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Rooted & Wild

Rooted & Wild

Written by: Henry Hawk
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Rooted & Wild is a daily podcast for those seeking alternative answers about wellness, the body, the mind, and the multifaceted components that shape our health.


Hosted by Henry Hawk, certified ThetaHealing® practitioner, herbalist, chef, and behavioral consultant, each 30-minute episode blends grounded wisdom with soul-deep reflection. You'll explore themes like nervous system regulation, Chinese medicine, alternative medicine, herbalism, breathwork, emotional healing, and spiritual resilience—all through the lens of holistic wellness and trauma-informed care.


Whether it’s solo reflections or rich interviews with wellness experts, every episode helps you reconnect with your intuition, regulate your body, and remember your place in the natural world. If you're drawn to holistic healing, functional medicine, somatic practices, or the intersection of science and spirituality, Rooted & Wild is your sanctuary.


Press play and return to your roots. There’s wild wisdom waiting.


Learn more about Henry Hawk: https://www.henry-hawk.com/

© 2026 Rooted & Wild Alternative & Complementary Medicine Hygiene & Healthy Living Philosophy Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Where Chinese Medicine & Western Medicine Overlap | Dr. Autumn Edwards

    Where Chinese Medicine & Western Medicine Overlap | Dr. Autumn Edwards
    Oct 18 2026
    What happens when two medical traditions, shaped by vastly different histories, philosophies, and understandings of the human body, begin to find common ground?For thousands of years, Chinese medicine has approached health through the interconnected relationships between the body, mind, emotions, and natural world. Rooted in concepts such as Qi, Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and meridian theory, this ancient medical tradition has developed its own sophisticated framework for understanding illness, maintaining balance, and supporting the body's capacity for healing.Meanwhile, Western medicine has transformed our understanding of human anatomy, physiology, disease, and treatment through scientific investigation, technological innovation, and evidence-based clinical practice.At first glance, these two approaches can seem fundamentally different. One speaks of energetic pathways and patterns of imbalance, while the other examines nerves, hormones, organs, cells, and biochemical processes.But beneath their different languages and philosophical foundations, could there be meaningful areas of overlap?Where does modern science support traditional Chinese medical practices? How might acupuncture influence the nervous system? Can ancient approaches to understanding the body's interconnected systems complement contemporary medical care? And where do the two traditions remain fundamentally different?In this episode of Rooted & Wild, host Henry Hawk welcomes back Dr. Autumn Edwards, a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and licensed acupuncturist whose integrative approach draws upon Traditional Chinese Medicine, Five Element theory, Chinese herbal medicine, Western medical knowledge, and energetic perspectives on healing.Together, they explore the fascinating intersection between Eastern and Western medicine, examining where these two traditions converge, where their explanations diverge, and how an integrative approach might offer a more comprehensive understanding of human health.In this episode, we explore:Two traditions, two medical philosophies: How Chinese medicine and Western medicine developed different frameworks for understanding the human body, disease, and healing.Holistic and reductionist approaches: Exploring the relationship between Chinese medicine's emphasis on interconnected patterns and Western medicine's detailed investigation of individual biological systems.Acupuncture and the nervous system: What contemporary research suggests about how acupuncture may influence neural signaling, pain modulation, and other physiological responses.Qi and modern physiology: Examining traditional interpretations of vital energy alongside scientific understandings of circulation, metabolism, and bodily function, without assuming these concepts are equivalent.Meridians and human anatomy: Exploring traditional acupuncture pathways and the scientific investigation of nerves, connective tissue, and other structures that may contribute to acupuncture's effects.The Five Elements and organ systems: How Chinese medicine's functional understanding of organs differs from Western anatomical and physiological classifications.Emotional and physical health: Where traditional Chinese perspectives on the relationship between emotions and bodily function intersect with contemporary research into stress, the nervous system, and psychophysiology.Chinese herbal medicine and pharmacology: How traditional botanical remedies are studied through modern chemistry, pharmacology, and clinical research, including questions of safety, efficacy, and interactions.Prevention and whole-person care: Comparing traditional approaches to maintaining health with contemporary preventive medicine, lifestyle interventions, and integrative healthcare.Scientific evidence and traditional knowledge: Understanding the importance of clinical research while recognizing the historical and philosophical context of Chinese medical practices.Integrative medicine in practice: How acupuncture and other complementary approaches may be incorporated alongside conventional medical treatments when appropriate.The limitations of both frameworks: Why understanding where Chinese and Western medicine differ is just as important as identifying their potential common ground.Throughout the conversation, Dr. Edwards draws upon her clinical experience and knowledge of both medical traditions to explore how different perspectives can contribute to a broader conversation about health and healing.Rather than positioning Eastern and Western medicine as competing systems, this episode invites us to examine what happens when ancient medical philosophy and modern scientific inquiry are approached with curiosity, discernment, and a willingness to ask deeper questions.From the physiological mechanisms of acupuncture to the relationship between emotional well-being and physical health, we consider how traditional practices are being investigated, interpreted, and incorporated ...
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    25 mins
  • The Energetics of Esoteric Acupuncture in Chinese Medicine | Dr. Autumn Edwards

    The Energetics of Esoteric Acupuncture in Chinese Medicine | Dr. Autumn Edwards
    Oct 17 2026
    What if acupuncture could offer more than physical healing? What if its ancient principles also provide a framework for exploring consciousness, spiritual awareness, and the subtle energetic dimensions of human experience?For thousands of years, Chinese medicine has approached the human body as an interconnected system, one in which physical health, emotional well-being, and the natural rhythms of the universe are deeply intertwined.While acupuncture is widely recognized for its use in managing pain and supporting various aspects of health, some practitioners explore a more esoteric dimension of this ancient tradition, one that reaches beyond the physical body and into the philosophical and spiritual foundations of Chinese medicine.But what exactly is esoteric acupuncture? How does it differ from more conventional approaches? And what role do intention, consciousness, and energetic awareness play within these practices?In this episode of Rooted & Wild, host Henry Hawk welcomes back Dr. Autumn Edwards, a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and licensed acupuncturist whose work integrates Traditional Chinese Medicine, Five Element theory, Chinese herbal medicine, Western medical knowledge, and energetic approaches to healing.Together, they explore the fascinating world of esoteric acupuncture, examining how traditional Chinese concepts of Qi, meridians, Yin and Yang, and the relationship between Heaven, Earth, and humanity have influenced contemporary approaches to energetic and spiritual healing.In this episode, we explore:What is esoteric acupuncture? Understanding the philosophy behind this approach and how it differs from conventional acupuncture.The energetic foundations of Chinese medicine: Exploring Qi, Yin and Yang, and the traditional understanding of the body's relationship with the natural world.The origins of esoteric practices: Examining the influence of Daoist philosophy, Chinese cosmology, and spiritual traditions on energetic approaches to healing.Consciousness and intention: How practitioners incorporate awareness, meditation, and focused intention into esoteric acupuncture.The subtle energetic body: Exploring traditional and esoteric perspectives on the relationship between physical experience, energetic awareness, and spiritual well-being.Meridians and energetic pathways: How the traditional meridian system provides a foundation for understanding the body's subtle energetic relationships.The relationship between Heaven, Earth, and humanity: Exploring a central concept in Chinese cosmology and its significance within esoteric healing traditions.Emotional and spiritual well-being: How practitioners interpret the relationship between energetic patterns, emotional experiences, and personal transformation.The role of the practitioner: Why presence, intuition, and intention may be emphasized within esoteric approaches to acupuncture.Ancient philosophy and modern practice: How contemporary practitioners interpret and adapt traditional Chinese medical concepts.Science and the unseen: Considering the distinction between established physiological effects of acupuncture and the metaphysical interpretations associated with esoteric healing.Throughout the conversation, Dr. Edwards shares her perspective on the relationship between the physical and energetic dimensions of healing, inviting listeners to explore a side of Chinese medicine that is less commonly discussed in conventional healthcare settings.From the symbolism of ancient Chinese cosmology to contemporary practices incorporating meditation, intention, and energetic awareness, this episode opens a window into a fascinating intersection of medicine, philosophy, and spirituality.Whether you're familiar with acupuncture, curious about energy medicine, interested in Daoist traditions, or drawn to the exploration of consciousness, this conversation offers an opportunity to consider the deeper philosophical questions surrounding healing and the human experience.Perhaps one of the most intriguing questions is not simply how acupuncture influences the body, but how different traditions have understood the relationship between our physical existence and our inner experience of being alive.About Dr. Autumn EdwardsDr. Autumn Edwards is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and licensed acupuncturist whose integrative approach draws upon Traditional Chinese Medicine, Five Element theory, Chinese herbal medicine, Western medical knowledge, and energetic healing practices. Her work explores the interconnected relationships between the physical body, emotional well-being, and the deeper philosophical traditions of Chinese medicine.Learn more about Dr. Autumn Edwards:https://www.drautumnedwards.comThis episode is part of a six-part exploration of Chinese medicine with Dr. Autumn Edwards, examining Yin and Yang, Qi, the Five Elements, meridians, esoteric acupuncture, the electromagnetics of acupuncture, and the intersections between Eastern ...
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    28 mins
  • Meridians: The Invisible Rivers of Chinese Medicine | Dr. Autumn Edwards

    Meridians: The Invisible Rivers of Chinese Medicine | Dr. Autumn Edwards
    Oct 16 2026
    What if the human body contains an intricate network of pathways that connects our organs, emotions, and vital energy, much like rivers flowing through a vast landscape?For thousands of years, practitioners of Chinese medicine have described a system of interconnected channels known as meridians, or jingluo. Within Traditional Chinese Medicine, these pathways are understood to carry Qi, the vital life force, throughout the body, connecting its internal systems with the external world.Unlike blood vessels or nerves, meridians are not established anatomical structures in Western medicine. Yet they remain central to the philosophy and practice of acupuncture, offering a fascinating perspective on how the human body functions as an interconnected whole.But where did this concept originate? How did ancient Chinese physicians map these invisible pathways? And what might modern research reveal about the physiological mechanisms behind acupuncture?In this episode of Rooted & Wild, host Henry Hawk welcomes back Dr. Autumn Edwards, a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and licensed acupuncturist whose work bridges Traditional Chinese Medicine, Five Element theory, herbal medicine, Western medical knowledge, and energetic approaches to healing.Together, they journey into one of the most intriguing foundations of Chinese medicine, exploring the meridian system, its historical origins, its relationship to Qi and the body's organs, and the ways practitioners use these pathways to understand patterns of health and imbalance.In this episode, we explore:The origins of the meridian system: How ancient Chinese medical traditions developed the concept of interconnected pathways throughout the human body.The Twelve Primary Meridians: Exploring the principal channels associated with the body's organ systems, including the Heart, Lungs, Liver, Kidneys, Stomach, and Spleen.The Eight Extraordinary Vessels: Understanding these additional pathways and their significance within traditional acupuncture theory.Qi and the flow of energy: How meridians are believed to circulate vital energy and maintain harmony throughout the body.The relationship between meridians and organs: Why Chinese medicine interprets organ systems differently from conventional Western anatomy.Acupuncture points and their significance: How specific points along the meridians are selected and stimulated during treatment.Patterns of stagnation and imbalance: How practitioners interpret disruptions in the movement of Qi and their potential relationship to physical and emotional experiences.The meridian clock: Exploring the traditional Chinese concept that different organ systems have periods of heightened activity throughout a 24-hour cycle.Meridians and the Five Elements: How the meridian system connects with Yin and Yang, elemental theory, and the broader philosophy of Chinese medicine.Modern scientific perspectives: Examining research into acupuncture, the nervous system, connective tissue, and other proposed physiological explanations for its effects.The practical application of meridian theory: How acupuncture, acupressure, movement, and other traditional practices incorporate an understanding of these pathways.Throughout the conversation, Dr. Edwards draws upon classical Chinese medical philosophy and her clinical experience to illuminate a system that has shaped approaches to health and healing for centuries.From the ancient concept of Qi flowing through invisible channels to contemporary investigations into how acupuncture affects the body, this episode invites us to explore the relationship between traditional wisdom and modern scientific inquiry.Whether you're curious about acupuncture, interested in the energetic traditions of Chinese medicine, or simply fascinated by the mysteries of the human body, this conversation offers a deeper understanding of the pathways that have guided generations of practitioners.Perhaps the body is not simply a collection of individual parts, but a landscape of relationships, with each system influencing the others in ways we are still learning to understand.About Dr. Autumn EdwardsDr. Autumn Edwards is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and licensed acupuncturist whose integrative approach draws upon Traditional Chinese Medicine, Five Element theory, Chinese herbal medicine, Western medical knowledge, and energetic healing practices. Her work explores the interconnected relationships between the physical body, emotional well-being, and the deeper philosophical traditions of Chinese medicine.Learn more about Dr. Autumn Edwards:https://www.drautumnedwards.comThis episode is part of a six-part exploration of Chinese medicine with Dr. Autumn Edwards, examining Yin and Yang, Qi, the Five Elements, meridians, esoteric Chinese medicine, the electromagnetics of acupuncture, and the intersections between Eastern and Western medicine.Rooted & Wild provides general information for educational and informational ...
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    25 mins
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