Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Chinese Medicine


So, went to the acupuncturist and got the very abbreviated background on the rudiments of Chinese medicine. Learned a little about the way wood, fire, earth, water and metal are represented in our bodies, and how Chinese medicine is a way to bring harmony to the flow between them (not even sure I have that right, but something like that).

Anyhoo, my Fire and Metal are not happy. Also, there's the dietary thing. Turns out my main two categories of food, gluten and dairy, are both big no nos for me. As I've said here before, I knew dairy was not working for me, and so have really worked hard to eliminate it. Since it didn't do a lot to clear up my issues, I suspected gluten may also be a problem. It is. She wants me off both completely. Of course I am kicking and screaming and throwing a big pity party - and you're invited! I'll do it, but I'm going to complain for (quite) awhile. It is fair to say that everything I enjoy eating has gluten and/or dairy, and everything I don't, doesn't.

Guess it's time to learn to cook.

What happened when I had the acupuncture treatment, is I did deeply relax and had all kinds of wild visions/dreams in just 15 minutes. Then, what I also experienced but didn't count on, was a much keener focus. I did not ping from thing to thing to thing, task to task to task, I was actually able to calmly complete one thing (like bringing in a car load of groceries and putting them away), before moving on to the next (like emptying the dishwasher and reloading it). May not sound like much, but it felt so different (and good) that I'm a believer.




* Photo from http://www.complementaryhealthcentral.com

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I feel your pain, as you probably know.

Let me know if you want recipes, websites to look at, etc.

Glad to hear you felt a benefit right away, though.

fullsoulahead.com said...

Go to Whole Foods and look for the green signs. Gluten free is easier now than ever before. Also, Daiya non dairy cheese for your nachos. It's all gonna be okay.

kario said...

Oh, dear. I am so sorry. Eliminating gluten was rough, but I can't imagine going without dairy. Although, knowing how much better I feel without gluten, I might be willing to try if I had to.

So glad the acupuncture experience was good. I may try it again just to see what happens.

Elizabeth said...

Dang -- on the dairy/gluten thing. I'm sorry.

Wowza on the acupuncture treatment. I've been going for years and swear by it. I remember my first visit as being EXACTLY as you described with that weird slow and steady ping/focus, in particular.

Dee said...

Oh, Carrie, I'm so happy for you. Acupucture has helped me in the past and so I was keeping my fingers crossed--hard to type that way!!!!--that it would help you.

As to the dairy and gluten. Oh. That would be so hard for me. Good luck. And do all the screaming, yelling, kicking, complaining, whining you want to do. We'll all be with you.

Peace.

Anonymous said...

I'm just going to pretend I never saw this.

Anonymous said...

Good Luck! I'm glad it helped!!

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