The functional patterns and relationships that exist within the biosphere of living organisms is something that has been studied since the beginning of human history.

In fact, prior to the advent of modern chemistry and biology – and the microscopy upon which they are based – the astute observations of medical sages collected over generations going back into prehistoric times provided a stunningly accurate and succinct model for how the human bodymind operates from a functional perspective.

For instance, the Chinese sages described a deep interdependent relationship between the Lung and Large Intestine systems. They were keenly aware of the fact that the lungs and all the tissues at the boundary between inner and outer (including skin) were integral to the body’s immune response.

They also realized that the Large Intestine was a primary underpinning of the body’s ability to protect itself from external invasion of pathogenic influences by functioning as a sort of “inner boundary” to the Lung system’s “outer boundary”.

Today, we have what is considered to be the novel concept of the Gut-Immune axis, which is, for all intents and purposes, modern allopathic medicine rediscovering something that the sages have maintained for centuries.

There are a myriad of other “axes” or relational matrices being “discovered” in the modern scientific lab, all of which were clearly described in the (again) stunningly accurate theoretical modeling of both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Taoist 5-Element Alchemy.

In fact, I have personally discovered via clinical experience that the relational mapping of systems within the human bodymind as embodied in the 5-Element Alchemical matrix is far more evolved and far more clinically useful than the current models being discussed in Conventional Functional Medicine.

I do not make this assertion lightly. This is a conclusion drawn from raw clinical experience working with literally thousands of patients after having studied Functional Medicine as early as 2006 and, after using it extensively for a time, discovering that, indeed, the 5-Element Matrix, with its generating, regulating, and counteracting cycles, encompassed all the known functional “axes” AND additional ones as yet “undiscovered” by modern science.

It was at that point that I began my journey of retracing my steps back into the 5-Element Alchemical Matrix – superimposing many of the biomedical terms and concepts of Functional Medicine back into the deeply holistic and profoundly adaptable model of 5-Element.

What I uncovered revolutionized my practice forever.

And… with that, I witnessed a significant amplification and speeding up of clinical results for my patients.

Why?

Because not only do I now have a linguistic framework for interfacing with them in a much more succinct and accurate way, the patients themselves are able to more actively buy into and participate in the literal unfolding of the story of their healing process with no linguistic or cultural barrier-to-entry. 

They easily and naturally understand what we are working towards and the goals we are achieving, and that keeps them engaged and positive about their ongoing process of transformation – a process that, by necessity, always accompanies healing from chronic illness.