In this four disc set, Association for Traditional Studies director Andrew Nugent-Head tackles making Qi a tangible and reliable part of one’s treatments and practice. Based on his years training with the late Dr. Xie Peiqi in Beijing,  this set features over five hours of discussion, demonstration and question answering designed to clarify the important skill of affecting Qi in patients.

“The important task is not to just reliably achieve ‘De Qi’, but to decide what to do with it each time. Whether it is due to misunderstanding or misrepresentation, tangibly and reliably manipulating Qi with one’s hands or a needle seem to have taken an esoteric turn in the West. In actuality, it is a very grounded and simple process. What was once common knowledge is now being seen as high level skill. Sadly, this has greatly affected the efficacy, and thus reputation, of Chinese medicine.”

The most important clinical book in Chinese Medicine is the Shang Han Lun. But what is the most important part of the book? The Preface!

Overlooked by readers and often omitted by publishers, the preface contains the keys to understanding the rest of the Shang Han Lun. In this fascinating discussion, Andrew Nugent-Head awakens the hidden meanings line by line, explaining references Zhang Zhongjing makes that are often missed by Chinese and western scholars alike.

“The Discussions Over Tea Series is how I learned the classics here in China: in a teacher’s home, the ancient books coming alive over tea. Teaching this way, the passions of ancient authors fill the room as if they were speaking their words to you. Zhang Zhongjing’s Preface is the most exciting and important part of his Shang Han Lun. Understanding what he is really saying is the key to understanding his entire book. In this lecture, I share the Preface just as my teacher, Dr. Li Hongxiang, shared it with me. It was only possible through Dr. Li Hongxiang’s teaching, and a special acknowledgement and thanks must be given to him.”

Born in 1967, ATS director Andrew Nugent-Head has lived in China since the age of 18. In 1989, he began formally studying Chinese medicine in mentor-disciple relationships outside of the official university system. Guided by the late Professor Wang Jin-Huai, he met and studied with both famous doctors in Beijing and unknown practitioners in the countryside.

In 1993, Andrew became Yin Style Bagua practitioner Dr. Xie Peiqi’s (1920-2003) closest friend and student during the final decade of his life. Together, they traveled extensively to the United States and Europe, taught over 100 seminars, and documented much of his knowledge on video. Today, he is the only remaining student of Dr. Xie Peiqi who practices all three aspects of Yin Style Bagua: Chinese medicine, martial arts, and internal cultivation.

Between 2001-2004, Andrew flew back and forth between Beijing and Colorado to obtain official licensing to practice in the United States. During this time, he also taught at Naropa University as part of its continuing education programs.

In 2005, Andrew was officially recognized as Dr. Li Hongxiang’s (1924-) final disciple. Dr. Li Hongxiang was one of the 500 doctors chosen by the government in its 1990 failed attempt to save traditional medicine and is literally the last doctor of Chinese medicine born and educated before 1949 who still practices in the traditional way in Beijing. Andrew works with Dr. Li in the clinic as well as filming lectures at his home and organizing Dr. Li’s patient records, formulae and strategies.