An Introduction to Hùnyuán Medicine: Part 1 - Basic Theory

Hùnyuán (混元) medicine is an approach to Chinese medicine based on ancient, classical and more recent Chinese medical and philosophical texts that was developed by Yaron Seidman. This article is the first in a two-part series that introduces the basic theory and clinical practice of Hùnyuán medicine. After initially discussing the concept of ‘heaven’s principle’ (tiānlǐ,天理), its implications in human physiology are explained, including how a human being’s length and quality of life depend on the body’s ability to attract heaven’s principle from nature and conceal it within in order to recharge the body. The body does this, on the one hand, by synchronising with the rhythms of nature and, on the other, by following the impulse of emotions expressed by the Heart. Yet, whilst a pure Heart, the emotional activity of which is regulated by the ‘Centre’ (zhōng,中), benefits and supports life, a selfish heart polluted by selfish dictates releases chaotic emotions that are harmful to the body’s capacity to recharge. Being healthy and the continuation of life thus requires that people understand the role of Centre, connect with their ‘true nature’ (xìng,性) and conquer the selfish Heart by practising self-cultivation. Health, it will be shown, is the result of alignment of the human outwardly with the rhythms of nature and inwardly with a Heart regulated by the Centre. Part two of this series will explain the Hùnyuán approach to diagnosis and treatment, including illustrative clinical case studies.