The Drop of A(cupuncturist's) Pin

For several years, I have received Acupuncture as a supplement for my health and well-being. Some people consider regular check-ups with their physicians maintenance; I consider Acupuncture, Homeopathics, Naturopathy, massage, and a slew of other 'alternative' courses of maintenance to be much more effective and safe for creating wellness within my body. Many of these modalities pre-date our Western culture's idea of medicine and science by millennium, and although more attention is being given of late to these types of healing, most conventional doctors do not recognize them as real, effective treatments.

I found out today during my Acupuncture session that I had a new food intolerance to onions. I was a little disappointed, because I love the entire Allium family and have for years, but I also knew my acupuncturist was right on- I had slathered a burger I'd made on Sunday with raw onions, and knew something was up in my gut that wasn't good when I awoke early Monday with a stomach-ache. It's moments like these that keep me faithful to this type of diagnosis: my body told me in its own way that something was wrong, and a trained professional supported it with evidence they found through clinical application.

When I was diagnosed with kidney disease, finding out the why of everything was very important to me, especially since I seemed to have been struck by some bizarre autoimmune disease lightning. Receiving treatments from an Acupuncturist and regularly seeing a Naturopath finally gave me some answers when my nephrologist had nothing to offer me. I began understanding my body as an entire system, and soon began to seek ways to heal by treating the entire system, rather than small, symptomatic portions.

Now, as I am nearly 9 months out of my kidney transplant, it is more important than ever for me to pay close attention to my body's messages, and nurture it as it heals from an extremely bizarre experience. My ideas about healing and treatment are beginning to drastically differ from my transplant doctors' ideas, and it is certainly causing both parties distress. As I lay on the able today in my acupuncture appointment with tiny needles in my arms, legs, feet, hands, and even between my eyebrows and in the top of my head, I was filled with an incredible sense of relief and gratitude. I closed my eyes to let the wonderful feeling of healing energy wash over me.