We recently had the chance to connect with Helen HU and have shared our conversation below.
Helen, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What battle are you avoiding?
Many people including my own sister tell me that they are battling some health issue that not really impact them so much such as high cholesterol, or under stress with temporary headache, and sleep problem or furtigue. but all they tried to battle is to avoiding adding more medication on their long med list. And I always advice them that doing some research to see how food can help first. For thousand of years, one of Traditional Chinese Medicine remedies is Food Therapy. food as medicine
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I was raised in China and at an early age, studied and practice acupuncture and Chinese Medicine at 7 grades under my master. After the end of Cultural Revolution in China, and college re-open to public 1977, I was admitted to study Western medicine at Hebei Medical School (MD). After practicing internal medicine and cardiology for 9 years I immigrated to the United States in 1991 and passed the United States Medical Exam in 1997. I later formally studied Chinese Medicine and graduated with a doctorate degree in Chinese Medicine (OMD). I established an acupuncture and Chinese Medicine clinic in San Diego, California. This gave me the opportunity to integrate the two disciplines. From my background of studying and practicing both western and Chinese medicine in the past 43 years , with my experience in clinical research in cancer and autoimmune diseases , I was involved in clinical trials on human subjects before I went back to practice again.
During the course of 43 years of my medical career, many questions are raised repeatedly from many of my patients, and it appears to me that there is so information overload regarding special diets for everyone, special magic pills for all, hormone therapy starting from teenage to senior even age over 80, questions of hormone therapy for maintain youth, how to identify our body imbalance and how to chose the right detoxification program for prevention and maintain good health for well being and longevity. And recently there are more young people having fertility issue and more autoimmune disorders among adults especially after middle age
By facing much challenge in the healthcare and economy, People start to explore different type of healing rather than the traditional. But without the knowledge of understand our own body type and with the mentality of one thing fits and in the highly commercialized societies in the field of healings, I wrote several books to promote food therapy and self healing. I am not only practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated with Western Medicine to help my community with all those issue with acupuncture, natural herbs and bio supplement. But I also emphases educating people with my books to teach patient how to do self healing naturally with food therapy and prevention for well being and longevity
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
My childhood back in China was during the period of Culture revolution that all education system was not function normally. Colleges were all closed. Parents were worried about their children’s future without a skill for making a living, Home teaching become the only way to have children to gain knowledge. that is the reason I studied Chinese Medicine at very early age. in fact, before went to medical school, My dream was some day, I can use modern science to explain how Chinese Medicine works. After working and practicing Medicine for over 43 years, I am amazed how advanced medicine in bio, genetic research so close to explain the mystery, Just need some one whole totally understand those two disciplines and to see the true one of both Chinese Medicine and bio medicine emerge. I found myself often very excited to discover many of the latest scientific studies explaining the roots or the scientific foundation of Chinese Medicine
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Believe yourself and persistent to work on your dream, not influenced by the force that want you to give up
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Madam Marie Curie. or Ms. Maria Sklodowska, is the most famous woman scientist pioneer in radioactivity research and the first woman to win a Nobel Prize
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
no, I will continue to do what my passion lead me and enjoy it every day
Image Credits
myself: Helen H. Hu has the right and permission to use those photos
