82. The Autoimmune-Stress Connection: A Chinese Medicine View on Why Americans Are Getting Sicker

In this episode, Kate O'Donnell sits down with Jiaming Ju — a second-generation Chinese medicine practitioner, former health economist, and founder of the online clinic Kun Health — for a rich, cross-cultural exploration of how traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda view the body, health, and healing.

Jiaming brings a uniquely layered perspective: she spent a decade running health economics research across New York, India, Jordan, and Singapore before training for four years to become a California-licensed Chinese medicine practitioner. She now practices entirely online alongside her father — one of the early pioneers of telemedicine in Chinese medicine — treating complex chronic cases from around the world, and she still sees everything through the lens of a data economist.

What We Cover:

• How tongue reading works in TCM — and why it differs fundamentally from Ayurvedic tongue assessment
• The difference between yin deficiency and yang deficiency, and why yang deficiency is far more common in Western patients today
• The gut-ADHD connection: why so many ADHD presentations begin with early digestive disruption
• How antibiotic overuse in childhood may have long-term consequences for digestion, focus, and mood
• The autoimmune-stress connection: Jiaming's "candle wax" theory of burnout and chronic illness
• Why Americans have disproportionately high rates of autoimmune disease — and what the data shows
• Seasonal eating in Chinese medicine: where it aligns with Ayurveda and where it diverges
• Why extreme exercise may harm more than help — and what moderation actually looks like
• How Jiaming and her father practice true family medicine online, tracking hereditary patterns across generations

Guest Bio: Jiaming Ju

Jiaming Ju is a second-generation Chinese medicine practitioner and the founder of Kun Health, an online Chinese medicine clinic she runs alongside her father. Trained first as an economist at Columbia University, Jiaming spent over a decade as a health economist leading major think tanks and research initiatives across the globe before returning to the medicine she grew up with. She holds a California license in Chinese medicine and brings a data-driven, prevention-focused approach to her clinical practice. Known for her tongue reading expertise and her candid communication style, Jiaming is on a mission to bring Chinese medicine to a global audience — authentically and rigorously.

Website: https://www.kun.health/

Instagram: @byjiamingju

Health Disclaimer

The information shared on Everyday Ayurveda with Kate is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, or wellness routine.

Spring Cleanse: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/kitchari-cleanse-ayurveda-spring

Connect with Kate: https://www.healwithkate.org

Ayurvedic Living Institute Membership: https://ayurvedicliving.institute/membership

Women's Health Collection: https://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/collections/womens-healthhttps://courses.ayurvedicliving.institute/products/courses/copy-of-fall-community-cleanse-2024

Thanks to our Sponsor: Banyan Botanicals
Banyan Botanicals Link: https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate
CCF Tea : https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate7k3
Triphala: https://glnk.io/kovw3/kate28g

Kate's Discount code 15% off Banyan SPRINGWITHKATE