His journey began more than twenty years ago, immediately after graduation. He set out in search of genuine medical practitioners who had truly mastered Chinese medicine. This search took him across the world. It was driven by a firm conviction that Chinese medicine has the capacity to treat the full spectrum of disease presentations, from mild to severe. He believed it deserved a primary role in healthcare, rather than being relegated to an alternative or purely preventative modality.
However, after years of searching and countless hours observing prominent doctors in clinical settings, he concluded that herbal medicine, as it was being practiced, had limited practicality and produced inconsistent and unpredictable results.
"The more prominent TCM doctors I sought out, the greater my disappointment grew. Although their theoretical knowledge was impressive, their treatment outcomes were consistently unpredictable and weak."
The turning point in Damien’s life was marked by a personal tragedy: the mistreatment and subsequent loss of his mother under the care of a Western doctor. This event, combined with his growing frustration over the inconsistencies and clinical failures of TCM, caused him to lose faith in medicine entirely. He abandoned the profession and left for India to pursue a spiritual path.
During his time there, a prominient monk approached him and explained that he must return to Australia and fulfill his role in this lifetime - to help restore the true application of herbal medicine.
After returning home, Damien was confronted with a fractured version of ancient herbal medicine that he had never known existed. This discovery compelled him to return to China in search of its origins, driven by a belief he had always held: that herbal medicine could truly cure illness and disease.
While in China, during a discussion on ancient herbal methods, the conversation was interrupted by an elderly physician. Speaking before a gathering of respected practitioners, he stated,
“Todo Yoshimasu was a medical sage whose skill surpassed that of any physician in China, capable of treating disease effectively regardless of prognosis.”
His words were met with unanimous agreement from all who were present, and upon deeper investigation, their truth was confirmed.
This revelation drove Damien to work relentlessly for many years, translating and researching ancient medical texts written by Todo and his associates. Drawing from libraries and private book collections across Asia, he gathered, organised, and examined texts that were often fragmented or damaged by time. He then collaborated with experts to translate these works and extract their clinically valuable knowledge, which he applied directly to complex disease presentations in clinical practice.
Through continued investigation and self-reflection, Damien came to recognise that his path had always been connected to Todo Yoshimasu. His drive to understand the true nature of herbs and the art of medicine would never have been satisfied, regardless of how many self-proclaimed medical authorities he encountered. His mother’s passing became the catalyst that forced him to turn away from what he had been taught and shown, and instead commit himself fully to the difficult task of uncovering, completing, and restoring Traditional East Asian Medicine. This work ultimately became TEAM™.
