“The true purpose of education is not merely the accumulation of facts; rather, it is to facilitate an inner transformation—enabling us to move through the world with a deeper sense of grace, wonder, and joy in living.”

The Apricot Grove School for Neijing Nature-Based Medicine

Our Educational Philosophy

The Apricot Grove offers a 2-year postgraduate-level training in Neijing Nature-Based Medicine (NNBM), grounded in the teachings of Dr. Edward Neal and rooted in the classical writings of the Huangdi Neijing. This comprehensive program integrates classical Chinese medical texts with contemporary clinical understanding through the method of Classical Text Archaeology (CTA). It is designed to mirror the patterns of nature: learning as a continuous, lifelong process that grows outward from a strong and healthy root.

The Philosophy Behind Our Teaching

We are inspired by the ancient Greek idea of σχολή (scholē) — the root of the word “school,” which originally meant leisure, free time, and thoughtful rest. Our programs invite students into a community learning environment that is spacious, reflective, and nourishing, so that study itself becomes a source of renewal rather than exhaustion.

Traditional Mentorship

Knowledge and medical skill are best learned as a living transmission from a skilled practitioner to an apprentice. This kind of learning cannot be contained in books or lectures alone. It flows through shared clinical experience, careful observation, and guided practice over time. We cultivate lifelong mentoring relationships and a community in which teachers and students walk a shared path of study as colleagues.

Nourishing Fruit and Flowers Grow from Well-Tended Roots

To foster knowledge that supports a thriving clinical practice, we must first cultivate strong roots. In NNBM, these roots arise from the deeper patterns of the cosmos — the same forces that shape the natural world and the human body — and are nourished by the wisdom of the ancient teachers who came before us.

Strong Roots Develop Slowly with the Seasons

Deep knowledge unfolds through time and patience. It begins with a single step on the path of study and grows gradually through the seasons of life. What starts as curiosity matures into confidence, discernment, and embodied understanding. Like the roots of a tree, our learning becomes sturdy and resilient, drawing nourishment from experience, reflection, and community.

Circular Learning

The principles of the cosmos and the practice of medicine are infinitely complex, yet governed by simple underlying patterns. Rather than following a strictly linear curriculum, we continually circle these foundational ideas — examining life and medical practice through their lens again and again from different perspectives, allowing understanding to deepen naturally with time.

Savering and Sauntering

Learning is a natural human pursuit — children know this joy instinctively. Because lifelong learning is a journey of many miles, the path must be pleasurable and restorative, not another source of strain. Deep learning moves at the pace of a saunter, not a sprint. It invites us to walk slowly, noticing what is around and within us. In this way, wisdom gradually takes root, transforming us as we travel the way.

Traditional Mentorship

Knowledge and medical skill are best learned as a living transmission from a skilled practitioner to an apprentice. This kind of learning cannot be contained in books or lectures alone. It flows through shared clinical experience, careful observation, and guided practice over time. We cultivate lifelong mentoring relationships and a community in which teachers and students walk a shared path of study as colleagues.

Nourishing Fruit and Flowers Grow from Well-Tended Roots

To foster knowledge that supports a thriving clinical practice, we must first cultivate strong roots. In NNBM, these roots arise from the deeper patterns of the cosmos — the same forces that shape the natural world and the human body — and are nourished by the wisdom of the ancient teachers who came before us.

Strong Roots Develop Slowly with the Seasons

Deep knowledge unfolds through time and patience. It begins with a single step on the path of study and grows gradually through the seasons of life. What starts as curiosity matures into confidence, discernment, and embodied understanding. Like the roots of a tree, our learning becomes sturdy and resilient, drawing nourishment from experience, reflection, and community.

Circular Learning

The principles of the cosmos and the practice of medicine are infinitely complex, yet governed by simple underlying patterns. Rather than following a strictly linear curriculum, we continually circle these foundational ideas — examining life and medical practice through their lens again and again from different perspectives, allowing understanding to deepen naturally with time.

Savering and Sauntering

Learning is a natural human pursuit — children know this joy instinctively. Because lifelong learning is a journey of many miles, the path must be pleasurable and restorative, not another source of strain. Deep learning moves at the pace of a saunter, not a sprint. It invites us to walk slowly, noticing what is around and within us. In this way, wisdom gradually takes root, transforming us as we travel the way.

Key Learning Approaches

Our training programs follow the basic patterns of nature to combine the best aspects of both traditional and modern learning. Like the growth of a great tree, learning is a continuous process that is best built on a strong foundational root; learning is a way of living, engaging and moving through the world, and not an end destination.

We will help you learn by using the following ideas and approaches:

The Nature of Knowledge

  • Learning flows from roots: knowledge is nourished by the cosmos, the ancestors, and the teachers who came before us.
  • Strong roots come first: practical skills only have value when built on a deep foundation of understanding.
  • Circular learning: core principles are revisited from many angles — cosmology, basic sciences, physical diagnosis, and clinical practice.
  • Deep learning takes time: some knowledge cannot be rushed; it flowers slowly through repeated exposure and reflection.
  • Many plants create a forest: diverse professional backgrounds and learning styles strengthen the whole community

The Student’s Experience

  • Learning is joyful: curiosity and pleasure are not extras — they are essential to effective, lasting study.
  • Learn like a child: familiarity with classical language grows naturally through immersion, not formal study.
  • Seeds of knowledge: the teacher draws out what is already latent within the student.
  • Savoring over sprinting: wisdom accumulates at the pace of a saunter, transforming the student gradually along the way.
  • Learning creates new breath: every class is designed to open previously unseen possibilities and inspire genuine inquiry

Want to learn about The Apricot Grove Project and our history?