I have been having acupuncture on and off for 40 years now, but today I experienced something unusual and wondered whether it was normal. I saw a Chinese acupuncturist , and had asked about her qualifications as I saw none around. I was informed she was trained as a medical doctor. I was surprised she spoke little English and did not take any notes, nor asked me specific details. My complaint was stomach problems. Without examining me she said it was my back. I said I don't have back ache. She inserted needles in my back and left me for 20 minutes. Halfway through the 20 minutes my eyes were flickering. Not he eyelids but my eyes. It was as if everything in front of me flickered like an old movie. Slightly disconcerted, not ever experiencing this before I asked if it was normal. She just said yes. Then when she took the needles out, it stopped immediately. Then a full back massage that was very painful. But, I do feel better. I wanted to ask if this is normal. My previous therapist is Russian but moved away and I never experienced anything like that.
I welcome any response.
I have been having acupuncture on and off for 40 years now, but today I experienced something unusual and wondered whether it was normal. I saw a Chinese acupuncturist , and had asked about her qualifications as I saw none around. I was informed she was trained as a medical doctor. I was surprised she spoke little English and did not take any notes, nor asked me specific details. My complaint was stomach problems. Without examining me she said it was my back. I said I don't have back ache. She inserted needles in my back and left me for 20 minutes. Halfway through the 20 minutes my eyes were flickering. Not he eyelids but my eyes. It was as if everything in front of me flickered like an old movie. Slightly disconcerted, not ever experiencing this before I asked if it was normal. She just said yes. Then when she took the needles out, it stopped immediately. Then a full back massage that was very painful. But, I do feel better. I wanted to ask if this is normal. My previous therapist is Russian but moved away and I never experienced anything like that.
I welcome any response.
It seems like the practitioner was trained in China....and is practicing in alignment with the energetic and intuitive tradition passed down to them via that entire cultural and spiritual back ground. I can resonate with that practitioner and yourself. coming from India I have some insight into how people in east approach and progress with treatments of acupressure, massage and nadi-shodhan etc
In east, experts trained in traditional treatments are usually intuitive, direct, laconic and know exactly what to do, even if it leaves the receiver at a loss for a time. They usually find to their relief that whatever it is that they did, worked. If we look into the unbroken tradition of east approaching health and well being from an introspective perspective, and passing down the knowledge from generation to generation in DNA as well as oral and written tradition, then it becomes easy to understand this manner of dealing with client. This very direct and intuitive approach stems from being part of that tradition that has been passing down intellectually and energetically
There is very little in way of making much conversation and chit chat.
It is helpful to note that the approach is radically different to western practitioners, which can be disconcerting if you are accustomed to the way holistic treatments are delivered by western practitioners.
I am glad it worked for you
It seems like the practitioner was trained in China....and is practicing in alignment with the energetic and intuitive tradition passed down to them via that entire cultural and spiritual back ground. I can resonate with that practitioner and yourself. coming from India I have some insight into how people in east approach and progress with treatments of acupressure, massage and nadi-shodhan etc
In east, experts trained in traditional treatments are usually intuitive, direct, laconic and know exactly what to do, even if it leaves the receiver at a loss for a time. They usually find to their relief that whatever it is that they did, worked. If we look into the unbroken tradition of east approaching health and well being from an introspective perspective, and passing down the knowledge from generation to generation in DNA as well as oral and written tradition, then it becomes easy to understand this manner of dealing with client. This very direct and intuitive approach stems from being part of that tradition that has been passing down intellectually and energetically
There is very little in way of making much conversation and chit chat.
It is helpful to note that the approach is radically different to western practitioners, which can be disconcerting if you are accustomed to the way holistic treatments are delivered by western practitioners.
I am glad it worked for you
Thank you so much
Thank you so very much. It is really helpful to be able to understand this way of working. It is very kind of you to take the time in replying with such detail. Happy New Year to you. Joy
I see a TCM practitioner - he is Chinese and is a professor in TCM, and before moving to the UK 20 years ago, taught in Beijing. He makes notes at the start of appointments, but not many - although Chinese characters can say more than one word! - then he checks my eyes, tongue and takes my pulse at the wrists and both feet. He frequently applies needles in a part of my body that I didn't believe was a problem - he covers me to keep warm, dims the light and leaves me - occasionally returning to tweak needles. The shortest time was 5 minutes with needles, then a massage that made me cry (he hasn't done this since!) - the longest was 50 minutes with needles in situ, a 'gentle' shoulder/neck massage for 5 minutes, then I had to go and sit in a nearby park until I felt able to drive!!!
I,too, have experienced odd things during a treatment, which have always disappeared once all the needles have been removed. I have never worried as Wang Bo has explained that stuff is happening and to just let it! If only Western medicine were as magic and not so reliant on chemical intervention for instant gratification/cure!!
I see a TCM practitioner - he is Chinese and is a professor in TCM, and before moving to the UK 20 years ago, taught in Beijing. He makes notes at the start of appointments, but not many - although Chinese characters can say more than one word! - then he checks my eyes, tongue and takes my pulse at the wrists and both feet. He frequently applies needles in a part of my body that I didn't believe was a problem - he covers me to keep warm, dims the light and leaves me - occasionally returning to tweak needles. The shortest time was 5 minutes with needles, then a massage that made me cry (he hasn't done this since!) - the longest was 50 minutes with needles in situ, a 'gentle' shoulder/neck massage for 5 minutes, then I had to go and sit in a nearby park until I felt able to drive!!!
I,too, have experienced odd things during a treatment, which have always disappeared once all the needles have been removed. I have never worried as Wang Bo has explained that stuff is happening and to just let it! If only Western medicine were as magic and not so reliant on chemical intervention for instant gratification/cure!!
Many thanks. I was pleased to know that what I experienced was normal. The eye flickering really disturbed me as I knew it was neurological . I was relieved that it stopped when the needles came out.
Having had many sessions of acupuncture over 40 years, I was surprised by this reaction. Good news though is that I feel so much better, and have booked another session.
Thank you once again for your kind reply.
Thank you so very much. It is really helpful to be able to understand this way of working. It is very kind of you to take the time in replying with such detail. Happy New Year to you. Joy
You are welcome.
Warmest wishes for new beginnings to you too!
Hi JGower,
Sounds like you had an interesting treatment. It is possible to treat stomach issues via the back as several points on the back can address issues of digestion. Also, in Chinese medicine there is a rule called the 'law of opposites', which basically states that you can address a condition by treating the opposite side of the body. For example, if a person has a pain in the right shoulder it can be possible for the practitioner to select points on the lower left leg, although it is generally more common to treat shoulder pain locally with acupuncture.
Hi JGower,
Sounds like you had an interesting treatment. It is possible to treat stomach issues via the back as several points on the back can address issues of digestion. Also, in Chinese medicine there is a rule called the 'law of opposites', which basically states that you can address a condition by treating the opposite side of the body. For example, if a person has a pain in the right shoulder it can be possible for the practitioner to select points on the lower left leg, although it is generally more common to treat shoulder pain locally with acupuncture.
Thanks for your reply Steve. It's been really interesting, and I am going regularly as I feel great benefit from the treatments and my stomach is really happy right now.
Thanks for your reply Steve. It's been really interesting, and I am going regularly as I feel great benefit from the treatments and my stomach is really happy right now.
Hey that's great, glad to hear you're getting good benefit from your treatments 🙂
Best wishes