Effect of acupuncture treatment for a patient with severe axial dystonia appearing during treatment for schizophrenia--From www.PubMed.gov

Seishin Shinkeigaku Zasshi. 2005;107(8):802-10.

[Article in Japanese] Tani M, Suzuki T, Takada A, Yagyu T, Kinoshita T. Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kansai Medical University. tani@kansai.ac.jp

We performed acupuncture treatment on first consultation for a female 28-year-old patient with severe axial dystonia, causing involuntary movement and abnormal posture of the neck and body, which had developed during treatment for schizophrenia. Involuntary movement involving elevation of the right shoulder began to occur in October X-1. Drugs were prescribed by her doctor, but her involuntary movement worsened and spread to the whole body. Thereafter, she began receiving acupuncture treatment at the out patient clinic for dystonia at the Kansai Medical College Hospital in July X. Involuntary movements of her neck involved repeated left lateral bending or a rigidly straight posture while sitting and standing. Her neck also showed a left lateral bend and right rotation. Her body showed a left lateral bend and right shoulder elevation. The neck problems in this case were induced by a hypertonicity of the left sternocleidomastoid (SCM), which caused the left lateral bending and right rotation of the neck. Problems in her body involved left lateral bending due to hypotonicity of the left abdominal muscle and hypotonicity of the left back muscles, which were unable to control the left lateral bending of the body. The right shoulder elevation was caused by a hypertonicity of the right trapezius and this was another of her problems. Acupuncture treatments were given using a penetrating needle method. The treatment points were left LI4 to decrease the hypertonicity of the left SCM, left ST41 to increase the hypotonicity of the left abdominal muscles, right BL60 to increase the hypotonicity of the right back muscles and right TE5 to decrease the hypertonicity of the right trapezius. At the initial stage of acupuncture treatment, the patient was not able to attend the hospital regularly enough to obtain sufficient improvement by acupuncture. In December X+1, she started to receive acupuncture treatment weekly, and the posture of the neck and body improved. In May X+3, her neck and body postures remained erect while sitting and she did not show involuntary movement. For problems of dystonia, we perform acupuncture treatment, using meridian and acupressure points selected based on the oriental medicine system, and we achieved improvement of symptoms in this case. The patient also achieved improved stability with regard to the symptoms of schizophrenia. It is suggested that acupuncture treatment has had a positive effect on tardive dystonia including axial dystonia.

Aberdeen Art Walk

This past weekend I had the opportunity to participate in the Aberdeen Art Walk. Participants observed several types and styles of art along Wishkah, Broadway and Heron including watercolor, woodworking, pastel work, photography, belly dancing, martial arts and music. They could even develop their own talents in the drumming alley, banging away on a wide selection of percussive devices—shutters, pipes, pots, pans and buckets.

My only offering was Cassandra, a mannequin on which I had drawn the acupuncture points and meridians, for a school project. She drew snickers if seen from a distance greater than five feet. Once people drew closer, they saw my ‘art’ and made more serious comment or question.

I always enjoy the opportunity to answer questions about acupuncture. Many people I met asked me if acupuncture can help their pain. In most cases, it does. Others asked about a particular illness such as allergies or PMS. Again, I let them know that acupuncture and Oriental medicine can help. Our bodies constantly strive to remain balanced, to obtain homeostasis. Acupuncture allows our bodies to redirect energy so that it flows in a manner that promotes healing and balance.

For more information about the Aberdeen Art Walk or acupuncture contact me at my website www.reed-acupuncture.com or by e-mail at info@reed-acupuncture.com.

feet

This blog is about my feet. They hurt like hell. But they are better than they were when I first got home from work.  I had worn these shoes once before and my feet hurt a little, but they were much worse this time. Dammit, they are such nice shoes! I will have to wear them on other occasions when I will not be on my feet for 8 hours straight.

I have a fubared right foot; I fell off the back step about 2 years ago and sprained it pretty badly. It is still not right. It has a big lump right up on top. Scar tissue, perhaps, from torn ligaments or tendons. That foot hurts on a regular basis, but acupuncture has helped it a lot.  Tonight, however, it is my left foot that hurts the worst.  I’m having sharp pains, as if the bones are jamming up against each other… perhaps they are. Or were, until I took off the shoes. They also feel a bit like they were cramping. Anyhoo, I am wearing my comfy slippers right now.

I took one of the dog’s tramadol pills to see if I could get a little relief.  The husband exhorted me to take one of his hydromorphone, and I was tempted, but I have to work tomorrow and, having never taken it, I don’t know what sort of hangover effect it would have on me. And with my luck I would be selected for a random pee test, and then I’d be fucked. So I took the tramadol, which is non-narcotic, and they probably don’t even test for it if I did have to have a pee test.

So that is my blog about my feet. Thrilling, n’est-ce pas?

My first acupuncturism

After over a year struggling with this bloody Achilles injury and having chalked sports massage, physiotherapy and reiki off the list of possible solutions, I decided to drop in to the herb and acupuncture store* – for yes, we have such a thing – at my local shopping centre.

I’ve never once walked by it in the company of someone who didn’t pass remark “how does that place stay open?”  But having researched online, there was a reasonable percentage of people saying that acupuncture was in fact helpful for tendonitis.

So a pleasant Chinese woman (presumably – the Chinese bit I mean, not the presumption that she was a woman) told me that I could get a free consultation and told me to “take a seat” before adding “not literally!” and laughing hysterically.  No, no – she didn’t say the last bit.

A minute later this young, earnest guy directs a middle-aged, confused looking Chinese man to a curtained-off cubicle next to me and then ushers me in afterwards.  He explains that the other man was the doctor and that he was going to translate for him.  Now the translator bit always throws me.  Ultimately I’m communicating with the person who doesn’t speak my language but I’m directing my information through the conduit of a second human being who gets all my attention during my speaking bit.

So I’m making eye contact with the translator who is then passing on the information to the doctor.  I look to the doctor with a rather gormless pursed-lip grin that I’m sure he could do without and then I’m going back to the translator with raised eyebrows, wondering if in fact the nature of my ailment had been properly communicated.

It’s a tense, critical moment.  Of course, my phone rings.  If it wasn’t bad enough for the wise healer to hear this he then had to endure this as the cancelled-caller left a voicemail.

Thankfully we overcame this hurdle and the doctor said he could improve my condition with some acupuncture and medical massage.  The numbers sounded a bit scary but I figured I’d poured so much money in to other forms of therapy and massage without relief that I’d give it a shot.

I lay on my back and the doctor jabbed a half dozen or so pins in to various parts of my body.  Just over my head was a sketched poster of a naked man that identified the “Acupoints” (a completely made-up word I’m sure) on our bodies.  Sure enough the points highlighted around my ankle/heel were the various points where I felt a little prick (speaking of which, on the poster, because they wanted to highlight acupoints on the inner thigh, they only semi-obscured his organ – and it still looked massive).

Meanwhile, the doctor is looking at me for a reaction as he prods my Achilles and occasionally utters something that sounds like “meh?” but I took to be him asking if there was any pain.  It wasn’t like he was saying the Chinese word for “pain”, I think he was just lacking conviction on the whole English language thing.

He sods off for 20 minutes and it was quite a relaxing experience I have to say.  He comes back to me, whips out the pins, says “ok?” and then brings in a barrel of what looks like warm sewage.  He gestures at a chair as if to say “sit on this chair and submerge your foot in to this barrel of ancient Chinese medicine”, looks at me and says “ten minutes”.  I guess they have some sort of phrase book to get them through the day.

This barrel of sewage, or whatever, was bloody lovely.  Oh, sure, there was what felt like a half-eaten Mars Duo at the bottom but that’s ok.  I mean…I’m sure it was just a Mars Duo.

So he comes back in, dries off my foot (after gesturing to me to sit on the edge of the bed again but I have to say it was a bit ambiguous) and then followed up with another gesture to lie down on my back again.  I do so and he gets working on my foot, massaging like a mad man.  It was a bit sore but I suppose that’s the point.

Then – get this – he stands up and says “face down, please”.  Now, hold on a second!  I’m buying in to this whole ancient, mystical Chinese thing because you can’t speak any bloody English!  And here you are practically asking me what I do for a living and if I’ve any plans for the weekend.  What a letdown!  I can only imagine that once I left he kicked his shoes off and put on “The Wire” boxset.

My image of this all-knowing doctor only being a step away from the this guy has been blown out of the water.  But at the same time it was quite an interesting experience so I’ve booked in for a second round.  Plus they gave me some anti-inflammatories and this Chinese massage oil that is so strong it actually rips your skin off and melts your bone.  I’m all about that.

* Mind you, I’m a bit concerned about this.

Approach your studies with an open mind and get ready to embrace a new culture

Bonny Williams recently took over from Susanna Dowie as Principal of LCTA.  We spoke to them both about the transition.  Here Susanna talks about the change and her new role as Strategic Development Director:

Susanna

“It’s a big change, but I think it’s an excellent one.  My new role plays to my strengths and my ability to see the big picture, to think strategically, to cast my eye wide and to spot opportunities that otherwise I would not have time to deal with.  It means that I will soon be much more available to people than I have been in the past – more able to forge relationships and provide active support.

“I’m very excited at the prospect of doing less hours and taking more time for myself, my family and my garden.  The role of Principal is very demanding and I had been doing it for a long time – it was time to step back and move my career into a different gear.  I’m feeling more invigorated already; it’s like having a new lease of life!

“The projects I am working on are quite long term and as such, I am unable to talk about them in detail.  However, I am also working on a new book and some really interesting research and will now have time to see these to fruition.”

And what advice can Susanna offer to new students about to embark on their studies in acupuncture and TCM?

“Traditional Chinese medicine comes from a very different culture that is 5,000 years in the making.  It is underpinned by a pictorial language which demonstrates a specific way of thinking.  In fact, TCM is very right brained – it’s as much an art as it is a science – so it’s very important to approach your studies with an open mind.

“Often TCM concepts are very unfamiliar to us as Westerners who have grown up with conventional medical approaches.  But the beauty of TCM is that it does become familiar and comfortable – it’s a new culture that our students quickly embrace and love.  I wish all of our new and returning students the very best of luck for the year ahead.”