What’s happening at Acupuncture Torbay ?

This is my news page for present and prospective patients

Well, I tried to work voluntarily for the NHS during COVID but was told it was ‘inappropriate’and yet in China, they were clearing up their COVID cases using Acupuncture. The attitude of the NHS to Chinese Medicine can be so frustrating and arrogant.

Revolution?

This reminds me of the time just after the Communist Revolution in China. They considered Acupuncture old fashioned and out of date, although it evolved over 2,000 years. So banned it. The Chinese wanted ‘Modern’ medicine. After a few years, everyone was getting ill, the ‘Modern’ medicine Practitioners couldn’t cope and the crops were failing because the Farmers were ill. The Communist party then had a big conference on re-introducing Acupuncture but a more ‘modern’ form.

The idea was to take away any references to the ‘spirit’ or Shen. Not allowing Acupuncturists to talk about the Five Elements and how they influenced the body. A Committee formed to design a new ‘streamlined’ form of Acupuncture that is now called  (Traditional Chinese Medicine) TCM which is strange because it is not traditional. I do use TCM and do find it effective but I am also trained in the older Five Element style. TCM has been used in China ever since and was vital to keep the economy going. In fact they used Acupuncture a lot to treat Covid in Chinese hospitals and this was how they got rid of it so quickly.

Modern situation

We now have a parallel situation. ‘Modern’ medicine cannot cope and is overwhelmed by demand, Acupuncturists are having to man the pumps to keep the health system afloat. I don’t mind but I was getting very feed up of some Doctors and the NHS telling me there is little evidence that Acupuncture works. That is wrong there is lots of evidence published in reserch papers, it is just that people employed by the Pharmaceutical companies are doing their best to ‘trash’ it. Why do Doctors, Dentists, Physios Etc want to learn Acupuncture if it doesn’t work? They have the utmost cheek to call us ‘lay’ people after all of the training we do! A Physio who does an Acupuncture course for three weekends is NOT an Acupuncturist. Someone who does not understand Chinese medicine theory is not an Acupuncturist.

It is of utmost importance that the two go together. I can look at someone’s tongue and feel their pulses and tell what is wrong with them, then plan a treatment. If you take away the theory, you may as well stick needles anywhere! It is a coherent and very effective system.

Science

I am also an Electronics Engineer and have a ‘science’ background. I don’t accept things easily but, on the whole Acupuncture works. After 29 years, I am still impressed by it. I just wish that Pharmaceutical companies and the NHS would see that we all have common aims. The good of our Patients. I am very willing to send Patients back to their Doctors if they need it or I think ‘Western’ medicine can do them more good. Why can’t they do the same for us?

An example is Cancer. I doubt whether Acupuncture can cure Cancer but I know for certain, we can help people suffering from the treatments used to cure it. Why are Acupuncturists not employed in the hospital Cancer unit? The same goes for Strokes and much more. Sorry, it is frustrating! They keep saying they need well trained staff and yet the ignore the vast number of people with Acupuncture/Homeopathic/Chiropractic and Osteopathic training to name a few. To me that is absurd and very short sighted.

Hmmm, I didn’t mean this to be a rant!

I have noticed the amount of influence a campaigning group called ‘Sense about science’ are having on the government. They are trying to destroy Complementary therapies especially Homeopathy it seems. Their ‘evidence’ is so flawed, they insist on having Placebo Controlled Trials for Acupuncture research but what do you use as a Placebo? You cannot pretend to insert Acupuncture needles and if you do, they must be away from Acupuncture points or you are still influencing the process.

This is setting back the NHS and NICE years because they are saying that they don’t recommend Acupuncture for back pain whereas they did previously! There is tons of good research on Acupuncture but because they don’t use a placebo then NICE will not accept the research. Half of my work is treating Back Pain and the vast amount is successful if it wasn’t I couldn’t stay in business. Here is a good article about Sense about Science. LINK to article. I have noticed that one of their Trustees is CEO of the British Pharmacological Society, glad there is no biase!!

On a personal note, I am now a Sub Aqua Diver, this is so I can continue my work, helping my Brother in Seahorse conservation. I am a volunteer Diver for the Seahorse Trust

Me Diving at beacon Cove
Me Diving at Beacon Cove

Best wishes and hope to see you soon,

Kim