Journey
to the West is
an exploration of the ways in which Traditional Chinese Medicine—including
acupuncture, herbs, and martial arts—is being practiced in the 21st century.
From a self-taught herbalist in the
Himalayan foothills to an experimental acupuncture clinic treating ParkinsonŐs
patients in California, the film examines what the popularity of traditional
Chinese medicine says about the meeting of Eastern and Western cultures.
Journey to the West also features Zhongxian Wu, a renowned master of Qigong, martial
arts, Chinese medicine, Yijing science, Chinese calligraphy, and ancient
Chinese music. Shot in China and the U.S., this documentary introduces viewers
to an engaging array of different practitioners, and illustrates how this
traditional medicine is deeply rooted within a Chinese philosophic system that
unites art, mind and body.