Long before Chinese medicine took the form we recognize today, healers drilled holes in skulls to release demons. Philosophers debated what the universe was made of, while a wandering doctor read pulses instead of casting spells.
In this conversation with Henry Tarazona, we trace that lineage from the wushi shamans through the Hundred Schools of Thought to Bian Que, often called the father of Chinese medicine, and ultimately to Sun Simiao.
We also explore Sun Simiao’s “13 Ghost Points,” which turn out to have far less to do with ghosts than with pattern differentiation expressed in language patients could understand.
Finally, we unpack shen—a concept that “spirit” never quite captures—and consider it instead as the seat of cognition, emotion, and the body’s own governance.
Listen in for a conversation that moves between ancient battlefields and modern clinics, superstition and evidence, and the long effort to explain what’s happening inside us when nothing else makes sense.
A good TCM practitioner understands that we are not here to “fix” patients or magically solve their problems. Healing is a collaborative process. Many diseases and conditions are deeply connected to lifestyle, emotional patterns, and personal context. True clinical success comes from working together with patients, guiding meaningful changes, and empowering them to participate actively in their healing journey.
Listening to your gut is more than a metaphor — the brain–gut connection plays a fundamental role in health. Emotional balance directly influences physiological responses, and understanding this relationship is essential in both prevention and treatment.
TCM truly rocks.
Dr. Henry Tarazona B.TCM, M.TCM, PhD
Dr. Henry Tarazona is one of the few physicians worldwide who holds a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the University of Tianjin of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He is currently settled in Colombia, where he works as an instructor for OCTCM and serves as an Assistant Professor at CATHO Medical University in Vietnam.
His academic and clinical focus centers on the gut–mind connection and its relationship with chronic and complex diseases, integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine theory with modern research. His work is grounded in both scientific investigation and extensive clinical practice, particularly in the management of chronic and complicated conditions.
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