The Weather

Hope you all had a good Christmas break and looking forward to Hogmanay. We have a 'do' down at the local pier, a couple of miles away. There is no electricity or sanitation but could be great fun - there will be a bonfire at least to keep everyone warm. The big talking point here is the weather. Skye is having its coldest spell in 20 years. We are now in our 8th year here and never before have we not been able to leave our house or be unable to open the garage or byre doors as they have been frozen up! Generally our winters arn't nearly as bad as the mainland as we have the 'Minch' influence and are affected by the Gulf Stream. Let's hope it starts to warm up a bit over the next dew days.

I have finally completed the article I have written for the AACP journal on 'Pain relief and the Minor Chakras' and will be posting it off as soon as the weather eases. The next project is to make a start on the Holistic Spine book. I do not yet have a publisher but will get cracking on that one after 2 or 3 chapters have been written. I shall be proof reading the 'Concise book of Acupoints' very shortly and that one will be published by the Summer - much later than we anticipated.

I am now five weeks post surgery and things are improving quite well. I have less referred pain and parasthesia in the arms but the neck is a bit sore - Andrea is going to give me some massage later to try and ease up the residual congestion - it's great having a wife who is also a physio!!!

Stress in the holiday season

Once more it is that time of year - can it really be 12 months since last Christmas? We were going to do our last minute shopping in the one and only supermarket - the Co-op (their slogan is 'We go further so we can rip you off some more')which is 30 miles away in Portree. The naughty council had seen fit NOT to grit the road (even though we are a classified B road) until after 1130. We tried to drive out of the Glen at 1015, and even with a 4 wheel drive, the roads were too bad. We finally made it out at lunch time to do some essential minor shopping in Dunvegan which is 9 miles away.The forecast is not too good over the next few days but we are far better off than most of you in southern Scotland or England/Wales.

The final part of the pre holiday tutorial is how to treat stress with touch therapy. There are scores of acupoints all over the body that deal with relaxation but the most 'powerful two ones are also anterior chakra points ('naturally' - I hear you cry).These points are best treated in lying or relaxed sitting.

CON 6 - anterior Sacral chakra (the Hara point). This is located about two finger widths below the tummy button (umbilicus) on the central line. Take deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth making sure that the breath OUT is longer than the breath IN. So if the breath out is to a count of 6, make sure the breath in is to a count of 4. Place either the whole of one hand over CON 6 of both hands either side with the touching middle fingers over the point. When you breath in the tummy should rise and when you breath out it should fall - this is very similar to diaphragmattic breathing. You should feel much more relaxed within about half a minute but carry on with this routine for a couple of minutes. By the way this is an ideal way to commence meditation.

CON 17 - anterior Heart chakra. This is located half way down the sternum on the central line. You may use exactly the same holds as per previously and this point may be used either as a continuation of CON 6 or as a stand alone. This point relaxes the mind as well as the body as it probably has a direct link with the parasympathetic nervous system. Utilise some breathing techniques with it and try it initially for about 5 minutes - you will feel great and will be able to conquer anything - including all those boring friends and relatives. You may even get to like compulsory enjoyment!! Happy Christmas

Treatment of headaches using acupressure

When I started this venture, I wasn't sure whether or not to call it a Blog or an Advice Line. Some blogs can be very boring, I really don't want to know who had what for breakfast. I guess it's a bit of both - I am used to running advice lines and I know that many of you are interested in our life in the Isle of Skye. Please email me for anything specific. Anyway, to carry on with the previous theme - touch therapy guide to holiday exceses.

Headaches fall into two main types at this time of the year, although, of course, there may be hundreds of causes generally. One type is due to eating too much rich food and the other is stress related. When we eat stuff that we may not be used to e.g. lots of sugar, chocolate, heavy carbohydrates, booze etc. the liver tries to rid itself of some of the toxins. This often materializes as a headache - it is one that typically settles behind the eyes and you feel muzzy and a bit groggy. I have already told you of the wonderful affects of Nux Vomica, but in touch therapy the ideal acupoint needs to be positioned on the liver meridian. The best point is the Source point of the liver (the point that has a direct influence on an internal organ). In the case of the liver it is LR 3. This point is situated in the web between the big toe and its neighbour. Find the web and take the finger towards the ankle and the point is found at the upper extremity of the web. It is best treated sitting up in bed and leaning forward with the knees bent. Try some very gentle circling massage of each of the points (left and right feet) and carry on for about 2-3 minutes until the headache eases. With excess fat intake, the best point is GB 41 which is located in the web between the little toe and the 4th toe. This type of headache is classically 'hemicranial' i.e. on the side of the head. You feel nauseas and are also irritable.

Stress headaches may be treated with the same two points, but one of the best combination of acupoints for stress headaches is to press both LI 4 and Yintang at the same time. LI 4 is located in the muscle between the thumb and forefinger and Yintang is located directly above the ridge of the nose in between the eyebrows in the central line. This acupoint is also the anterior ajna chakra. Sit in a chair or lie down and gently press Yintang with the pad of the middle finger. Then introduce the pad of the other middle finger to LI 4 of the hand that is holding Yintang - that sounds as clear as mud but hopefully you get the idea. If you are relaxed, this is a great combination of points to ease the mind and may be used in meditation techniques.

Self treatment of gastritis and nausea using acupressure

The second of these blogs deals with how you can ease the symptoms of gastritis, indigestion and nausea with acupressure.

The 'local' point in gastritis and indigestion is CON 12 which is located just below the tip of the sternum in the midline. Do not stimulate or massage this point in acute gastritis as you will make things worse. Lie on your back with the knees bent up - then place the pad of the one of the middle fingers on this point and hold it with slight pressure for up to five minutes. The best two 'distal' points for nausea are PC 6 and ST 36. PC 6 is located about three finger widths above the anterior wrist crease in the centre of the forearm. The point should be pressed quite hard and GENTLY stimulated at a slow rhythym for up to four minutes. PC 6 works well in motion and morning sickness as well. ST 36 is harder to find, but the point will be tender in all cases of gastritis and nausea. It is located below the knee joint on the outer aspect of the tibia. Do not stimulate this point in acute conditions as it will make things worse - treat it as you would PC 6. It is, though an excellent point to use when you are feeling weary and tired - here it needs to be stimulated!

Next blog is the treatment of headaches and hangovers with touch therapy.

Christmas Excesses

Although I work mostly in physical medicine these days, I used to be a homoeopath as well. Please note that the spelling is correct - only in the USA and Canada do they spell the word without the first 'o', i.e. 'homeopath'. Anyway - this will be the first of a few blogs leading up to the holiday season on how to combat the excesses of eating, how to treat a upset tummy, headaches etc. Today will deal with homoeopathy.

Two homoeopathic remedies spring to mind - NUX VOMICA and ARSENICUM ALBUM. They are both polychrest remedies in that they are used in several different conditions (remember though in homoepathy it is the person who is treated not just the presenting symptoms). NUX VOMICA is excellent for indigestion, eating too much, bloatedness, feeling out of sorts, hangover, irritability and feeling 'yucky'. ARSENICUM ALBUM is first class in nausea, diarrhoea, burning, heartburn, eating foods that are 'off' or stale. Doses should be taken every half hour until symptoms ease - then stop taking it! In really acute symptoms you may take a dose every five minutes for the first half hour, then half hourly. They may easily be found in a health food shop, chemist or drug store and are usually sold in a 6c potency. If you can get hold of a 30c potency (and if the symmptom picture is correct) the 30c works quicker than the 6c. Do NOT attempt to take a remedy with a higher potency unless you have received professional guidance.

Better still - enjoy yourselves but don't drink alcohol!!

Books and Posters

This blog is unashamed advertising, especially with Christmas (sorry - the holiday season to be PC - (yuk)) just around the corner.

On my web site - www.johncrossclinics.com you will find some books and posters for sale. I apologize that my first two books are now out of print and that my last one still is yet to be published but at least you have a choice of three books and two clinical posters. Although you can purchase my books elsewhere, I am the only place where you can get it signed!!! Plus I am the only place where you can purchase my two posters. I expect the orders to come flooding in now

The neck is improving day by day and in the new year I shall start the task to work out my workshops for the year. If anyone out there wants me to visit them to give a workshop or lecture, please let me know. I have already received several inquiries that are being followed up. All the workshops will be listed on my web site as they are confirmed.

London buses

You've heard the one about waiting for London buses - none come for ages , then 3 all at once. It's a bit like that here in Skye with workmen -(see an earlier blog on Skye Workforce). One day last week we had one guy laying our new track in white Skye marble, another putting caps on four chimneys that were redundant and another building me a new door for the byre. Andrea was very busy making tea and coffee (with biscuits) all day. We have been wanting a top surface of a few centimetres for our 250 metre long track for over a year as it was down to bedrock in several places and had dirty great potholes that filled up with water when it rained. It looks so good now that it ressembles a ski slope! Following our newly installed oil central heating there was no need to keep chimneys open to the elements, apart from one in the sitting room where a coal/wood fire is laid when it gets very cold. The byre door has been falling apart for the past 8 years. I hope to complete the painting of that in slow time.

The metal staples were removed yesterday and the clinic gave me an 'I was brave visiting the doctor today' sticky label for all to see! It is very early days but I am cautiously optimistic that the surgery will be a success - it is still mega painful but I had been warned that it would be so am not that perturbed.

Ouch

I am now back (almost) in the land of the living. According to the surgeon, all went well and there were a few extra tasks he had to perform as it was so grotty! I arrived home late last Thursday evening after a nine hour taxi ride from Newcastle and I am now just letting everything heal - the eleven suture clips are being removed on Friday and I should feel better after that! It is every bit as sore as I had been warned it would be and I am being very spoiled by Andrea who insists I do nothing - just rest. Many thanks to everyone who have sent messages of support. As I am not working clinically until the middle of January at least, I shall have plenty of time to finish off a couple of articles and carry on with writing my latest book on The Holistic Spine.

Surgery

This will be my last blog for a few days as I am off to Newcastle for surgery on my neck. I am looking forward to it in a sort of masochistic kind of way and hope that it does the trick. I am not usually an advocate of surgery and always consider it should be a last resort (unless performed by persuasive scalpel happy bods). I know that initially it will create a different kind of pain, but the pain of surgery wears off after a few days and it is then that you know if the original pain has gone.. I hope to be back in blog land on Friday.

Treat the patient - not the condition

The type of therapy that I have pioneered over many years is very effective. That is not just me being big headed - it comes from scores of my patients and my workshop delegates. I try to make it crystal clear to everyone, though, that this therapy is NOT a cure all and that it is the patient/client who is treated not necessarily the disease or condition.

None of us can cure the uncurable!! If the dis-ease process within the patient has already reached the point of organic or neural irreversible anatomical or physiological change, then all we can do, as caring practitioners is to help support the patient by attempting to make their life easier. We cannot play God. Also, a minor percentage of people actually do not want to improve - for whatever deep seated reason, they need their dis-ease.

This train of though takes me back about thirty five years when Andrea and I started to attend Wrekin Trust meetings and mingle with people who, shall I say, had both their heads and feet in the clouds! When we approached people to ask what they did, the reply was often 'I am a healer'. Yuk!! Many of these people were genuine caring souls, but did not have a clue when it came to the many boundaries that therapy is based upon. All practitioners have an obligation to their clients and patients not to attempt any form of treatment, be it physical therapy or something more esoteric until they have a sound knowledge and expertise of their chosen therapy. The first law of natural medicine that was coined by Hahnemann, based upon Hippocrates is 'Firstly do no harm'. Sadly, due to ignorance of medicine, this basic premise is often compromised.

Biomagnets

I continue to receive emails from practitioners all over the world asking me about acupuncture with the chakra energy system that includes the use of copper and zinc needles. I have just replied to someone in Italy extolling the virtues of biomagnets (also an Appendix in the orange book). I first met this approach to healing in the late 1970's whilst training with the British Biomagnetic Association. They are perfect in most hormonal imbalances by using the key points of the extraordinary meridians of TCM. I now use them with the chakras - perfect for treating children and those people who are needle phobic. They are extremely small and have a small guass strength (similar to the body's own magnetic force) and need to be placed on the acupoint and secured with micropore. The only snag is that they are very difficult to get hold of now, but they obviously last a lifetime. For those practitioners who want to try them and cannot get the exact ones, I suggest you buy the lowest guass strength you can. I have a few spare ones for sale if you get stuck. Let me know how you get on with them - full details on how to use them in the orange book.

That photo!

I have a confession to make! The photograph that accompanies this blog and my web site is not a recent one - it was actually take about 10 years ago when I was Director of Therapies at Tyringham Naturopathic Clinic. Apart from ghastly passport and driving license photos I haven't had one taken since - never had the need. So I am sorry to disappoint all of those who meet me for the first time who are actually thinking who this ancient codger is! The photo will stay until another one comes along - just call it vanity on my part.

Further to the traumas of the no go Newcastle trip last week, I have just been told that there is now a cancellation at a hospital in Washington (Tyne and Wear not DC) on 24 November. The jungle drums have been working overtime here and word got round that I was working next week (starting tomorrow). The extra money will come in handy towards my trip. Clinical stuff next time.

Copper and Zinc needles

In my book 'Acupuncture and the Chakra Energy System', I mention in the Appendices the use of copper and zinc needles as an alternative to stainless steel needles. I enumerate all the pros and cons of these wonderful non invasive needles. I have been asked on numerous occasions where they may be purchased. The only outlet I have in the U.K. is Harmony Medical - they will ship worldwide. The copper needles are called MP Needle P type and the zinc ones are MP Needle L type. There are 10 in each packet and seem rather expensive at £15 each packet, but they are reuseable and should last many years. They can be used in many different ways apart from the chakra energy system. The copper ones are magnificent in treating localized inflammation such as wounds and shingles (place the needles around the area) and the zinc ones are brilliant in the treatment of scar tissue. I couldn't do without them - likewise biomagnets, which I will mention another time.

If anyone has further queries about these needles - please ask.

Science - Part 2

I was just about to write this blog when I saw a letter in Frontline by Gillian Akkermans in reply to someone who castigated the appearance of homoeopathic courses in the Journal and, indeed, everything else that wasn't researched based. Part of her reply is " Just because we don't yet have proof does not mean that proof does not exist. It just means that our knowledge is limited. Thank heavens for those who push the boundaries to try and find answers. Rigidly following evidence-based practice is the death knell to innovation and I hope that there are members of my profession who will continue to push these boundaries so that physiotherapy will advance rather than stagnate."

Great stuff Gillian - could not have put it better myself

Best laid plans......

I should have been on my way down to Newcastle today for surgery on my neck tomorrow. However, I was told last night there there are no beds available due to many road traffic accidents in the area - hey ho. I now have to wait another month to go down again and this time, as it will be a change of hospitals have to pay quite a lot more for the privilege. So I shall pick myself up and carry on. I am a great believer in fate and, for whatever reason, I wasn't meant to travel this weekend. More on science and therapy tomorrow.

Science - Part One

I have lost count the number of times I've been told that touch therapy has no scientific basis and that it is an affront on my part to practice it under the guise of physiotherapy - WOW! Arrogant or what! I try and keep my cool and answer in the only way I know how, with tact and decorum . There are, of course, many ways to answer these accusations and below is a precis :-

1. Yes, of course its nice to have everything research based and scientifically proven, if that is what you want, but do you seriously think that everything that is practiced in therapy and medicine is researched based - of course it isn't.

2. You cannot scientifically prove that which is, by definition, not scientifically based. It is only because we are living in a scientific age that it is assumed that everything should be.

3. All medicine, traditional and modern is empirical and the roots of original thought and pioneering were handed down from father to son. Each generation practiced with subtle changes with traditional trial and error until the whole of a particular philosophy made sense because it was demonstrably proved to work. [by working with humans - not animals!!!]

4. Quite frankly, I would rather be part of the traditional values of naturopathic medicine that puts emphasis on self healing using natural means and obeys the laws of cure rather than a system of medicine that suppresses symptoms with toxic drugs and other methodology.

5. Medicine has become far too hung up on cellular activity and has lost the wholeness of treating mind, body and spirit. Part two next time. Be well.

Last Clinical Day

Sorry about time between the last blog and this one - I have been really busy and the past two days has seen the Server down! My last clinical day is on Tuesday prior to going down to Newcastle for my operation - no lifting etc (including washing up?) for 6 weeks which will take us nicely to Christmas and Hogmanay.

I continue to receive many emails (and phone calls) each day from therapists all over the world asking practical questions on some of the touch therapy methods I've devised. It continues to be one of the greatest joys of my life in giving advice to other therapists either at a distance or in a workshop. I have stated now for very many years that acupressure is NOT a watered down version of acupuncture and that it can be much more powerful when used effectively. Why then don't more people practice it? I personally think acupressure and other touch therapies are natural extensions of one of our core modalities in physical therapy, namely massage. When I trained in the late 1960's, massage was one of the most important disciplines in physiotherapy - now it is almost forgotten as an undergraduate study and has to be learned at post graduate level - how crazy. Physiotherapists generally do not know how to use touch and tend to treat their patients at a distance with exercise or electro therapy. There are many reasons for this - lack of time, too many patients or lack of scientific approval (NEXT BLOG!!) to name just three. I intend to carry on these themes over the next few weeks - interlinking with more light hearted stuff.

Surgery and Couch

Just to let you all know that I have finally been booked in for surgery for my painful cervical spondylosis. It is to be at Newcastle General Hospital on 7th November and will be a bilateral double foraminotomy. I am hoping that it will greatly reduce the pain I have in my neck and arms even though it will not address the arthritis per se. Who cares though if I am in less discomfort. One of the positive things to look forward to is that I shall need fewer of the horrible pain relief drugs that I am forced to take at the moment - yippee!!

So I shall be taking a wee break from clinical and teaching until early January as I won't be able to lift anything - does that include washing up and hoovering?? It'll give me lots of time to work out my Spring workshops, write a couple of articles and start my book on The Holistic Spine.

So as to make my clinical work a bit easier, I have decided to buy a hydraulic couch. The portable one we have is good enough but it isn't the same as being able to adjust it. When we were in Devon several years ago we had FOUR of them (four treatment rooms) and wish now that we hadn't sold them all when we moved. So if anyone out there is wanting to off load a hydraulic couch that is surplus to requirements - PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

Wow - just heard that Chesterfield have beaten Burton Albion 5-2 (must be an omen!)

Frisby throwing

I read an article the other day in 'Frontline' - the physio's newsletter in the U.K. about throwing frisbys and their benefit. It reminds me of the time I was running the medical department at the Royal Tournament in Earls Court further back than I care to recall. I was taking a break from work one afternoon and throwing a frisby with a colleague from the Royal Navy. An army corporal walked by, recognized me, and said 'oh look, there's a frisbyotherapist' (It was probably funnier at the time).

The joys of self employment!

Why does anyone their right mind choose to become self employed? You don't have paid holidays, pay more national insurance than others, need to work all hours to make ends meet and earn a living purely due to other's whims! If people don't visit me - I don't eat! As a private practitioner you also have to put up with last minute cancellations without being able to fill the appointment. After 40 years of practice I have heard all the excuses. Why can't people just be honest and say that they cannot afford to attend or that they are no better? Instead you are treated to crazy excuses such as great aunt Maud suddenly being taken ill and they have to be taken to the doctors, or the dog can't be left on their own. So why do you put up with all this uncertainty and downright masochism?

It is because you like to be independent and to make decisions without recourse to other input. You do not have to bother with line managers or other people who know far less about the subject than you do. You actually like the buck stopping with you and relish the fact that you can offer much more time to your patients and clients. However, the most important thing to being an effective private practitioner is that you have excel in your chosen therapy. This does not come easily or cheaply and has to be worked at every single day.

OK , here come the grumpy old man bit - for the first 20 years following qualifying, I made sure that I attended every salient course and workshop I could to improve my knowledge base. There wasn't such a thing as CPD in those days and I paid out because I wanted to learn. Sadly this mind set is disappearing quickly - if you do not offer CPD courses, potential delegates don't want to know! There is NO substitute for experience and this can only be gained by wanting it - and not being spoon fed!

Skye Workforce

Those of you who live in the big cities and surrounded by people must think our lives in Skye should be idyllic - mostly it is and we thought hard and long before coming to live here eight years ago. I appreciate that we live at the 'back of beyond' and that it takes a long time to get anywhere, but that can be part of the charm. We do not have a local pub, the nearest supermarket is 30 miles away (sadly it is the Co-op, but maybe Tesco's from next year - yippee), in the summer we are inundated with visitors - none of whom drive at more than 3o mph on our single track roads, and some of the local culture is quite foreign. But we would not change it because we love the fresh air, openness and relative solitude.

There is, though, the dreaded Skye disease!!!!! This also could apply to Scilly, Orkney, Man or any other isolated community - I am talking about the local workforce and the four 'C' s. There is little Communication. If they don't turn up for work (to do the plumbing etc) they do not phone and let you know they wont be working that day. Then we have disCourtesy. The Skye male (sometimes female) is renowned for not showing regard, empathy or compassion for anyone else. Finally there is Customer Care, which could be stand alone or include the first two. It is not just the indiginous population that show these three traits - incomers soon adopt the mindset. So, unlike most of you, we wait months to get the most simple of jobs completed. Then they just 'turn up' on the doorstep (no phoning of course) and assume that it is convenient! Whinge over!!

Introduction

Hi there,

I have been asked time and time again by clients, customers, delegates (and my dog) to finally catch up with the 21st century and write a blog. Many of you know my passions so please let me know what you want -be it advice on techniques or the latest gen on yours truly. I will not be telling all about what I had for breakfast etc. - that's for Facebook and the like. Meanwhile I shall be working on a link from my web site to this site so it's a bit more user friendly. See you soon.