Feeling lucky

Why I feel lucky to be practicing Chinese medicine

Starting my business -- Acupuncture Northwest -- has been one of the best experiences of my life. I really think that I am in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing. Attitudes toward complementary medicine (CAM) have been changing dramatically over the past few years, and in addition to success stories such as Portland’s two colleges of Oriental medicine (Oregon College of Oriental Medicine and National College of Natural Medicine), Western doctors are increasingly recognizing the need for complementary therapies.

An interesting CAM study

Medical publications have quantified this trend in various ways. As an example, here is an abstract on the topic from the journal Pediatrician and Adolescent Medicine. Interestingly, studies such as this one often find that a large proportion of Western doctors are interested in learning more, and even being trained in, CAM.

An MD talks about CAM

James Rotchford has written a compelling article that is aimed at his MD colleagues searching for expanded treatment options for their patients. An excerpt (from Medical Acupuncture):

“. . . we uncommonly have the opportunity to see our patients feeling better when they leave our offices than when they arrived. However, patients who have received acupuncture often feel better and have objective signs of improvement even before leaving the office. In part it could be due to the endorphins that are released through acupuncture. Nonetheless, the sense of well being and the immediacy of effect are noteworthy and satisfying to see in patients who have received acupuncture.”

And continuing in his advice to Western doctors he relates:

“For me the medical history comes alive in new and exciting ways as a result of my studying oriental medicine and acupuncture. With oriental medicine not only what the patient tells you but the context in which they tell you is very important. If you enjoy literature or listening to a good story, I'm confident that you will experience a new satisfaction in taking a thorough medical history . . .”

All I can say to that is Amen, Brother. The more all health practitioners can know about context, the more we can really know the person we are treating, the better we are able to offer healing.

Maybe we’re all in the right place at the right time. Wouldn’t that be nice?