July 11, 2006

• Let’s Get Clinical!

  July 3rd, 2006
  I haven’t really been keeping too many logs past those first couple,
  figuring i will just remember based on the pics i have taken what i
  did…so here is a little more info about the educational part of the
  trip as opposed to the vacational

  First day of clinic…got to remove needles from someone’s
  face! Technique for removing acu needles is to twist back and forth slightly
  for needles from the body, or just pull out the needles from the head…the idea
  is to be gentle but quick, so the patient doesn’t feel anything. Taking the
  ones out of the woman’s neck was kind of freaky since I had approx one week of
  classes and already they have me playing with sharp objects so to speak.
  Overall, I was told I had good technique however, which makes me feel happy. To
  remove any needle, you take a cotton swab with the clamps, press it against the
  skin, and then pull the needle out. The pressure prevents bleeding in most
  spots. I did end up making my patient bleed a little bit from the face, but
  since the doctor said that that particular spot usually bleeds, I didn’t feel
  too bad. Most of the patients in tongren hospital are being treated for stomach
  or eye problems, since that is what this particular hospital is known
  for…however, we also saw cases of insomnia, lumbago, and just general soreness.

  The hospitals are definitely different from western
  style…sterilization does not seem to be as much of an issue here…aside from the
  acu needles, which are autoclaved, nothing is washed in between patients, not
  the clamps for holding the gauze or cotton, the sheets aren’t changed, and used
  and unused materials are kept on the same tray, and often in the same
  container…the Chinese doctors told us that when they go to America, our
  physicians seem paranoid to them, always washing, and never using anything more
  than once…quite the culture difference

  Although, I guess it would be harder to put needles in
  someone with as steady a hand if your’e wearing gloves, but still…universal
  health precautions folks!

  Speaking of the needling, the doctors here are so fast and
  amazing at it…they don’t stop to feel for points or anything…they know their
  business and they just take a needle and slide it in in a quick efficient and
  amazing manner. The motion is mostly a straigtening of the fingers or forearm,
  with each movement very precise. We learned this is at least partly because if
  the doctors feel around for the acu points first before placing the needle, the
  patient tends to think the doctor is not as experienced and will not go to him
  or her again…crazy huh? 

  At night we went to the acrobatics…all I can say is, after
  watching that show, every athletic endeavor I have ever undertaken has been
  entirely invalidated. And I don’t particularly mind

  • 12:37 am
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