Purple Cloud Podcast

In this episode of the Purple Cloud Podcast, we're joined by Dr. Lorraine Wilcox to explore her new translation Medical Cases from the Flower Charm Studio. The work documents the clinical cases of Gu Dehua, a female physician from Ming-Qing China. We talk about Gu Dehua's life, the other female doctors Lorraine has translated, and what it meant to be a woman, as both doctor and patient, in classic...

This episode on the Purple Cloud Podcast, we welcome Daoist priests and practitioners Harry Du and Bree Xiong. We explore how they fuse the profound systems of Daoist ritual and Bazi (Four Pillars of Destiny) with the practice of medicine, creating a unique lens for understanding health and diagnosis. Then, we look ahead. The Year of the Fire Horse (2026) is approaching, carrying a potent and dyna...

While many l Chinese Medicine colleges in the U.S. are facing challenges, Yo San University in Los Angeles is thriving and expanding. In this episode, we talk with Yo San's President & CEO, Dr. Robert Hoffman, about their unique formula for success. We delve into the concrete strategies Yo San is using to grow its student base: pioneering research partnerships with top Chinese universities, a pres...

In this latest installment, we're thrilled to welcome Allen Tsaur and Michael Brown, the dynamic duo behind an extraordinary translation project that's been making waves in the world of Chinese medicine. Their latest endeavor is none other than Wu Jutong's Wen Bing Tiao Bian "Systematic Differentiation of Warm Diseases: Part 1", a seminal work that sheds new light on the ancient art of Chinese med...

Dao Yin or "Guiding and Pulling" has a long history in China stretching back thousands of years to the occult shamanic traditions of ancient times, and its influence is still very much present in modern Qigong practices. The Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun, or the "Treatise on the Origins and Symptoms of Medical Disorders" was a Sui dynasty Chinese medical text that was innovative due to it being the first...

In this episode we talk to David White about the one of the seminal texts in the Chinese Medicine oeuvre, the Huangdi Neijing. David discusses how he has brought many near forgotten techniques from over 2000 years ago back to life in a modern clinical setting. We also delve into the connection between martial arts and medicine, and what he will be teaching in his up coming course through the Insti...

In this episode for the die-hard Chinese medicine fans, we talk to Greta Young Jie De and Chris Zaslawski about their new book on the Shanghan Lun, written by Greta and edited by Chris. We discuss what Greta's background, her understanding of the Shanghan Lun and what makes this book unique and sets it apart from other books on the topic. Greta also goes into some detail about her understanding of...

In this episode of the Purple Cloud Podcast, we talk to James Flowers about the history of Chinese medicine in Australia, as well as delving into the nature of scientific research and where it fits into the future of Chinese medicine. James Flowers is a Research Fellow at Kyung Hee University of Korean Medicine, South Korea. He is a historian of medicine in East Asia focusing mostly on Korea, and...

Efforts to Preserve the Ancient: Simon Feeney

Mattias Daly Talks to Bill Porter aka Red Pine, renown translator of Chinese poetry and religious texts. He delves into the philosophy of his translation methodology and the history and practice of Zen Buddhism. Mattias and Bill discuss Bill's personal story, practice, translation methodologies and travels as well as his forthcoming work, "Dancing with the Dead", an anthology of Chinese poetry tra...

In this episode of the Podcast, we talk to Professor Taewoo Kim of Kyung Hee University in depth about the practice of traditional medicine in Korea. We discuss the various different lineages being practiced in Korea today, some older and some newer, delving into to what role older classical medical texts play and how systems of acupuncture and constitutional diagnosis are employed by some of thes...

The Eight Commentaries on Observing the Precepts of Life 遵生八箋 , is a Ming dynasty text focused on health and longevity. This lecture provides an introduction to the work, focusing on the chapter which delineates various methods to maintain optimal health in each particular season. These methods include physical exercises, herbal formulas and general lifestyle advice. This video was recorded as...

In this first of our solo podcast series on Chinese mythology, we delve into the myth of Pan Gu and Chinese cosmology. We explore the historical origins of the myth, and how this particular conception of the origins of the universe can enhance our understanding of Chinese medicine.

In this episode we talk to Chen Hsiu Fen about the Yangsheng Nourishing Life culture of the Jiangnan region in Ming dynasty China and how it was exemplified by Gao Lian in his work the Zunsheng Bajian. We also delve into the use of the seldom discussed tradition of talking cures in Chinese medicine, in which doctors elicit strong emotional reactions within their patients to cure disease, and the s...

In this episode we talk to Michael Brown about his its long-awaited second installment of 'Explanations of Channels and Points Vol.2' . a Qing dynasty acupuncture commentary by Yue Hanzhen (1602-1693 CE). Despite having never been published, this work has survived owing to its historical significance. It was the first to integrate point locations and classical channel pathways, thereby setting a p...

In this episode we talk to Yan Liu about the long history of the use of poisonous medicine in the Chinese medicine tradition, particularly in the medieval era. We delve into topics such as the similarities and differences in the use of poisons in the Western and Chinese traditions, the use of poisons in alchemical practices and the role it played in religious healing practices. The book is open so...

In this episode we talk to Tsai Ling-yi and Chen Po-Hsun, two Taiwanese Chinese medical doctors and academics in the field of Chinese medical history. We discuss how they have simultaneously navigated the Chinese and Western medical worlds, and discuss how the Chinese medicine exists in Taiwan within and outside of the official system. We also talk about the training of Chinese medicine in Taiwan,...

In this episode we talk again to Cheng Feng, this time about musical healing in the Chinese medical and Daoist traditions. We discuss how music can be used to both heal and harm, and the benefits of chanting the Dao De Jing. We also delve into how the 5 tones outlined in the Huang Di Nei Jing relate to the 5 phases, and how to use them in the clinic to help patients with a variety of conditions. F...

In this episode we talk to Zoey Xinyi Gong about the role of food in Chinese medicine. From a background as a Western medical nutritionist , Zoey talks of her journey into the world of Chinese medical dietetics. We touch on topics such as cooling foods and their role in a healthy diet, how to deal with a damp constitution, fad diets, fasting, medicinal dumplings, and how to pick a healthy soy sauc...

In this episode we talk to James Flowers, practitioner of Chinese Medicine, Research Fellow at Kyung Hee University and PhD from Johns Hopkins University, about his journey that has taken him from Australia to live in Korea, China and the USA. We discuss in depth the practice of traditional East Asian medicine in Korea, touching on why integrative medicine is rarely seen there and why Shen 神 (Spi...

In this episode we talk to Tyler Rowe, practitioner of Chinese medicine, martial arts and specialist in the practical application of classical Chinese geomancy and astronomy texts. We explore the relationship between climate and illness, and dive deeply into the often poorly understood Wuyun Liuqi (Five Movements and Six Qi) system from the Huangdi Neijing, discussing its history and practical usa...

In this episode we interview Mattias Daly about his most recent translation for Purple Cloud Press, The Heart Treasure of Taijiquan by Ren Gang. Written for the modern reader, this book thoroughly illuminates the authentic inner teachings of Yang family taijiquan. From detailing contemporary misunderstandings of taijiquan and its place in Chinese culture, to explaining the correct meanings of fund...

In this episode we interview Marta Hanson, Associate Professor of the History of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University about the concept of medical bilingualism and what it means for practitioners of Chinese medicine. We also delve into the history of epidemics in China, differences and similarities in responses between SARS and Covid-19, as well as her work on the influence of Chinese medicine in...