Beschrijving

This book opens with an exploration of the foundational principles of traditional East Asian medicine, particularly the notion of harmony and balance in the body. Fulder outlines how health is conceived not simply as the absence of disease, but as a dynamic equilibrium between the body’s functional systems, the individual’s interactions with environment, and the vital energies that flow through them. He situates “medicine” broadly: not only herbal or drug remedies, but also lifestyle, diet, exercise and the cultivation of inner balance. In the heart of the text Fulder presents a detailed survey of “oriental remedies” — herbs, minerals, dietetic regimens, physical practices (such as breathing, movement) and their pharmacological or physiological effects as seen through the lens of both traditional knowledge and modern scientific understanding. He shows how particular remedies influence systems of the body (for example digestion, circulation, nervous system) and how they can be used to restore balance when the body’s harmony has been disturbed. He also draws attention to the importance of individual constitution, diagnosis and the need to work with subtle patterns rather than simply “treating a disease”. Finally, the book reflects on the implications of this holistic approach for modern medicine, health systems and individual wellbeing. Fulder argues that Western medicine might benefit from integrating the conceptual framework of harmony and functional networks alongside its strengths. He invites the reader to rethink health not as a state to be “fixed,” but as an ongoing process of maintaining flow, resilience and connection. The result is a work that bridges cultural traditions and invites a broader, more integrated vision of healing.