Ochazuke

On 2 June I received an email from very little profit. However, I am grateful my local authority saying: ‘Your query to be working and am holding on to my has been looked in to and I can advise love of acupuncture despite the barriers it has been decided that a professional of masks and less time with clients in acupuncturist can trade under the person. umbrella term “Other health service” On a personal level, I find the masks treating and supporting “urgent care very dehydrating and I am making patients” and we do not consider them a big effort to increase my water as a piercing parlour for the purposes consumption. This often means that of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, I am going through more masks that Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020.’ I would like just so I can have a drink

To say I was jumping for joy is an in between clients. Then when your understatement! I am hugely grateful glasses steam up that just adds to the to the work that Jennifer and Mark did discomfort! for me and my local group of colleagues. As a five element acupuncturist They gave us back our choice as to I am sad that I can’t use odour as a whether we wanted to work. diagnostic very easily. Sometimes I

Buoyed by this development and pick up scent through the mask but after plugging in to the BAcC Town often it is masked by the cleaning Hall meetings, I started preparing to agents I’ve used between clients and go back to work. I the smell of had several clients the mask itself. calling asking when I might be The great thing Not being able to see colour able to help them, and so I started is the texts and facial expression also filtering them into classifications and messages confuses my assessment of under level 4, level 3 and level 2, whilst from clients colour, sound, odour and also preparing my risk assessments. excited to be emotion (CSOE) and so the video The clinic where I work then coming for their calls do make a difference. Eye reopened on 1 June for chiropractic, treatment contact, voice and pulses have osteopathy and become a lot podiatry, and I made more important the decision to to me, and it return in mid-June. has been quite

At the time of writing I a surprise to find have been in the clinic how much I relied on for four weeks, working odour as a determination of two mornings a causative factor (CF). Obviously week, but only with existing clients I can pick up seeing between where I left off, but new patients have two and five been more tricky! clients per session, compared to a I’m struggling to manage my diary usual day of eight to ten people when and am trying to decide if I should I’ve been at my busiest. start an electronic booking system;

It is definitely strange, the we shall see, it is early days and who preparation to get to the point of knows what we are facing going actually carrying out acupuncture forward. is hard work and takes much more We have an amazing skill to help energy than when I just turn up, see many people and that is what keeps clients and treat them. I’ve instigated a me going. The great thing is the texts detailed email with consent forms and and messages from clients excited to advice on what to expect. I carry out be coming for their treatment, and a video call the day before treatment, even more those messages the next which can often last up to 40 minutes day telling me how much better they if I don’t manage the time, and all so feel. The four months they have been that I can minimise the time clients without acupuncture has proved to spend in the treatment room and our them how much they appreciated their exposure to each other. I used to work lifestyle choice to have acupuncture in from home too, but have taken the their healthcare. view that I don’t want to do this at To those of you who haven’t yet gone present. back I would just say go when it feels

Although my time person to person right – it felt right for me and I am in the clinic is significantly reduced, the continually checking in on myself to time it is taking to prepare for clients make sure it is still the right thing to and for cleaning in between clients do. Also, work on boosting your own means that I am probably spending two immune system, and practice selfto three hours per client now, instead care, whatever that is for you – it really of one. I haven’t put my prices up as yet is even more important than it was for a variety of reasons, but the cost of before. Your clients will be delighted to PPE and cleaning means I am making see you but only when you are ready!

Jonquil Westwood Pinto Member: East Sussex

ENERGETICS

Now is a good time to think about eating qi building soups and stews to prepare us for winter. Usually we think of autumn as dryness, but what if we want to clear damp and phlegm at this time of year? This Japanese recipe gives warming comfort as well as resolving phlegm and damp.

Ingredients 150 g short grain brown rice 100-200 g tofu Fresh shiso/lemon balm/mint leaves (optional) 1 sheet of nori seaweed Soy sauce Green tea 2 carrots ½ daikon/radish ½ tsp salt 100 ml rice/white wine vinegar 100 ml water 1 tsp sugar Serves 2 Method Peel the carrots and daikon, slice into thin strips and place in a sieve. Sprinkle with the salt and let stand over a bowl or sink for 20 minutes. In a small pan, bring the water, vinegar and sugar just to the boil. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Rinse the carrots and daikon and transfer to a bowl or jar. Pour over the vinegar mixture ensuring all the vegetables are covered – add more water if necessary – and let stand for about an hour before eating. Any extra will keep for a few days in a jar in the fridge. Put the rice in a saucepan with 450 ml of cold water and a pinch of salt. Bring to boil then reduce to a low simmer with a lid on for about 30 minutes until cooked. When ready to serve, make a small pot of green tea, cut some fresh tofu into cubes, tear some nori seaweed into strips, and if using, tear shiso, lemon balm or mint leaves. Spoon the rice into bowls, add some of the pickled vegetables, a few cubes of tofu, some seaweed and fresh herb leaves. Pour green tea over the rice bowls and add just a little soy sauce to taste.