Acupuncture Again

The last treatment of 14 or so days worth of acupuncture and acupressure arrives.  My knees are better, I’ve lost a few pounds, I sleep well, my infection is cured.  And I am happy this is the last session for a while, as a two hour chunk out of every day  has become onerous.  Of course, I am preparing my departure for North Carolina, too, and the days are far too short.  However, I will return for "maintenance" when I come back to Shere in 3 months. 

Tina is from Shanghai.  Dr. Fei asked me why I asked for her to do the acupressure so I told her she was so much better at it than Tina.   She thanked me, and has been giving Tina extra training.  Far from the oppressive employer I first imagined, Dr. Fei is conscientious and kind to her practitioners, helpful in accommodating their days off and in training them further.  She is nurturing and professional at once.  Tina has invited me to come to Shanghai and stay with her family if we ever go to China, which is a small risk since we probably never will go, but I was pleased that she asked. So she isn’t upset that I criticized her technique.

Dr. Fei permits no hocus-pocus about acupuncture.  She has studied Chinese medicine for 7 years in China, with 2 years apprenticeship.  She does not believe in Feng Shui, Chinese Astrology, or palm reading.  Acupuncture for her is a science of healing, with very specific treatment for specific ailments.  She is also a Christian, though her parents and grand parents are Buddhists, and if more Christians
were like her, I might consider becoming one again.  She clearly cares about the health of her patients, and wants very much to alleviate pain. 

Why don’t we get that from western medics?  What happens between what would seem to be a somewhat humanitarian impulse to go into the healing profession, and the resulting busy-ness and condescension which seems to become the usual medical behavior.  Not just English doctors, but Americans and French ones, too.  Why can they not be professional and kindly as well?  I don’t ask Dr. Fei to listen to me – (she doesn’t speak English that well, anyway), so it isn’t that.  It’s an attitude, an expression of caring that is evident but not obvious.  I am convinced it adds to whatever health improvements I am experiencing, even if it is placebo.  Who cares?  What one wants is results.