As a practitioner of Chinese medicine and member of the classicformulas.com community I have some exciting news to share about changes afoot that will dramatically transform and add to the content this web site.

This site originated as a blog whose focus was to share some of the pre-publication material from Doctor Huang Huang’s “Ten Key Formula Families in Chinese Medicine.” It then grew into a website dedicated to the study and clinical use of the “jing fang,” the classical formulas of the Shang Han Lun and Jin Gui Yao Lue.

As with so many processes in life, there comes a time where things need to shift. To either fade away, or grow into the something larger, with more depth and breadth. And so within the next month classicformulas.com will fade away and be replaced with something that has not yet been seen before– an international subscription-based electronic journal of Oriental medicine.

As this is an electronic journal, there are both similarities and differences between the paper and electronic formats.

•    Like the best of the paper publications, this one will have a team of editors, a review process, an eye to typography and top quality content.
•    Unlike the paper publications, this new electronic journal gives us the ability to set aside a portion of its content and give it free to the community, allow the use of video and other web-centric technologies and provide forums for discussion and learning.

There have been a number of guiding lights that have informed my selection of material to translate from Chinese to English for classicformulas.com.
•    The first is “has this been done before?” If it is already available then there is no point in replication.
•    The second being “is this worthwhile?” Is it useful to the clinical practitioner in that it helps them to treat their patients?
•    Finally, “is this something that comes from the tradition of Oriental medicine?” These days there are plenty treatment formalities that blend a variety of medical traditions together; but to really know Chinese medicine we must connect deeply to the roots and branches that have travelled their way down to us.

This new journal is dedicated to those roots and branches, to those pathways that meander through the centuries down to us, and here in this time unfold and inform our clinical work. Be it through the currents of acupuncture, yang sheng (cultivation practices), herbal medicine, the movement arts, or bodywork there is a wealth of knowledge that has meandered its way down to us. It is this vital edge of encounter between traditional practice and modern life that we will explore together in this journal.

Just as there is no yin without yang, there is no receiving without giving. This new electronic based publication is an opportunity for us to both give and receive.

It will feature articles and videos from practitioners who you already know, and others who might become your new teachers or colleagues. Likewise, it will provide an opportunity for you to share something of your clinical experience and learning with others. In this way we all grow together. In this way we all can grow in our ability to serve our patients.

If you desire to study and learn a particular kind of tradition or method; then write and let us know. If you have a firm grasp of something that you would like to share with others, consider submitting it for publication. If you have questions or concerns, voice them on our forums. We are fortunate to live in times where we can connect and share in profound ways that both help to advance our medicine, and help our patients.

Looking forward to connecting with you on the new site!