I didn't used to believe in Eastern Medicine.
I went to my first Acupuncture session for my shoulder yesterday. I found a highly qualified acupuncturist, Jeff, who recently moved to Winter Park. He is still new and just getting his practice at Body Works Spa in Cooper Creek Square started.
My first impression; Jeff is very good at making me feel at ease and more than happy to explain the background for any body part, pin prick and ancient Chinese words. He did a great job working on my wrists, jaw and shoulder. On my shoulder, he also added Liquid Moxa, a lotion extract to intensify the heat and promote blood flow in the injured area. Moxa, short for Moxibution, is a herbal medicine that is set on fire to smolder and often associated with small goldfish glasses placed on the back.
I will go back for my second appointment this Tuesday. I am trying to take care of my body by mixing Physical Therapy with Acupuncture. Along the way, I will have a deep tissue massage and hopefully start working out my legs.
Until I lived in China and had some good friends study abroad in Chinese Traditional Medicine, I thought Eastern Medicine was all a hoax. I firmly believed Western Medicine had superior technological and research advantages over Eastern Medicine.
But once my friends performed acupuncture on my jaw 4 years ago, to prove its valid medicinal benefits, I slowly came around.
I like to say I was a difficult convert and skeptical, arguably even today. Now, I feel there is a healthy balance between Eastern and Western practices. I don't believe there is one right way to heal the body, but I feel confident that mental, emotional healing is a large part of understanding the physical pain.
Acupuncture is a component of Eastern Medicine and further more, Eastern Medicine with Western Medicine, brings together two philosophies that can create a powerful remedy. I am not for one over the other. Actually, both require mental strength to help the healing process.
I tell myself, if I want to heal, I need to be positive and take one day at a time. The task of healing becomes overwhelming when I think too far ahead. If I make statements starting with, "I won't get better if I work," than it is hard to stay positive about work and also my healing. Realistically, working isn't going to be pain free, but it should be my crutch to rue work.
There is a healthy balance of being realistically positive. I am trying to find that special medium.
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