Loose joints

I'm sure you have all come across clients and patients with loose or 'double' jointedness. I treated an ex army man this week for the second time who had very lax knee ligaments. He was able to hyperextend several cms. from the norm and he had very elastic cruciate ligaments. He'd been having knee pain for several years - the joint was never swollen but it was always 'pressurised'. When I had originally seen hi back in the summer, the predisposing cause of the knee pain was an old ankle sprain that hadn't resolved and even though he had been much improved since then he was still getting some discomfort.

Many years ago I was a practising homoeopath and used to give Nat. Mur. to help strengthen joints - the reason behind this is that loose joints are often associated with salt craving or a life long love affair with too much salt in the diet. Over a period of time the connective tissue become stretched. I asked him to take Nat. Mur. 6 (homoeopathic sodium chloride) for a couple of months. I would bet my mortgage that after this time his knee joints will be tighter and not prone to injury. Have a new look at all those peripheral joint problems with this peculiarity - it may be a solution!

Time moves on!

Oh dear, is it that time already? No I don't mean the hour, but the YEAR! I am just 14 weeks away from my 65th birthday and I am just about to request a Pension Forecast - scary or what! In one way I shall be pleased to retire, but in another I shall not. As the last blog stated I am stopping clinical work at the end of 2011 but intend to carry on teaching and writing until I drop!! At least I won't have any more procrastination excuses about not getting on with the books or with preparing workshops. My retired friends tell me that they don't know how they had time to work, as they don't seem to have a moment's spare time in retirement.

The people I feel most sorry for will be my patients. Here on Skye there isn't exactly a plethora of practitioners for them to see after December. We shall be letting all and sundry know from this week, so we are expecting quite a lot of emotional blackmail and backlash. I joined one of the caring professions all those years ago because I thought I could make a difference - I think that, by and large, I have achieved this - although you always think that you could have done more. I am finally thinking of me and my health and welfare. My cervical spondylosis is now so bad that it takes 2-3 days to recover from a day's clinical work. This means, that if I work 2 or 3 days a week, I am never out of pain (in its many guises) and debility. So please think of me over the next few weeks as I tell each patient the good (bad for them) news. So long from a wet and windy Skye. JRC

Autumn update

How was your Summer? We didn't have the very hot temperatures they experienced in the south of the UK - so that's OK. I shall try and be more diligent in blog writing - I have decided to retire from clinical work at Christmas so will have much more time after that (pigs may fly). Even though I had my consultation with the neurosurgeon back in mid June, the estimated surgery date is the end of March 2012. I could, though, be offered a last minute cancellation at Christmas or New Year - so here's hoping.

Several months ago I was asked to give a 3 day workshop on using acupressure in treating musculo-skeletal conditions in Lincoln. I was assured that there was a lot of interest and I could expect 12-14 people. I confidently booked the trains and hotels. Last week I was told that as funding was not forthcoming there were only 4 attending (and only 3 paying). I am not a greedy person and teach for the love of it, certainly not for financial gain, but I would have lost money. I draw the line at that. It seems to me that many practitioners depend on funding for courses, as money is obviously tight these days. I cannot recoup the train fare - so I have put it down to one of life's experiences.

Contrast that with a 5 day workshop next month in Solihull. This pro rata costs more money and I have no local delegates. Folks are travelling from Rumania, New York, Scotland and many distant regions of the UK. Although I award CPD, they will not be able get funding. When I first qualified as an acupuncturist I couldn't get enough training and education. I travelled everywhere just to learn new methods and techniques. It probably cost a fortune and I had to go without other things. You cannot put a price on education - it is priceless. Even though a course may seemingly cost a small fortune (after travel and accommodation are added), what you learn could be life changing! I pride myself that I offer exhaustive training and I know that scores of delegates have had their practices transformed by what they have learnt. Of course it is a big gamble going on any course - it may be rubbish!! I'll write again soon - JRC

UPDATE

Wow- is it really 6 weeks since the last blog - how time flies. I just want to give you all an update than have another break but then do a regular blog from September. So what has happened since the last posting?

• I am half way through writing the 'Light Touch Reflextherapy' book but looking for a publisher - so may self publish. It should take me another 3/4 months to complete it.
• The A1 size poster to accompany the book (and for workshops) is now with the printers and they will be available at the end of August. I shall do a mail shot and advertising then.
• I have 3 practical workshops in the autumn in Solihull. Response is slow so they may not happen - money is tight in the UK. Next year I am going to Tuscany in April and hope to go the the west coast of the USA in May.
• My wife and I have decided not to take on any more new patients as from mid August - then cut down the clinical workload to 2 days a week. This is mostly due to my deteriorating neck problem.
• I saw a consultant neurosurgeon in Edinburgh last month and I need to have more spinal surgery - this time a spinal decompression and fusion. If I go privately I could have it done next month but if I can hold out I will reach the top of the NHS waiting list in January 2012.
• We are proud parents once more!!! We took on 2 more ducklings 2 days ago. They are too young to go in with the rest of the ducks so they are in their special 'ark' for a few weeks.
• I have travelled to Derbyshire a couple of times lately to see my 89 year old mum who had a stroke in February - she is now in a nursing home. She still cannot swallow or talk too well but at least she's alive! I shall be there again this weekend following a couple of days in London. One of the London highlights is going to the O2 arena to see Placido Domingo and Angela Gheorghiu in concert.
• I'll be back in September but please contact me by email

Core Values and Procedures

Apart from discussing the awful weather we are having in the Highlands (it has rained every day for the past 3 weeks and it is cold - longest day only 3 weeks away) with patients, the topic of conversation is the latest report into bad nursing procedures. There have been graphic reports of how patients in hospital and nursing homes have been neglected, uncared for and sometimes abused by the nursing profession. I have certainly seen from first hand experience some of this a few years ago, so it came as no surprise. I suppose you can say that there is good and bad in every trade and profession and you will always get some people who are more conscientious that others at their job.

The nursing one though goes a bit deeper in that we expect that each and every nurse is caring, after all, isn't that why they enter the profession in the first place. The public expects that every nurse has the Florence Nightingale image. The topic is complicated but one theory of mine is that because nursing is now a degree course i.e. academic, the actual nitty gritty of cleanliness, caring, talking to patients, respecting them as human beings has somehow been lost in the pursuit of academia. Thirty years ago nursing training consisted 25% theory and 75% practice - I know, I did it! Now it is completely the other way around. The excuse of 'not enough staff on the ward to give an adequate service' simply won't wash. I have personally seen cases of neglected patients whilst extended coffee breaks are being taken!

I wonder if there is something similar occurring in my profession of physiotherapy? No I don't mean lack of care particularly, but, again because junior physios have all been to university and spend much more time in theory and less in practical aspects than was the case years ago, that they have lost the practical empathetic nature that was apparent 20 years ago. they don't get involved, they don't get their hands 'dirty' and actually TOUCH their patients. Again the excuse is 'lack of time'. The answer to this lame excuse is that they are round and bounce!!! One can achieve more with a patient or client in 15 minutes by treating them with hands-on procedures that one can ever do by simply teaching a formula of exercises or attaching them to the latest electrotherapy machine. Let me know what you think - JRC

Update

How can it be the middle of May already? Unlike most of the UK, we have had constant rain for several days. Everything is very green and wet (and long) but there is nothing that can be done. Taking a break from important acupoints to give you an update.

Workshops:- I am taking a break this Spring and Summer so I can finish the LTR book and try and get a publisher for it. But this Autumn may be busy. I am off to Birmingham next month to look at a conference centre which, as well as being conveniently positioned to main line railway stations, motorways and Birmingham airport, it is only 15 minutes away from my son's home. If it is any good it could become well used over the next few years. I have also been asked to give workshops in Edinburgh, Lincoln, Italy (Tuscany) and possibly Canada. Details on the web site when I know them.

Posters:- To accompany the LTR book I am in the process of drawing an A1 poster. This should sell well with reflexologists and those who attend my workshops and will represent an 'aide -de-memoir' when treating their clients with this form of reflexology. Later in the year I am hoping to produce a poster on 'Chakrapuncture'. This will accompany the orange book on acupuncture.

Chakrapuncture:- There is now a new web site called chakrapuncture.org that has been brilliantly done by Michel Hamilton of France. Considering that English is not his first language he has made a wonderful effort. It goes into detail about the relationship of the chakras to acupuncture, based on my orange book and is soon to include software that will detail the many relationships of the major and minor chakras. He has also managed to get a publisher for this French translation of the book and finally has got permission from North Atlantic Books. WELL DONE MICHEL!!!

More anon - JRC

Powerful Points - CON 6

Conception (Ren Mai, CV or Con) 6 [Qi Hai] is situated 1.5 cun (two fingers) directly below the umbilicus. It is called the Sea of Energy and, as such, may be tonified (stimulated) to increase general energy depletion in the body. This may be achieved by moxa, needle or pressure techniques. It may be used to treat such conditions and symptoms as chronic tiredness, chronic fatigue syndrome, and weakened immunity. It is also extensively used in treating many abdominal, urological and gynaecological conditions including abdominal distension and pain, bloating and irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, dysmenorrhoea, uterine collapse, frequent urination, sexual dysfunction and impotence.

Con 6 is also considered to be the anterior Sacral Chakra. It is extensively used in yoga and meditation as the focal point in 'hara' breathing. It is linked with the Throat chakra at Con 22 and these two points may be energy balanced with fingers, hands or magnets. By placing the hands on these two points, a terrific sense of well being and relaxation may be achieved not only by the therapist on the client but also as a self help procedure.