It was fun to see the shocked expressions as people gravitated to our table at a recent Health Fair. They had followed he sound of laughter – only to learn it was caused by pricks of a pin! Or, to be more accurate, an Acupuncture Needle, which five of the women standing there sported.
The women had each voiced curiosity about Acupuncture, mixed with a fear of needles. When offered the chance to try the needling experience at an actual Acupuncture Point, (eleventh point on Large Intestine meridian, in the crook of the elbow), they had all agreed. Well, a few had to be goaded on! Still, their response was consistent, pleasantly surprised. I have told anxious needle phobic people in the past how fine our needles are. How, for example, you could put 18 acupuncture needles in the bore of one hypodermic needle, but, I guess there’s nothing quite like experience to prove a point, (pun intended!)
Yesterday afternoon found me at Costco, and like all other Big Box stores, Costco has aisles that seem to go on forever, the pharmacy is no exception. While looking for Vitamin D I found myself in what must have been the gastro-intestinal aisle. There had to be a hundred different items there, something to address every segment of the alimentary canal. At least a half dozen offerings for heartburn, or gastric reflux. Further down the aisle there were pills, tablets, and liquids promising relief from bloating, gas or distention. Then, those for constipation, or diarrhea. When I finally reached the end of the aisle, I laughed to myself, and wondered if it was a wise pharmacist who had designed this area, because there at the end were items specifically for the tail end of our wonderful alimentary canal, hemorrhoid creams and ointments, suppositories which promised quick relief!
Sometimes a break during the day can be a really good thing. My first inclination is usually one of disappointment, as I am in the most fortunate position of really loving the work I do! However, today during my ‘downtime’ I came across an article published by HealthCMi, dated 6/11/2015 titled ACUPUNCTURE BENEFITS ALZHEIMER DISEASE PATIENTS. It was a perfect article for the day, as I’d just learned an hour earlier that a patient I’m quite fond of has just been diagnosed with this dreaded disease!