One of the most influential aspects of Chinese medicine has been in its view of the world as a complex web of interconnections. The ability of Chinese philosophy to tease apart these relationships and plan strategically have had a profound influence on many western therapeutic disciplines.
The main schools of philosophy (and some very simplified summaries of their thought) that have contributed to Chinese medicine are:
孔夫子, Kongfuzi, aka Confucius
Confucianism: By cultivating better routines and relationships we can become a better person.
Similar western disciplines: behavioural, transactional and social therapies. The "relational self" in psychotherapies.
老子, Laozi, "Old Master", the founder of Daoism
Daoism: By observing and imitating the processes of nature we can live in harmony with our environment.
Similar western disciplines: systemic therapies, the microbiome and ecological theories of biology, some branches of occupational therapy.
सिद्धार्थ गौतम शाक्यमुनि बुद्ध, Siddhartha Gautama, Shakyamuni Buddha
Buddhism: By recognising the role our mind plays in our suffering we can change our perspectives and improve our situation.
Similar western disciplines: nearly all forms of psychotherapy, breathing exercises and mindfulness practices.
Together they form a method of problem solving similar to the biopsychosocial models popular today. With my anthropology training I try to incorporate these into my advice for self-management in a way that is relevant to modern western audiences, helping to make people aware of their habits, narratives, relationships with themselves, others and their environment in order to understand a problem and change it.
