Acupressure book/Watching an acupuncturist

[Guest guest]

Victoria,

 

The book you suggested ( " Acupressure's Potent Points " by Michael Gach)

arrive today via interlibrary loan. I eagerly devoured it! I found it a

well written cookbook, and very clear. It almost looks like one could

start using the points immediately!

 

Interestingly, I was able to take an afternoon off from my medical

practice and travel to a nearby city today...and spend an hour watching

an acupuncturist from Taiwan. He was treating about 5 patients at the

same time, for a variety of disorders. I was unable to ask too many

questions, for I didn't want to slow him up. So let me ask you all

instead! <grin>

 

1) He didn't spend a long time taking a history. He obtained the main

complaint (tinnitus in one patient; fibromyalgia in another; unilateral

weakness in a stroke patient; chronic neck pain in another) --- and then

started to work. Is this normal? I thought many practitioners of TCM

spent 45 minutes or more taking a long history.

 

2) Everyone got needled in the location that went with their main

complaint (around the ear for tinnitus; on the legs for leg weakness); on

both legs, the low abdomen, the scalp, and arms for fibromyalgia; on the

neck for neck pain). Many got additional points for " energy " . Some

needles were heated with moxa; some needles were attached to low voltage

electricity; other needles were simply left in place. Why the differences

between how the needles were used?

 

Thanks.

 

 

Sam

 

PS. Sorry for the confusion yesterday. I did not mean to imply that

acupuncture worked via the placebo effect. I know that many studies

attest to acupuncture's overall effectiveness in many areas. I think I

was asking if placebo might not play a role *some* of the time with

*some* of the points --- since sometimes seemingly contradictory points

are suggested by different people for the same illness.

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

>The book you suggested ( " Acupressure's Potent Points " by Michael Gach)

>arrive today via interlibrary loan. I eagerly devoured it! I found it a

>well written cookbook, and very clear. It almost looks like one could

>start using the points immediately!

 

As cookbooks go, it's a very good one. I like the fact that it has diagrams,

photographs, and instructions on where the points are located. This book will

help you learn where some of the more common points are. You will build upon

this information. As you learn more - especially after you get Maciocia's book -

you will start to understand why the points in Acupressure's Potent Points are

recommended.

 

>1) He didn't spend a long time taking a history. He obtained the main

>complaint (tinnitus in one patient;

 

Tinnitus often is due to Kidney or Liver imbalance. (I'm just throwing out some

info for future reference and to start familiarizing you with some of the

terms.)

 

>unilateral

>weakness in a stroke patient;

 

May be Liver Wind. This is Internal Wind.

 

> chronic neck pain in another)

 

May be External Attack by Cold, Wind, Heat.

 

These are very general ideas of what to consider. There can be other causes.

Without more details one can't tell.

 

>needles were heated with moxa;

 

Moxa is used when there's Cold.

 

Victoria

 

 

 

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Before you buy.

[Guest guest]

Sam,

In the clinic where I work we see patients on very much the same schedule. I

have only come across one acupuncturist in this area that did the 45 min to hour

thing. This guy was trained in five element.

 

Based on the fact that he went to the location to treat the illness it appears

that he may be more of a Meridian Style ACupuncturist.

 

Moxa as Victoria stated is generally used for cold (and works well) I have also

used it for menstrual discomfort and infertility. Again these things are

generally related to cold. Moxa is said to give Qi and you can even rub the

ashes on points to stimulate them. In cases of inflammation where heat is

theraputic Moxa can be very helpful. As for the electrical stimulation we

general only use it with stroke victims or paralysis. M.D.'s have a tendency to

use it more often than tranditionally trained acupuncturist. Some of this maybe

because Joe Helms trains them I really don't know.

 

I sure hope that Dagmar can give you some advise on your female patient. I am

concerned about her pain medications. I work for an addictions hospital and I

see so many patients addicted to pain meds and that is an ugly withdrawal. I do

believe that acupuncture would help the pain.

 

Good Luck

Shane