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Cuckoo Perspective - February 2012
Written by Sandy O'Brien - Editor
We are all lucky enough to be living, arguably, in one of the most advanced societies to have ever evolved. We consider, arrogantly, that our way – our culture - is the only and best way. But that’s not always the case.
For example, let’s take a look at medicine. Most of us have had at least one experience with modern western medicine. You know the drill – call the doctor’s office and make the appointment. You arrive a few minutes early because you know there is always some sort of paperwork to complete, read the small print and then sign. You surrender your insurance card - if you are lucky enough to have one – along with your co-pay. What other service do you pay for before you receive it? But just try to buck THAT system!
Anyway, after waiting for some period of time, you are admitted to the inner sanctum behind the waiting room. After a short walk, there it is…the dreaded scales. Now, could someone please explain why, if I have a cold, they must know my exact current weight? I often want to ask but so far have refrained. So far. But I always make a point of wearing slip-on shoes, though. Every little bit counts!
Then, a short walk down a tiled hall and into a private room where you undress…and wait some more. In previous years, I barely had time to sit down before the doctor would come in. Now, there are magazines in the patient rooms! But, my fear that the previous patient had the Black Plague or something similar prevents me from touching anything in these rooms. Not that the office is dirty; better a germophobe than sick any day.
When the doctor finally arrives, he or she is barely in with the patient for five minutes. With the schedule they keep, that’s all the time that’s allowed. “Hello, how are you, here’s a prescription and come back if your symptoms don’t improve.” Or, “I’ll refer you to a specialist for tests…or x-rays…or blood work…or a biopsy…or any of the other myriad tests they can think to employ.
Of course, insurance companies dictate a lot of what doctors do and when they do it by essentially directing the patient’s course of treatment. They will only cover this test or medicine if you have been subjected to these other twelve tests or other (read cheaper) medicines first. Some procedures are painful, some are just uncomfortable but all are time consuming, expensive and often yield no definitive information. But if you want your insurance to pay, then you play by their rules.
But, did you know that you do have alternatives? That’s right, it’s called “alternative medicine” and although our established western medicine community might not endorse it, sometimes it provides help when western medicine cannot.
The alternative medicine I specifically am writing about today is acupuncture. Now let me just say that I do not like needles. At all. And, the thought of paying someone to insert needles into my body does not sound like anything with which I would be involved. However, I will admit when I am wrong and about acupuncture I was dead wrong!
My first experience was with a friend who had a frozen shoulder. He could not lift his elbow past his shoulder, anything beyond that was excruciating pain. He went to several doctors who took x-rays and ran all sorts of tests. The only solution was surgery – and there were no guarantees that he would be any better off post-surgery. And he would not be able to work for six weeks.
My friend decided to look for relief “outside the box.” He investigated acupuncture and decided to give it a try. After all, it has been used for thousands of years in China. I am a true skeptic but figured all he’d lose was some time and a few bucks, so why not?
So, after doing lengthy research, my friend chose a licensed acupuncturist. After his third treatment (I wouldn’t have believed it except I witnessed it with my own eyes) he lifted the arm up and CRACK! His shoulder broke free and he has been able to lift his arm up over his head ever since, with no pain. It was just like the evangelists who say, “Healed!” and suddenly the crippled can walk again. It truly was miraculous.
Despite the fact that the list of ailments an acupuncturist can improve looks like the same list on the snake oil label, I can attest to some of the variety of ailments it can improve. We have told many people of my friend’s success and many people who’d been told there was no treatment for their condition have been helped by acupuncture.
I even submitted to the needles a few weeks ago. Pain is a great motivator. Migraine headaches had me incapacitated, so I visited the acupuncturist. No weighing, no assistant. The acupuncturist did look at my tongue and feel my pulse in both wrists – no blood pressure cuff needed.
Within minutes of the treatment starting, my headache was gone. I even experienced a feeling of euphoria as I lay on the table, needles in my head, face, arms, legs and feet. I know, an euphoric pincushion??? But seriously, it gave me more relief than any pill. And, the effect has lasted for a month, so far.
Other friends have experienced relief from stress, menstrual problems and back aches. Several people we know have been treated for hand tremors; one gentleman had not been able to write for years because his hands shook so violently. After only one treatment, he can now write again. Now, he doesn’t have perfect penmanship but it is a dramatic, remarkable improvement!
So there you have it. If you have a health condition that you’ve been told can’t be helped with western medicine, why not give acupuncture a try? You would be surprised to learn that although it is not known exactly how it works, it does work.
Acupuncture is becoming more and more mainstream in American society. Even physicians right here in the U.S. visit acupuncturists! Recently, a physician visited our acupuncturist for treatment for a cold! A cold - one of the few conditions for which there is no western medicine treatment, but here he’s receiving an acupuncture treatment! I wonder if he recommends them to HIS patients?
Acupuncture is not scary and it doesn’t even hurt! I recommend choosing a licensed acupuncturist trained in eastern medicine. Our acupuncturist was actually educated and served as a physician in China prior to moving to the United States.
Oh and by the way, a typical visit with our acupuncturist is at least one hour and the charge never varies - $75.00. And we always feel better when we leave the office. Can you say that for your regular physician’s office?
And if you cannot get any relief otherwise, please open your mind to acupuncture. Any port in a storm, right?
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