It is possible to learn of and from the truths and untruths of eastern medicine. Be wary of which one you are teaching though. Much of the knowledge of eastern medicine comes from observation and some of the practices have been misinterprated, forgotten, or are only marginally effective due to unforseen circumstances they were not aware of. Of common diets which have changed over the years which alter the efficacy of certain treatments. Of necessary combinations overlooked by the practictioner. I was ecstatic when I first figured which compounds in foods and in the body correspond to the ancient notion of warming/cooling foods. Of which metabolic changes are occuring during qi-gong, and the physiological adaptations and learning occuring during meditation and chanting. When you say "My substance abuse, nutrient deficient diet and negative thought patterns caused my garden to wilt. It wasn't an inherent flaw in my physiological make up." I get triggered to inform that a nutrient or genetic deficiency in ones parents can cause an alteration in physiological needs. Less absorption of certain nutrients or an increased stressor response. To me a tendency towards substance abuse and negative thought patterns indicates a disruption in one's physiological state and nutritional status. Either originating from the use of or prior to the use of a substance. Such as disruptions in endorphins, enkephalins, or endocannabinoids which can occur from both an improper diet and genetic predisposition or use of a substance. I plan to do a writeup on biological addiction mechanisms soon. One thing I wish different about some eastern medicine practitioners is that they learn more about proper nutrtion before they promotive positivity and confidence. Sure it is true one need only smile and think positive outcomes to release serotonin in the brain. While I wouldnt want to say bad things of smiling and thinking, in times of improper nutrition and physiology(depression and anxiety) such actions could do more harm than benefit to someones strained physiology, quickening the process of decay and cellular death. This decay and cellular reprograming allows the reshaping of ones efforts towards activities which provide the proper nutrient status and interaction. Meditation is clearing one's mind of plans you've set in motion yet perhaps backlogged while chanting is rewriting your associations towards sounds. Breath and qigong are similarly only possible and beneficial with a certain bodily nutrient status let alone genetic errors. Once nutrient balance is restored sometimes we can begin to reverse our misgivings and tendencies