A Meridian Therapist in China, Week 2: Acupuncture Mojo
G'day,
It's Christmas time... the stores here are filled with christmas trees and giant robot Santas. Nanning has nearly captured the spirit of the season. They just forgot about the insane shopping frenzy in the week leading up that marks the true essence of Christmas. I new I wasn't going to miss that side of things. But when Christmas came and went like nothing happened, I couldn't help but feel a few pangs for the "you beaut", "good as gold", "fair dinkum" aussie way. ...I miss the Aussie summer
...I miss the sitting at the beach looking at the sun on the surf, with a works burger (1/3 in hand, 1/3 in mouth, 1/3 in lap)
...I miss double shot espresso coffee with warm velvet milk (oh how I miss precious cow juice)
...I miss bacon, eggs and hash browns (for breakfast, lunch or dinner)
...I miss fresh steamed vegetables (without pesticides)
...I miss the way Australia stops during the week or so around Christmas and new years (even if it is mainly due to a nation wide hangover)
...I miss my family and friends
...I miss learning the art of acupuncture Which brings me to the main point of this email... It seems to me that Acupuncture in china (at least in Nanning) ain't got no soul... it seems to have misplaced it's mojo... where is the love yall?...
To illustrate my point...I went out to dinner the other day with 4 TCM doctors... 2 practicing and 2 still training. I couldn't believe it when I had to start defending Traditional Chinese Medicine. The 2 practicing doctors informed my that they don't use TCM theory, but focus on the Nervous System instead... why?... "because it actually works". The 2 training doctors (learning herbal diagnosis) told me that they are bored out of their minds... why?... "TCM does not work so well". I put my hand on my heart and declared my undying love for Traditional Chinese Medicine, but I think my passionate words may have fallen on deaf ears. This preferance for western medicine over TCM seems to be a running theme in the hospitals here. The meridians, TCM diagnosis and patient/doctor connection seem to be an afterthought (if important at all). Points used in clinical trials, or the newest idea of some professor with a masters degree are given precedence over classical theory. There seems to be a dominant force in this symbiosis and I think TCM is getting the short end of the stick.
Kind of like the North Sydney Bears... that ones for you dad ;) I wonder, as practitioners of Traditional Acupuncture... are we ahead of the times or behind the times? Perhaps it is the case of being so far ahead it looks like we are behind. I like to think that we aren't even running the race.
Learning to read the patterns of yin and yang as they relate to health and disease... Wielding pointy pieces of metal and burning embers to heal rather than harm... Developing sincere and caring relationships with people...
These aspects of acupuncture will always mean more to me than any double blind, randomized, controlled trial.
To sharpen our minds, soften our hands and open our hearts... To me this is the Art of Acupuncture.
Thanks for indulging me and taking the time to listen to my ramblings. Hope everybody is having a fantastic holiday season. All the best to all of you and your families. Sincerely,
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The Root Treatment
