Henry McCann Article Collection
A collection of 10 back issues that feature articles from Henry McCann
Below is a brief description of his articles in each issue. And of course, you get each back issue which includes all the other articles. The preview picture shown does not necessarily reflect the actual issues in this bundle.
Summer 2018: "The 24 Seasonal Nodes—Summer"
In the Huang Di Nei Jing, perhaps the most important text on Chinese medicine originally written in the Han Dynasty (206BCE – 220CE), there is a famous 8 character statement that says 春生, 夏長, 秋收, 冬藏—“Spring gives birth, Summer grows, Autumn harvests and Winter stores.” Summer represents this pinnacle of outward expansion that is symbolized by the Fire phase (i.e., element), and thus in this sentence is called “growth.” The Neijing also says 春夏養陽, 秋冬養陰—“in Spring and Summer nourish Yang, and in Autumn and Winter nourish Yin.” During Summer, we stay healthy by trying to mimic this Fire/Yang movement of nature, but we need to be cautious to do so just right. Both too little and too much divert us from health.
Spring 2018: "The 24 Seasonal Nodes—Spring"
The four seasons are fairly large brushstrokes when it comes to describing the ebb and flow of Yin and Yang over the course of a year. The Seasonal Nodes are a convention that grew out of ancient China’s agrarian society to help explain the nuanced changes that happen over time. While the equinoxes and solstices are the beginnings of the seasons in the modern calendar, traditionally these were the midpoints of the seasons. Therefore, if the Vernal (i.e., spring) Equinox is the midpoint of the season, February is the start of spring. Asians celebrate the beginning of spring as the beginning of the New Year.
Winter 2017-2018: "The 24 Seasonal Nodes—Winter"
The four seasons are fairly large brushstrokes when it comes to describing the ebb and flow of Yin and Yang over the course of a year. Just about everyone can recognize that, for example, early Winter and late Winter are not the same in terms of climate and weather. The Seasonal Nodes are a convention that grew out of ancient China’s agrarian society to help explain the nuanced changes that happen over time. Each of the Seasonal Nodes is roughly 15 days long, and each has a name in Chinese that attempts to describe what is happening at that time of year in symbolic terms.
Autumn 2017: "The 24 Seasonal Nodes—Autumn"
From the earliest of times in China, both philosopher and physician have recognized the close relationship between humans and nature. The course of the day, the changing seasons of the year, climatic variations, daily weather patterns – these all impact our health and wellbeing in very real ways. In this first installment on the topic of the Seasonal Nodes we will explore the six associated with Autumn – Beginning of Autumn, End of Heat, White Dew, Autumn Equinox, Cold Dew, and Hoarfrost Descends.
Spring 2015: "Tung Lineage Classical Acupuncture"
Throughout the history of Chinese medicine, there have been several currents of Chinese medical practice. Some were well seated in the Confucian scholar tradition associated with the transmission of canonical writings, such as the Huang Di Nei Jing. Alongside and concurrent to these traditions, China also had family lineages that were more or less kept as trade secrets among small groups of people.
Summer 2014: "Medicated Syrups & The Nourishing Life Tradition"
One of perhaps the least known but highly effective traditional methods of
herb administration is in the form of medicated syrups. Nonetheless, syrups are underutilized in clinical practice, and many Western practitioners of Chinese medicine are completely unschooled in syrup production or use. Medicated syrups are especially useful in treating chronic conditions or for preventing disease, making them an almost essential adjunct to Nourishing Life methods.
Winter 2013-2014: "Winter: Seasonal Harmonization"
In the dark of night, a silent blanket of white covers the earth, and everything assumes the posture of bowed head in quiet solitude. This is the season of winter. According to the Lü Shi Chun Qiu (The Spring and Autumn Annals of Lü Bowei; 呂氏 春秋), during winter the Son of Heaven wears black robes and wears dark-colored jades. This time of year everything was supposed to be sealed away and stored, and nothing that had been buried should be unearthed.
Autumn 2013: "Autumn: Seasonal Harmonization"
Recall from our previous articles the famous eight-character phrase from the Huang Di Nei Jing, the ancient core text of medicine in China: “Spring gives birth, Summer grows, Autumn harvests and Winter stores.” (春生, 夏長, 秋收, 冬藏) The Metal phase is summarized by that one word associated with Autumn—“harvest.” Autumn is the season when everything is in a state of inward contraction. Plants start to die or to hibernate, and the weather becomes cooler and drier.
Summer 2013: "Summer: Seasonal Harmonization"
In the Huang Di Nei Jing there is a famous 8 character statement that says “Spring gives birth, Summer grows, Autumn harvests and Winter stores.” Fire represents this pinnacle of outward expansion that is Summer, and thus in this sentence is called “growth.” The Neijing also says, “in Spring and Summer nourish Yang, and in Autumn and Winter nourish Yin.” During Summer, we stay healthy by trying to mimic this Fire/Yang movement of nature, but we need to be cautious to do so just right. Both too little and too much divert us from health.
Spring 2013: "Spring: Seasonal Harmonization"
Many of us are so consumed with the fast pace of modern life, we are rarely sensitive to the changes going on around us all the time. The wisdom of Chinese medicine though is clear. When we situate ourselves inline with the changing seasons, we mimic the very flux of Yin and Yang in the universe. Moving in this flow enhances health and happiness.
