“I get satisfaction out of seeing stuff that makes real change in the real world. We need a lot more of that and a lot less abstraction.”
—Temple Grandin-TED Talk 2010
July 2012
15 posts
June 2012
14 posts
To the bone
Certain things you know from the inside out and back. Love for husbands and wives, regardless of that BS on legal status. Love for children. Purpose in life. Justice. Things you KNOW down to the bone and that can only be taken out of you by a collision with the anti-you and annihilating each other in the quantum fury that is physics at the Creation level (been reading a lot of science and physics recently, sorry).
“The real problem is that liberals, both on an institutional and a personal level, have chosen to treat for-profit propaganda as news. In so doing, we have helped redefine liberalism as an essentially reactionary movement. Rather than initiating discussion, or advocating for more humane policy, we react to the most vile and nihilistic voices on the right.”
—This magazine article from the NY Times on how liberals are turning into reactionaries instead of initiating discussions. Same can be said for both sides though.
You have options. Use them.
I’ve been seeing a lot of people one time only recently. Nothing new about that. It’s just that this time I’m feeling “it” more. “It” is sympathy. Changing their health seems to be too much work for many people, which is deeply unfortunate. What I’d like to tell these 1-timers is that if they want to survive in any meaningful way in this current situation they need to do more for themselves. You don’t like meds? Fine, try acupuncture. Don’t like needles? Fine, use herbs. Still want to complain about how they taste? Fine, do any of the common or not so common forms of massage therapy or chiro . Don’t like having anyone touch you in any way? Fine, exercise, eat right, and sleep well. You have options. Use them.
In order for any therapy to work you have to receive it consistently. You can’t come in 1 time and expect results. Most therapies aren’t pharmaceuticals (and even then some pharmaceuticals need time to build up in you system). I just met you. How am I supposed to figure out what 20-80 years of living have done to you in the few minutes we have together? I’m getting the info I need to start ballparking a treatment that will help you. In order for me to figure out what works for your body I need to see you. So please, come back in. You don’t need to suffer like you are. That’s all.
“I want to be famous in the way a pulley is famous,
or a buttonhole, not because it did anything spectacular,
but because it never forgot what it could do.” —
or a buttonhole, not because it did anything spectacular,
but because it never forgot what it could do.” —
Great illustration of a real work ethic
“Famous” by Naomi Shihab Nye (via the-final-sentence)
“Jump off the cliff and build your wings on the way down”
—Ray Bradbury’s life credo in this interview. I’ve felt this way since I opened up my clinic.
Helping people with weight loss is frustrating
I receive a fair number of calls asking about acupuncture and weight loss. I tell them all immediately: acupuncture is only a part of your overall plan. You still have to exercise and get your diet right. For the last 2 calls I’ve received there is an immediate and subtle effect to the tone of their voice as they follow up with other Qs: the caller has just realized that it will take work. The needles won’t do it for them. It is not the magic bullet that they have heard about.
And it’s frustrating to me because it can work but they need to put in the effort. From my experience (limited as it is), the first effects tend to be a drop in water retention and in emotional eating. I have had many people say that the acupuncture and ear seeds help them control their appetites…followed by “but only for a few days.” Well, that’s actually pretty good for a non-pharmaceutical intervention. What I tell them is “That’s actually a good response as we retrain your body to function differently and we need to continue.” What I’d like to say is “You realize that those changes happened with a minimal intervention carrying an extremely low risk of side effects that not only controlled your appetite but also likely improved the functioning of your other systems as well as helped you handle your stress levels.” One person stopped coming after 3 treatments because “they only lasted 3 days,” as discussed on a follow up call. Hmm.
So what is the purpose of this post other than to vent a bit? Here it is: acupuncture for weight loss takes time. Please don’t expect miracles even though there is always that possibility. And be prepared to work for your results as well. I as the acupunk get to go home and not worry about your weight. I don’t think you as a patient could.
