Robert Downey Jr Advocates for Chinese Medicine

Robert Downey Jr and his TCM Doctors

Iron man, Sherlock Holmes or the neurotic father-to-be, Peter Highman in the movie, Due Date, Robert Downey, Jr has shown the world that he has overcome addictions and adversity to become one of the most respected actors in Hollywood. 

 

Recently,  Robert Downey Jr. was honored with the 2012 Robert Graham Visionary Award by Yo San University. According to Yo San University President Larry Ryan, Yo San’s highest honor is named after the late Robert Graham, an international artist and sculptor, and husband of Anjelica Huston. Mr Graham is best known for his work on the FDR Memorial in Washington DC, the Duke Ellington Monument in NYC and the great bronze doors of the Cathedral of Our Lady Queen of the Angels in Los Angeles. 

The Robert Graham Visionary Award is conferred every year to an individual who is an advocate of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and whose life is characterized by outstanding achievements. 

Robert Downey Jr credits TCM, martial arts, tai chi and qi gong with helping him achieve good health and well-being.   In an interview with Men’s Journal Magazine (May, 2010), Guy Ritchie (Director of Sherlock Holmes), Eric Oram (Downey’s Wing Chun Sifu/Teacher) and Robert Downey Jr. describe how Downey went from not being able to get insurance companies to bond him for movies rendering him unemployable as an actor, to his current phenomenal box office success with both the Sherlock Holmes and Iron Man franchises.

 Downey was quoted at the awards ceremony by saying, "Truth be told, every discipline that I have employed that has its roots in the Chinese tradition has worked.  It's [TCM] contributed to making me a more tolerable father, son, husband and co-worker." 

Downey was featured in Wellness Magazine  (January 2012 issue of Wellness Magazine)