An Ear, Revisited
One of the many things I am doing these days is performing auricular acupuncture in a very comprehensive program we have created at Peaceful Spirit Therapeutic Massage here in Tucson. The two primary protocols are for smoking cessation and maintaining a healthy weight. I say the programs are very comprehensive because in addition to the ear acupuncture we also have a psycho-therapist and nutritionist involved. Each participant gets two sessions with the therapist and a nutritional review/education session. The participants are doing very well. We are just starting week two of a twelve week course. I expect they may hit a 'wall' in another two weeks. But that is why we have set the program up like we have; three treatments a week for a month, two a week for another month and finish off with once a week for the last month. I think it is a great program and service.
One of the ladies in the program asked me an interestng question last week. One that I do not have an entirely clear answer for.
She experiences a lot of eye pain and a sensation of 'scratchiness' in her eyes. She has been experiencing this for more than a year, her opthamalogist does not have a clear diagnosis. But since she has been coming into the ear clinic she is not experiencing this pain or scratchiness.
It would make more sense in my brain if I had been needling points that are associated with her eyes, or her liver. But I am not.
I am doing points to calm the shen (Shenmen), balance the endocrine and hormone systems, reduce hunger and target her stomach and spleen. One point (Anti-depression) is close to the "eye point" but close to is not the same as on poit, especially in auricular acupuncture.
This is one of the times when I say "H,mmm. I honestly do not know the mechanism of how this is happening." I also know that neither she, nor I, care how it is happening; she is just glad that it is.
After each of the sessions the participants are in a good, calm state. Laughing ans smiling as they head back into their lives. It has been interesting to hear how the auricular acupuncture is affecting their lives and the reactions they have had to incidents throughout the day.
I may not be able to explain exactly how auricular acupuncture works, but it is obvious that something is happening.
One of the ladies in the program asked me an interestng question last week. One that I do not have an entirely clear answer for.
She experiences a lot of eye pain and a sensation of 'scratchiness' in her eyes. She has been experiencing this for more than a year, her opthamalogist does not have a clear diagnosis. But since she has been coming into the ear clinic she is not experiencing this pain or scratchiness.
It would make more sense in my brain if I had been needling points that are associated with her eyes, or her liver. But I am not.
I am doing points to calm the shen (Shenmen), balance the endocrine and hormone systems, reduce hunger and target her stomach and spleen. One point (Anti-depression) is close to the "eye point" but close to is not the same as on poit, especially in auricular acupuncture.
This is one of the times when I say "H,mmm. I honestly do not know the mechanism of how this is happening." I also know that neither she, nor I, care how it is happening; she is just glad that it is.
After each of the sessions the participants are in a good, calm state. Laughing ans smiling as they head back into their lives. It has been interesting to hear how the auricular acupuncture is affecting their lives and the reactions they have had to incidents throughout the day.
I may not be able to explain exactly how auricular acupuncture works, but it is obvious that something is happening.
posted by Michael Clifford, L. Ac. | 7:38 AM
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