Peaceful Mountain Acupuncture

A weekly blog about Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

My Photo
Name:
Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States

This blog is going to be, primarily a venue for me to express my thoughts about Life and the complexities of the physical plane. My story is simple, I am an easy going individual and a moderate recluse. I am comfortable walking or sitting, talking or being silent. I am always seeking new friends and acquaintenances. I tend to look deeply and question myself about the lesson behind the experience. If you like what you read, please leave me a note, if you have a blog please leave me a link so I can read your writing as well. Thanks

Friday, May 26, 2006

Pardon me, But that is not very wise

Last week I ran across an article in USA Today about how Western medicine is now able to make a woman stop her menstrual period ~ completely.

Now, excuse me. I know I am a guy and therefore I have no clue what a woman experiences. But I do know a few things about the way the body works, and I cannot see any realistic medical benefit from not allowing the body to flow through its normal cycle. I see enough problems that start out from stagnation, why would anyone intentionally create a problem like this.

One part of the article mentions the complications in womens health from the fact that women are entering into menarche at an earlier age. Historically it has been around 14, now it is as early as 9-10 years old. Add to that the fact that women are still menstruating late into their 40's or early 50's. That means that a woman has many more cycles than her Grandmother ever did.

One part that was NOT addressed is that if a woman is taking birth control pills this is, in effect, tricking her body for 21 days into 'thinking she is pregnant', then when taking the placebo her body sheds the blood and endometrium and she has her period. What is not understood in that is that she does not ovulate or shed her egg. Therfore when she does "go off the pill" she still has the eggs that should have shed over the months/years she was on BC pills. It takes 4-6 months to allow her body to return to it's normal cycle, and that transition can be quite problematic, painful and irregular.

May I be so bold to offer a three part solution to this?

1) Remove ALL GROWTH HORMONES FROM OUR FOOD CHAIN. This has been scientifically linked to the changes in our growth, early puberty and has many health concerns. This would have HUGE health benefits for everyone.
2) Teach the men to use a condom. Sorry to be so blunt, but there are NO SIDE EFFECTS from using a condom. Yes we could discuss loss of sensitivity, but this is not the forum for that, and that is minimal any way.
3) Teach and support women to see their cycle as a natural part of their life. With exercise, healthy diet and (of course) TCM, a woman can have an easy, natural cycle that is NOT painful or problematic.

But back to the article I read. The women interviewed espoused the idea that their cycle is a "curse" (their words, not mine). I see that terminolgy as part of the problem. It is not a 'curse' it is part of incarnation as a female.

Guys have a cycle too. Ours seems to be about 6 weeks, and tend to express itself more in "levels of arousal."

Life is built upon cycles. Whether that is the revolution of the planet causing night and day, or the revolution of the earth around the sun causing the seasons. Our internal systems are built upon cycles. Who do we think we are to start tinkering with this???

My bet is, that many women jump at this possibility. I just hope it does not turn out like Viox, or Hormone Replacement Therapy, or any of the other meds we have that cause more problems than they treat.

OK, Now I will get off my soap-box.
Hope you all have great weekend.
Michael

Monday, May 08, 2006

This is Truly Amazing

Every year I have to take a 'Continuing Education Course," the state, as well as the National Certification board requires at least 15 hours of training every year. I think this is a good thing and I have learned new things at every course I have taken. This years was no exception, but it did raise the bar for others to compare with.

The course was called "Auricular Medicine." Dr.'s Huang and Huang, a husband and wife team from Taiwan have been researching aruicular medicine for over 35 years. They have taken this medical art form into wholly new territory. After this week I will never look at an ear in the same way. Their way of looking and diagnosing is incredibly detailed, specific and backed by science.

When it came time to demonstrate they did NOT WANT ANY MEDICAL INFORMATION. They said, "We'll tell you and you can tell everyone here if it is correct." The first thing that caught my attention was when she looked at the volunteer's ear and said, "Oh, you snore at night." It was not a question. Visually she picked up several 'issues' that he confirmed. Then she started with the electrical detection machine. After several other issues she looks down to the floor and is quiet for a moment. Then she says, "You have hemorrhoids." Again not a question. She then looks at all of us watching and says " Sorry, no secrets here."

After the end of the day I gave someone a knee treatment. His knee was injured years ago in a Judo match, or training; every now and again it flares up. After the treatment I told him to come by the hotel the next day for lunch, I wanted to put in some ear seeds. When he got there I used the electrical detection machine. It was silent as I probed around his ear, until I got to the 'knee area' when it started to scream. That impressed me. I knew he has a knee problem and the theory of the machine says it should pick that up; but to have it verified is cool.

After the seminar while we were waiting for the plane I asked to have my ear checked over. My right hip has been sore for a few days. Either I am getting old or I just slept wrong a few day earlier... ANYWAY, I had a seed put on the point the machine indicated. This morning my pain is about 90% gone!!!

I am gonna continue to check this out. To say I am curious would be an understatement

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Still Walking

I got to do my presentation to the University of Arizona's Cancer Support Group on May 2nd. To say that I had butterflies in my stomach would be a mild understatement. Though I learned a long time ago if you have butterflies in your stomach the thing to do is get them to fly in formation!

The presentation went very well. I could not help but notice that the number of attendies was down by about one third to one half, but that is OK.

At the end of the presentation, during the question and answer period one of the social workers asked a really GREAT question.

"What do you tell a patient that wants to do herbs, but his or her Oncologist refuses to let them?"

The reason I like this question so much is it came from the audience, but it addresses exactly the isue at hand. Patients are requesting acupuncture for all kinds of issues and one of the road blocks they run into is: their allopathic doctors.

What did I answer? Well, one of my challenges in life is I seem to be blunt. Honest, but direct. I said, "In my opinion what needs to happen is we need to open a dialogue with the oncologist, to allay any concerns he or she may have. But, in the final anaylisis it is entirely up to the patient. The patient is the one that is experiencing the side effects of the chemotherapy, and it is THE PATIENTS BODY AND THE PATIENTS LIFE. We just have to inform and support that patient as he or she makes his or her own decision."

The audience took that with mixed response. The ones that are truly patient advocates were ready to applaud. Others were not as enthused...

I am respectful of the doctors that are concerned about introducing herbs into the process of chemotherapy, but I want to address the concern head on, with factual information and research. I feel that many times what I am addressing is not factual concerns, but rather concerns borne from lack of knowledge.

One very exciting part of the presentation was when one of the doctors said he wants to get acupuncture available in the new cancer hospital the Univeristy is building. That was great news...

But as I always say: "If you put that with $2 you can get a cup of coffee downtown. That is all it is worth." At this point in time.