A Tribute to Dr. Roger Hirsh

May 17, 2006 was a black Wednesday. At 6:10pm, Dr. Roger Hirsh, forever left us. As his teacher and friend, Dr. Baolin Wu reported: “He was riding a crane towards the Western Heaven to visit LaoZi, and Heaven kept him. The rivers and lakes, Heaven and Earth, alas for his death, mourned for his passing!”

Dr. Roger Cavanaugh Hirsh, O.M.D., Ph.D., L.A.c, N.M.D., born on August 31, 1948 in Beverly Hills, CA, died on May 17, 2006 at the age of 57.

The facts, circumstances and adventures of Dr. Hirsh’s life were enough to fill the lives of several people and his absorbing interests unfailingly extended to the betterment of his friends and clients.

He was a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and a Diplomate of Acupuncture (USA), acupuncturist, Tai Chi, Qi Gong and massage instructor, mentor, lecturer, world-traveler, spiritual guide, healer and chocolate-herbal-candy maker.

An honors graduate of the International College of Oriental Medicine (London 1976) he received his Doctorate in Oriental Medicine (1984) with a specialty in Constitutional Medicine. After a 3,000-hour postgraduate internship with Master Sehan Kim, O.M.D, and Dr. Kyo Ok Kim M.D., Ph.D., he joined the Center for Orthomolecular Medicine in Palo Alto, where he practiced acupuncture and herbal medicine for several years as a member of a six-physician team. Dr. Hirsh has served as an adjunct professor at The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The California Acupuncture College and Emperor’s College. He was a founding member and past chairman of the board of directors of China International Medical University.

In the past 30 years of practicing acupuncture, studying Chinese medical theory and science, Dr. Hirsh gained a profound knowledge on natural treatments from both Chinese medicine and Western medicine, which led to his spearheading a unique way of using acupuncture techniques to treat infertility.

In the early 80's he initiated the study of treating menopause by using chocolate with Chinese herbs, (specifically Clematis) and received a break-through achievement. His technique has become one of the popular natural treatments for menopause and he was featured on NBC, CBS, and in The LA Times.

Since 2000, his treatments for diabetes have gained high praise, as well as his treatment for many difficult medical cases such as Parkinson’s, MS and Macular degeneration.

He dedicated his life to developing Chinese Medicine and spreading acupuncture technique to the world, but Dr. Hirsh’s true genius was his capacity for a deep and instantaneous rapport with others that transcended social, intellectual and spiritual barriers. He saw faith as a living energy and worked tirelessly to remove all blockages to its flow.

Roger was on a great journey and he pulled us along, revealing to us our strengths, our possibilities, and our place in the universe. His every action, kind and compassionate, enlightened us to our possibilities and made us see not only our personal responsibility but also our salvation.

While on a trip to Egypt, Dr. Hirsh was injured and came back with an infection that led to his death nine days later. He died as he lived - like a meteor - quick, graceful, compelling. Those of us who were lucky enough to know him are so grateful to have been caught up, however briefly, in his reflected light.