本
草
Chinese Medicine
Fieldnotes
THE JOURNAL

Ideas worth exploring.

Language, history and life around the table.

Concepts & languageHistory & traditionsFood & everyday cultureEvidence & reading
FIELDNOTES

Start here

An open book and a tea cup on a dark deskArticle
Start here

Begin with curiosity

A field guide to Chinese medicine culture.

FIELDNOTES

Concepts & language

A ceramic teapot and a cup of amber teaArticle
Concepts & language

What does qi mean?

One word. More than one translation.

Sunlight and shadow in a quiet courtyardArticle
Concepts & language

Yin & yang, in everyday life

A relationship, not a fixed label.

Sunlight and shadow in a quiet courtyardArticle
Concepts & language

Five phases. Many meanings.

Words, meanings and the space between.

Sunlight and shadow in a quiet courtyardArticle
Concepts & language

Understanding meridians

Words, meanings and the space between.

Sunlight and shadow in a quiet courtyardArticle
Concepts & language

What is “shang huo”?

Words, meanings and the space between.

A ceramic teapot and a cup of amber teaArticle
Concepts & language

A small glossary of big ideas

Words, meanings and the space between.

A ceramic teapot and a cup of amber teaArticle
Concepts & language

What does organ mean?

Words, meanings and the space between.

FIELDNOTES

History & traditions

An open book and a tea cup on a dark deskArticle
History & traditions

One tradition, many histories

Language, time and changing traditions.

An open book and a tea cup on a dark deskArticle
History & traditions

Inside the Huangdi Neijing

Old texts. Changing perspectives.

An open book and a tea cup on a dark deskArticle
History & traditions

A closer look at Bencao Gangmu

Old texts. Changing perspectives.

An open book and a tea cup on a dark deskArticle
History & traditions

Tradition in a modern world

Old texts. Changing perspectives.

Books and a magnifying glass on a study deskArticle
History & traditions

The story of gua sha

Old texts. Changing perspectives.

Books and a magnifying glass on a study deskArticle
History & traditions

Cupping across cultures

Old texts. Changing perspectives.

An open book and a tea cup on a dark deskArticle
History & traditions

The culture of moxibustion

Old texts. Changing perspectives.

Books and a magnifying glass on a study deskArticle
History & traditions

Acupuncture or acupressure?

Old texts. Changing perspectives.

Books and a magnifying glass on a study deskArticle
History & traditions

Two kinds of needle, two contexts

Old texts. Changing perspectives.

Books and a magnifying glass on a study deskArticle
History & traditions

Gua sha meets the jade roller

Old texts. Changing perspectives.

Books and a magnifying glass on a study deskArticle
History & traditions

What are ear seeds?

Old texts. Changing perspectives.

A ceramic teapot and a cup of amber teaArticle
History & traditions

Reading a historical date

Old texts. Changing perspectives.

FIELDNOTES

Food & everyday culture

Sunlight and shadow in a quiet courtyardArticle
Food & everyday culture

Hot, cold—and context

The traditions at the everyday table.

A ceramic teapot and a cup of amber teaArticle
Food & everyday culture

Why drink hot water?

The traditions at the everyday table.

A ceramic bowl of rice congee on a wooden tableArticle
Food & everyday culture

More than a bowl of congee

Food, family and everyday ritual.

A ceramic bowl of rice congee on a wooden tableArticle
Food & everyday culture

A tale of two dates

The traditions at the everyday table.

A ceramic teapot and a cup of amber teaArticle
Food & everyday culture

Goji berries at the table

The traditions at the everyday table.

A ceramic teapot and a cup of amber teaArticle
Food & everyday culture

Tea, or herbal infusion?

Two drinks. Different stories.

Sunlight and shadow in a quiet courtyardArticle
Food & everyday culture

Living with the solar terms

The traditions at the everyday table.

FIELDNOTES

Evidence & reading

Books and a magnifying glass on a study deskArticle
Evidence & reading

Tradition is a starting point

What history can—and cannot—tell us.

Books and a magnifying glass on a study deskArticle
Evidence & reading

“Natural” needs context

A closer look at the claims.

Books and a magnifying glass on a study deskArticle
Evidence & reading

Reading moxibustion claims

A closer look at the claims.

Books and a magnifying glass on a study deskArticle
Evidence & reading

What a wellness label leaves out

A closer look at the claims.

Books and a magnifying glass on a study deskArticle
Evidence & reading

What does “supports” mean?

A closer look at the claims.

Books and a magnifying glass on a study deskArticle
Evidence & reading

A personal story is not the whole story

A closer look at the claims.

Books and a magnifying glass on a study deskArticle
Evidence & reading

Reading between the herb labels

A closer look at the claims.