377 Constitution and Condition • Peter Eckman

In our work as acupuncturists, we use differential diagnosis to understand the warp and woof of a patient’s problem, to see how various seemingly marginally connected aspects of their problem give us the pattern that allows for skillful intervention. We also look at constitutional factors, those aspects of our patients that provide a kind of gravity and centering  to their life and how they live it.

Both aspects need our consideration in clinical practice. 

In this conversation with Peter Eckman we discuss the differences between a person’s constitution and their condition. Both give us a handle on working with people, but these are very different aspects of our make up.

How are they different? And how to approach work with these?  Listen in, there’s a lot to discuss.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• The concept of constitution in Chinese medicine and its role in diagnosis and treatment
• Peter’s evolving understanding of constitutional types, blending insights from Korean, Ayurvedic, and traditional Chinese medicine
• The difference between constitution (root) and condition (branch) in assessing and treating patients
• The concept of ministerial fire and its distinction from the five-element theory
• The interpretation of four Sa Sang constitutional types using yin-yang theory (greater yang, lesser yang, greater yin, lesser yin)
• Pulse diagnosis techniques, including a reinterpretation of the Nei Jing's description of superficial and deep pulses
• The importance of empirical verification in Chinese medicine, especially in pulse diagnosis
• Constitutional diagnosis in Chinese medicine and methods for determining a patient's constitution
• The concept of “emperor” or “North Star” organs/systems that organize physiology
• The connection between constitutional diagnosis and treatment approaches
• Extraordinary meridians and their role in early development and diagnosis
• Korean constitutional acupuncture, including the work of Kuon Dowon.
• The importance of continual learning and curiosity as an acupuncturist

Try to learn as much from your failures as from your successes. That's why every Master I've met is still just a student.​

Peter Eckman M.D.

I'm an MD with a specialty practice of acupuncture for 50 years. I've had many teachers along the way to developing my own style called Constitutional Conditional Acupuncture. It prioritizes pulse diagnosis as transmitted from China, Japan, Korea and India. I've taught this approach internationally, including 3 multi-day workshops in China pre-pandemic. I currently have 4 books published plus numerous journal articles.

My belief is that acupuncture and pulse diagnosis are aspects of an Eastern scientific tradition that complements the Western one. It is based on resonance theory or gan ying as its axiom. The Yijing, Neijing, Nanjing and Maijing together with Huainanzi and Daodejing still have hidden gems to teach us.

Like the Dao, you can never exhaust their supply of wisdom. I have even discovered a way to treat cancer with acupuncture that works on the illness itself, not merely the symptoms or side effects of Western therapies. And every day in clinic is still an adventure, even in my eighth decade.

Links and Resources

You can find Peter on his Website and over on the Scholars of Chinese Medicine Facebook Group.

Here's a list of Peter's books.

If you want to organize a hands-on workshop, contact him at healingmountain.eckman@gmail.com

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