My first ever formulas midterm with Arnaud Versluys is fast approaching. Thus, most of my time is devoted to studying for it. Oh, and of course the other midterms between here and there. Last night at my clinic shift, an interesting conversation was started about language and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. One person indicated that they preferred to refer to Chinese herbal medicine as botanical medicine because of negative connotations with the former (the word hippie was bandied about, I’m afraid). Others did not share this opinion. I’ve had other conversations about how to represent the medicine in advertising and conversation with lay people and other healthcare practitioners.
There are legal restrictions on what we as Chinese medicine practitioners can call ourselves – but what language do you use to describe yourself as a practitioner, or what language do you prefer to use when referring to other practitioners? How do you talk about herbalism? Acupuncture? Do you call yourself an acupuncturist even when that isn’t all that you do? Why or why not?
As I begin to build my business strategy and think about how I want to discuss what I will be doing with others – these questions become more and more pertinent. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Eric
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I don’t think there is any negative connotation with the ideas of Chinese medicine in the UK. The only problem might be the unfortunate preconception of some that it contains body parts of numerous endangered animals. There are Chinese herbalists on several high streets and malls that I visit.
I do my shiatsu training in Brighton which is a very open minded, cosmopolitan city and any healing modality is practised. I live and practise in Worthing which is very conservative. But I get a good response to the idea of shiatsu and Ki but I do temper my language. The hippy word might come up in a Worthing conversation.
Get results and you can call yourself anything you want.
I practice Psychophysiatric Stylostixis. That’s one wing of Syzygy Life Science.