acupuncture and stroke at Westminster University: East medicine summer school

acupuncture and stroke at Westminster University:  East medicine summer school

This day was part of the Westminster University summer school on Chinese medicine – I noticed they had a day about a particular interest of mine – treating stroke, so I went along.

Key points that came out of the day for me were:

1.  I had thought it was ‘normal’ for Claudia Citkovitz to use acupuncture in her treatment of stroke at a hospital in New York.  However, I picked up that it was special and hard won – so even in the States which sometimes seems more liberal she still needs to tread carefully.  I was struck by Westminster physio / acupuncturist, Jane Wilson, saying how Claudia had achieved what Jane had wanted to achieve – giving acupuncture to people post stroke.

I was interested by the mention of not being able to use moxa in the preliminary information – this wasn’t developed really in the afternoon; but I did ask a question about it, and was told that it was just not an option – the constellation of reasons seemed to be around safety (no smoking, oxygen tanks around) and evidence (lack of it? (as usual...)).

2.  Acupuncture (and tuina) are appropriate once patient stabilised a bit, say from 2 days after the stroke.  I was interested that it isn’t used immediately, and not sure if that is a protection given that apparently some strokes continue on through the first week, having more strokes occurring.  There is something around it being helpful to keep the blood flow (and pressure) up initially – so perhaps that’s part of it.  I’m realising this is a big subject with already others working here, even if in a restricted way.

3.  I was interested that 2 shiatsu practitioners attended – the one I spoke to seemed very experienced at working with people post stroke, and has found these clients by recommendation from other clients, but has only worked privately with them, as opposed to within orthodox medicine.

any other key thoughts from the day?

I was interested in how focussed it was, and the use of particular points at various stages.  I was touched by Jane (and Claudia)’s consideration of the real absence of hope for some people, especially if without support from family and friends .... and money.  But of course on the other side, it is very exciting what it sounds like acupuncture may do, and presumably this is what Claudia’s doctorate is about.

somehow, the day didn’t really touch what I had been drawn to with thinking of shiatsu treatment for people post-stroke – though thinking about it, perhaps there were things – Jane saying how these treatments could fill the gap – Stroke people apparently feel their emotional needs are really not met; and also Jane commented that touch is really important – though done slowly and carefully since everything can feel quite overwhelming to people post stroke – almost like seeing things for the first time.

what about you – do you have any knowledge, experience, views on this kind of work?

all for now,

Catherine.

on tissue damage and transitions

I’m writing this really in case it’s of interest to others specifically with breaks (including clavicle), as well as to think how health care can better support people get better.

from bone break to tissue damage:

when I discovered I’d broken my clavicle, the impression I had was that it would get better, and within a period of time – initially I thought 3 weeks from my googling, and then 10 weeks after I’d visited the fracture clinic where I talked with a medical doctor, and discussion with my privately organised physio.

After a couple of weeks I did notice a different slant to my shoulders, but another very experienced complementary practitioner thought if anything the new position was better.  However, a recent consultation with a new physio revealed the opinion that my shoulder has ‘dropped’, as I understand it since the bone has re-joined in a slightly different position – this impacts on where I can put my arm – so, wriggling movements feel damaging, as well as something close to the tennis overarm serve (which I would like to get back to doing).

and so I am now considering the more real possibility of long-term/permanent damage, and it was an unpleasant shock. 

what really strikes me is the kind of seamless transition from ‘going to get better soon’ to ‘well, probably not’ – there feels to be no attention or space given to the, I guess, psychological effect of this on me. – apart from from me, and I realised I was going through a kind of Kubler Ross bereavement process, feeling anger and grief, as a start.

A physio kindly sent me an article about clavicle / shoulder breaks, and this indicates that generally a bigger problem than the break is the damaged tissue – I hadn’t quite absorbed this before, and it gives me a new view – which feels relevant to other conditions of clients and friends/ relatives that I have observed.

present medical practice seems to virtually ignore this – and this may be a place where shiatsu and other forms of body work may be strong.

food for thought – do add any you have to this blog – I’d be interested.

regards, Catherine.

Diet – what to eat?

Last Sunday I joined some old mates for a regular strawberry barbecue fiesta – and met up with some friends who have got very committed to the ‘Palaeo’ diet, which is popular with many at the moment.  The idea is to remove farmed carbohydrates from our diet, since we evolved as hunter/ gatherers, and they argue that farming grain is where we went astray diet-wise – so, they seem to eat meat/ protein, and nuts and berries, and vege, I guess. 

Talking with a dietician I met at the very delicious dinner accompanying the recent Camstrand meeting located at University of Westminster this year, I asked her about this, and she said it was fine for short times to lose weight – much like the Atkins diet, but that when people went back to eating normally they tended to put the weight back on.  She reckoned that doing it long-term would damage someone’s liver.

Talking with a personal trainer recently, she said that many personal trainers are keen on the Palaeo diet, but she just favoured ‘eating normally but well’.  We also discussed the popular restrict yourself for 2 days, and eat what you want for 5, where she thought not enough attention is given to the ‘5 days off’.

So, what to do?  - not sure – I started off life eating normally with my parents; shocked my poor Mum when I became vegetarian at age 16 due to concern about killing chickens, for example.  Since then I have adopted other diets – vegan, macrobiotic, Chinese medicine; and heard of the food separation, and raw food diet.  Presently, my focus is on wholefood, organic, qi-filled food – but probably eat more of some things than I should (chocolate, wine...).

mmm, any thoughts on diet yourself?