Guest guest Posted December 22, 2006 Report Share Posted December 22, 2006 Sorry I haven't gotten back to everyone, and thanks for such newsy posts. I'm going away for the holidays, and have been busy getting ready to go away. Jack, the best acupuncturist/herbalist I saw was in Princeton, NJ, and has an office in NYC. I can post it if anyone wants it. She cut her price for me (long-term condition, she said) and did cure my heat problem, which, on top of my spaced-out, not-with-it condition, made me exceptionally edgy and irritated. It was awful. It did take several months, however. I kept track of the different herbs she gave me (all in packets). The prices were good, about $8 or so. One herbalist in MOntclair, NJ, charged $25 for a 2 week supply of licorice, saying it would help. I later learned that the same thing from a health store would be about $5. The herbal combos (nothing premade, just packets of herbs) kept changing. There were multiple herbs with each visit, too many to list. I never did sit down to figure out what did what. Another herbalist gave me a popular remedy for " stomach problems " that's available at any Asian market. Despite her background and general low price and easy demeanor, she thought I had candida (yeast infection) and pretty much didn't know what to do with me once her treatment didn't work. (UGH.) Overall, I found most acupuncturists weren't that good or thorough (one didn't take my pulse; this one I just mentioned talked while taking it). The one in Princeton was very good and thorough, but I moved for a new job and she was very hard to get to after work with traffic. I'm doing the 8 pieces of brocade every other day and will for the next month. Then I'll see what to do next. I'm thinking that 1 month may not be enough -- that's the problem with this stuff -- takes too long! heh. I'm also doing another exercise set (2 sets, the 2nd of which is called 'carrying the moon.' first set has you stand, raise your hands in front of you at right angles to the floor, and hold breath gently). The 2 are said to help " cure " you of any ailment, w/results after 3 months. Well, it won't start unless I do.... I'm against Western medicine overall, but it has its place. I got in this mess by taking Prozac and BuSpar, combos that were recommended for anxiety. These symptoms I have were typical of those drugs and others like it. But no Western dr. will touch me (I'm " imagining " my symptoms) or has any suggestion except more of them. It seems to me that the people complaining of the Prozac-like drugs say the same thing, and to me, it seems that these drugs build dampness in the body, which doesn't always go away once the drugs are stopped/tapered off. I did stay on rigid dampness diets (no milk or sugar, etc.) for months. My symptoms did not go away but didnt' get better. Overall, it was frustrating and I saw no good of it. Perhaps it's as if everything were done together (acupucture, herbs, qigong). I have tapes on the short and long yang-style tai chi forms. I can't get into them as I forget the movements too quickly, hence my interest in qigong. I'd do any exercise 1000 times if it would help. Happy Holidays, all! Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2006 Report Share Posted December 22, 2006 Glenn: Happy holidays to you and thank you for the update. You raised good points about practitioners, some are not as thorough as others, perhaps they follow their training to some extent but fail to completely deal with problems. That happens in China quite often, it is difficult to find someone who can deal thoroughly with conditions until they are finally resolved. That really places the responsibility for resolving problems on the patients, to find the best practitioners to help us. Doing everything simultaneously is quite important, following all of the diet regimes as well as taking proper formula. Diseases can move and transform, so it's important to have a decisive plan. Please do post the names of the good practitioners you have found, while the East Coast is a bit far for me, the information will surely help others. Good luck with Qi gong, I don't know enough about that to recommend a specific exercise. Kind regards, Jack --- apchat2000 <lionhearted38 wrote: > Sorry I haven't gotten back to everyone, and thanks > for such newsy > posts. I'm going away for the holidays, and have > been busy getting > ready to go away. > > Jack, the best acupuncturist/herbalist I saw was in > Princeton, NJ, > and has an office in NYC. I can post it if anyone > wants it. She cut > her price for me (long-term condition, she said) and > did cure my heat > problem, which, on top of my spaced-out, not-with-it > condition, made > me exceptionally edgy and irritated. It was awful. > It did take > several months, however. > > I kept track of the different herbs she gave me (all > in packets). > The prices were good, about $8 or so. One herbalist > in MOntclair, > NJ, charged $25 for a 2 week supply of licorice, > saying it would > help. I later learned that the same thing from a > health store would > be about $5. The herbal combos (nothing premade, > just packets of > herbs) kept changing. There were multiple herbs > with each visit, too > many to list. I never did sit down to figure out > what did what. > Another herbalist gave me a popular remedy for > " stomach problems " > that's available at any Asian market. Despite her > background and > general low price and easy demeanor, she thought I > had candida (yeast > infection) and pretty much didn't know what to do > with me once her > treatment didn't work. (UGH.) Overall, I found > most acupuncturists > weren't that good or thorough (one didn't take my > pulse; this one I > just mentioned talked while taking it). The one in > Princeton was > very good and thorough, but I moved for a new job > and she was very > hard to get to after work with traffic. > > I'm doing the 8 pieces of brocade every other day > and will for the > next month. Then I'll see what to do next. I'm > thinking that 1 month > may not be enough -- that's the problem with this > stuff -- takes too > long! heh. I'm also doing another exercise set (2 > sets, the 2nd of > which is called 'carrying the moon.' first set has > you stand, raise > your hands in front of you at right angles to the > floor, and hold > breath gently). The 2 are said to help " cure " you > of any ailment, > w/results after 3 months. Well, it won't start > unless I do.... > > I'm against Western medicine overall, but it has its > place. I got in > this mess by taking Prozac and BuSpar, combos that > were recommended > for anxiety. These symptoms I have were typical of > those drugs and > others like it. But no Western dr. will touch me > (I'm " imagining " my > symptoms) or has any suggestion except more of them. > It seems to me > that the people complaining of the Prozac-like drugs > say the same > thing, and to me, it seems that these drugs build > dampness in the > body, which doesn't always go away once the drugs > are stopped/tapered > off. > > I did stay on rigid dampness diets (no milk or > sugar, etc.) for > months. My symptoms did not go away but didnt' get > better. Overall, > it was frustrating and I saw no good of it. Perhaps > it's as if > everything were done together (acupucture, herbs, > qigong). > > I have tapes on the short and long yang-style tai > chi forms. I can't > get into them as I forget the movements too quickly, > hence my > interest in qigong. I'd do any exercise 1000 times > if it would help. > > Happy Holidays, all! > > > Glenn > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2006 Report Share Posted December 23, 2006 Thanks, Jack. You are right, that putting it all together solves everything and it's the patient's job to find a good dr. and to stick to the treatment. That is unfortunate when you're paying for their expertise, however. I saw a lot of Western dr's (general practitioners and specialists) to try to figure out what was wrong with me. No one knew and it made me more frustrated. Some Western dr's relied on their assistants to explain hospital procedures (I thought I had candida for the longest time, as the tongue coating and brain fog indicated that). Like I said, I was grasping at straws. I found most Western dr's arrogant, and appreciated growing up with a very nice family dr that we had for years. A dr. from Brazil suggested Indian or Chinese medicine, saying that they're " holistic. " That was really all he was good for (long waits, didn't return phone calls (he said he'd research my case; never did!). A lot of frustration with all of this. Hopefully this will make your search less stressful: Acupuncturists/herbalists I can and cannot recommend: * Dr. Yingzhe( " Angela " ) Li. Acupuncturist, herbalist, OMD. Offices in NYC and Princeton, N.J. Excellent and accomodating. Sells herbs at reasonable prices, does acupuncture and cupping, too. Cut my price by about 20% seeing I'd be a long term patient. Available by email at no charge in between sessions; has night hours; explains things to you, what's wrong with you and why, etc. Recommended tai chi or qigong (not so much yoga, she said) to help with her treatments. Excellent! AVOID I used to live in Pa., but went to acupuncturists in N.J. b/c Pa. law requires a note from a dr. to visit an acupuncturist. * Chung-Hu Tao, Allentown, Pa. Acupuncture. The most unprofessional Asian acupuncturist I've ever met. He was local, but did seem a bit odd on the phone. I dismissed this as he was close. He's nasty! He'll sell you overpriced herbs, and be late, too. If he sticks you and it hurts, he won't apologize! I was tempted to walk out, but as I'd waited so long for the appointment and wanted to get better, I just stayed. I shouldn't have. Learn from this, please! * Dave Molony, Allentown/Catasauqua (Cat-ah-sah-kwa), Pa. Acupuncture/herbalist. Runs the " Lehigh Valley Oriental Medicine Center " or the " Lehigh Valley Acupuncture Center " (I have both in my checkbook). Is the point person to contact to find acupuncturists in the U.S., believe it or not. Wrote a good book on Chinese herbs. Never did take my pulse, and misdiagnosed me with candida, which is not what I have (candida patients tend to have loose stools). Recommended I buy expensive Garden of Life products (probiotics, vegetable powders), which did help. He was close to where I used to live. Is a member of the Acupuncture Society of Pennsylvania. Don't be impressed! Avoid! * North Jersey Health & Pain Relief Center, Hackettstown, N.J. Carole Bishop or Carol Alexander or Carol Cote (I forget the name; one person owned it and sold it, the other practiced acupuncture. I could not find a photo of the person who treated me, as I just recorded the business's name in my checkbook.) This was the first person I consulted for Chinese medicine, and, in retrospect, she never did give me a diagnosis. She seemed to find it amusing that I couldn't remember things, teasing that it would be a " long time " before I was better. To be fair, after treatments with her I could eliminate fluids easily. A phone call to verify who treated me indicated that the place has been renamed (Karmabridge Acupuncture). I wouldn't go there, in any event. * Woodlands Healing Research Center, Quakertown, Pa. (below Allentown). Harold Buttram, M.D. Alternative medicine. Deals with environmental poisons, such as from vaccines and yeast infections. Found in the back of a yeast book. Where to begin? You fill out a 15-page questionnaire that is methodically entered into their computer while you watch (!), then Buttram types the rest in, with 2 fingers! You haven't eaten or had coffee (you're told this in advance), so when his phone rings, you jump out of your socks! The man never did order the right test and I had to pay for it ($25), but had he, it would've been free. Said I was " taking too much of his time " as he spent a lot of time explaining the nature of food allergies to me. I was 3 breaths from walking out of his office, wait or no wait, with the phone and typing, however. He did give me his sandwich and had coffee sent in to me, which was nice. But way, way too many negatives. He's cited on Quackwatch.org as a person to avoid. Don't think of going here! * Dr. DeSilva, M.D., Edison, N.J. Alternative medicine. Actually a nice guy, very serious. (Has a goofy 20-something secretary who giggles on the phone to her girlfriends!) Had an hourlong radio show dealing with health issues, and recommends you buy vitamins from a shop he knows (kickbacks?). Seemed obsessed that I had yeast (i.e., candida). Prescribed high doses of a candida-killing drug that's hard on the liver (Diflucan) for several months; the mfr recommends 14 days. Would not return my calls when another dr's tests showed that I never had candida. * Dr. Menashe, M.D., Edison, N.J. Alternative medicine. Listed in the back of a yeast book. I waited 2 weeks to see him, then waited 2 hours in his waiting room. He breezed in, and was goofy and unprofessional. Told me about a sexual experience he received in college that cemented his thoughts on environmental poisons (don't ask!). Kept falling asleep! He did order the yeast test that I so wanted. I overpaid his office $10 and spent nearly a year trying to get it back. The billing person never returned my calls. I finally found the dr's personal email (he belonged to a co-op) and sent an email with a to-the-point subject line ( " Your office owes me money, " or some such). I got my $10 within a week! Avoid at all costs! I'm embarrassed that I didn't stand up for myself while entering all of this in. I just wanted to get better, and really couldn't think straight. (Still can't, but it's better now.) Acupuncturists are listed online (Dr. Li is listed on acufinder.com), but I understand that many dr's have to pay a fee for these listings, so some are just listed in the phone book or get referrals from Asian supermarkets, where Asian medicines are sold for under $3. Online, these same medicines are sold for up to $57! (I am not kidding!) I hope everyone has an easier time than me! glenn > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2006 Report Share Posted December 23, 2006 I want to emphasize something that needs repeating: TCM healers diagnose and treat ONLY TCM imbalances. Candida is a Western allopathic diagnosis. Any person who is billing himself or herself as a TCM healer or as an Oriental healer who does not also have a M.D. or a D.O. after his or her name who makes a Western diagnosis is stepping outside the bounds. This post also illustrates that not all acupuncturists use TCM. Some aren't even trained in TCM or have very little training. A properly trained TCM healer will not even accept a Western diagnosis in making a TCM diagnosis. There are reasons for this besides the legal one that one does not practice allopathic medicine without a license. People can suffer from the same Western-defined condition but have very different TCM imbalances. Because the underlying Roots are different, what helps one person with say asthma may do nothing for a second and could even make a third sicker. TCM healers do not treat asthma. They treat Kidneys Refusing to Receive Qi, Lung Qi Deficiency, Liver Fire Attacking Lungs, etc. The proper treatment for Kidneys Refusing to Receive Qi would do nothing for Lung Qi Deficiency and would aggravate Liver Fire Attacking Lungs. When I saw a TCM herbalist and told him I had hypoglycemia, he asked me what that meant. My face must have revealed what I was thinking ( " he doesn't know what hypoclycemia is??? " ) because he added that he needed to know the symptoms in my particular case. What he needed to learn from me was the symptoms I was having. Many TCM healers will want to know about any major illnesses or surgery. The major illnesses or surgery won't be the basis for a TCM diagnosis but in some cases will give the healer important clues. For example, if a client is having one ear infection after another, that strongly points to Kidney imbalance. But because there is no one-to- one correspondence between allopathic conditions and TCM conditions, the healer won't make the mistake of automatically equating frequent ear infections with Kidney imbalance. Other signs and symptoms of Kidney imbalance almost always will be present. It is very, very rare that an imbalance will manifest with just one symptom. There is another reason why TCM healers will want to know about major illnesses and surgery. The possibility that the treatment created TCM imbalances. Any time there is surgery, Blood Stasis results. It resolves in many people as they heal. BUT in some people it can linger for years and set up a cascade of TCM imbalances. Treatment with antibiotics can trigger Cold in some people. Etc. A TCM healer who is really on top of things will want to know your blood pressure and probably will take it. This is because some of the herbs will raise blood pressure. TCM recognizes parasitic conditions. If memory serves, these are referred to as Gu. Candida falls under this category. BUT, it would be a big, big mistake to equate candida alone with Gu. It's quite a broad category. For that matter, it's a mistake to automatically assign some of the symptoms of candida to candida. There are other medical conditions that share many of those symptoms. TCM looks at constellations or patterns of symptoms. So does allopathic medicine (when it's properly practiced) for that matter. But patterns are emphasized more in TCM than in allopathic medicine. Some of the beginning TCM students may dispair of ever learning the patterns. As you get more training, knowledge, and experience, the patterns will start to leap out at you. It will become easier and easier. There is a book coming out from Blue Poppy to help TCM healers know when they should refer a client to an allopathic doctor. Frankly, I believe there also should be a book for allopathic healers on when to refer to a TCM healer. Also one on when to work together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 26, 2006 Report Share Posted December 26, 2006 Hi, Glenn: Thank you for your recommendations and experiences of healers, hope that helps others on the list. I'm interested in Boston area healers actually, trying to convince family members to get checked out. With all of the healers you visited over a certain period of time, I wonder whether your pattern changed over time, and whether those healers may have worsened your condition with what they gave you? Kind regards, Jack --- apchat2000 <lionhearted38 wrote: > Thanks, Jack. > > You are right, that putting it all together solves > everything and it's > the patient's job to find a good dr. and to stick to > the treatment. > That is unfortunate when you're paying for their > expertise, however. > > I saw a lot of Western dr's (general practitioners > and specialists) to > try to figure out what was wrong with me. No one > knew and it made me > more frustrated. Some Western dr's relied on their > assistants to > explain hospital procedures (I thought I had candida > for the longest > time, as the tongue coating and brain fog indicated > that). Like I said, > I was grasping at straws. I found most Western dr's > arrogant, and > appreciated growing up with a very nice family dr > that we had for > years. A dr. from Brazil suggested Indian or Chinese > medicine, saying > that they're " holistic. " That was really all he was > good for (long > waits, didn't return phone calls (he said he'd > research my case; never > did!). A lot of frustration with all of this. > Hopefully this will make > your search less stressful: > > Acupuncturists/herbalists I can and cannot > recommend: > > * Dr. Yingzhe( " Angela " ) Li. Acupuncturist, > herbalist, OMD. Offices in > NYC and Princeton, N.J. Excellent and accomodating. > Sells herbs at > reasonable prices, does acupuncture and cupping, > too. Cut my price by > about 20% seeing I'd be a long term patient. > Available by email at no > charge in between sessions; has night hours; > explains things to you, > what's wrong with you and why, etc. Recommended tai > chi or qigong (not > so much yoga, she said) to help with her treatments. > Excellent! > > > AVOID > > I used to live in Pa., but went to acupuncturists in > N.J. b/c Pa. law > requires a note from a dr. to visit an > acupuncturist. > > * Chung-Hu Tao, Allentown, Pa. Acupuncture. The most > unprofessional > Asian acupuncturist I've ever met. He was local, but > did seem a bit odd > on the phone. I dismissed this as he was close. He's > nasty! He'll sell > you overpriced herbs, and be late, too. If he sticks > you and it hurts, > he won't apologize! I was tempted to walk out, but > as I'd waited so > long for the appointment and wanted to get better, I > just stayed. I > shouldn't have. Learn from this, please! > > * Dave Molony, Allentown/Catasauqua > (Cat-ah-sah-kwa), Pa. > Acupuncture/herbalist. Runs the " Lehigh Valley > Oriental Medicine > Center " or the " Lehigh Valley Acupuncture Center " (I > have both in my > checkbook). Is the point person to contact to find > acupuncturists in > the U.S., believe it or not. Wrote a good book on > Chinese herbs. Never > did take my pulse, and misdiagnosed me with candida, > which is not what > I have (candida patients tend to have loose stools). > Recommended I buy > expensive Garden of Life products (probiotics, > vegetable powders), > which did help. He was close to where I used to > live. Is a member of > the Acupuncture Society of Pennsylvania. Don't be > impressed! Avoid! > > * North Jersey Health & Pain Relief Center, > Hackettstown, N.J. Carole > Bishop or Carol Alexander or Carol Cote (I forget > the name; one person > owned it and sold it, the other practiced > acupuncture. I could not find > a photo of the person who treated me, as I just > recorded the business's > name in my checkbook.) This was the first person I > consulted for > Chinese medicine, and, in retrospect, she never did > give me a > diagnosis. She seemed to find it amusing that I > couldn't remember > things, teasing that it would be a " long time " > before I was better. To > be fair, after treatments with her I could eliminate > fluids easily. A > phone call to verify who treated me indicated that > the place has been > renamed (Karmabridge Acupuncture). I wouldn't go > there, in any event. > > * Woodlands Healing Research Center, Quakertown, Pa. > (below Allentown). > Harold Buttram, M.D. Alternative medicine. Deals > with environmental > poisons, such as from vaccines and yeast infections. > Found in the back > of a yeast book. Where to begin? You fill out a > 15-page questionnaire > that is methodically entered into their computer > while you watch (!), > then Buttram types the rest in, with 2 fingers! You > haven't eaten or > had coffee (you're told this in advance), so when > his phone rings, you > jump out of your socks! The man never did order the > right test and I > had to pay for it ($25), but had he, it would've > been free. Said I > was " taking too much of his time " as he spent a lot > of time explaining > the nature of food allergies to me. I was 3 breaths > from walking out of > his office, wait or no wait, with the phone and > typing, however. He did > give me his sandwich and had coffee sent in to me, > which was nice. But > way, way too many negatives. He's cited on > Quackwatch.org as a person > to avoid. Don't think of going here! > > * Dr. DeSilva, M.D., Edison, N.J. Alternative > medicine. Actually a nice > guy, very serious. (Has a goofy 20-something > secretary who giggles on > the phone to her girlfriends!) Had an hourlong radio > show dealing with > health issues, and recommends you buy vitamins from > a shop he knows > (kickbacks?). Seemed obsessed that I had yeast > (i.e., candida). > Prescribed high doses of a candida-killing drug > that's hard on the > liver (Diflucan) for several months; the mfr > recommends 14 days. Would > not return my calls when another dr's tests showed > that I never had > candida. > > * Dr. Menashe, M.D., Edison, N.J. Alternative > medicine. Listed in the > back of a yeast book. I waited 2 weeks to see him, > then waited 2 hours > in his waiting room. He breezed in, and was goofy > and unprofessional. > Told me about a sexual experience he received in > college that cemented > his thoughts on environmental poisons (don't ask!). > Kept falling > asleep! He did order the yeast test that I so > wanted. I overpaid his > office $10 and spent nearly a year trying to get it > back. The billing > person never returned my calls. I finally found the > dr's personal email > (he belonged to a co-op) and sent an email with a > to-the-point subject > line ( " Your office owes me money, " or some such). I > got my $10 within a > week! Avoid at all costs! > > I'm embarrassed that I didn't stand up for myself > while entering all of > this in. I just wanted to get better, and really > couldn't think > straight. (Still can't, but it's better now.) > Acupuncturists are listed > online (Dr. Li is listed on acufinder.com), but I > understand that many > dr's have to pay a fee for these listings, so some > are just listed in > the phone book or get referrals from Asian > supermarkets, where Asian > medicines are sold for under $3. Online, these same > medicines are sold > === message truncated === Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 27, 2006 Report Share Posted December 27, 2006 Hi Jack, I started acupuncture/herbs in the summer of 2002, I believe. I did not see a difference until 2005, however, when Dr. Li, of Princeton, started cupping my back after acupuncture. This was a HUGE relief. It took a few treatments -- maybe after a week, 2x a week visits -- before I felt like my old self and more energetic and my head stayed clear for a few days at a time. I didn't realize that the cupping just moved the chi, and that it wasn't moving on its own b/c my body was so damp. No diet I stayed on (religiously) or herbs helped clear my head, only the cupping. I later found a place that sells the " fire cups " (eBay, for one!) that was listed in the back of a Chinese acupuncture/healing book. I can post that once I'm home (I'm away for the holidays). My Mom was a real sport, and cupped my back every weekend this past summer. The cups (6) were $3-5 each, but paid for themselves. I did see a difference after a day or 2 of the cupping -- my head became much foggier than normal. I'd guess this was from the chi stopping or something. I'd have to go to bed early as I felt really overwhelmed by this. Between the summer of '05 and now, all that really cleared my head was the cupping from Dr. Li and another place in Morristown. I didn't post them for " good " or " bad " for a variety of reasons. I really don't want to go back there, in any event. They cupped me too after I said Dr. Li did such a great job. No one ever said elsewhere, " Oh, this is why your head is so foggy, and cupping will help you. " It would have made all the difference. When I took qigong at the YMCA, my head did gradually clear after going there 2x/wk for about 3 wks. I later figured out that it was b/c the exercises were self-slapping, which stimulated/moved the qi. I got foggy again if I missed the Sat. classes. I am much better than I was in 2002. But for the effort I put into finding an OMD/acupuncturist and for the $6,000 I spent on all of it, I'm " disappointed " no one mentioned cupping earlier, or " cured " me yet. None of this was covered by insurance, and I just felt strung along, paying all the way. I believe that www.acufinder.com gave a good listing of acupuncturists/herbalists. The thing to do is call ea. of them and find out more about them. I eliminated a slew of dr's that way. Most work their own offices through a cell phone, and will ask about your symptoms over the phone, then might make suggestions as to what they can do. Of course, " all " say they can help you! (This goes for MD's, ND's, and other alternate healers.) But you can pick up what they're like over the phone. A few in the Allentown, Pa., area had secretaries who answered the phone and said that the dr would see you one day, but your treatment/acupuncture wouldn't start until your next visit. This is a ripoff. Any good acupuncturist can start sticking you immediately. Someone said that Dr. Molony -- from Catasauqua, Pa. -- was good, so I took that as a referral. He sounds fair on the phone, and his herb book is good, so he seemed bonafide. I felt badly ripped off from him though. The trouble with all of this is is that when you can't think straight you go to someone you're paying to heal you, and they just promise you things. These days, I'm eyeing qigong/chi kung. The price of paying for an indefinite treatment, making appts, getting there, etc., keeps me in it. I can concentrate a bit better than in 2002, however, which helps. I started with the standing 8 pieces of brocade, and am giving that a month. There were 2 good bks at Borders that also seemed helpful. I got a DVD for Xmas on healing, which is also helpful. I'm sticking w/qigong as the exercises are simple, and I don't have to remember a long form, as for tai chi. I don't know " what " improved me over the years. I did take probiotics for several months, thinking I had candida. That did seem to help digest the milk. But probiotics are too expensive and there's too much written about them saying that about 30-70% of what is sold is true probiotic. As probiotics are living, they tend to not live on store shelves for long. Consumer Reports did a study of this, and Garden of Life -- the most expensive products around -- were among the worst performers. FYI./glenn > > I'm interested in Boston area healers actually, trying > to convince family members to get checked out. > > With all of the healers you visited over a certain > period of time, I wonder whether your pattern changed > over time, and whether those healers may have worsened > your condition with what they gave you? > > Kind regards, Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2006 Report Share Posted December 28, 2006 Chinese Traditional Medicine , " apchat2000 " <lionhearted38wrote:> Hi Jack, > I started acupuncture/herbs in the summer of 2002, I believe. I > did not see a difference until 2005, however, when Dr. Li, of > Princeton, started cupping my back after acupuncture. This was a > HUGE relief. It took a few treatments -- maybe after a week, 2x a > week visits -- before I felt like my old self and more energetic > and my head stayed clear for a few days at a time. I didn't > realize that the cupping just moved the chi, and that it wasn't > moving on its own b/c my body was so damp. No diet I stayed on > (religiously) or herbs helped clear my head, only the cupping. I > later found a place that sells the " fire cups " (eBay, for one!) > that was listed in the back of a Chinese acupuncture/healing > book. I can post that once I'm home (I'm away for the holidays). > My Mom was a real sport, and cupped my back every weekend this > past summer. The cups (6) were $3-5 each, but paid for > themselves. I did see a difference after a day or 2 of the > cupping -- my head became much foggier than normal. I would be quite interested to know the information you know about cupping. I have wanted to try it, but the Dr I go to says he does not practice that part of chinese medicine, so I am guessing that I would have to get someone to do it on me. What kinds of things do I need to know before I try something like this? Another question I have is how is it done? Are the glass balls just heated in warm/hot water, and then placed on the back, and as they cool the air becomes more dense and creates a vacuum? I think it would be worth a try to see what happens and if it helps, unless there is something I could do that would be a problem. Anyways I'm interested to know what you treated with it, how it helped, and how you did it. I'm also interested to know things like what you mentioned about how (if I get what you are saying) it got worse for a couple of days to a week, and then really started to help after that. I know I'll have some questions, so maybe you can just put whatever comes to you and then we can go from there. Thanks in advance =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2006 Report Share Posted December 28, 2006 Chinese Traditional Medicine , " mrasmm " <mrasmm wrote: > I would be quite interested to know the information you know about > cupping. I have wanted to try it, but the Dr I go to says he does > not practice that part of chinese medicine, so I am guessing that I > would have to get someone to do it on me. What kinds of things do I > need to know before I try something like this? Another question I > have is how is it done? Are the glass balls just heated in warm/hot > water, and then placed on the back, and as they cool the air becomes > more dense and creates a vacuum? I think it would be worth a try to > see what happens and if it helps, unless there is something I could > do that would be a problem. Anyways I'm interested to know what you > treated with it, how it helped, and how you did it. I'm also > interested to know things like what you mentioned about how (if I > get what you are saying) it got worse for a couple of days to a > week, and then really started to help after that. I know I'll have > some questions, so maybe you can just put whatever comes to you and > then we can go from there. Thanks in advance =) Generally, you soak a cotton ball with alcohol, then light it with a lighter. Heat the cup with the flame and apply to the area to be cupped. You need hemostats or tongs to hold the ball. It is the cooling action that makes the vacuum, but the cup needs to be heated more than placing them in hot water. sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2007 Report Share Posted January 2, 2007 I just got back from vacation, but can post more detailed info (cup supplier) later. I did not see them for sale at the Asian market near me in NJ. You do need someone to cup you. Dr. Li cupped my chest (I had to shave it b/c of the hair), then my back after acupuncture. She said it was not the same as having a vacuum cleaner hose attached to my back (ensuring repeated visits, hah!). My mom did it as I lay out on the living room carpet with my head on a pillow. Mom has a few pans next to her to hold water in case there's a fire. She takes a long, thin pair of pliers, cotton balls, and rubbing alcohol. The pliers hold the gauze (the cotton balls you buy in stores). She puts alcohol on them, lights it, then sticks it into each cup, pulls the pliers out, and puts the cup on my back immediately after withdrwaing the fire. The cups are enclosed enough to hold a vacuum (the fire eats oxygen inside ea. cup to create the vacuum). I have been burned a few times on the back (edge of cup too hot). This didnt' bother me, as I just wanted my head clear. Mom is just as good as the dr, and is FREE! You can tell immediately if there's a vacuum as the cup creates a huge " hickey " (raised skin) on your back. We didn't focus on the correct acupuncture points to aim for. Mom puts the cups on opposite sides of my spine. She leaves them there for about 20 mins, then twists them off. The skin is red underneath and lasts that way for several days. Afterward, Mom wipes them down with cotton dipped in rubbing alcohol. If that isn't done, in the summertime, the cup marks itch badly and the itching doesn't subside after showering. No idea why. The alcohol prevents them from itching. Mom used to " cup me " on Fridays and Sundays when I'd go home for the weekend. This would clear my head. By about Tues or Wed my head would feel more " full " or " foggier " than normal. The dr did it on Tues and Sat., then Tues and Friday, if I remember correctly. That was important, I guess, b/c it spaced the treatments out. The dr said she could tell where my body had stagnant chi b/c the areas would be oddly red or purple. I never did notice a difference, b/c I couldn't see behind me well, even w/a mirror. I do think, from what I've read, is that the cupping just moved the chi. I was told that since I had dampness in my system, the chi couldn't really move and am guessing that the cupping moved it. My head would gradually clear and I felt more energetic. It gradually fogged over, however, if I stopped being cupped or if the cupping wasn't done every few days or so. Doing it every weekend was too far apart, btw. I wasn't concerned about my hair catching on fire (unlikely, really) or being injured or anything from mom doing it. I just couldn't function well without it. Still, it was a band-aid. I'm still working on doing soemthing that will heal me permanently. Qigong seems like the best and cheapest answer so far. glenn > I would be quite interested to know the information you know about > cupping. I have wanted to try it, but the Dr I go to says he does > not practice that part of chinese medicine, so I am guessing that I > would have to get someone to do it on me. What kinds of things do I > need to know before I try something like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2007 Report Share Posted January 2, 2007 Which Qigong excercises you are doing? Do you take help of a VHS tape or a DVD? Which one? apchat2000 <lionhearted38 wrote: I just got back from vacation, but can post more detailed info (cup supplier) later. I did not see them for sale at the Asian market near me in NJ. You do need someone to cup you. Dr. Li cupped my chest (I had to shave it b/c of the hair), then my back after acupuncture. She said it was not the same as having a vacuum cleaner hose attached to my back (ensuring repeated visits, hah!). My mom did it as I lay out on the living room carpet with my head on a pillow. Mom has a few pans next to her to hold water in case there's a fire. She takes a long, thin pair of pliers, cotton balls, and rubbing alcohol. The pliers hold the gauze (the cotton balls you buy in stores). She puts alcohol on them, lights it, then sticks it into each cup, pulls the pliers out, and puts the cup on my back immediately after withdrwaing the fire. The cups are enclosed enough to hold a vacuum (the fire eats oxygen inside ea. cup to create the vacuum). I have been burned a few times on the back (edge of cup too hot). This didnt' bother me, as I just wanted my head clear. Mom is just as good as the dr, and is FREE! You can tell immediately if there's a vacuum as the cup creates a huge " hickey " (raised skin) on your back. We didn't focus on the correct acupuncture points to aim for. Mom puts the cups on opposite sides of my spine. She leaves them there for about 20 mins, then twists them off. The skin is red underneath and lasts that way for several days. Afterward, Mom wipes them down with cotton dipped in rubbing alcohol. If that isn't done, in the summertime, the cup marks itch badly and the itching doesn't subside after showering. No idea why. The alcohol prevents them from itching. Mom used to " cup me " on Fridays and Sundays when I'd go home for the weekend. This would clear my head. By about Tues or Wed my head would feel more " full " or " foggier " than normal. The dr did it on Tues and Sat., then Tues and Friday, if I remember correctly. That was important, I guess, b/c it spaced the treatments out. The dr said she could tell where my body had stagnant chi b/c the areas would be oddly red or purple. I never did notice a difference, b/c I couldn't see behind me well, even w/a mirror. I do think, from what I've read, is that the cupping just moved the chi. I was told that since I had dampness in my system, the chi couldn't really move and am guessing that the cupping moved it. My head would gradually clear and I felt more energetic. It gradually fogged over, however, if I stopped being cupped or if the cupping wasn't done every few days or so. Doing it every weekend was too far apart, btw. I wasn't concerned about my hair catching on fire (unlikely, really) or being injured or anything from mom doing it. I just couldn't function well without it. Still, it was a band-aid. I'm still working on doing soemthing that will heal me permanently. Qigong seems like the best and cheapest answer so far. glenn > I would be quite interested to know the information you know about > cupping. I have wanted to try it, but the Dr I go to says he does > not practice that part of chinese medicine, so I am guessing that I > would have to get someone to do it on me. What kinds of things do I > need to know before I try something like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2007 Report Share Posted January 2, 2007 Glenn: You wrote: " The dr said she could tell where my body had stagnant chi b/c the areas would be oddly red or purple. I never did notice a difference, b/c I couldn't see behind me well, even w/a mirror. " If there is any way you can get your Mom or someone to identify these red or purple areas, this could prove a key diagnostic tool. Most likely there are acupoints near those places. If you analyze based on the functions of those acupoints, that may lead to an analysis of your overall problem, and thus to a possible solution. Kind regards, Jack --- apchat2000 <lionhearted38 wrote: > > I just got back from vacation, but can post more > detailed info (cup > supplier) later. I did not see them for sale at the > Asian market > near me in NJ. > > You do need someone to cup you. Dr. Li cupped my > chest (I had to > shave it b/c of the hair), then my back after > acupuncture. She said > it was not the same as having a vacuum cleaner hose > attached to my > back (ensuring repeated visits, hah!). > > My mom did it as I lay out on the living room carpet > with my head on > a pillow. Mom has a few pans next to her to hold > water in case > there's a fire. She takes a long, thin pair of > pliers, cotton balls, > and rubbing alcohol. The pliers hold the gauze (the > cotton balls you > buy in stores). She puts alcohol on them, lights > it, then sticks it > into each cup, pulls the pliers out, and puts the > cup on my back > immediately after withdrwaing the fire. The cups > are enclosed enough > to hold a vacuum (the fire eats oxygen inside ea. > cup to create the > vacuum). I have been burned a few times on the back > (edge of cup too > hot). This didnt' bother me, as I just wanted my > head clear. Mom is > just as good as the dr, and is FREE! You can tell > immediately if > there's a vacuum as the cup creates a huge " hickey " > (raised skin) on > your back. We didn't focus on the correct > acupuncture points to aim > for. Mom puts the cups on opposite sides of my > spine. She leaves > them there for about 20 mins, then twists them off. > The skin is red > underneath and lasts that way for several days. > Afterward, Mom wipes > them down with cotton dipped in rubbing alcohol. If > that isn't done, > in the summertime, the cup marks itch badly and the > itching doesn't > subside after showering. No idea why. The alcohol > prevents them > from itching. > > Mom used to " cup me " on Fridays and Sundays when I'd > go home for the > weekend. This would clear my head. By about Tues > or Wed my head > would feel more " full " or " foggier " than normal. The > dr did it on > Tues and Sat., then Tues and Friday, if I remember > correctly. That > was important, I guess, b/c it spaced the treatments > out. > > The dr said she could tell where my body had > stagnant chi b/c the > areas would be oddly red or purple. I never did > notice a difference, > b/c I couldn't see behind me well, even w/a mirror. > I do think, from > what I've read, is that the cupping just moved the > chi. I was told > that since I had dampness in my system, the chi > couldn't really move > and am guessing that the cupping moved it. My head > would gradually > clear and I felt more energetic. It gradually > fogged over, however, > if I stopped being cupped or if the cupping wasn't > done every few > days or so. Doing it every weekend was too far > apart, btw. > > I wasn't concerned about my hair catching on fire > (unlikely, really) > or being injured or anything from mom doing it. I > just couldn't > function well without it. Still, it was a band-aid. > I'm still > working on doing soemthing that will heal me > permanently. Qigong > seems like the best and cheapest answer so far. > > glenn > > > > I would be quite interested to know the > information you know about > > cupping. I have wanted to try it, but the Dr I go > to says he does > > not practice that part of chinese medicine, so I > am guessing that I > > would have to get someone to do it on me. What > kinds of things do > I > > need to know before I try something like this? > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2007 Report Share Posted January 2, 2007 Chinese Traditional Medicine , Jack Sweeney <mojavecowboy wrote: > If there is any way you can get your Mom or someone to > identify these red or purple areas, this could prove a > key diagnostic tool. > > Most likely there are acupoints near those places. If > you analyze based on the functions of those acupoints, > that may lead to an analysis of your overall problem, > and thus to a possible solution. I want to emphasize this for the beginning TCM students on the list. Any time there is something unusual along the course of a meridian (channel), suspect problems in that channel. This includes feelings of hot or cold, numbness, tingling, soreness, pain, discoloration, dryness, pimples, etc. In the Connecting Channels these usually are due to an Excess in the channel. (Excess means there's too much of something - Heat, Cold, Qi Stagnation, Dryness, Dampness, etc.) " In Deficiency patterns, the Connecting channels and their branches are void of Qi, so nothing can be observed outwardly in terms of colour, but in chronic severe cases, a flaccidity of the muscles can be observed. " The Foundations of , Giovanni Maciocia, p. 349.) (Deficiency means there's not enough of something the person needs. Like not enough Qi in the area, not enough Blood, etc.) Hint for beginners: When you first start to study charts of the main meridians, it can be very confusing. In places the meridians run very close to each other and even appear from a two-dimensional diagram to cross each other. However, as a general rule, it's going to be easier to differenciate among meridians on the hand and foot than other places on the body. This is a general rule. For example, differentiating between the Spleen and the Kidney meridians along part of the foot can be confusing for beginners. But, the closer to the ends of the fingers or toes, the easier it becomes to differenciate (as a general rule). For example, the Lung meridian " ends " on the medial side of the thumb nail. ( " Medial " means the side closest to the midline of the body.) The Small Intestine meridian " starts " at the lateral side of the fingernail on the smallest finger. The Heart meridian " ends " on the medial side of the nail on the smallest finger. Some migraine sufferers will feel coldness and even numbness along the lateral edge of the hand prior to a migraine headache on that side of the body. (Wind Cold Invasion in the Small Intestine and Bladder meridians isn't the only possible Root of migraine headaches. This only applies to migraines with a Wind Cold Invasion Root and not all of them.) The Spleen meridian " starts " on the medial side of the large toenail. The Kidney meridian " starts " on the sole of the foot and comes up the medial side of foot close to where the Spleen meridian runs. BTW, if the point Kidney-1 is sore, this can indicate not only a problem in the Kidney meridian but possibly in the Kidney Organ as well. (Actually, anything unusual along the course of a meridian can point to problems in the corresponding Organ. Sometimes the problem will be confined to the meridian, but sometimes not. It's that the probability of the corresponding Organ being affected is stronger when K-1 is sore than with many of the other points.) Unfortunately, manifestations of problems in meridians don't confine themselves to the hands and feet. Spotting problems on one's own back can be particularly problematic. However, memorizing where the main meridians " start " and " end " on the fingers and toes is a good place to begin making sense out of the meridians and points. Some channel problems are going to be apparent on the hands and feet. Memorizing the " start " and " end " points also gives one a vague idea of where the meridians " run " on the the hands and feet plus gives a foundation for remembering where the meridians run on the feet and hands. For example, let's say there's a sensation of Cold or Heat or some other unusual sensation in the middle of the top of the foot. You remember that the Stomach meridian " ends " on the lateral side of the nail on the second toe. You check an acupuncture chart, and sure enough, the Stomach meridian runs down the middle of the top of the foot. The terms " down " and " up " are used because there is a proper direction of the flow of Qi in the meridians. In some meridians Qi descends, and in others it ascends. If the direction of the flow is wrong, this is an imbalance. For example, when Stomach Qi ascends instead of descending like it's supposed to, this is called " Rebellious Qi " , and it can manifest as belching, acid reflux, nausea, and vomiting (among other things). Some of the beginning TCM students may be wondering if problems along the course of a meridian can indicate problems in the meridian, problems in the Organ, or problems in both, how do you tell which it is? By the total symptom picture. For example, if the pulse is " floating " (can only be felt with very light pressure), this usually points to some kind of " Invasion " from the outside (like Wind Cold, Wind Heat, etc.). (There are some exceptions.) If the pulse is " deep " (can only be felt with heavy pressure), this points to problems in the Interior (i.e., the Organs). There are other signs and symptoms that will help you to differenciate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 Chinese Traditional Medicine , tulu 489 <tulu489 wrote: > > Which Qigong excercises you are doing? Do you take help of a VHS tape or a DVD? > Which one? I'm doing the 8 pieces of brocade, a link to which was posted here within the last few weeks. The 8 pieces are called other things, not just that. The book is " eight simple qigong exercises for health, " and is by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming; the publisher is YMAA Publication Ctr in Mass. (ymaa). I go the book from the library (in NJ and PA you can do a statewide library search via the Internet (for " qigong " or whatever). It'll save you time and money. The author is excellent, as he explains what each exercise does for your body. I posted about this book earlier. He also recommends other books, too. As these exercises tend to take months before results are seen -- after 5 years, I'm mighty tired of waiting! -- so I emailed YMAA to the effect of, " will this help me? " . Surprisingly, the guy running the show there (not the dr.) said I should buy the DVD ($30!) and do it several times a week. A few people here said the exercises would tonify me. I'm doing them every other day and will continue to do that for a month and re- evaluate things. So far, the exercises have made me very sore (from stretching), and take an hour to do completely. This book has good photos and descriptions so you can follow along, too. The first time I did them it took me 90 mins b/c of the reading/am I doing this right, etc. Now it's no biggie and is about 1 hr. For Xmas I got " Qigong beginning practice " by Francesco and Daisy Lee- Garripoli, by Gaiam (that's the co.). A shorter version of their DVD was on VHS and available from the library. They go through the exercises slowly, but at this point I want to know what these exercises are supposed to do. Does this make me sound cranky? One set of exercises is 16 sep. exercises, but no explanation. Do they heal me? What do they do? Again, at this point I just want results or want to be able to anticipate results. I'd stay with the Chinese guy listed above and get it through the library or off eBay. Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 > > Chinese Traditional Medicine , Jack Sweeney > <mojavecowboy@> wrote: > > If there is any way you can get your Mom or someone to > > identify these red or purple areas, this could prove a > > key diagnostic tool. > > I want to emphasize this for the beginning TCM students on the list. > > Any time there is something unusual along the course of a meridian > (channel), suspect problems in that channel. This includes feelings > of hot or cold, numbness, tingling, soreness, pain, discoloration, > dryness, pimples, etc. Thanks, Jack and Victoria, for your newsy posts. I appreciate them dearly! As Mom pops the cups on as quickly as she can and their placement doesn't seem to matter to clearing my head, I've always wanted to map out which cup marks might indicate what. It does seem, however, that the redness that remains seems to be due to how strong the vacuum is. Mom is not always consistent as the dr. was, but it's such a relief when my head clears that I'm not concerned about it. I always stick with the terminology: chi vacuity of spleen, which seems to sum up everything, I guess. I'd be a lot more diligent about all this if I weren't so tired from all of this! As my head started to stay clear, I was much more regimented. Otherwise I'm too easily distracted and put things off. I haven't cleaned my apt. in a year and a half; that's a far cry from when I was " myself " and I did it once a month! glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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