The Apricot Grove School offers a specialized two-year postgraduate mentorship in the emerging field of Neijing Nature-Based Medicine. Rooted in the teachings of the Huangdi Neijing, this comprehensive training integrates classical Chinese medical writings with contemporary clinical understanding. Grounded in the method of Classical Text Archaeology (CTA), the curriculum emphasizes the natural patterns of the cosmos and living systems, exploring how these enduring principles can be applied directly to modern healthcare practice.

Educational Philosophy

The School of Neijing Nature-Based Medicine is inspired by the ancient Greek idea of σχολή (scholē)—the root of the word “school,” which originally meant leisure, free time, and thoughtful rest. We embrace the belief that while life-long learning is a complex pursuit, it is most meaningful when it is calm, restorative, and rooted in curiosity, so our programs invite students to study in a way that feels spacious, reflective, and nourishing. 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. In our training, we cultivate lifelong mentoring relationships and a community in which teachers and students learn together as colleagues walking a shared path of study.

Nourishing Fruit and Flowers Grow from Well-Tended Roots

To foster knowledge that supports lifelong learning and a thriving clinical practice, we must first cultivate strong roots. In Neijing Nature-Based Medicine (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 and writings of the ancient teachers who came before us.

Strong Roots Develop Slowly with the Seasons

Deep knowledge unfolds through time and patience—it cannot be rushed. It begins with a single step on the path of study and grows gradually through the seasons of life. What starts as curiosity and tentative exploration 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. In this way, steady growth supports a practice that flourishes and endures through all conditions.

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—like the meditative turning of a prayer wheel—examining life and medical practice through their lens. We return to them again and again from different perspectives, allowing understanding to deepen naturally with time.

Savoring 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 simply 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 is not quickly acquired but gradually takes root, transforming us as we travel the way.

Program Structure

The training is divided into four semesters given over two years

• 42 two-week study blocks of in-depth postgraduate-level content
• 42 Live online mentorship classes with Dr. Neal and faculty (also recorded)
• In-depth interactions through weekly class discussion forums
• Three 7-day in-person clinical trainings

Training Pathways

Choose from one of three options:

While designed for healthcare professionals, the program also welcomes Sinologists, researchers, and those interested in early Chinese philosophy and medicine.