How a lifelong digestive illness led me on a quest to China, to learn the art and science of healing.
I’ll never forget the day that looked a lot like a honeymoon, but was a day from hell.
It was around 2012, and my girlfriend at the time and I were in Phuket, Thailand.
We had planned this incredible day of island hopping, going via catamaran to some of the most famous islands around Thailand. We’d have a breakfast and lunch on the catamaran, go to an island, snorkel, and repeat all day. It was basically as close as it gets to a honeymoon-level vacation.
We had saved our money for over a year to pay for it. But due to our crazy travel schedule getting down there, my health issues (primarily GI) were flaring up a lot, and embarrassingly, I was having abdominal pain and hadn’t had a bowel movement in almost 7 days.
For a 25-year-old, I had never known the feeling of missing out on life because of my health. This was the first time I had ever experienced my issues getting so acute.
A few years before, I began experiencing some GI problems that were becoming increasingly concerning. I had lost a lot of weight, and was going up to a week without a bowel movement at the time.
This was what I looked like with the weight I had lost (age 21):
At first, I did the rounds of doctors, the general practitioner. He told me that my labs looked fine, but to eat more oatmeal in the morning to see how I felt. My dietician in the doctor’s office told me that I was incredibly thin, and maybe to try eating more “bran” in my meals. That night, I woke up so severely bloated that I was up all night with abdominal pain.
The GI specialist was the least useful - he talked to me for two minutes, recommended a colonoscopy, an antidepressant, said I had “IBS” and sent me on my way.
It left me wondering – I know these doctors are doing their best to help me, but I don’t want medications for life, or surgery. Is this the best that modern medicine can do?
It seemed a bit pathetic, to be honest. But I was still in pain.
A chance encounter with an acupuncturist was all I needed. A simple herbal formula he gave me (not even as an herbal specialist) gave me the most regular bowel function in 28 years of life. My entire life.
I was shocked, impressed, and hooked.
The next year, I booked a one-way ticket to China to learn from mystics, monks, doctors, and healers. Anything that could help.
When I touched down in China, I was a naive young man. I could barely speak Chinese, but I committed myself to my purpose: Find great doctors, healers, and monks. Anyone who could help.
Here’s a picture of me near where I lived in Beijing:
Another trip I had taken was to a remote part of Sichuan province, where I stayed with medical mentors, monks, and studied Chinese medicine with local doctors. Here's a picture participating in a local religious ceremony at the monastery (outside of Chengdu, Sichuan Province):
Here's a photo of one of my medical mentors, when we stayed in a monastery in Chengdu and learned from doctors that came in from nearby universities and local clinics:
One particular conversation with a monk who was trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine stuck with me, when I asked her about my issues.
She said something simple, that was philosophical. This is my rough translation:
“Seek lots of movement with the physical body; but keep a settled and quiet heart. Strengthen the constitution with medicinal herbs, the right lifestyle, and these Qigong practices, and you’ll live a long time.”
More time in Asia showed me that there are three pillars of healing in East-Asian forms of medicine:
1. Qigong, breathwork and somatic / energetic practices
2. Traditional Herbal formulas
3. Acupuncture
And in asia, even Physicians (MDs and pharmacists) use many of these as a FIRST-LINE treatment for both acute (serious) and chronic diseases.
So why don’t we in America?
This became my quest to understand.
I’m Dr. Alex Heyne, DSOM, L.Ac. Board licensed in acupuncture and a Doctor of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
I’m also the author of the health book, Master the Day, and have a private clinical practice in Los Angeles.
Let’s be clear, there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with medication, surgery, or invasive procedures. But they typically do not fix the problem.
Truth #1: If you have a chronic health issue, modern medicine is not designed to heal - only treat symptoms.
Look, frankly, some illnesses will require medication for life. Surgery can be life-saving. I would not want to live in a world without the modern ER diagnostic equipment.
But most of the illnesses today of people in the developed world are chronic, which means that medication is mostly prescribed for life. Don’t believe me? Look at this list:
Acid reflux/GERD
Anxiety & depression
Insomnia
SIBO, bloating, and GI issues
Migraines
Menstrual issues
How many people do you know on medications for these… for a DECADE? A lot.
Truth #2: The root cause is (almost) never fixed by conventional medicine.
Now, medicine is fine to take.
It’s especially good at dealing with symptoms. But if you think being sick is bad, imagine GUARANTEEING you are still sick 10 years later, or still have clinical depression 10 years later, because the root cause was never fixed?
Truth #3: For many (not all) chronic issues today, practices from Traditional Chinese Medicine can treat the symptoms and the root – and there’s scientific evidence for it.
These aren’t just the ramblings of some armchair philosopher/alchemist. I have a private medical practice in Los Angeles. I’m not some random guy who reads books and teaches, I’ve spent $250,000+ (Yes, the price of an M.D.), 4+ years in a Doctoral program, and see hundreds of patients each month.
But don’t take my word for it, check out this case study of a patient of mine: Julie.
"For my acid reflux and anxiety, taking medication meant that the symptoms were better for a bit, but then I'd stop, and they came back. There really was no healing."
- Julie*
*Actual patient of Dr. Heyne
Just like when I was sick, my M.D. never recommended this as a "real" alternative to medication, Julie had to find me the hard way too.
And that’s why I've launched an online program: Introduction to Healing with Traditional Chinese Medicine: The Ancient Science of Longevity.
THE LAWS OF HEALING IN TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
Welcome! I’ll introduce myself and give you a brief summary of what you can expect from this course.
How to live to 100: According to the ancient doctors
We'll explore the comprehensive principles of the most ancient longevity text and provide accessible yet profound guidance for achieving well-being.
Diagnosis 101: your somatic scorecard - what organs need help?
How do I know what is the root cause of my symptoms? In this series of lessons, we'll delve deeper.
TCM & HEALING IN DAILY LIFE: PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS FOR SELF-HEALING
Dive into the holistic philosophy of tcm, exploring the vital concepts of qi, yin-yang balance, and the interconnectedness of the five elements.
The Art of Diagnosis in TCM: self-diagnosing key patterns
Master the art of diagnosis through pulse and tongue examination, coupled with effective observation and inquiry methods.
introduction to herbs and formulas: ancient formula science
Explore the vast world of traditional herbs and the role of nutrition in TCM, discovering their applications for holistic health.
Acupuncture and Meridian Therapy
Gain insights into the ancient practices of acupuncture and meridian therapy, understanding their role in promoting energetic balance.
Qigong and meridian scanning
Engage in Qi Gong, Tai Chi, meditation, and mindfulness to enhance the flow of Qi and foster physical and mental well-being.
AT-HOME TECHNIQUES: DIET, MOVEMENT AND HERBAL FORMULAS
Develop personalized healing plans and seamlessly integrate TCM principles into your daily life for sustained well-being.
Get Unlimited Access to All Lessons
Look - it's simple, if you don't like this course or don't find it helpful, why would we want to keep your money? You can try the entire course for 30 days, and if you don't like it, just send us a one line email for a full refund.
No hard feelings