The most important relationship I seek to nurture in the treatment room is the one a patient has with their own body. We live in a culture that teaches us to override pain, defer to outside authority, and push through discomfort. Patients often arrive hoping I can “fix” them, but the truth is, we can’t do the work for them. We can offer guidance, insight and support, but healing requires their full participation.
Thea Elijah
Thea Elijah has been a practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine for more than 20 years. She is the former Director of the Chinese Herbal Studies Program at TAI SOPHIA and at the Academy for Five Element Acupuncture. She has studied with Ted Kaptchuk, Leon Hammer, and Lonny Jarrett. (Note her herbal article in Lonny Jarrett’s book, The Clinical Practice of Chinese Medicine.) Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallee and J.R. Worsley have been equally influential in shaping her understanding of the depth of Chinese medicine. She lives in Vermont with her family, and teaches widely. For more of her articles, audio and teaching schedule: www.perennialmedicine.com.