What a beautiful and unexpected post! I reached my Medicare birthday and had to choose whether to sign up for another Western conglomerate like Kaiser or Sutter, or risk being outside the system but having access to a naturopath. I've decided to follow my heart and not my fear, and have chosen the latter. The friend who recommended it described the "laying on of hands" and my woo-woo meter went off but I've changed my mind about many things by 65, why stop now?
I also appreciate the explanation of Medical Anthropology, a term I'd only heard recently from my favorite flirt at the Farmer's Market--now there's a simple pleasure!
So glad to hear this struck a chord! And yes, the bit about medical anthropology is pretty interesting! I’ve learned a lot from Alex over the years. :)
Oh and there's one of my episodes this reminded me of: From FOMO to JOMO: the Joy of Missing Out. I agree that working 40 hrs a week is too much and recommend as little as you can get away with: https://youtu.be/5ZGY7uPs8K4.
I fully believe in energy healing, the power of energy but... this is embarrassing... I'm terrified of acupuncture because I can't get over the needles. I tried it once and I have no idea how it's supposed to be relaxing! My acupuncturist was like "I'll leave you here for 30 minutes, some clients fall asleep, just relax." The whole time, I couldn't stop thinking about the needles in my hands. It was so uncomfortable and was very relieved when it was over! But I absolutely love what this post is about, and I would love to soak in the benefits of acupuncture. Has anybody started in a place of fear (of needles specifically), but was able to overcome it and start regular acupuncture?
Yes! I actually asked a new patient the other day if she had any needle fear and she asked me if people who have needle fear come to acupuncture. It absolutely happens! Not embarrassing! It's a NEEDLE in your BODY! And it can be worked through.
There are a number of things the practitioner can do to make your experience better. I definitely try to remember to ask people if they're nervous and we go from there. I generally won't do hand points on the first treatment. My guess is this practitioner did Large Intestine 4, which is a great and commonly used point, but can be a little nervy. If I do anything around the hands or lower arms, I'll leave one hand free--that seems to make people feel better. I often use a point on the wrist that is pretty tolerant of the patient moving. So I'll actually have the patient move their arm a little in front of me, while I'm there, so they know that it won't hurt (in general, you should NOT move when the needles are in though!). But knowing they can move their hands/arms without it hurting allays a lot of anxiety. I have one patient who has been coming for years and she still likes to have one hand free--totally fine!
I also offer all patients a buzzer. It's basically a little doorbell that they can push if they've had enough, or they moved too much and dislodged a needle or whatever. For many people, knowing that this option exists decreases a lot of anxiety. I like this better than coming in every 5 minutes because if you are able to get in the zone, it's a bummer to have someone come in and interrupt it.
Some people start small. 28 minutes is how long it takes one cycle of qi to circulate through the body, so that's how long I leave needles in. But it's totally fine to go in saying you think you can only do 5 or 10 or whatever (please note you will still be charged the full amount).
I also try to encourage people to get out of their heads and into their bodies. This is particularly hard for people who spend a lot of time in their heads and that is understandable (and acupuncture can help with this!). I will suggest they do a body scan meditation--just start at the top of your head and think about what your head feels like. Work your way down to your neck--are you tensing? Relaxed? How are your shoulders feeling? What does the table feel like pressing against the back side of your body? And all the way down to your toes.
Finally, environment is very important. My treatment rooms are soundproofed as much as possible. I keep them pretty dark. I offer all patients an eye pillow--basically a weighted blanket for their eyes. This helps calm the mind for a lot of people (some people get claustrophobic, especially with masks on, so you just gotta try it out. The beauty of an eye pillow is that if you turn your head to the side, it falls off.). I make sure the temperature is good for the patient. I also am pretty choosy about my music selections. One album that I very much love that I almost feel is cheating in terms of getting people into the zone is Jon Hopkins' Music for Psychedelic Therapy.
I have been on a lot of different acupuncture tables and I'm also a bit of a Princess and the Pea/Goldilocks when it comes to that sort of thing, so I'm personally very open to people's requests for what they think will help them feel more comfortable. I'm not sure where you're located, but if you're in LA, come see me! And if not, I can perhaps recommend someone to you. At any rate, and in ANY medical environment, please do your best to speak up about any discomfort you may have. Your practitioner, whether it's an acupuncturist or an MD, works for you.
Thank you so much for such a thorough response!!!! I really appreciate it. I'm in LA so I'll try to come see you :) Definitely feel like the hand needles (and the ear/head ones) were too much for me last time but I'd love to work my way up there one day!
Simple pleasures - I visited my folks in Neb and plants were so cheap there, I filled up my car and drove them back to TX. I've spent the last few days repotting and repositioning all my plants. I'm enjoying reading about them and watering them and generally trying to let them grow.
Jul 12, 2022·edited Jul 12, 2022Liked by Sara Campbell
My simplest summer pleasure is to go swimming at Frenchtown Pond. I've been going off-and-on my entire life except for during the years I didn't live in this area. But now, living just a few miles away again, I go whenever it is hot and I love it.
Also: what a great interview. Thank you, Sara ... and thank you, Alex!
What a beautiful and unexpected post! I reached my Medicare birthday and had to choose whether to sign up for another Western conglomerate like Kaiser or Sutter, or risk being outside the system but having access to a naturopath. I've decided to follow my heart and not my fear, and have chosen the latter. The friend who recommended it described the "laying on of hands" and my woo-woo meter went off but I've changed my mind about many things by 65, why stop now?
I also appreciate the explanation of Medical Anthropology, a term I'd only heard recently from my favorite flirt at the Farmer's Market--now there's a simple pleasure!
So glad to hear this struck a chord! And yes, the bit about medical anthropology is pretty interesting! I’ve learned a lot from Alex over the years. :)
Oh and there's one of my episodes this reminded me of: From FOMO to JOMO: the Joy of Missing Out. I agree that working 40 hrs a week is too much and recommend as little as you can get away with: https://youtu.be/5ZGY7uPs8K4.
Amen to that!
I fully believe in energy healing, the power of energy but... this is embarrassing... I'm terrified of acupuncture because I can't get over the needles. I tried it once and I have no idea how it's supposed to be relaxing! My acupuncturist was like "I'll leave you here for 30 minutes, some clients fall asleep, just relax." The whole time, I couldn't stop thinking about the needles in my hands. It was so uncomfortable and was very relieved when it was over! But I absolutely love what this post is about, and I would love to soak in the benefits of acupuncture. Has anybody started in a place of fear (of needles specifically), but was able to overcome it and start regular acupuncture?
Yes! I actually asked a new patient the other day if she had any needle fear and she asked me if people who have needle fear come to acupuncture. It absolutely happens! Not embarrassing! It's a NEEDLE in your BODY! And it can be worked through.
There are a number of things the practitioner can do to make your experience better. I definitely try to remember to ask people if they're nervous and we go from there. I generally won't do hand points on the first treatment. My guess is this practitioner did Large Intestine 4, which is a great and commonly used point, but can be a little nervy. If I do anything around the hands or lower arms, I'll leave one hand free--that seems to make people feel better. I often use a point on the wrist that is pretty tolerant of the patient moving. So I'll actually have the patient move their arm a little in front of me, while I'm there, so they know that it won't hurt (in general, you should NOT move when the needles are in though!). But knowing they can move their hands/arms without it hurting allays a lot of anxiety. I have one patient who has been coming for years and she still likes to have one hand free--totally fine!
I also offer all patients a buzzer. It's basically a little doorbell that they can push if they've had enough, or they moved too much and dislodged a needle or whatever. For many people, knowing that this option exists decreases a lot of anxiety. I like this better than coming in every 5 minutes because if you are able to get in the zone, it's a bummer to have someone come in and interrupt it.
Some people start small. 28 minutes is how long it takes one cycle of qi to circulate through the body, so that's how long I leave needles in. But it's totally fine to go in saying you think you can only do 5 or 10 or whatever (please note you will still be charged the full amount).
I also try to encourage people to get out of their heads and into their bodies. This is particularly hard for people who spend a lot of time in their heads and that is understandable (and acupuncture can help with this!). I will suggest they do a body scan meditation--just start at the top of your head and think about what your head feels like. Work your way down to your neck--are you tensing? Relaxed? How are your shoulders feeling? What does the table feel like pressing against the back side of your body? And all the way down to your toes.
Finally, environment is very important. My treatment rooms are soundproofed as much as possible. I keep them pretty dark. I offer all patients an eye pillow--basically a weighted blanket for their eyes. This helps calm the mind for a lot of people (some people get claustrophobic, especially with masks on, so you just gotta try it out. The beauty of an eye pillow is that if you turn your head to the side, it falls off.). I make sure the temperature is good for the patient. I also am pretty choosy about my music selections. One album that I very much love that I almost feel is cheating in terms of getting people into the zone is Jon Hopkins' Music for Psychedelic Therapy.
I have been on a lot of different acupuncture tables and I'm also a bit of a Princess and the Pea/Goldilocks when it comes to that sort of thing, so I'm personally very open to people's requests for what they think will help them feel more comfortable. I'm not sure where you're located, but if you're in LA, come see me! And if not, I can perhaps recommend someone to you. At any rate, and in ANY medical environment, please do your best to speak up about any discomfort you may have. Your practitioner, whether it's an acupuncturist or an MD, works for you.
Thank you so much for such a thorough response!!!! I really appreciate it. I'm in LA so I'll try to come see you :) Definitely feel like the hand needles (and the ear/head ones) were too much for me last time but I'd love to work my way up there one day!
Simple pleasures - I visited my folks in Neb and plants were so cheap there, I filled up my car and drove them back to TX. I've spent the last few days repotting and repositioning all my plants. I'm enjoying reading about them and watering them and generally trying to let them grow.
That sounds wonderful and makes me want to try again with plants. I have kinda the opposite of a green thumb.
Thanks for reminding me to slow down and take note.
❤️❤️
Simple pleasure: the other day I walked to the park near me and laid in the sun before work. It felt amazing.
That sounds fantastic!
Simple pleasure: Popsicles. I've crushed like 7 boxes this summer, and I reckon I'll crush 7 more...
Wonderful. Do you have a go to brand? I haven’t bought popsicles in forever.
Oh man, a gummy and limeade popsicle outside - chef's kiss.
Tiny pleasure: re-reading Walden.
Perfect lazy summer afternoon pastime.
My simplest summer pleasure is to go swimming at Frenchtown Pond. I've been going off-and-on my entire life except for during the years I didn't live in this area. But now, living just a few miles away again, I go whenever it is hot and I love it.
Also: what a great interview. Thank you, Sara ... and thank you, Alex!
That sounds wonderful! Oh for a local pond.