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Since Alkahestry is used via the [dragon's
pulse](http://fma.wikia.com/wiki/Dragon's_Pulse) while alchemy used in
Amestris was powered by the philosopher's stone, could Edward learn and use
Alkahestry after he had given up his gate of truth and lost his ability to use
Alchemy?


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fullmetal-alchemist-series fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood
At the end of the story, could Edward learn Alkahestry?


## In all likelihood, he can learn it but not use it.

I say this because Alchemy and Alkahestry mainly differ in their sources of
powers. As mentioned on the [Wikia article on
Alkahestry](http://fma.wikia.com/wiki/Alkahestry):

> Alkahestry refers to the slightly different form of Alchemy used in the
> country of Xing. Alkahestry differs from Alchemy in both its practice and
> its goal. Whereas Amestrian Alchemy claims to have its roots in the energy
> of tectonic shifts and practices manipulation of matter toward
> scientifically practical ends, Alkahestry is centered on a concept called
> the "Dragon's Pulse" which speaks of the Earth itself having a constant flow
> of chi (life energy) which flows metaphorically from the tops of mountains
> down to the land, nourishing everything it passes with that energy as does
> blood coursing through the veins.

Although never explicitly stated, it is very likely that both Alkahestry and
Alchemy make use of the Gate, and their difference lies only in their source
of power and their practices. The above excerpt even mentions it as a
"different form of alchemy".

It may also be noted
that:[1](http://fma.wikia.com/wiki/Alkahestry),[2](https://www.reddit.com/r/FullmetalAlchemist/comments/201sj6/alchemy_vs_alkahestry/)

  * Alkahestry uses energy flows of the planet to open the gate. The energy flows and has many different exit points and thus they can use ranged alchemy. The concept of Chi is that the human body has an energy flow and that it also has many different exit points. 

> Using this concept, Alkahestrists are capable of a higher level of medical
> transmutation than Amestrian alchemists - transmitting chi through the
> pathways of the human body to cure mild ailments as well as minor injuries -
> and can even project their transmutations over long distances and wide areas
> by accessing and guiding that current to their own means with Purification
> Circles and Alkahestric markers, a function of which Amestrian Alchemy is
> altogether incapable.

  * Amestrian Alchemy uses tectonic rifts as their source of power. 

> But really Father's Philosophers Stone is limiting that source of power. Its
> the reason why Father could amplify the Freezer's Alchemy (Episode 1), turn
> off Alchemy (but not Alkahestry) and why Scar's transmutation (after Bradley
> died) gave everyone increased power (it stopped the inhibitor of Father's
> Philosophers Stone).

Because of the country's history of war, their alchemy was developed with
combat use in mind. Some medical alchemy was developed (proof being Marco and
others) however it was never specialized and Alkahestry's medical alchemy was
"better".

**In conclusion** : Since both of them make use of the same concept/power, the
different lying in their sources and their specializations, it's possible for
him to learn Alkahestry but not use it. It's similar to what happened with
Alchemy. Ed can't use it at the end, but there's nothing stopping him from
learning it. He even departs to the West to learn more about alchemy. As
someone on
[Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/FullmetalAlchemist/comments/2anq3c/can_edward_learn_alkahestry/)
put it:

> He can still physically do the motions for both, it's his body that can't
> make the final connection. To draw an analogy, it's like someone who is
> paralyzed: Their legs are still there and the nerves are still there, but
> they aren't connected anymore.


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If I've understood alchemy and principles behind it correctly, then - no.

Alchemy in any of its forms is science of changing world around you. The
question is - how you change it. If you remember island episode, answer is
given there. Everything in world is connected. You change one thing - it
changes everything connected to it in chain reaction. Obviously, human is part
of this mechanism. Alchemy transmutation is basically some sort of change
inside of human itself, which then leads to changes in real world. Circles,
tattoos etc are just a method to concentrate on change you want to do.

Now, about gate of truth. As I see it, it is actually representation of
connection between human and world. Once human undergoes change in result of
transmutation, gate translates it to the world.

Edward destroyed this gate, effectively removing his own connection to the
world (in terms of alchemy). So, I think, it is not possible for him to do any
type of transmutation.


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