I was in a lot of pain and could barely stand on one leg when a woman in my gym recommended acupuncture with Dr. He. I was desperate and would try anything. I had done acupuncture years before for minor injuries but not with dedication. Maybe the results werent fast enough. For my first appointment with Dr. He I had a list of all the activities I did during the week; at nearly 52 years old I felt rather accomplished with my lifelong physical fitness regime.
When I told him I could barely stand on one leg, he stared blankly into my eyes. “Why do you want to do that?” he inquired. “Yoga!” I boasted. He paused, and proceeded to lecture me on the virtues of finding the window. “You are not 20. You must find the window of activity that is balanced for your age. You can fight Mother Nature, but she will always win.”
As Dr. He prescribed I went for acupuncture two times per week for 10 weeks. Some days during that time I was not in the mood to be stuck with all those needles. Some days, some needles stung like a bee sting – thats when the needles are affecting a specific area. As my mobility increased, he encouraged me to find the window of activity that was “healthy” for my body.
In the meantime, I (and my husband) noticed another benefit of acupuncture – I began sleeping much of the night. A chronic insomniac since 1986 I rarely slept 5-6 hours. Of course I tried over the counter and prescription sleep aids, but after a while the effects of those drugs wear off. Dr. He explained how those drugs only give you a false sense of sleep and your body is deprived of the beneficial REM sleep. “Sleep is the best medicine,” he would say. Dr. He also had a cure for my husbands snoring. No, my husband is not brave enough for acupuncture – he sleeps fine! Dr. He suggested I get military strength noise reduction headphones to block out the snoring sounds. At home I can just go to another bedroom, but when we travel, and we travel a lot for business, Im stuck in one room with him. The noise reduction headphones are a brilliant solution to block my husbands snoring, and the first thing that goes in my suitcase.
One more story about acupuncture; I could go on, and on. Fast forward a year later, and Im back in the gym, feeling pretty good. My trainer had me doing squats with 30lb. weights. I looked at it and thought, gee, I haven’t squatted that weight in years, maybe that’s not a good idea – but did it anyway. Ugh! Something sprung in my back! I called Dr. He who stayed late, taking me as his last appointment. (Dr. He & Dr. Zhong book out 3-4 weeks in advance so there is little time for an emergency.) I hung my head in shame as I hobbled in. He stuck two needles in the web of skin between my thumb and forefinger on each hand. “Sit down,” he ordered, pointing to the floor. “I cant,” I said. “Sit down,” he said again, unflappable. With trepidation I slowly moved to the floor. Once I made it he said, “Stand up.” And I did! It was miraculous. I could barely crawl out of bed all afternoon. He massaged the acupressure points in my lower back and explained I might be in pain the following day, but I will be all right. He didnt lecture me on the window or anything else. We both knew I learned a lesson.
Three years later I still see Dr. He for maintenance: continued better sleep, overall calmness, and internal wellness – Dr. He calls it, “whole body balance.” I dont think I told him, but two years ago I was diagnosed Pre-Diabetic with a spike in my cholesterol, (both are hereditary in my family.) With an increased mindful diet of vegetables and lean protein, and three years of acupuncture, my numbers went down to more normal levels this last annual exam. When Dr. He says I’m doing pretty good we both smile as it’s the greatest compliment.
Acupuncture is not a fast fix, but it is a holistic method of correcting what ails us, without drugs or surgery.
55 year old, F. April 12, 2013. E01379, H & Z Acupuncture.hz-acupuncture.com