Hi all! As you can see, I have not posted a blog entry in literally years. I've been encouraged to get back at it
i’ve seen several patients this week who are suffering from vertigo. none of these patients have had vertigo in the past. each one saw a western medical doctor before seeking out help from chinese medicine. in all the cases, the western doctor ran various tests, with no findings. each patient i saw was under extreme stress.
www.communityacupuncturenetwork.org
http://voodooplex.com/post/2953313736
a literal pain in the butt. and thigh. and calf. and foot.
a literal pain in the butt. and thigh. and calf. and foot.
addiction, allergies, asthma, anxiety, arthritis, chronic and acute pain, chronic fatigue, colds and flus, digestive troubles, gynecological issues, infertility, insomnia, low immunity, menopause, migraines, neurological disorders, skin disorders, stress, and depression.
lots of people are having neck pain this week, lots. for most it’s bilateral and starts between the scapula, radiating up the back to the neck, and for some, the head. (and many many people reported breaking up with their partners/girl/boyfriends over the weekend.)
both are constant and low grade. some people have one, some people have the other. some people have both. hello spring.
pain in the belly. tummy aches. stomach ache. indigestion. mild and constant with less of an appetite. some people also have a little nausea with their abdominal pain.
http://parisiandreamer.tumblr.com/post/3760161963
midback. low back. upper back, with neck and shoulder tension. the left side. the right side. bilateral. close to the spine, or further out. worse with movement. worse with rest. worse with movement after rest. better with heat. better with ice. better with pressure. due to computer work. due to manual labor. due to a car accident. due to a biking accident. due to stress. radiating up the neck, to the head causing headaches. radiating down the arm(s) causing arm pain/numbness.
well over ninety percent of my patients this week complained of insomnia. for most of them, this is their first experience of not being able to sleep. the vast majority of them said that the insomnia was caused by anxiety. they were either unable to fall asleep, or woke during the night and were unable to fall back to sleep. every single one of these patients said they were thinking about the recent events in japan.
after nearly a month of rain, the sun is finally shining in san francisco. people can’t help but feel good. that’s what they say: “i can’t help but feel good with this weather.” and, a lot of them are trying to get pregnant. lots of patients came in this week for fertility support. oh, and all the sunshine is kicking up the seasonal allergies.
knee pain is the complaint of the week this week. for some people it’s both, for others it’s just one.
the chief complaint this week: heartache the large majority of patients are breaking up, or were broken up with by their dates, partners, girlfriends, husbands, etc. a smaller majority is feeling angsty about their love life.
most people seem to be feeling pretty good this week. i had quite a few new patients with no complaints at all- they just wanted to check out acupuncture, and they liked the idea of using weekly treatments to stay healthy and balanced. cool.
neck, back, shoulder, ear, head, wrist, thumb, elbow, knee, arm, foot, hip, calf. i don’t know if this really counts as a trend, but, well, it is the trend this week. the people are in pain- lots of different kinds of pain and in lots of different places.
this week is all about making babies. the vast majority of patients this week are either in need of fertility support or support with their pregnancy. (sciatica, low back pain, nausea, high blood pressure, breech, etc.) i also had several patients who came in for labor induction this week.
people often cry during an acupuncture treatment. they cry for a lot of different reasons - not because it hurts, but because of some kind of emotional release or feeling of sadness or tenderness or who knows what. this week a lot more patients than usual cried.
stiff necks. kinks in necks. frozen necks. necks that don’t move how necks ought to move. ouch.
this week people are quitting. people are quitting smoking and drinking. a lot of people are quitting drinking.
irritablility. stress. fear. dread. panic. shortness of breath. racing mind. palpitations. watch out world: people are freaking out, and pissed off.
a lot of patients this week came in because of delayed menstruation.
neck pain was the shared complaint this week.
the most notable trend this week was how many patients mentioned having a metallic taste in their mouths. most said that they had had it for the last couple of weeks. none of the patients reported this as their chief complaint- it was just an aside.
sore throat, fatigue, slight frontal headache, slight nasal congestion, slight fever, and increased thirst.
it’s fall, and people are quitting smoking again.
lots of people told me that this week they’ve had really vivid dreams. some people have scary ones. some people have adventure ones. some people can’t really remember them, but they have a feeling… most people reported feeling like they hadn’t really rested during the nights when they had vivid dreams.
1/1/2011
this week people are having upper back (& shoulder & neck) pain. it’s a relatively common complaint, but it seems almost everyone is suffering from it this week. in addition, people are waking up earlier than they need or want to. most patients report waking between 3:00 and 4:00 AM. some people are able to fall back to sleep, some are not.
san francisco has a head cold. nasal congestion, fatigue, head ache, slight cough.
people are pretty stressed out this week. actually, more than stressed- anxious. some people are having panic attacks.
that head cold from a couple weeks ago seems to have set up shop in some people. now we’ve got chest colds: productive coughs and nasal congestion are the rule. (yellow and green phlegm)
upper back and neck pain. and shoulders. (and some people STILL have that cold that’s been sticking around san francisco. now they have coughs- some dry, some productive.)
this week’s chief complaint was emotions. people are mostly feeling anxiety. also: depression.
1. insomnia: hard to fall asleep 2. PMS 3. anxiety/stress
bilateral. dull ache. better with heat.
this week’s shared complaints were wrist pain and migraines. not at the same time.
palpitations. shortness of breath. tight shoulders. clenched jaws. racing minds. headaches. reduced appetites. difficulty falling asleep.
there were a surprising number of ear infections this week.
people often use acupuncture to treat lower back pain. sometimes people come in when things are acute- like they’ve just injured it, or they have an old injury that’s bothering them in a new way. some people use regular treatments to try to keep reoccurring lower back pain at bay. this week there was a kind of huge increase in the number of patients with severe lower back pain. it was hard for them to walk, sit, or even lay down. these people explained their pains as eights, nines, and tens on a one to ten pain scale. whoa. anxiety was also up this week. yikes. oh, and break ups too. (so soon after valentine’s day. hm.)
this week a lot of people came in for support with addiction. acupuncture is extremely effective when it comes to kicking a habit. many people use acupuncture to help with quitting smoking, but we can also use it for alcohol and drug addiction. i have used addiction protocols for other types of obsessive/compulsive or addictive behavior: shopping, food/body issues, gambling, sex, etc.
people are upset this week. serious stress, major sadness, deep and intense depression, unbelievable anxiety, mind racing insomnia, crushing heartbreak.
this week had a remarkable shared complaint: discomfort on the back of the head. some people said they had a headache. others complained of a kind of numbness or tingling. one person said it felt “tight”. none of these were due to recent injury.
lots of people complained of increased anxiety/stress this week. for some people, it made it difficult to sleep. lots of people said their minds were racing. many people started their periods this week.
that’s right- the shared compliant this week is loose stool. no one had food poisoning, or traveled to a far away land, they just had upset bellies.
ouch. so many people have carpal tunnel syndrome. and also- so many have told me how alone they feel.
back pain- that’s what’s happening for people these days. lift with your knees & strengthen your core.
this week lots of people have neck pain. for some it’s a chronic issue. for some it’s just because they slept on it funny. for some it’s because of posture.
this week people are tired and have low back pain. (not at the same time.)
this week’s shared complaints were anxiety (!!!!!!!!), and all things related to fertility (morning sickness, trying to conceive, preparing for IVF, health maintenance while pregnant, etc.).
there were two shared complaints this week: -forearm pain: tight forearms due to computer use- for some it radiates into the wrists and hands, for others, the elbows. -lower back pain: in the center & not radiating.
there were two-ish shared complaints this week: 1. baby making: fertility support, miscarriage after care, and support during pregnancy. 2. neck/back pain: just that, pain in the neck and/or back.
a lot of people in san francisco have a cold this week. (sore throat, congestion, fatigue.) lots of other people in san francisco have neck pain. (bilateral, stiffness, radiating into shoulders and head.)
loads of people are ABOUT to get their periods: depression/anxiety, cramps, irritability, fatigue, increased appetite, etc.
the flu has hit san francisco. in other breaking news, lots of people came in for nerve pain today. people had nerve pain due to: compressed vertebra, accidents, and chronic use.
seems lots of people are depressed right now. some people are also struggling with irritability.
this week’s shared complaint was left side neck pain. also, lots of people are feeling anxious, or upset, or generally unsettled.
the shared complaints this week were: -productive coughs: green, yellow, and white phlegm. -neck pain: one side more than the other.
e shared complaint this week was headaches. some people had migraines.
the shared compliant this week is hard to describe. in general, people said they felt: “bad”, “weird”, “anxious”, “very stressed”, “agitated”, “irritable”, “angry”, “depressed”, “sad”, “hopeless”, “on edge”, “queasy”, and “nervous”. for some people these emotions manifested into: headaches, severe stomach pain, lower back pain, diarrhea, palpitations, shoulder tension, neck pain, reduced appetite, and/or insomnia. it seems a lot of people are having a hard time. also, lots of people are trying to get pregnant.
there were three shared complaints this week: 1. headache 2. menopause 3. toothache a couple people had both 1 and 3, a couple more had 1 and 2, and one poor soul had all three.
a lot of people in san francisco are sick. -headache, sinus congestion, fatigue, sore throat, cough. also, a lot of people are having major anxiety. -panic attacks: shortness of breath, palpitations, feelings of impending death. (also, a lot of people really went for it for NYE, and they’re feeling the effects.)
people are wicked anxious this week. whoa. also, san francisco has a cold/flu going around.
a lot of people have the flu. fatigue, body aches, nasal congestion, headache, etc. also- COUGH. for most it’s a productive cough, but for some it’s dry.
lots of people have talked with me about how 2013 has been tough so far. many of them have said that they are going to act as if feb 1st is the new year. also- a few people talked about how emotionally hard it is to live in the city- specifically how hard it is to see homeless people every day.
people are feeling better. people are finally getting over the cold/flu/plague that ravished san francisco. people are coming out of some deep winters blues and are feeling a bit lighter and a bit more hopeful.
emotions are running high for people this week. a lot of tears were shed during treatments. people told me about crushing anxiety, grieving a recent death, struggling with heartbreak, panic about unemployment, extreme stress because of school, feeling unsettled at new jobs, and worries about big life decisions. whoa.
weirdly a lot of people had food poisoning this week. also, several people said they felt like they were “falling apart”.
is it allergies? is it a cold? is it allergies with a cold? either way, san francisco is sniffling and sneezing. happy spring!
people are having a hard time sleeping this week. some people can’t fall asleep, others are waking during the night and having a hard time falling back to sleep, still others are reporting waking up earlier than needed.
lots of people have their periods right now. for some, it’s right on schedule, and for others it’s early or late. any which way, they’re all bleeding.
people were kind of all over the place this week. lots of knee pain going around. some insomnia. loads of allergies. and lots of people having generally having tough times: loved ones with illnesses, major work stress, recent deaths, struggles with (in)fertility, and all around hard times.
this week people are telling me about their stress. it’s rough. lots of people just have a lot going on, all at once.
lots of people have been talking to me about the changes they’re going through. maybe they’re moving, or graduating, or having major life changing surgery, or leaving/starting jobs, or even making deep lifestyle/emotional changes. for some people these changes are easy breezy, for others it’s an uphill battle. needless to say, for everyone there’s a bit of stress involved. some people are having a hard time sleeping because they’re thinking thinking thinking. some people are having digestive upset because that’s what happens to them when they’re stressed. some people get headaches, some people get neck/shoulder tension, some people lose their appetites.
i’ve heard many body workers say that their practices are slower in the summer months, and i can say the same is true for mine. though there are still plenty of people in need of treatments, the summer lightens my patient load just a bit. it seems like people just feel better during the warmer months. (though summer does not always mean warmer in san francisco.) people have fewer digestive issues because they’re usually eating healthier foods–fewer holiday parties and heavy seasonal feasts in the summer. people also tend to spend more time outside, and often get more exercise, which makes us all feel better. it seems people also feel better emotionally, whether it’s due to more sunlight or stress-filled holidays, i’m not sure. also, peoples’ aches and pains are generally less intense when the weather is warm. hooray for summer! these days i’m mostly treating people for fertility issues and general health maintenance.
that’s right- the shared complaint this week is headaches. people have them in different places on their heads, and the pain is triggered by, and alleviated by different things for different people.
people have reported being restless, anxious, freaked out, agitated, irritated, and generally unsettled this week. (the full moon is tomorrow.)
this week several people reported feeling a “heaviness” in their legs. also- lots of people just started their periods.
headaches were the shared complaint this week.
there’s a cold/flu going around san francisco.
it’s not really a shared complaint, but several of my patients are falling in love- not with each other.
the most common complaint has been back pain- specifically lower back pain. also, the flu seems to be making its way around san francisco.
that’s right, san francisco has the flu. lots of: green/yellow/white phlegm, productive coughs, fatigue, headaches, fever/chills, body aches, etc.
the flu is ravaging san francisco.
today it was all eyes and skin. kind of a weird combo. people complained either of eye pain (ocular migraines), or skin issues (eczema/psoriasis).
this week is all about labor induction. that’s right, acupuncture can help start labor, and/or help things along once they get started.
everyone is telling me how tired they are this week. despite getting enough sleep, taking afternoon naps, and cutting back on sugar/caffeine/alcohol, they’re still really fatigued. also- a few people have complained of a “burning tongue”. they feel like they burnt their tongue, but they didn’t.
allergies, allergies, allergies. people are sneezing, have itchy watery eyes, itchy throats, sniffles, fatigue, and cloudy heads.
that’s right, people are irritable and having herpes outbreaks. http://www.herpesoutbreak.com/284/can-herpes-spread-to-other-parts-of-your-body
lots of people are coming in with spring-time colds: congestion, fatigue, sneezing, body aches, etc.
more people with non-genital herpes outbreaks. so interesting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpetic_whitlow
this week people are telling me about their broken hearts and their knee pain. some people have both, some have one or the other.
seasonal allergies seem to be oppressing the people of san francisco this week. in addition, a lot of people are having a rough go of it. lots of tears this week.
lots of people have PMS this week. watch out.
it’s summer and people in san francisco are getting colds. nasal congestion, fever, headache, cough, fatigue, body aches.
many people have complained of sciatica this week.
lots of people have neck pain this week–specifically at the base of their skulls. also- lots of people have decided to quit drinking this week.
lots of people are having really slow flows this month. they say the flow is lighter, and lasting longer than usual.
this isn’t really a collective complaint, but there’s been a different kind of pattern this week. every patient has been late for his/her appointment. every single one. my patients are generally right on time.
lots of people have their periods this week.
anxiety is running high this week.
there’s been a sudden drop in temperature in san francisco, and people are getting colds because of it.
insomnia is the complaint this week. maybe it’s the warm nights? maybe it’s the early morning earthquakes? who knows–but one thing is for sure, people in san francisco are having a hard time sleeping.
allergies! allergies! allergies! yikes! san francisco is sneezing, sniffling, and itchy-watery-eyeing it’s way through the week.
lots of sad people this week. it seems to be the season of breaking up.
lots of people in san francisco are sick right now–mostly head colds.
lots of people are complaining of early morning insomnia.
lots of people are fighting off little colds. i’ve heard that people are more likely to get sick during an eclipse. huh.
people are telling me about their depression this week. for some people it’s despair, for others it’s numbness, and for others it’s sadness, fatigue, hopelessness, malaise, disinterest…the list goes on. it seems early for seasonal depression.
this week most patients have said that the needles in the left side of their body felt more intense. also- there’s a brutal cold going around san francisco.
that cold that’s been going around san francisco seems to like it here. people are telling me that they mostly feel better, but can’t kick the final sniffles, feeble cough, and/or slight fatigue.
a lot of patients have been telling me about how they’re struggling right now. people have talked with me about feeling anxious and angry and hopeless and helpless in the face of state violence and injustice. people have shared their experiences of overwhelm and fear.
people are irritated this week. they are angry, frustrated, and over it.
upper back, neck, and shoulder pain seems to be the shared complaint of this week.
people are tired this week. is it the short, dark days? or the holiday recovery? or?
lots of fertility support work this week. and everyone seems to be on the same IVF cycle.
people keep telling me how good they feel. they seem surprised by it. they feel better than usual.
a lot of people are having a hard time sleeping this week. is it the full moon? or is it the strangely spring-like winter we’re having in san francisco?
lots of break ups right now.
many people fall asleep during acupuncture treatments, but not all. some people just rest. some people lay, with the needles in, but aren’t actually able to rest. some people feel quite restless during treatments. we’re all different, right? well, this week every single person has fallen asleep. each one of them told me how deeply they slept and how great it felt.
lots of people are getting (or got) pregnant this week. some people were trying (with the help of acupuncture) and some people weren’t.
the people are having allergies. and a cold. or is it just allergies? or maybe it’s just a little cold? or both? or? any which way, it’s itchy, sneezy, snotty, and tired.
lots of people have been telling me that they’re having intense dreams lately. some are having nightmares. some are having “adventure dreams”. some people feel really disturbed by their dreams. many people have said that they feel less rested because of all this dreaming.
lots of people are coming in with ankle injuries lately. a few were skateboarding related twists, a couple people strained just by misstepping, and one old sprain that never healed properly.
lots of rough stuff this week. there isn’t a theme, exactly, but many of my patients are really struggling. some with very difficult physical pain, some with very intense psychological pain.
there’s a cold going around san francisco. it’s lasting up to a week for some people.
people are having major panic and anxiety this week.
lots of labor induction recently. acupuncture is great for starting labor, and helping to speed it along.
lots of people have reported having delayed menses this week.
San Francisco is menstruating.
lots of upper back, shoulder, and neck pain this week. seems a lot of it is from computer work and/or stress.
people are tired. most have told me they're getting enough sleep.
over half of the patients I saw yesterday got their periods yesterday.
lots of people are alllllllllmost sick. a little tickle in the throat, a little more tired, a little achy, a little cloudy, a bit sneezy, a tiny bit stuffy.... seems like the sudden change in weather could be to blame.
I've been doing more and more fertility support in the last couple of years. It's a pretty wild ride sometimes. Of course, one of my favorite parts is when we get to labor induction. I have someone coming in this afternoon for just that, labor induction. I just realized that right now three of my patients are at 35 weeks, one just delivered two days ago, and then there's the labor induction today. (Not to mention the few that are just shy of 35 weeks.) I guess 8/9 months ago was a very fertile time?
I don't know if it's because I broke my right foot last month, so I'm more aware of other peoples' injuries, but I swear, I have been seeing so many people (on the street, not in my practice) with injured right feet/ankles/legs/knees. It seems like at least twice a day I see someone in a cast, or boot, and/or on crutches.
lots of people are sick right now. the common thread seems to be sore throat.
the people are tired, at least that's what they keep telling me. is it Day Light Savings? is it the colder weather? hard to say, but rest is the prescription!
lots of people have been telling me that they're having nightmares.
lots have people have shared that they're feeling down these days. it seems these shorter, darker, colder days are wearing on their spirits.
seems this cold/flu that's hit SF just will not let go. just as people think they're getting better, bam, they're down again.
many people have a dry cough this week.
lots of people with acute neck pain this week.
san francisco is blossoming and the people are sneezing and itchy.
over the last few days, so many people have told me that they feel really emotionally sensitive. several people have also shared feeling cloudy-minded. and lots of people have been having trouble sleeping. could it be the eclipse?
there are a couple colds going around The Bay. one is a sore throat, sniffles, fatigue kind of thing and the other is a diarrhea, nausea, fatigue kind of thing.
seems mercury is retrograde, again. so many people complaining of high stress this week. most of it has been related to miscommunication and thwarted travel plans. mercury goes direct on the 22nd.
nearly every person has talked with me about their intense anxiety this week. some also have insomnia. yikes.
So so so many people have complained about jaw pain/jaw clenching/TMJ this week. So many!
09/20/2016
There's a head cold floating around San Francisco. Sneezing, coughing, scratchy throat, fatigue, etc.
Lots of people in SF are sick and/or having allergies. We recently got a bunch of much needed rain which has meant a lot more mold in our damp old city. I'm seeing congestion (chest and nasal), cough and fatigue. Every single one of my patients has talked about how awful they've felt since the inauguration. They've expressed anger, fear, worry, outrage, anxiety, insomnia, sadness, and so much more.
Loads of stress and anxiety this week. Work related, wedding planning induced, family drama, it's all in the mix.
Over the past couple weeks, person after person has told me that they have been sick for months. For most people they've been just slightly sick. They don't get fully sick and they feel like they don't get fully better either.
Tears. So many this week. It seems nearly every patient has needed to cry.