TCMLover.com
TCMLover.com, hosted by Owen van de Ridder from the Netherlands, is a podcast dedicated to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Each episode explores topics such as acupuncture, tui na, herbal medicine, spiritual growth, and diagnostic insights. The show aims to make ancient Chinese medical wisdom accessible and engaging for curious listeners, students, and seasoned practitioners alike.
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55: fluids part 4
In TCM, the Kidneys are the organ that 'governs Water'. They are the root of the body's yin and yang, the repository of Jing essence, and the driving force behind the deepest fluid transformations within the body.
54: part 3 of the fluids
We've already come a long way in understanding how fluids move in TCM. We've covered the Stomach, the Spleen, the San Jiao, and the Lungs.In this podcast we're heading down in the body — to the intestines. Because the Small Intestine and Large Intestine aren't just drainage channels for waste. They play an active role in fluid metabolism. They filter, separate, and recycle.
53: Jin Ye part 2
When you study TCM, you notice that Fluids appear everywhere. In part 2, I discuss the Triple Burner and the Lungs. The Triple Burner is an organ that has many similarities to the Western concept of fascia.Enjoy listening.
52: Jin Ye part 1
When you study TCM, you quickly notice that fluids appear everywhere. They are hidden in your joints, flow along with your blood, and are excreted as sweat and urine and if they do not move properly, you become "ill". But how exactly does that work? And how are those fluids actually produced?Part 1: On the Spleen and the Stomach, pure and impure
51: is poor appetite, bloated feeling after eating, loose stools, fatigue after eating always Spleen Qi deficiency?
Imagine: a woman comes to see you. She's been tired for years — not occasionally, but chronically tired. Especially after eating, her energy just drops. She works in an office, barely moves, and her diet consists mainly of bread, cheese, and dairy. Is this a Spleen Qi deficiency or something else?
50: sweaty hands and feet: a case
I received a question from a colleague about a client who developed sweaty hands and feet during treatment.Enjoy listening. I am curious about your perspective on this case. Will you let me know?
49: insomnia part 3
According to Chinese texts, blood stores both Shen and Hun, hence the importance of blood in the physiology of sleep. Bloodlessness therefore 'affects' the Shen and the Hun and can cause sleep disorders.Enjoy listening!
48: insomnia part 2
In Part 2, I discuss the inability of Wei Qi to enter properly as one of the causes of poor sleep.During the day, Wei Qi resides in the Jing Jin, the muscle meridians; at night, Wei Qi moves internally, allowing muscles to relax.Entering is the first phase of sleep.Enjoy listening.
47: a podcast with James about his free acupuncture program
What if you gave acupuncture away — simply because you believe everyone deserves it?In this episode we sit down with James, who offers free acupuncture driven by pure passion for the medicine and the people he serves. He didn't start out this way — but somewhere along the journey, something clicked. Now he works out of a donated bus, bringing treatments to anyone who walks in.We talk about wha
46: A podcast about An Mien, a peaceful sleep.
An Mien, a peaceful sleep. Many people fail to reach the state of An Mien.The basic theory of Chinese medicine is Yin and Yang; Yin contains the Qi of the night and Yang contains the Qi of the day.Insomnia is a Yang condition which, in most cases, arises from a disturbance of the Yin.The Yin cannot maintain the proper depth, resulting in shallow sleep, dream-disturbed sleep, or shortened sleep.Wan
45: A podcast about grief in Chinese medicine.
In Chinese medicine, grief and sadness are the emotions linked to the Lung and Large Intestine — the Metal element. The Lungs govern letting go, just like breathing out. When we grieve, we're literally learning to exhale what we can no longer hold.We talk about why grief can show up in the body as tightness in the chest, shallow breathing etc, and how to connect with the emotions in your body.
44: Studying TCM ...a mush?
Why TCM feels like a mushTCM doesn't build the way Western medicine does. There's no neat linear structure. Everything connects to everything — and when you're new, that feels like chaos instead of a system.The biggest mistakes beginners make:Trying to memorize before you understand. Learning points without knowing why.
43: Tai Yin part 2
The Six Divisions are not sequential steps but six simultaneous processes that create balance in your body. In part 2, we continue with Tai Yin (Spleen and Lung) - the "steam layer" that transforms and transports nutrients. Learn how these internal organs nourish your skin and protect against dampness.
42: Tai Yin part 1
The Six Divisions aren't sequential steps but six simultaneous processes creating balance in your body. Discover the six 'layers' and one of them is Tai Yin (Spleen and Lung) - the "steam layer" that transforms and transports nutrients. Learn how these internal organs nourish your skin and protect against dampness.
41: Lung Blood deficiency: an unknown pattern
Ever heard of Lung Blood Deficiency? It's rarely mentioned in classical texts and often confused with Lung Yin or Qi deficiency. Learn why it's easily missed and how it affects moistening, causes dry cough, and creates symptoms like dizziness and pale complexion.
40: Lung Yin deficiency, Phlegm and the tongue
In this episode, we explore how Lung Yin deficiency with Empty Heat can combine with Phlegm - even though it seems contradictory. You'll learn to recognize this pattern on the tongue: red tongue body, peeled coating, but the remaining coating is thick and greasy. We explain how Empty Heat thickens the fluids into Phlegm, creating a stubborn combination of Yin deficiency symptoms, Empty Heat si
39: Lung Yin deficiency and Dampness
How can dryness and Dampness exist at the same time? In this podcast you'll discover that these seemingly contradictory patterns occur together more often than you think. We explain how Dampness or Phlegm can transform into Damp-Heat that damages body fluids, or how turbid Dampness uses up normal body fluids causing Yin to become depleted.We also discuss the difference between Yin deficiency a
38: Bella's post-partum Blood deficiency recovery
Rudolph's wife Bella must save Christmas but struggles with exhaustion, night sweats, heart palpitations, and anxiety after giving birth. TCM elf Mei Lin uses Gui Pi Tang herbal formula and acupuncture to restore Heart Blood and Spleen Qi. A heartwarming tale teaching postpartum blood deficiency treatment! 🎅🦌
37: nightsweating and Yin deficiency
Why do you wake up at night drenched in sweat when it's not even warm in the bedroom? In this episode we dive into a common but often misunderstood problem: night sweating due to yin deficiency. We start at the very beginning - what is sweating actually and where does it come from? Sweat is made from body fluids that come from your food and drink. In Chinese medicine we say that sweat is the f
36: Spontaneous Sweating - Qi Deficiency vs Ying/Wei Disharmony
In this episode of TCM Lover, we explore the crucial differences between two major causes of spontaneous sweating: Qi deficiency and disharmony between Ying and Wei Qi. Learn why these patterns look similar but require completely different treatments.We cover:Lung Qi deficiency and how it leads to spontaneous sweatingSpleen Qi deficiency and its connection to dampness and sweatingQi and Blood defi
35: Tai Yang Qi
In this episode we dive into the concept of Tai Yang Qi and discover that Tai Yang is much more than just the Bladder and Small intestine meridian. We learn how Ying Qi and Wei Qi work together to protect the body surface and what happens when Wind-cold attacks the body. We also discuss how different organs like the Heart, Lungs, Spleen and Kidneys all play a role in the production and movement of
34: External deficiency and disharmony between Ying and Wei
This episode explores whether there's a difference between an external deficiency and a disharmony between Ying and Wei level in Chinese medicine. An external deficiency occurs when a pathogen invades a body with weak defensive Qi (Wei Qi), like soldiers who aren't properly fed and can't guard the borders effectively. A disharmony between Ying and Wei arises when the Wei Qi is weakened
33: The Cun measurement system: does it still works well?
"Is the Cun Measurement System Still Accurate?"In your Chinese medicine training, you learn to locate acupuncture points using the traditional cun measurement system, where you use finger widths to measure distances from bony structures (landmarks). But does this 2000-year-old system actually still work for contemporary Western bodies? Australian research with 50 volunteers shows that body proport
32: Long Yin deficiency part 2
Discover how your Lungs control your water metabolism and why constipation in elderly people is often a Lung problem rather than just needing laxatives. Learn why Movicolon and similar medications only move the problem around instead of solving it, and how Lung Qi and Lung Yin work together to keep your bowels and urination functioning properly. I also explain how Yin deficiency can lead to edema
31: Lung Yin deficiency
This week we zoom in on Lung Yin deficiency- You learn how loss of body fluids through sweating, blood loss or diarrhea can dry out the Lung, just like a plant that doesn't get water shrivels up. There are three forms of Lung Yin deficiency and we explain why smoking and alcohol can damage your fluids so much. And why do you actually get heat attacks and dry cough with a Yin deficiency? Time t
30: Lung Yang Deficiency: When Fluids Stagnate and Movement Stops
Hey there! Welcome to a new episode of TCM Lover!Last time we talked about what happens when the warming aspect of the Lung disappears. But today we're diving deeper into the moving aspect of Lung Yang.Did you know that the Lung is responsible for dispersing fluids throughout your entire body? Like a fine mist they're sprayed to the areas under your skin. And when that movement gets distur
29: Do you know what Long Yang deficiency is?
Do you know Lung Qi deficiency? There's more. This episode dives into Lung Yang deficiency - a pattern that goes way deeper than just shortness of breath. What happens when your lungs lose their warming power? Your qi contracts, cold solidifies in your lung lobes, and suddenly you understand why besides being constantly tired, spontaneously sweating and catching every cold, you're also fee
28: the Lung and the Zong Qi
This episode is about Zong Qi, also called Chest Qi or Great Qi, which arises from the combination of Gu Qi from the Spleen and air from the Lung. We discuss how Zong Qi nourishes the Heart and the Lung, controls the voice and promotes blood circulation. Weakening of Zong Qi causes three main problems: voice disturbances with soft voice and no desire to talk, failure of qi to move blood which give
27: Lung waterways and upper body controls the lower body
This episode covers two related Lung syndromes: the Lung as upper source of water, and failure of the upper body to control the lower body. We explore how the Lung regulates waterways through its spreading and descending functions, and what happens when external pathogens block the Lung or when Lung Qi becomes too weak to move fluids. The second part explains how weak Lung Qi fails to control the
26: Lung Qi deficiency
When Your Balloon Slowly DeflatesDo you feel constantly tired? Do you catch a cold every month? Do you sweat spontaneously without doing anything? Then you might be dealing with Lung Qi deficiency - one of the most common patterns in Chinese medicine.In this podcast we dive into the pattern where your Lung can't do its work properly anymore. The Lung regulates your breathing, produces your Qi
25: Pointcombination LU-5 and SP- 9
The Magical Dance of LU-5 & SP-9Ever wondered why some acupuncturists use just two needles and get better results than others who turn you into a pincushion? Today we're diving into one of Chinese medicine's most beautiful secrets: the powerful point combination of Lung 5 and Spleen 9.These two points together form a kind of "reset button" for your Qi system. Imagine your body is an orchestra
24: the multifaceted Spleen and his function of keeping blood into the vessels
The Multi-Faceted Spleen - Blood GuardianThe Spleen does more than digest - it's also the security guard that keeps your blood neatly inside your blood vessels. When your Spleen weakens, blood can escape: downward (bloody stools), into your skin (bruising), or upward (nosebleeds). Worrying and stress weaken your Spleen directly, which is why stressed people often get unexpected bleeding. It us
23: Spleen Qi Deficiency , Just Empty or Also Full?
Why does a bloated belly feel "too full" when it actually comes from a lack of Spleen Qi? The Spleen works as the manager of your digestive factory - when weak, it causes blockages and stagnation instead of smooth flow. "Grain and water movement failure" means food gets stuck rather than moving through your system properly. Center Qi depression traps energy in the middle warmer, making everything
22: The Yuan points LU 9 and SP 3
The previous podcast we talked about the Spleen. Discover the powerful combination of SP-3 and LU-9 - two Yuan points that restore the Tai Yin (SP and LU) system when this system is deficient. From loose stools and after-dinner fatigue to shortness of breath and spotting between periods: learn when and how to use these points for Qi deficiency. Includes real case study and crucial needling techni
21: The Spleen and raw food.
The Spleen and Raw Food: Challenging TCM AssumptionsEpisode DescriptionFor decades, TCM practitioners have warned against raw food, claiming it damages Spleen Qi and causes digestive problems. But what if this foundational teaching is wrong?In this episode, we examine groundbreaking research that challenges one of Traditional Chinese Medicine's most widely accepted beliefs. When researchers tested
20: the sinking of Spleen Qi
Sinking Spleen Qi: When the Ascending Force FailsSinking Spleen Qi is a form of Spleen Qi deficiency where the ascending function of the Spleen weakens or completely fails. Instead of sending/holding Qi and organs upward, everything sinks downward.Recognizable symptoms are organ prolapse (uterus, intestines, anus), frequent urination with urgency, chronic diarrhea and a heavy sinking feeling in th
19: The Spleen and his transformation function
When your spleen goes on vacation... 🥱You know that feeling? You've eaten "healthy" - a big smoothie bowl with raw nuts, a fresh salad with ice-cold cucumber - and yet you feel like you've been hit by a truck. Welcome to the world of spleen qi deficiency!In our Western world, we often think raw equals healthy. But your spleen thinks very differently about this. This hardworking &
18: Qi and Blood Interactions
Qi and Blood Interactions How Qi and Blood work together in Chinese medicine - the classic relationship of "Qi is the commander of Blood, Blood is the mother of Qi" and what this actually means in practice.The Fundamental RelationshipQi as the commander of Blood - how Qi moves and holds bloodBlood as the mother of Qi - how Blood nourishes and anchors QiWhy you can't really separate these two in cl
17: the Blood syndromes
In this episode, we dive deep into the four main blood syndromes in Traditional Chinese Medicine and how to recognize them in practice.What is Blood in TCM? - How blood differs from Western medicine concepts and its relationship with QiBlood Formation - The role of Gu Qi, Spleen, Lungs, Heart, and Kidneys in creating bloodThe Four Blood Syndromes:Learn to differentiate between blood stasis and Qi
16: the world of the Qi patterns
In this podcast, we dive deep into the world of Qi patterns - the fundamental building blocks of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Whether you're just starting your TCM studies or looking to refresh your knowledge, this episode gives you a clear perspective on how Qi behaves in health and disease.Qi Deficiency - Why modern people, despite abundance, still experience energy shortages, and how this
15: Blood deficiency vs Yin deficiency: The subtle differences
In TCM, Blood deficiency and Yin deficiency are two distinct patterns that are often confused. Blood deficiency is characterized by symptoms like pallor, dizziness, heart palpitations, and dry skin - the Blood literally cannot nourish the organs anymore. Yin deficiency, on the other hand, involves depletion of cooling, moistening energy: think night sweats, hot flashes, insomnia, and a feeling of
14: Understanding Qi Deficiency and Yang Deficiency
Qi deficiency primarily concerns a lack of overall energy and presents with specific organ-related symptoms, while Yang deficiency manifests through a lack of warmth and movement.Qi deficiency is characterized by symptoms such as:FatigueShortness of breathSpontaneous sweatingYang deficiency, on the other hand, is marked by:An overall feeling of coldnessCold extremitiesA strong desire for warmthUnd
13: the differences and similarities between an EPF Wind-Cold, a Yang deficiency and a full cold.
An EPF (External Pathogenic Factor) cold arises from exposure to external cold influences like weather or wind, causing acute symptoms such as chills, headache, and muscle pain. Yang deficiency, in contrast, is a chronic energetic weakness where the body cannot produce sufficient warmth, leading to chronic coldness, fatigue, and weak digestion. A "full cold" refers to an excess cold path
12: Full Heat, Empty Heat, and EPF Wind-Heat: Differences and Similarities
Full Heat, Empty Heat, and EPF Wind-Heat: Differences and SimilaritiesToday we're discussing three important heat patterns in Traditional Chinese Medicine: full heat, empty heat, and external pathogenic factor Wind Heat. While they all contain 'heat' in their names, their causes and treatments are vastly different.Full heat arises from an excess of Yang-qi in the body. The patient has
11: Ba Gang: an external deficiency pattern
An external pathogen, the Xie Qi, manifests with excess characteristics when confronted by a strong defensive system, the Zheng Qi, of the body. When the body's defensive mechanism is weak, we describe this condition as a deficiency pattern.
10: effective learning techniques: The symptoms of EPF Wind Heat and EPF Wind Cold
In this episode of the podcast, I delve deeper into the symptoms of two important patterns within External Pathogenic Factors (EPF): Wind Heat and Wind Cold. I discuss the specific characteristics of both conditions and explain the differences that are important for proper diagnosis and treatment.A clear explanation of EPF Wind Heat: characteristic symptoms such as high fever, thirst, and rapid pu
9: effective learning techniques: the Ba Gang: we are going to define the 'Exterior' of the body and explain what is meant by an 'exterior' pattern
In this episode, we dive into effective learning techniques and how they can be applied to mastering the Ba Gang – the Eight Principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. We are going to define the 'Exterior' of the body and explain what is meant by an 'exterior' pattern. Whether you're just starting out or deepening your understanding, this episode will help you integrate theor
8: the best way to study Chinese medicine part 2
In this podcast about studying (part 2), I tell you the best way to study Chinese medicine. Research shows that reading and re-reading is not the best method. We will continue discussing how to best learn Chinese medicine. It appears that most students read and reread, thinking this will produce good results. While this often does yield results, the question is whether this technique activates you
7: the best way how you can learn Chinese medicine part 1
In this podcast about studying (part 1), I tell you the best way to study Chinese medicine. Research shows that reading and re-reading is not the best method.
6: Ba Gang episode 4: Yin and Yang
Part 4 of the Ba GangYin and Yang form a kind of overarching umbrella for the other 6 principles.. Yin and Yang are a generalization of the other six Principles since Interior, Emptiness and Cold are Yin and Exterior, Fullness and Heat are Yang in nature.In a specific sense, the categories of Yin and Yang can define two kinds of deficiency and also two kinds of Collapse. Collapse of Yin or Yang si
5: Ba Gang episode 3: excess and deficiency
In this 3 podcast about the 8 principles I will discuss the principles excess and deficiency. The 8 principles are used in Chinese medicine to make a diagnosis. The Identification of Patterns according to the Eight Principles is the foundation for all the other methods of pattern formulation. It is the basic groundwork of pattern identification in Chinese medicine, allowing the practitioner to ide
4: Ba Gang episode 2: hot and cold
In this podcast, I talk about the 8 principles. The 8 principles are used in Chinese medicine to make a diagnosis. 'The Identification of Patterns according to the Eight Principles is the foundation for all the other methods of pattern formulation. It is the basic groundwork of pattern identification in Chinese medicine, allowing the practitioner to identify the location and nature of the dish
3: Ba Gang episode 1 : the eight principles
In this podcast, I talk about the 8 principles. The 8 principles are used in Chinese medicine to make a diagnosis. The Identification of Patterns according to the Eight Principles is the foundation for all the other methods of pattern formulation. It is the basic groundwork of pattern identification in Chinese medicine, allowing the practitioner to identify the location and nature of the disharmon
2: episode 2 about Yin and Yang
In this 2nd episode, I continue talking about yin and yang. The foundation of Chinese medicine.The difference between yin and yang is nicely described in the origins of this philosophy as a mountain that has a sunny side and a shadow side. The sunny side is yang in nature and the shadow side is yin. From this idea the opposites of yin and yang arose. The solar side presents the sun and day, the sh
1: Yin and Yang part 1
Chinese Medicine Unveiled: Episode 1 - Yin and YangWelcome to the first episode of "TCM Lover," where we explore the ancient wisdom that has guided health and healing for thousands of years.Today, we dive into the fundamental concept of Yin and Yang - the philosophical cornerstone of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Discover how these complementary forces create balance in the body and how
