Time After Time
In recent years it has been wonderful to see signs of a growing respect for traditional cultures, knowledge and wisdom. Increasing appreciation for the wisdom of indigenous peoples, of their awareness of the cycles and patterns of nature, of the need to live in balance with both the Earth and one another.
One example of an indigenous world view that I find very powerful is this:
In the Aymara culture of the Andes, the traditional peoples gesture with their hands to accompany their discussions of time. We do it too. But, interestingly, for them it’s in the opposite direction. Where we may toss our hand over our shoulder to describe something that happened yesterday or last year, they will gesture away from their chest, in front of them. Where we may gesture “forwards” to indicate something that hasn’t happened yet, they gesture “backwards”. Which seems to make no “intuitive” sense to us, until you reflect on it.
To us, the future is in front of us because we perceive ourselves to be moving towards it, in the same way that the path in front of us is visible and is our road forwards. To the Aymara, this would be seen as a foolhardy stance. Why would you turn your back on the past? Why would you move forward blindly, in the dark? Why would you not align yourself with the past, keep your eyes on what you see, know, have already experienced and have evidence of, and focus on THAT while you move forward? Yes, it’s still blind, we still don’t know what the future holds, but at least we can keep our past experiences and knowledge in front of us, like a map, guiding us…
My favourite Wade Davis quote, celebrated anthropologist, author, and National Geographic Explorer in Residence , is this:
The world in which you were born is just one model of reality.
Other cultures are not failed attempts at being you;
they are unique manifestations of the human spirit.
It’s interesting, though, that Science, and Western Medicine specifically - which is both a science and an art - is still held up as the pinnacle of knowledge and “proof” that all other systems must strive to meet. OF COURSE we want the “proof”. We want the double blind peer reviewed five star studies that PROVE that our medicine is effective. We want the stamp of approval of Science. But do we NEED it in order to know our value? In Chinese Medicine we ALSO value the experience of our lineages, the extensive history of the knowledge and writings, the volume of the usage and its effectiveness.
In Chinese Medicine school, the first categories of EVERYTHING we learned (acupuncture, herbs, formulas) was always for colds and flus. “Come ON”, we thought, “let’s get to the stuff people REALLY seek us out for! Pain! Digestion! Women’s disorders! Stress!” But it was explained to us, no, this is the root and heart of Chinese Medicine. 2300 years ago, when our first source texts were written, THE stuff Chinese Medicine was developed for was the treatment of: coughing, wheezing, fevers, chills, sore throats, body aches, diarrhea, vomiting. The Chinese people have weathered 320 epidemics (and survived, and thrived) over the recorded centuries. EVERY seemingly minor cold symptom was taken seriously, not knowing whether it would cause a slight cold or a major devastation of the population. That’s some extensive history. That’s some experienced lineages. That’s SOME volume of use and effectiveness.
Unfortunately, it seems that in recent months the appreciation for (in fact, even the legality of sharing) this knowledge has been discounted. Despite China being at the forefront of this pandemic, with over 60,000 Chinese patients receiving Chinese herbal medicine alongside Western support, despite Western style studies that took place during the SARS-coronavirus outbreak in 2003, and studies currently in progress in China today, despite recent decades of research on individual Chinese herbs and their capacity to impact specific pathogens, our society and government appear to continue to operate on the model of discounting non-Western traditional knowledge. I’m so happy that China (which has also had a history in recent years of discounting it’s own traditional knowledge) has found a way to benefit from combining the traditional and modern medicine. They have a map, and are using it. And I hope that same spirit of openness and integration may someday spread and grow, for the benefit of all. Maybe we just need another 2300 years.
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided to entertain and educate only. This is not to be taken as medical diagnosis or advice. If you have medical needs seek care from your professional health care provider. According to the World Health Organization there is no prevention, treatment or cure for COVID-19.