Ah, the great concern of almost all young male monkeys w ho start to study Chinese medicine. It is almost impossible to mention Jing w ithout young males entering into a state of panic! Yes, it is true that your sexual fluids are generated out of the Jing. Never make the mistake though of thinking that semen is Jing. That is just some confusion that has come from ill-informed Qigong masters. Semen is one particular body fluid generated from your Jing. It is the vehicle through w hich Jing travels during the act of reproduction and this Jing is the ultimate source of all life. When w e mate w ith another w e use of some of our Jing as it is forced to generate more semen. In this w ay, yes Jing is used up during sexual activity; that is either w ith another or w ith yourself! It is normal and natural for sexual activity to be a part of any creature’s life but problems come w hen there is more activity than is healthy. Excess is the
cause of problems and the healthy answ er is moderation. Interestingly enough, male and female bodies function differently and this loss of Jing through mating primarily applies to the males. Females lose Jing each month through menstruation instead and this is w hy regulating the health of your menstrual cycle is very important if you are a female. Yellow Monkey Emperor: What else of the Kidneys? Is there more contained w ithin the functions of these vital organs? Bee Bo: Oh yes, the Kidneys carry out multiple roles w ithin the body. One of their major functions is as representative of the w ater element w ithin our inner environment. They are classically said to ‘govern the w ater passages’, meaning that they assist in the movement and distribution of fluids w ithin many parts of the body. On top of this they also have a relationship w ith their paired organ, the Bladder. The Kidney’s role in conjunction w ith the Bladder is to enable efficient urination to take place. If Kidney Yang is deficient in any w ay then the act of urination w ill become too frequent; there w ill be a constant need to urinate and the urine w ill be pale in colour. If Kidney Yin is deficient then there is not enough urination. The passing of urine is infrequent; it is also likely to come in stops and starts and be dark yellow in colour. Yellow Monkey Emperor: So the Kidneys are the root of Yin and Yang in the body, the root of all life, in charge of our ageing process and govern the movement of fluids inside the body, including the act of urination. That is a lot of different functions to remember! Bee Bo: We are not done yet! These important organs also have other functions as w ell. They also govern the health of the ears and hearing. It
is common for those w ith w eaker Kidneys to experience a decrease in the strength of their hearing, especially as they age. The health of the Kidneys manifests in the head hair as w ell. As Kidney energy starts to deplete it is normal for head hair to start to fall out. Liver Blood governs the colour and shine your head hair has but it is the Kidneys that keep that hair on your head! On top of this the Kidneys also ‘anchor the Qi’. This is an ancient line referring to the importance of the Kidneys in relationship to the Lungs. It is true that the Lungs draw in Qi from the air but it is also important that the Kidneys are healthy for this to happen efficiently. The Qi brought into the Lungs as w e breathe must be rooted dow n into strong Kidneys or w e w ill not be able to maintain this Qi. When the Lungs are not rooted into strong Kidneys they w ill often struggle to retain the Qi from the air and so asthmatic-type symptoms are likely to manifest. Yellow Monkey Emperor: Is that it yet? It seems like so much. I think my Jing w ill certainly run out long before I memorise all of this! Bee Bo: We are nearly done, my impatient friend. There are just a couple more important functions remaining. The first is that the Kidneys are the source of our marrow, the Sui. The Sui is said to come from the
Jing
and
transform
into
a
substance
that fills up the bones, the spinal cord and even the brain. If this function is w eakened in any w ay then the brain w ill not function properly and a person w ill become slow -w itted. They can also suffer from a poor memory. This w as the ancient Daoist model of understanding w hy a person’s memory became w eaker as they aged. The final major function of the Kidneys is that they govern the tw o low er ‘doorw ays’ of the body. These doorw ays are the urethra on the front
and the anus on the back! If the ‘doorw ays’ become w eakened due to Jing becoming deficient then these openings can leak. This w ill result in urinal or faecal incontinence, as w ell as nocturnal emissions.
Yellow Monkey Emperor: Wow, so many functions; but w hat of the mind? There must be some kind of mental aspect of the Kidneys as w ell, is there not? Bee Bo: Yes indeed, I nearly forgot. That w ill be my Kidneys becoming w eaker, don’t you know. The Kidneys are the house of the Zhi the w illpow er. The Zhi is the aspect of our being that gives us our drive. The planning on the Hun w ill be of no use to us w ithout the w illpow er of the Zhi. Those w ith w eak Zhi find that they have no ability to see things through. Dedication and the ability to stay determined no matter how difficult something becomes is related to the Kidneys. The fact that you have lasted so long in the study of your Chinese medicine is dow n to the Zhi - if you had w eaker w illpow er you w ould have quit long ago. Yellow Monkey Emperor: Okay then master. I think I am starting to understand the Kidneys’ role a little better. So tell me now of their w eaknesses. What if the Kidneys become sick? Bee Bo: There are many syndromes of imbalance that may affect the Kidneys and their associated organ, the Bladder. These can include: Kidney Qi deficiency, Kidney Yin deficiency, Kidney Yang deficiency, Kidney essence deficiency, Kidneys failing to grasp the Qi, Kidney and Heart disharmony, Bladder Cold and deficient, Damp Heat in the Bladder and Damp Cold invading the Bladder.
BEE BO’S END The Yellow
Monkey Emperor has nearly finished his lessons. His
understanding of the Zang Fu organs borders on legendary and his diagnostic skills are becoming second to none. He ow es all his thanks to Bee Bo the great sage-doctor, w ho now lies on his death-bed. His Qi drained and his Jing exhausted, Bee Bo takes sips of honey from his cup w ith thin, w ithered lips.
Yellow Monkey Emperor: You cannot leave me, my master; I have yet much to learn. I have yet to hear of combined Zang Fu syndromes, complex syndromes and syndromes of the spirit. How w ill I learn such things? Bee Bo: My furry friend, you have been my greatest student. You have learnt much and you w ill go on to achieve great things. The syndromes you have learnt have given you a basis in the Yin and Yang disharmonies of the body. If you can understand the inner w orkings of these syndromes you can understand a great number of diseases according to Chinese medical thought. Now, stop your w orrying, I have lived a long and fruitful life of a w hole 12 months. I have lived longer than a bee should and it is time for me to return to the great source… Yellow Monkey Emperor: Though I am sad to see you go, my master, I w ill honour your teachings w ith my continued learning. Bee Bo: That is indeed w ise, no creature can learn all of Chinese medicine in one lifetime, let alone over such a short period. Though you have grasped the basics of the practice, you should continue to develop your know ledge for the rest of your life. A life that w ill go on to make you a great physician; you w ill be remembered throughout history for your achievements. Yellow Monkey Emperor: Thank you, my master. I can never repay my debt to you… And w ith that, the great master Bee Bo breathed his last breath. His Jing and Qi exhausted, he entered the next stage in the great journey, Bee Bo returned to Dao. The Yellow Monkey Emperor sat silently and w atched as his master w ent through the process of entering the realm of death. He w atched first as his body relaxed and w ent limp. A look of peace came across Bee Bo’s
face as he left this realm. Then, much to the Yellow Monkey Emperor ’s surprise, a ball of w hite light began to float upw ards out of his diseased master ’s body. It hung there, suspended in the air for a few seconds before ascending upw ards into the sky, w here it vanished. The Yellow Monkey Emperor w as amazed as he realised that he had just w itnessed Bee Bo’s spirit returning to the realm of pure consciousness. From here this spirit w ould enter the next part of his teacher ’s journey, onw ards into transmigration. His master w ould be born again in another life. The w ork that Bee Bo carried out in this life had all been part of a w ider journey that his spirit had been on for countless lifetimes. His final lesson complete, Bee Bo had taught his young student the most important aspects of Daoist philosophy. Everything is in flux, nothing is permanent but spirit itself, and all that w e do is simply a part of a w ider picture. The Yellow Monkey Emperor got to his feet, smiled at the memory of his teacher and began to w alk back tow ards the jungle, w here he w as sure his next patient aw aited him. Even better, he found a banana he had forgotten all about in his bag. It looked like it w as going to be a good day. He w histled w ith joy as he w alked aw ay but suddenly there w as a sharp rap upon his head, from w hat felt like a big stick… Yellow Monkey Emperor: OUCH! Who did that? Bee Bo: What are you doing you stupid monkey? Aren’t you going to at least bury my body? You disrespectful little ape! We need to dispose of my corpse and then w e can get on w ith the next stage in your training. Exorcisms and Ming-based diseases next! Oh no, Bee Bo had achieved spiritual immortality. He floated there, a few feet off the ground bathed in a shining w hite light, w ith his legs curled up in the lotus position. Now there w ould never be any escape from his boring lectures…
AUTHOR PROFILES Spencer Hill Spencer Hill has had a lot of different jobs but now proudly wears a large badge with the words ‘cartoonist’ written in several different coloured crayons. He hasn’t won any awards yet but is hopeful for next year’s ‘person who finds the most things amusing’ when the votes are counted in Malmo, Sweden. Spencer has also been a part of that strange group Lotus Nei Gong for many years and at times Spencer has studied as a vagabond Nei Gong and Taiji practitioner with Damo Mitchell. Spencer’s interest in the medical side of Daoism led him into this writing project and he has thoroughly enjoyed taking the teachings of Chinese medicine and turning them into short comic strips. Spencer likes well-run cafes that know how to make coffee properly and have more than one choice of vegan cake. He dislikes the black bits in cornflakes and all species of fly.
Damo Mitchell Damo Mitchell is a member of the homo sapien species originating from the south of the United Kingdom, though for many years he was a nomadic creature who travelled throughout Asia and the Far East, as well as extensively in Europe and America. Throughout his life he has studied various Eastern arts, including Chinese medicine. These lessons began as a teenager, alongside his martial arts practice, but then continued to include deeper instruction in China and South East Asia. Damo Mitchell also has a degree in Chinese medicine from the UK and is the head of the Lotus Nei Gong School of Daoist Arts, which holds courses and classes internationally. He is the author of several previous titles from Singing Dragon including Daoist Nei Gong and Heavenly Streams. When not studying and teaching his beloved arts he can be found in an alternate dimension battling zombies.
The Yellow Monkey Emperor The Yellow Monkey Emperor is a legendary figure within the Chinese medical tradition. His exploits as both master-healer and ruler of China are recorded in ancient poetry and classical textbooks such as this one. His knowledge was so great that upon his eventual death he was accepted into the immortal realm, where he was reunited with his original teacher, the great Bee Bo. The two of them now continue to serve as guardian deities for any student of Chinese medicine who has an open heart and a sincere compassionate desire to help their patients. The Yellow Monkey Emperor is to be thanked for the entire of the great art that is Chinese medicine. He also likes to windsurf, go for long walks and is partial to banana chocolate cheesecake.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Paul Mitchell for introducing me to the internal arts, and for putting up with my constant quipping during his classes and courses. I would also like to thank Damo Mitchell for his friendship, teaching and support over the years, and for having the idea to create this book in the first place. I hope it exceeds your expectations. A huge thank you also to Jessica and her team at Singing Dragon for their support in getting this book completed. Last and by no means least I want to thank my partner Vicky for her support, encouragement and input. It’s taken months of effort to create this book and we have had many discussions on Daoism, Chinese medicine, immortals, the works of Chuang Tzu and much more to help me create these stories. Vicky’s knowledgeable input, support, patience and extensive collection of useful books made this project possible. Thank you.
Spencer Hill
First published in 2016 by Singing Dragon an imprint of Jessica Kingsley Publishers 73 Collier Street London N1 9BE, UK and 400 Market Street, Suite 400 Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA WWW.SINGINGDRAGON.COM Copyright © Damien Mitchell and Spencer Hill 2016 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and w hether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) w ithout the w ritten permission of the copyright ow ner except in accordance w ith the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 6-10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Applications for the copyright ow ner ’s w ritten permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher. Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright w ork may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 978 1 84819 286 7 eISBN 978 0 85701 233 3
