An Acupuncture Treatment Story

Sarah came in for acupuncture because she was not feeling her best. At age 50, with her kids launched in the the world, a successful career and a nice circle of friends she had a lot going for her. However, she was feeling tired, unfocused, and flat. "I used to get enthusiastic about things and always had creative projects going. I'm really worried about my lack of focus - what if I can't perform in my work anymore?" she told me at her initial visit.

I began treating her with acupuncture weekly - helping to nourish her energy and spirit. At her third visit she appeared much brighter, more alert, engaged. "I can't believe it!!! I have so much energy! I'm refocused at work - even my colleagues have been noticing! I'm not sleeping all weekend - in fact I cleaned and reorganized my entire house! When I came here, I really didn't know if it could help me - I'm blown away by how much better I feel."

For more information see The Center for Classical Five-Element Acupuncture in Seattle.

Spring

"As the days become warmer and brighter, nature rouses from her winter slumber and looks ahead to the new growth of spring. The Wood, which has been at rest, storing and concentrating its energy under a winter blanket, now bursts forth with new buds, new life piercing Earth's crust. The swelling Wood of spring initiates rebirth - a surge of rising energy, like the young lamb staggering up to nurse, like the dandelion whose growing edge can burst through concrete if it must. Wood is the energy of youth and growth: a new beginning, a vision of a whole new cycle. The Wood energy of spring is an expression of life at its strongest.

"If we have followed nature's way and taken a winter rest, we too emerge into spring 'raring to go' with clear vision and a sense of purpose. This is the season to plant seeds for a future harvest, to look ahead and make new plans, formulate new ideas, make decisions, and
determine our direction for the coming year - and to take action."

- Neil Gumenick

This text is from Neil Gumenick's site - an amazing resource for information on Classical Five-Element Acupuncture.

For more information see The Center for Classical Five-Element Acupuncture in Seattle.

Fascinating Study

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people had better results from a medication when they believed that it cost more. The finding emerged from a randomized, blinded study, in which 82 healthy paid volunteers were given what they were told was a new opioid and asked to rate its effect on painful electric shocks. In fact, the volunteers were all given the same placebo, but some were told its price was $2.50 a pill and others were told the cost was discounted to 10 cents a pill, the researchers reported.

Those who got the perceived expensive pill had significantly greater pain reduction than those who thought they were getting the cheaper version.

This study is fascinating to me - it illustrates clearly that what we believe creates our experience.

Sources:
Journal of the American Medical Association
Source reference:
Waber RL, et al. "Commercial features of placebo and therapeutic efficacy." JAMA 2008; 299(9): 1016-17.

A placebo Effect for Pricey Placebos in Placating Pain
By Michael Smith, North American Correspondent, MedPage Today
Published: March 04, 2008
Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

The Center for Classical Five-Element Acupuncture in Seattle