In the realm of East Asian medicine, uncertainty is a constant companion, a persistent reminder of the mystery of life. Like a meandering river, the health status of our patients is in a state of constant flux. It can be a daunting task to navigate these changing waters, but it is a challenge that we must embrace if we are to become better practitioners.
In the face of the unknown, we find the greatest opportunities for learning and healing. We are reminded to trust in the innate wisdom of the body, to be more attentive to the needs of our patients, more sensitive to the subtle cues of the body, and more attuned to our own habits of dealing with change and uncertainty.
In this conversation with Stephen Brown, we explore different paradigms of medicine and how they impact our work. We talk about the need to embrace the unknown as a catalyst for growth, the importance of the patient’s frame of mind, and how we can find meaning in our work. Stephen also shares some of Dr. Shudo Denmei’s perspectives and treatment techniques.
Listen into this discussion on navigating the fluid nature of our medicine and how the uncertainties can be learning opportunities.
Acupuncture is more of an art than science – it takes practice, practice, practice.
Superficial needling is as effective as deep needling and more so when the patient condition includes mental or emotional issues, that is, the majority of the patient population!
Stephen Brown
Stephen Brown graduated from Japan Central Acupuncture College in Tokyo in 1983 and was licensed to practice shiatsu, acupuncture, and moxibustion in Japan. In 1984 he went to Beijing, PRC to attended a 3 month training at the Academy of TCM. He began teaching in 1985 for the International Acupuncture Training Program of Kuretake Institute in Tokyo.
Moving to Seattle in 1986, he taught shiatsu and acupuncture at the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture. He taught at the SIEAM from 1998 to 2020. He has taught seminars on his specialty, Japanese styles of acupuncture all over the US. He is also a practitioner and teacher of traditional exercise systems for health including Yoga, Taichi, Sotai, and Qigong.
A native speaker of Japanese, he has translated texts on East Asian medicine including three texts of his mentor Shudo Demei. Stephen continues to serve as an interpreter in acupuncture seminars and conferences.
The book that has inspired Stephen’s practice: Introduction to Meridian Therapy by Shudo Denmei.
Here is the latest book from Dr Shudo that we discussed in this conversation: Fifty Years of Practice: the Case Studies of Shudo Denmei.
If you’d like to learn from Stephen, The Du Channel has a course with Stephen teaching Super Rotation Therapy.
