EUREKA MOMENT

I usually get my inspiration moments whilst standing in the shower - must be the hot water affecting the brain! This time it occurred whilst treating a patient who had a working knowledge of homeopathy. I was treating her with acupressure and whilst sedating her CON 17 acupoint (for her tension), suddenly told her that this was the 'Aconite' point. Aconite is a remedy that is used when you are anxious, restless or frightened and mimics the action of CON 17. It got me thinking that most, if not all, of the main acupoints must have a homeopathic 'equivalent'. Knowledge of these two would make a wonderful self help duo. So, in the new year, and when I have completed the Light Touch Reflextherapy book (not long to go), I shall write a booklet on this subject which will be aimed at the lay person. I shall probably self publish.

Back in the 1980's one of the many zany ideas around then was to inject the tincture of a homeopathic remedy into an acupoint that, presumably, resonated at a similar frequency. It was called 'Homeopuncture' . I think it soon lost favour as it didn't seem to work - my idea has nothing to do with this.

Before I get correspondence on this matter - yes I know that the UK spelling is 'homoeopathy' and the USA spelling is 'homeopathy'. It is, though, a matter of choice and the American spelling is more accepted. Have a great Christmas and New Year. JRC

Be careful what you wish for!!!

I have just heard that the surgery on my grotty neck is on 22 December. I have to make my way down to Edinburgh the day before. A taxi has already been booked for the 6 hour journey back to Skye on Christmas Eve - there is no other way of getting home. It has taken 6 months since having the consultation with the neurosurgeon - I am not in the least bothered that it will be around Christmas. This will give me a couple of months recovery time before starting my Spring 2012 teaching schedule in March and April.

It may seem strange that someone like me who has practice complementary medicine and physiotherapy for over 40 years should be so pleased by the prospect of surgery. The simple answer is that I have tried every type of conservative treatment known to man and the arthritic changes in the neck are so bad now that surgery is the only answer. I shall, of course, be taking my arnica with me Next blog very soon but thought I'd better get this one of my chest. As I write this we are being buffeted with storm force winds and snow is blizzards forecast for the next couple of day. Fingers cross the bad weather eases up by Christmas. JRC

Powerful Points - CON 17 - Dan Zhong

Continuing the powerful points theme of a few weeks ago - today is about CON 17 (Ren or CV 17). It is situated at the centre of the chest level with the 4th intercostal space, between the nipples. Some traditional texts say it is forbidden to needle but as long as the needle is inserted no longer that 0.5 cm using a transverse direction - there is usually no problem regards vital organ puncture. Never use a perpendicular approach. It is a major point is treating many heart conditions such as chest constriction, pain and heaviness in the region, palpitation, arrhythmia, wheezing and coughing.

The main use of this point - especially using acupressure is that it calms the mind and spirit and is extensively used in panic attacks, anxiety, grief, sadness, insomnia and hysteria. It is considered to be the anterior aspect of the Heart chakra and, as such, is the most central point in the body. Together with Extra 1 (Yintang) it represents one of the two most powerful points on the body for calming the mind and may be used in many emotional and psychosomatic conditions. As a chakra point its 'partners' that may be used with it so as to give an all round treatment are the Solar Plexus chakra at Con 14, the Intercostal chakra at SP 21 and the Ear chakra at TE 17. All these points may be used in self help as part of a meditation programme or with a client. Check it out

The remarkable EAR

As well as being important when it comes to both hearing and balance, the ear has the most remarkable energy medicine attributes. Acupuncturists have known for a couple of millenia that it is possible to treat very many medical conditions through the ear (auriculotherapy). The body as a whole may be reflected in the ear as the classical inverted foetus. In the past 30 years certain points withing the body of the outer ear have been used in the treatment of many different types of sensitivities, allergic responses, cravings and desires. Examples include helping clients to stop smoking or to try and lose weight by helping the craving to nicotine and food. It is said that there is a direct link between the ear and the hypothalamus, which is the area of the brain that is involved with desires and cravings. This mostly uses electro-acupuncture, although it is possible to help cravings by placing tiny press stud needles in the ear.

The outer ear is, of course, also used in acupressure and body work. One of the ways that clients may begin to reduce their hypertension (high blood pressure) is by literally pulling the ear. I know it sounds crazy, but it works fantastically. They must be relaxed in a chair or lying down. Get them to GENTLY but firmly to pull down on the lobe (pinna) for about two minutes, three times a day. This procedure may be done independently or as part of a meditation session. It will take several days/ a few weeks to reduce the hypertension, but having taught this technique for several years, I can thoroughly recommend it as a 'natural' way of doing this. Have fun - JRC

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