Did our ancestors treat spooky ghost possession? And how creepy are Gu? Just in time for Halloween, in this episode, Dr. Lorraine Wilcox takes Gretchen down a path interweaving metaphysical beliefs with creepy crawly bodily infestations as they travel two millennia back in time to understand the historical and cultural significance of Ghosts and Gu in East Asian medicine. Did all doctors believe in ghosts? And how does someone know if they’re infested with Gu? 

Lorraine and Gretchen explore the origins of these concepts, their evolution over time, and how they intersect with traditional healing practices. The conversation delves into the role of ancestors, the definition of Gu, and the surprising gender dynamics surrounding these beliefs. They discuss historical treatments and modern interpretations of Gu since the Ming and Qing dynasties, emphasizing the ongoing relevance of these ancient ideas in contemporary society, and explore Gu’s intersection with ghostly beliefs. They discuss the role of women in traditional medicine, and how cultural interpretations and social norms shape our understanding of mental illness and aberrant behavior. Lorraine even shares stories where doctors pondered how to deal with patients who dreamed about risqué interactions with ghosts! 

As is her specialty, Lorraine gives illuminating scholarly insight into ancient practices and takes us on a journey leading to modern medical contexts, emphasizing the importance of preserving historical knowledge while adapting it for contemporary use. 

Learn more about Dr. Wilcox on her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LorraineWilcox/videos

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In this illuminating episode of The Elevated Practice Podcast, host Dr. Gretchen Badami speaks with veteran acupuncturist, herbalist, and educator Cara Frank, founder of Six Fishes Healing Arts, China Herb Company, and China Herb Seminars.

With over four decades of clinical experience and teaching, Cara has shaped the landscape of herbal medicine in the United States. Their conversation centers on her newest passion project — a comprehensive Ophthalmology Course that demystifies how Chinese herbal medicine can address eye and vision disorders such as myopia, cataracts, visual fatigue, dry eye, and degenerative eye disease.

Cara shares the thinking process behind selecting and modifying formulas for eye conditions — from using Ding Zhi Wan to treat myopia with emotional roots, to differentiating damp-heat and deficiency patterns in red or cloudy eyes. She explains how classical theory, modern research, and her decades of clinical insight come together to help practitioners build confidence in diagnosing and prescribing herbs for complex internal conditions.

This discussion also touches on:

• Pattern-based reasoning in ocular medicine

• Preventive herbal approaches for early-stage cataracts and visual decline

• Practical guidance on dosage, form selection, and patient compliance

• Creative applications like herbal foot soaks, glycerin formulas for children, and bone-broth prescriptions that extend herbal care beyond the clinic

  
  

Whether you’re an herbalist, acupuncturist, or student, this episode will expand your perspective on what’s possible when ancient herbal wisdom meets modern ophthalmology — and inspire you to see the medicine through new eyes.

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Learn more about Cara Frank at;

https://sixfishes.com/cara-frank/

Part II of a 2-part series with Jean Giblette continues from where in Part I (7/22/25) we last discussed the recent US history of growing Chinese Medicinal Botanicals, and Part II moves in-depth into the challenges and opportunities of domestic herb cultivation, the importance of preserving genetic diversity, and the role of farmers, universities, manufacturers, and practitioners in this burgeoning industry. 

Over the past 30 years, Jean has been at the forefront of efforts to receive grants and funding, garner university support for research, and advocating for ecological farming practices and genetic diversity. Actionable items include practical steps and opportunities for practitioners to support the industry, as well as building networks and recognizing opportunities to support the domestic herbal cultivation. Learn how traditional knowledge and modern science can come together to protect our planet’s medicinal botanicals and sustain and grow Chinese medicinal botanicals in the US. Listen to the full episode to learn how you can support the domestic production of Chinese Medicinal Herbs and contribute to a sustainable future for herbal medicine.

Learn more about Jean;

[email protected]

zaishengherbs.com

highfallsgardens.net

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In this episode Gretchen interviews Dr. Ed Neal, an MD who, shortly after Med school, began his lifelong journey studying, translating, and decoding Chinese Medicine texts and bridging modern medicine with the ancient wisdom of the Nei Jing. He shares how his understanding and practice of East Asian Medicine has been informed through an ever changing and deepening understanding of the Inner Cannon through the process of Text Archaeology. 

Dr. Neal explains how the understanding of modern diseases, and even the modern human existential condition itself, can be reframed and experienced through the stories from which we create meaning and understanding in our world, sharing examples of practical application with oncology patients. 

Dr. Neal not only guides his patients through a paradigm shift of their diagnoses, but he is an educator and developer of the Apricot Grove, a community of practitioners, artists, and inquisitive minds who desire to apply nature-based medicine to not only healthcare, but to life itself, through reconnecting individuals with their own human stories within the greater cosmos.

Part 1 of a 2-part series discusses the recent US history of growing herbal medicinals from the Chinese Medicine Pharmacopia. Jean Giblette, trained in TCM and having devoted her life to growing and advocating for domestic production, shares the timeline and players involve with bringing Chinese medicinals to the US, national challenges and successes throughout the decades, and logistics involved with successful ecological agriculture.

Jean begins by giving the listener an understanding of parallels in interest between the organic earth movement of the 1970’s and interest in acupuncture and natural medicine, how in the 1990’s many of the seedlings and plants made it from China to select small farms and gardens around the US, and the obstacles to domestic herb cultivation. She shares past successes and failures of grants, research and partnerships with federal and state organizations, and the problematic influence of agribusiness and our financialized economy on ecological agriculture. She explains many of the nuances of growing Chinese herbal medicinals, and the multiple benefits and timely nature of why we need to find a way to move forward with domestic production.

Part II will build off this episode, delving deeper into current-day global and domestic issues, and what steps practitioners, farmers, manufacturers, and legislators can take to support production of domestic herbs. This 2-part series is a must-listen for all practitioners of East Asian herbal medicine as we protect our access to herbs in an age of ever-growing economic uncertainty and global trade wars, to not only educate ourselves but find practical ways to become involved and unite as a professional community.

Jean’s Info

Websites: zaishengherbs.com and highfallsgardens.net

Email: [email protected]

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Acupuncturist and herbalist Michael Arsenault shares his journey of how he found Chinese medicine and developed his successful line of natural herbal skincare products, Emily's Skin Soothers. 

A martial arts injury led Michael to study acupuncture and herbs, where his most important patient became his daughter, Emily. A homemade pediatric eczema formula was his first product, and what follows is Michael’s journey into business and entrepreneurship. Michael shares how he got his products promotion in the press and prime real estate on grocery store shelves, how to avoid marketing costs and the costs of product research, and practical tips of how to overcome challenges creating and scaling his natural skincare business. Eventually expanding to other products, he shares the story of how he successfully got his products into Whole Foods, and you’ll find out it was not just luck! As the icing on the cake of this amazing product success story, you’ll also hear about the unexpected celebrity endorsement (!) that topped off his business success.

This interview documents the success of a father who healed his daughter, and used his success to provide natural healing to skin conditions throughout the country. Emily’s Skin Soothers is a nationwide brand that credits its success to the humility, commitment to natural healing, (good luck), and savvy business sense of a loving Dad.

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Want to lean more about Mike and Emily Skin Soothers?

https://emilyskinsoothers.com/

https://internalartsacu.com/

In this episode, Gretchen sits down with Dr Robert Chu; martial artist, herbalist, and acupuncturist who is renowned for his expertise in the Master Tung acupuncture system. Robert shares his philosophy on mind-body balance and medicine as informed through his life-long practice of martial arts, and how this ultimately led him to his healing practice in Chinese Medicine. 

Dr Chu discusses unique aspects of the Master Tung system of acupuncture, explaining the logic and practical application of mirroring points and active patient engagement while needling to confirm instantaneous results. With the skill of an experienced teacher, Dr Chu is able to weave clinical examples of distal needling into humorous stories explaining why long ago he vowed never to need to needle into the buttocks or areas of pain!

This interview highlights not only Robert Chu’s mastery of the Tung system, but his ability to weave herbal prescriptions, martial arts movement and Tai Chi exercises and philosophy and diet into every patient treatment to promote truly holistic healing and mind-body balance. 

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In this episode of the Elevated Practice Podcast, host Dr Gretchen Badami uncovers the unique journey of Dr Shiroko Sokitch, a surgeon who found her calling not in the operating room, but as a Chinese Medicine practitioner. Inspired to be a healer at a young age through a family trauma, Dr Sokitch devotes her life to uncovering miracles, and ultimately takes matters into her own hands to create miracles of her own. 

Dr Sokitch explains the triangle of wellness, and the ways in which Chinese Medicine is uniquely capable to treat patients emotional, physical, and spiritual health. She walks the listener through her development of a functional medicine practice that uniquely blends all the tools and modalities that she has learned over the past 30 years, and shares case examples of the power of integrative medicine. She shares her extensive experience developing acupuncture, herbal, and nutraceutical protocols for people surviving trauma in the aftermath of natural disasters, specifically the Northern California fires in her community.

This interview shares both protocols for practical application, as well as the perspective of a seasoned professional for delivering whole-person healthcare. And in the end, Dr Sokitch reveals the key ingredient in healing (hint: it’s not found in a pill…) ❤️

You can find Shiroko at:

https://hearttoheartmedicalcenter.com/

Check out her book "Healing When It Seems Impossible"

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In this episode of The Elevated Practice Podcast, host Dr. Gretchen Badami sits down with clinician, educator, and entrepreneur Moshe Heller, a pioneer in the field of Chinese medicine with over 30 years of experience. Moshe shares his remarkable journey from studying in Israel and the U.S. to conducting groundbreaking acupuncture research during labor and delivery at a New York hospital.

Together, they explore the evolution of his family-focused practice, his emphasis on pediatrics and fertility, and the inspiration behind his unique herbal product line—featuring intuitive names like GUARD, SHIELD, and SPROUT. Moshe also offers insights into child development through the lens of five-element theory, highlights the value of non-invasive techniques like Shonishin, and discusses his role in shaping the next generation of practitioners through innovative education and mentorship.

Whether you’re a practitioner, a student, or a curious listener, this conversation is rich with wisdom, warmth, and practical takeaways from one of the field’s most respected voices.

Learn more about Moshe and the amazing company he created -Moshen Herbs

https://www.moshenherbs.com/

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Oncology can feel overwhelming for many practitioners, but not for Dr. Hua Bing Wen. With over four decades of experience practicing medicine in both China and the U.S., Dr. Wen has cultivated deep expertise in integrative oncology. In this episode, he demystifies cancer treatment, explaining why practitioners should never fear treating patients with a cancer diagnosis.

We explore the foundational principles of integrative oncology, including how to identify patterns that lead to cancer, the power of individualized treatment, and why having the talk about lifestyle is essential for every cancer patient. Dr. Wen shares invaluable clinical insights and case examples demonstrating how integrative medicine helps patients maintain strength before and after conventional treatments—while also preventing recurrence.

Plus, stick around until the end to hear why, thanks to Dr. Wen, Gretchen’s father had to carry around aspit cup for an entire month!

Tune in for a fascinating discussion filled with practical strategies, clinical pearls, and a fresh perspective on supporting cancer patients with confidence.

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