Yesterday I took my new electroacupuncture unit to work for the first time. I work with some strange folk so it was no surprise that they were lining up to be the test subjects for me to use the machine.
The first person has severe scoliosis and always has back pain. I’ve needled her before. She is also multi-pierced and tattooed so she doesn’t whine when I stick her with needles. Once you place the needles then you hook the electrodes to a pair that you want the electric to run back and forth between. This can be used to open up the pathway between areas. Then you turn up the power to a point between “I can feel that” and “Ouch”.
Everyone who came upon us while she was hooked up was first surprised and then mimed cranking up the dials. They are a sweet bunch. By the end of the day I had worked on two staff people and a vet.
I also did one dog. He happened to come in with a leg injury right when I was feeling comfortable with the machine and I wanted to try it on a dog. He was interesting because he had strained a ligament and they happened to mention that his eye sometimes got bright red. This is where I haven’t figured out how to approach things yet. In Western medicine those are unrelated problems. In Chinese medicine that is expected. I haven’t figured how to approach these explanations especially in clients who aren’t seeking out alternative medicine specifically. Normal medical discussions tend to get mangled when what the client heard me say gets repeated to another vet. None of the other vets in my practice understand this system of thinking so I know it would be a “She said WHAT?” situation. This morning I worked out a script in my mind for a quick and simple explanation for the next time I get in this situation.
“When the ancient Chinese doctors were developing their system of medicine, they divided all the parts of the body into five groups and named them after a major organ. Tendon and ligaments and the eye both belong to the Liver group. If a dog has a weakness in one member of the group they can be prone to having a weakness in other members of the group.”
If they are interested I can elaborate. If they are backing slowly towards the door, I can shut up!
(I looked at the dog’s eye to make sure they was no obvious problem and then added some needles to a major liver point on the foot.)
