Yesterday, went to an acupuncturist for the first time. I had two reasons. First, I've been interested in Chinese medicine for some time, and never tried it. The flow of "chi" through the body is something I'm inclined to accept, having seen some demonstrations by a tai chi master that I found incontrovertible.
Second, over the past 4-6 months, I've had growing pain in my right shoulder. I suspect it's the same problem I had in my left arm some years ago -- nodules, fatty deposits, "growths" that sometimes grow up tight against a nerve. Last time, I had to pay a surgeon to slice me open and dig them out. I was hoping to find a less invasive and expensive course.
Well, it doesn't seem to have worked. I'm in as much or more pain now than before. But the experience of acupuncture was not in the least uncomfortable, and left me feeling better, more energized, more balanced, than I've been in awhile.
Clearly, it doesn't do all things for all people, but I can well imagine that I would try it again. But probably not for my shoulder -- it's back to Western medicine for the MRI, etc.
I betcha all this goes back to swimming in Lake Michigan and the super solvents dumped there by Johnson Motor. They were called "PCBs." I hear there's a book called "Lake Effect" that talks about this very issue.
At any rate, I still think there's something to acupuncture, and I found the general experience quite positive.
Second, over the past 4-6 months, I've had growing pain in my right shoulder. I suspect it's the same problem I had in my left arm some years ago -- nodules, fatty deposits, "growths" that sometimes grow up tight against a nerve. Last time, I had to pay a surgeon to slice me open and dig them out. I was hoping to find a less invasive and expensive course.
Well, it doesn't seem to have worked. I'm in as much or more pain now than before. But the experience of acupuncture was not in the least uncomfortable, and left me feeling better, more energized, more balanced, than I've been in awhile.
Clearly, it doesn't do all things for all people, but I can well imagine that I would try it again. But probably not for my shoulder -- it's back to Western medicine for the MRI, etc.
I betcha all this goes back to swimming in Lake Michigan and the super solvents dumped there by Johnson Motor. They were called "PCBs." I hear there's a book called "Lake Effect" that talks about this very issue.
At any rate, I still think there's something to acupuncture, and I found the general experience quite positive.
Comments