Practice UPDATE

Due to time constraints which now make it impossible for me to make guaranteed appointments, I have decided to close Midwest Medical Acupuncture in its current model at the end of 2010. I want to thank all of MMA's past and current patients for their business. Feel free to email me with any acupuncture questions you may have.

I know firsthand

I recently had a patient ask me if I knew what semipermanent ear needles feel like. The answer is of course. All treatments that I do in my practice are ones that I have personally experienced myself. In the Helms Medical Institute course, there is a specific checklist (dubbed affectionately as the "dance card") of treatments that every student must perform AND receive before s/he can complete the course. There were some treatments on that list that I found extremely uncomfortable that I subsequently choose not to use in my practice. After all, I am supposed to make you feel better, not give you pain and anxiety.

So, rest assured, everything I do for my patients has been test-driven first by myself. Isn't that the Golden Rule?

What element are you?

In Five Element theory, people can be described in terms of five different elements.  These are: Water-Wood-Fire-Earth-Metal.  A quick and easy way to use 3 of your senses to determine your element(s) works as follows.  Keep in mind this is highly abbreviated.  For further information, I refer you to Joseph Helms' book Getting to Know You, and Charles Moss' website. 

First sense you will use is vision. Notice the color you love to wear, surround yourself with, and carry as accessories.

Black-Greenish blue-Red-Earth tones-White

Second sense is taste.  Note which flavor of food you would choose if you could only take one flavor with you on a desert island.

Salty-Citrus-Coffee-Sweet-Spicy

Third sense is auditory.  This may be tricky to do with your own voice, and you may need to seek assistance.  Notice how your voice sounds in normal conversation.

Groaning-Shouting-Singing-Laughing-Weeping

Determine your element(s):

Water: Black-Salty-Groaning

Wood: Greenish blue-Citrus-Shouting

Fire:  Red-Coffee-Singing

Earth: Earth tones-Sweet-Laughing

Metal: White-Spicy-Weeping

What's it all mean?  

Water perseveres, has the will to go on.  When stressed, Water becomes fearful, and physically may have urinary, bone, and back issues.

Wood gets things done, likes to be second-in-command (all the action, less administrative hassle).  When stressed, Wood becomes angry, and physically may have joint/tendon pains, especially in the neck and shoulder areas.

Fire is the creative force, the one in-charge.  When stressed, Fire becomes over-exuberant or hyper, and physically may have blood pressure and heart issues.

Earth is the caring nurturer, sometimes ignoring his/her own wellbeing for the sake of others. When stressed, Earth becomes a worrier, and physically may have sinus headaches, GI problems, bleeding issues, and hernias or prolapsed organs.

Metal is rigid and organized, giving great attention to details.  When stressed, Metal can become depressed, and physically may have breathing problems or skin issues.

Remember, my list is very brief compared to detailed Five Elements Theory and is only meant as an introduction.  You will find that knowing these basic principles will aid you in "reading" people you encounter everyday.  And of course, yourself.

Whose time is it anyway?

I recently spent almost 2 hours in an exam room waiting for my doctor to show up for the first appointment of the day (me).  Unfortunately, I had no AT&T bars on my cell phone - leaving me with 2 hours of nonproductive wasted time.  To the doctor's credit, I was informed about every 1/2 hour or so that he would be with me shortly.

When I opened Midwest Medical Acupuncture a year ago, I set up my schedule to incorporate extra time for new patients to have their questions completely and thoroughly answered, and for returning patients to discuss results of the previous treatment and any new stressors in their lives.  I hate to wait, and assume that everbody else does as well.  When you show up for your appointment, that time should be yours - not the person before you.

The significance of waking up at 3A

Almost everyone I know has had the experience of waking up at 3AM in the morning for no good reason.  Usually people blame that late-night latte,  going to sleep earlier than usual, car headlights shining in the window, or mulling about a stressful situation at work.  In the context of acupuncture, the latter is the most likely cause.  

However, it's not because our subconscious has been working overtime trying to solve our problems while we sleep.  It's because Qi energy circulates on a 24-hour cycle, and the end of a day's energy cycle occurs at 3AM.  The new day's energy begins it's circulation around the body at 3AM (ok, 3:01 AM).  If the previous day has been stressful and energy sapping, then the start of the new day's energy cycle isn't always going to occur smoothly.  How does this manifest?  Sudden wakefulness at around 3AM, as our Qi energy tries to "jump start" into the next day.

What to do?  Other than avoiding stress, and acupuncture to replete energy levels, we can do things like tai chi, yoga, meditation, picking up a new relaxing hobby, or even reading a book while listening to "chill" music.  When energy levels improve, 3AM wakefulness should be a thing of the past.

Acupuncture is not a religon

I have recently encountered several people who all had the same essential question for me:  "Is acupuncture a religon?"  The answer is NO.  Acupuncture is a 2000+ year old method of treating and preventing physical and psychological ailments using carefully placed needles.  It can be looked at as a type of medicine that uses needles instead of pharmacological therapies. Practitioners of Chinese Medicine (which I AM NOT), will also prescribe herbal therapies in addition to acupuncture.

In my practice, I only use acupuncture and do not prescribe medications or herbal therapy.  I encourage all patients and potential patients to discuss their acupuncture treatments with their primary care physicians.  In some cases, the patient may know more about acupuncture than their primary care physicians.  Then it becomes important to let your primary care doc know about your experiences and results - that information may help another patient in the future.  

I believe the future of healthcare will include cooperation between traditional Western medicine and alternative medicine.  The patient is then the winner, receiving the best of both worlds.  For more on combining Western and alternative medicine, please read any of the fine books by Andrew Weil, MD.

"A" is for April and Allergies

Acupuncture can be effective in preventing or decreasing the effects of all the lovely pollen floating in the St Louis springtime air.  If your eyes have already started to itch, your nose is congested, and you are sneezing it may take more than one acupuncture treatment to get definite improvement.  However, a treatment before the symptoms start can be very effective.  It may be too late for the 2009 spring season, but a good thing to keep in mind for the future.

Remember, as always, if you have ACUTE difficulties breathing for any reason acupuncture is not the first line of treatment.  Contact your physician and/or dial 911.