Turning Points and Transitions

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After a time of decay comes the turning point. The powerful light that has been banished returns. There is movement, but it is not being brought about by force. The movement is natural, arising spontaneously. For this reason, the transformation of the old becomes easy. The old is discarded and the newly introduced. Both measures accord with time; therefore, no harm results.I Ching Hexagram 24, Fu / Return (The Turning Point), Richard Wilhelm translation.

The I Ching translates as The Book of Changes. It is over 3000 years old (the symbols used are over 5000 years old), making it one of the oldest surviving books in the world. It is an influential text read throughout the world, providing inspiration and guidance.

I included this quote because change, turning points, and transitions are fundamental to Chinese Medicine and fundamental to life. Life is change. But change can come about in dramatic ways, much like a storm blowing into our lives. It is during these times of change, turning points, and transitions that people frequently seek out Chinese medicine.

When you are in the midst of a storm it can be important to go into survival mode and batten down the hatches. During this time people can experience high fevers, strong viral outbreaks such as shingles, herpes, and meningitis. Your back may go out, your jaw locks up, or you experience a very intense migraine headache. Any kind of major flare-up of an illness or intense emotion or experience can be a major storm in our body.

Western medicine can be pretty amazing in a storm. It is after the storm that it begins to falter. If we can harness the light as it returns after the darkness clears, we can create conditions in the body to encourage healing, growth, and change.

Life doesn’t have to create a storm to create change, however. We can transition smoothly if we pay attention to the little signs and adjust accordingly. The beauty of Chinese medicine is that it can recognize the subtle and create an appropriate shift before a major storm develops. So if you are in the midst of a storm, you can use Chinese medicine, with Western medicine if necessary, to help you ride it out. After the storm has cleared, we can help put you back together. And as transitions come up in the future, we can help you move through them smoothly.