Acu. | Issue #34 | Spring 2022
WebWatch A seasonal selection of online resources to put the wind in your sails this spring Tiger’s Play Astrology & Chinese Medicine 〉 tigersplayastrology.com/tigers-play
Some fabulous illustrations accompany this contextual interpretation of the qi dynamics of the coming year. The Yáng Water Tiger is described as a profound and powerful symbol and the qi of this year as not for the faint of heart. Like a tidal wave, hurricane-propelled tsunami, volcano, or even a nuclear bomb, Water Tiger is a force of nature. ‘So, grab a surfboard, strap on a helmet, and get ready because things are about to get wild’. Some might say they already have!
Disease vs. the rise of civilisation 〉 tinyurl.com/2p8hae9d
This podcast from The Rest Is History offers a fascinating perspective on the history of infectious disease and how it has shaped human history. Compared to any other animals, including all other apes, the human is the ‘germiest’ creature, full of infectious diseases.
Website Carbon Calculator 〉 websitecarbon.com
Check how your website is impacting the planet with this website carbon calculator created by Wholegrain Digital. Their passion for sustainability has led them to become industry leaders in web sustainability and performance, helping to shift the industry towards a zero-carbon future. They aim to help positive organisations thrive online – so perfect for acupuncturists. You can even get a carbon badge to put on your website.
Yatao 〉 tinyurl.com/28xjrcxc
Something of the wind chime about the meditative sounds created by this world music project and handpan duo. Hailing from Berlin and the Black Forest in Germany, they describe their mission as being ‘to support you with our tunes’. A place of coming together, forgetting and remembering, letting go and understanding. A place where everyone is invited to do nothing more than just be and feel into the inside of the soul. We could all do with a bit of that, surely! As the man says: Listen to all our music! Close your eyes, open your heart!
Moxafrica 〉 moxafrica.org
An old favourite which now includes a Covid page, plus a moxa manual for the immune system, free to download and available in several languages. There’s also news about 'The Moxa-LongCOVID 100 Days Challenge': an important investigation to establish which moxa 'protocols' (of five or six moxa-points) might be of most benefit for those struggling to put any of the lingering 'Long Covid' symptoms behind them. The project launched last September but there’s still time for you or your patients to get involved. See page 30 for more on this from Merlin Young. Why not share your online favourite resources with other members by sending a link to WebWatch via editor@acupuncture.org.uk
Inspiration
View FROM THE COUCH
Following a surgical menopause, and infective gastritis which led to a five-stone weight loss, I was left with a lot of chronic fatigue, visceral pain, and anxiety. The days were sometimes long and tricky to get through. After lots of overly ambitious attempts at just getting on with it – hampered by Covid and a lack of NHS services to fit – I decided that maybe acupuncture might help me come at things from a more calm and balanced perspective, rather than the headless chicken approach I was taking. I also hoped that it would relieve some of the visceral sensations that dominated my life. A previous experience of moxibustion to turn my baby, as well as wanting a wellness- rather than illness-centred approach, meant I was ready to take a new route to better physical and mental health. I arrived at my first session – at pace, very talkative and feeling ever so slightly apprehensive! I was allowed to just… be. A wonderfully holistic consultation and an explanation of the principles of acupuncture followed and I started with lots of moxa as well as some needles. The feelings of vulnerability disappeared. I felt calmer. In the beginning I struggled to even notice the presence of heat or the stab of a needle, almost wondering why I was there. But even so, I felt different afterwards. At first I was focused on searching for the big changes in terms of my fatigue levels and pain, but as time has gone on things feel more nuanced than that, and my mind and body seem to be gathering themselves again. The effects are wide-ranging – from increased stamina to better coping mechanisms and a quietening of visceral and stomach symptoms. I have felt better able to maintain my posture and increase my exercise level, to gain strength and develop a greater sense of relaxation. Lying on the couch, and the hours, days and months afterwards, have revealed multifaceted and layered effects that seem to be changing life for the better. My whole body awareness has improved and the subtleties of sensation and mood are making a comeback. As things move on I can now feel the glow of the moxa and the impact of a needle on my skin, the flow of qi and things seem to hold for longer. I find myself requesting deep channel work and also discovering that Chinese massage is of benefit too. If you have a patient who's willing to tell us their acupuncture story, we'd love to hear from you or them via editor@acupuncture.org.uk
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