I didn't expect to ever write about this, since I refuse to talk about it with my patients. But A) you are friends,not patients, and B) I think I have one follower and no commentors. So, what's to be afraid of?
Anyway, I was inspired by a couple of people in the last couple of days to express my idea of God (or some Supreme Being) as I see Him through acupuncture and herbs.
I am not big on religion, and I respect anyone who is, provided they aren't hurting anyone to promote it. I went to church in my high school years, and then decided I had a better relationship with God from home other days than I did dressed up on Sunday. I don't talk about it, but I have a deep admiration for Him, whether or not He is the God I was taught about.
That vagueness being said, I think Chinese medicine is so effective while being so natural, that it was a divine plan. "There is going to be disease in these humans, so I need to put the cure on earth along with them to find." How patient, careful, and enlightened we had to be, though, to discover each herb and it's use! I'm sure we aren't done, because we haven't found the one for cancer or AIDS. Maybe they are at the bottom of an ocean. Or maybe we will wipe out the human race first. Who knows?
Sometimes these herbs make me laugh. For instance the bark of the mimosa tree cures one symptom of anxiety and depression: the cycling negative thought. You know the mimosa tree? It has a pink plume that sticks up in a curved feather-like shape. It looks like a headpiece for a costume called "Crazy", in my opinion. (But maybe 2000 yrs ago, it just looked like a pretty bird sitting in a tree.) Either way, that image of the mimosa tree makes me think it is waving us to come over to it when we feel like crazy is taking us down in a spiral of thinking one horrible thought. The latin name for the herb is Albizzia, and the formula I have used and prescribe with it stops cycling thoughts that make you stay up all night, or cry all day/week, and or start panic attacks. Doesn't matter what disorder or disaster someone has endured. It just stops the cycling thought so you can move forward. Within minutes!
And my other fave: the egg sack of the praying mantis. I know! Hilarious! Who figured this one out? It treats urinary incontinence and night emissions. I can imagine some ancient sage looking at a pregnant praying mantis and thinking, "that thing is so delicate, but the eggs are so secure! My grandma needs some of that material to keep her from peeing everytime she coughs." And...they work. Amazing.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The Season
Achievements:
I have a patient who plays basketball for a college team, and has had knee surgery with post-op pain. I saw her once, and she has reported that the treatment greatly helped. She scheduled again, and I hope that she experiences more long-lasting relief before the next season starts. I worry about athletes, who don't let injuries heal as they should, sometimes.
Disappointments:
One of my fertility patients was scheduled for a labor induction at the hospital, but decided to try me a couple of days before going. She was willing to see how much acupuncture could move labor along before going the "scary medical route", as she put it. I performed the labor induction treatment on the 2 consecutive days that we had before her hospital appointment. She felt increased kicking while in my clinic room, and that continued through the first night. But the labor was not induced by me. Sometimes it takes more than a day or 2 of treatments. But I rarely get feedback after one treatment, so I was glad to hear what the 2 sessions resulted in. I will recommend a few more treatments within a week, when time allows.
Struggles:
Flu season is upon us. I am sad to see how many people can be knocked down and kept down for days or weeks, and in my mind it's unnecessary. We don't even need flu shots, if you can swallow pills, and have a decent immune system. The Chinese herbs that have anti-viral properties stop the cold and flu progression as soon as they start. One day of taking the herbs, at the first sign of fever or sore throat, and you're back to work/life. The popular cold-remedy called Airborne is a combination of this 'famous' Chinese anti-viral formula, and vitamins. But I always keep a bottle of the original formula in my at-home pharmacy, and I know I will never have to suffer a cold or flu again.
This goes for other conditions I see people struggling with, too. (Anxiety, for instance.) But the cold and flu is so acute, it is just too darn easy to treat to worry about.
I have a patient who plays basketball for a college team, and has had knee surgery with post-op pain. I saw her once, and she has reported that the treatment greatly helped. She scheduled again, and I hope that she experiences more long-lasting relief before the next season starts. I worry about athletes, who don't let injuries heal as they should, sometimes.
Disappointments:
One of my fertility patients was scheduled for a labor induction at the hospital, but decided to try me a couple of days before going. She was willing to see how much acupuncture could move labor along before going the "scary medical route", as she put it. I performed the labor induction treatment on the 2 consecutive days that we had before her hospital appointment. She felt increased kicking while in my clinic room, and that continued through the first night. But the labor was not induced by me. Sometimes it takes more than a day or 2 of treatments. But I rarely get feedback after one treatment, so I was glad to hear what the 2 sessions resulted in. I will recommend a few more treatments within a week, when time allows.
Struggles:
Flu season is upon us. I am sad to see how many people can be knocked down and kept down for days or weeks, and in my mind it's unnecessary. We don't even need flu shots, if you can swallow pills, and have a decent immune system. The Chinese herbs that have anti-viral properties stop the cold and flu progression as soon as they start. One day of taking the herbs, at the first sign of fever or sore throat, and you're back to work/life. The popular cold-remedy called Airborne is a combination of this 'famous' Chinese anti-viral formula, and vitamins. But I always keep a bottle of the original formula in my at-home pharmacy, and I know I will never have to suffer a cold or flu again.
This goes for other conditions I see people struggling with, too. (Anxiety, for instance.) But the cold and flu is so acute, it is just too darn easy to treat to worry about.
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