About an open mind and the courage to close the eyes and letting go.

The best DIY (do-it-yourself) energy charging station. The nature. Go outside and breath!

Below is a copy of a letter I received yesterday. One of my clients wanted to share her experience of getting out of her comfort zone. She kindly sent it to her friends and posted it on her Facebook page. And I am beyond grateful for that. I remember when she came in for that first treatment. She was cautious, excited and a little nervous. But she stayed with it, she let go and had a wonderful experience.

Read on!

-ellika

 

Hi everyone,

With 2015 being gone and hopes that 2016 will present more positive opportunities, I branched out and did something, that in the past, I was afraid to do. I thought I would share my story in the hopes that maybe you too would embrace this new opportunity.

 

My friend who I have known for over 5 years, is a certified acupuncturist and has recently opened her own business in Brewster. Back in November, she had advertised a ‘become familiar and try it out’ experience for anyone old or new to acupuncture. I figured it was a new year, new adventures, new appreciations and I had the comfort of knowing her personally. I looked at this way……if she hurt me, I knew where she lived to pay back any discomfort.   Lol…just kidding.

 

I was invited into a room with 4 zero gravity chairs and soothing music. As a side note, EVERYONE should have one of these chairs.   All my aches and pains went away just sitting in this chair. The chair alone added to the experience, but it was what she did that truly made the difference. She inserted the needles at certain points beginning at the feet, up to the knee (ish) area, the arms and my head. And yes, I know it sounds weird and yes you look funny, but everyone looked the same so it didn’t matter.

 

She covered me in a tin foil looking type blanket to keep me warm and I closed my eyes to enjoy the experience. The tranquil atmosphere was so soothing that I didn’t want to get up. It turned out, I fell asleep during 45 minutes of my session. The acupuncture made me relax so much that I was completely unaware of how much time had flown by. I know surprising right? Knowing that I am always running around with the boys.

 

I left feeling so rested where in today’s world is so hard to come by. I went home, got everything ready for the next day and went to bed. I woke up the next morning feeling something I haven’t felt in a very very long time……refreshed and revitalized!!!! I don’t recall ever feeling like I had such an amazing night sleep!!!

 

I know the thought of acupuncture, having needles stuck into you, is not really the most inviting thought to most people. However, once the fear and anxiety have been overcome, there is an opportunity of having this experience and enjoying it to its fullest extent.

 

I would hope that you would consider giving it a try…if for no other reason than to try something new. There is no obligation to continue going, but I do ask that you put this on your bucket list for 2016

 

My friends information is:           The Village Acupuncturist, LLC

Ellika Shilling

Contact phone (914) 826-3456 cell

 

Wishing you the same tranquil experience that hopefully will help YOU in 2016.

 

ST

 

The question.

I understand the confusion. I am wondering too.

How does acupuncture work? The answer is: I do not know. I have learned a few theories, of which some make more sense than others, but a definite and intelligible answer I do not have.

The theories, have western or eastern flavor to them. For example, from the western point of view, the needles stimulates nerve endings or, on a more holistic tangent: the needles create small, really tiny, injuries in the tissue they are inserted in, and that creates a healing response from the body. Except there are many small lesions that have to heal so the body’s innate healing ability gets a jump start. Hmmm, why not?

Acupuncture originated in China some five thousand years ago. People at that time lived in sync with the nature and the nature was the filter they used when referring to life experiences. They observed cycles and relationships change as the seasons changed. They also realized that the force, that exists around us and inside of us needs to flow smoothly so the nature stays in balance and the humans stays healthy. Someone, somehow figured out that there are specific places on our bodies that acts like ports for that flow of energy. Specific points where the energy can be manipulated. And believe me, that manipulation did not involve gauge 40 (veryvery thin) stainless steel needles. They used sharp rocks and other sharp objects. Acupuncture! But is that the answer? It is after all a theory based on a philosophy/religion.

My demo-girl arrived today. She will hang out at my office, showing off all acupuncture points.

All I know is that I have absolutely no idea how my precious iPhone works, but I use it every day, all day long, anyway. My point is that I can not, with absolute conviction, explain how acupuncture works. But I am sure that it does work. And I know how to use it. I have learned all the points and what I can utilize them for. I have learned how to manipulate the energy we can not see, but we can for sure feel.

There is no better feeling than when that energy (the qi) flows seamlessly through the body and, for at least a few moments, there is balance and peace.

Here is a preview of my logo. Many thanks to Gaspare!

Getting ready for Monday!

On my way to Staples. Print flyers, brochures and this window sign which will be sufficient until I can hang my shingle for real. It needs to be ordered first. Apparently.

-ellika

Putnam Community Acupuncture.

I did a test run of the Putnam Community Acupuncture (PCA) clinic on Monday. Ten people took time out of their busy day to help me figure out how the set-up of the clinic at The Art of Healing would work.

I also had to be tested. I have practiced acupuncture for years, but only one-on-one for an hour per client, and never like this. New clients every half-hour, all treated in the same space and with a slightly limited repertoire of acupuncture points at hand. Since the treatment takes place in a zero gravity chair, I can not, for obvious reasons, use points on the back. It is a challenge, but a very exciting challenge to figure out different point combinations. Shake it up and do something new!

As a Swede, I grew up with Pippi. Not only is she the strongest girl alive, but also the wisest. This is my favorite Pippi quote, it covers so many situations in life.

So what if a person has back pain and I can not needle the back? To be honest, I had the same question. But after visiting Hudson Valley Community Acupuncture and the fabulous Evan, I know personally that back pain is highly treatable with leg, foot and head points.

So what did I learn from the ‘dress rehearsal’?                                                       There were a couple of things that need to be ironed out and I am happy I did the complimentary evening of acupuncture with a group of fantastic friends that were very candid about the good and the not-so-good. That is the only way to grow and change. Thank you, all of you, if you read this.

I am very excited about the community acupuncture. The idea that acupuncture healing is made affordable and approachable for so many more people is extremely appealing to me. From my personal experience, I can honestly say that sitting in a room with other people, in my case complete strangers, while getting treated absolutely enhanced the treatment. The added energy becomes synergistic and the feeling is almost visceral. The clients create the healing atmosphere as much as the practitioner.

Besides the treatment style, i.e. multiple treatments in one space, the other important part to the puzzle is the sliding fee scale. The first treatment has a set price of $50, however the follow-up treatments range between $20-50. The decision of how much, is the client’s, no questions asked. Ever. It is an unusual concept for most people, but I am sure everybody will get used to it pretty quickly.

I will open officially on Monday 11/30. I still have to figure out the schedule, but I know for sure that I will be open Mondays from 5pm-9pm, Wednesdays 5pm-9pm. Hours will be added as needed.

 

 

It’s happening!!!

When I met my very first patient. Freshly licensed. And no training wheels…

It was extremely exciting. She called me when I was at the bank, waiting for next available teller. We had a hushed conversation in which I asked her for the reason she wanted to see me. Low back pain. OK, something I felt comfortable with. Asking about the main complaint at first contact was a suggestion one of our teachers gave us. By knowing the main complaint we would have some time to prepare and think about different point combinations. He, the teacher, knew that we were nervous about starting our practices outside school.

The teacher in question, Ian Hayden, told me at our clinical assessment that the patients in the student clinic appreciated my calmness. That I was “cool as a cucumber”. I almost choked. For the love of Pete, I was always really nervous during the clinical work. Sweaty palms, butterflies in my stomach, shaking knees – the whole package. However, his comment is something I have carried with me throughout the years. I always take a couple of centering breaths before I start treating patients. I can still be “cool as a cucumber” when it counts.

Anyway.

My very first paying patient showed up on time at the yoga center where I rented a room. A young woman. She looked very “together”. And then she begun to talk. The back pain was the least of her problems. She had bipolar disorder with suicidal tendencies. Holy moly.

A very representative symbol!

I remember that I stumbled out of the room after finishing the intake interview with my head spinning. And where was Dr Xu when I needed him?? I used the KISS (keep it super simple) acronym for the very first time. Another pearl of wisdom from teacher Hayden. I gave her a basic treatment, believing that all acupuncture treatments are by definition, calming. But I needed a plan, what do I do with that information?

The yogi who owned the yoga studio was a massage therapist. She knew that I had seen this woman, whom she massages regularly, and reached out to me. She said that we could discuss her case, between two healthcare professionals. That was, if I needed to. What a relief! The massage therapist/yogi lady suspected what this young woman had presented to me. She also knew that my patient was under medical care for her bipolar disorder. With me, there was one more person keeping tabs on her.

She stayed with me until we left Florida for New York. She had her up’s and her down’s but with the combination of the acupuncture, her yoga practice and of course the medication, she stayed pretty even keeled.

After that first encounter there is not much that surprises me in the treatment room.

Pain in the neck? My daughter. In so many ways.

The nature is vibrating with energy. Breath it. Feel it. Immerse in it. Best of all – it is free!

I am referring to my teenage daughter, who by definition can be a pain in the neck. That became reality for the poor girl when she one morning last week woke up with severe neck pain. Completely out of the blue. She called me over to her bed in the morning, where she was flat on her back unable to move her head even the tiniest bit. A quick investigation revealed no other pain, no fever and no physical trauma (ever so small) to her the day before. I felt safe to leave her with a heating pad under her neck while I rushed through the morning duties. School bus and dog feeding.

It is good fortune for her that she is equipped with an acupuncturist for a Mom. And I was blessed that I, once again, experienced the power of distal points. That means that I only used points on her feet and arms – no points on her shoulders or neck.

I opened up her whole backside with a point pair, one point below her outer ‘ankle bone'(UB62) and one point on her ‘pinkie'(SI3), diagonally from each other. Then I used another point pair on the inside of her lower leg in order to ground the energy (K3). Two other hand points on the Small Intestine channel, bilaterally, and to round up the treatment – Louzhen, an extra point without any obvious connections to a specific channel. However this point is especially powerful for treating necks. It is located on the hand, right in front of the knuckles between the index and the ‘angry’ finger. Oh. I forgot DU 20, on top of her head. It is a very calming point, so I begun the treatment with it, knowing that she can be nervous when I needle her.

I covered her to keep her warm and told her to let me know when she was done. “How do I know when I’m done” she asked. “You just know” was my answer. She fell asleep and after 30-40 minutes she woke up and surprised moved her head. She was done with the treatment. And she could feel it. The acupuncture had loosened her neck muscles enough so that I could help her up to sitting and as soon as she sat up, she could actually walk around. And that without ONE single needle even close to the area of pain. I am in awe over this phenomenal medicine.

Bill at The Art of Healing later that day gave her a laser treatment and massage. After all that energy work she fell asleep and slept for hours. Later in the afternoon when she woke up, she was almost back to normal. Just a normal teenage pain in the neck.

The morning my liver and gallbladder spoke to me. And I listened.

The recipe was as simple as it was absolutely horrendous. Two thirds of a cup extra virgin olive oil. One third of a cup freshly squeezed lemon juice. Yummm. To be chugged right before bedtime. Before that, as many apples as I could eat during the day. And nothing else. Well, water or apple juice of course.

Anyone can imagine that this scenario was not going to end well. But I was determined, because it was time for internal spring cleaning. GALLBLADDER CLEANSING on the schedule. We learned about it in school and I just had to try it.

The apples are supposed to soften the gallbladder sludge and possible stones lodged in the gallbladder, because all of it were bound to come out, quite violently I might add.

Bile is excreted into the small intestine by the gallbladder in response to the ingestion of fat. The bile aids in digestion and distribution of fat. Therefore, when the olive oil/lemon juice concoction reaches the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, the gallbladder empties out completely in order to be able to deal with the great amount of fat. And yes, all that continues down the pipe.

The morning came and the cleanse was done. All I had to deal with now was the taste and sensation of olive oil in my mouth and throat. Actually, that was almost worse than drinking it the night before. What happened then was the weirdest thing, all I wanted was chrysanthemum tea. Which I never had tried before. I just knew that it would help.

Chrysanthemum has properties that pertains to the Liver meridian. The Liver and Gall Bladder are connected in Chinese medicine as well as in our bodies. Chrysanthemum is classified as a bitter herb in Chinese Medicine and the Liver calls for bitter flavor. I happened to have a bag of dried Chrysanthemum flowers at home, I had made a decoction for my daughter’s red eyes earlier. The Liver meridian opens up into the eyes so some Liver herbs work for the eyes too. It is all connected.

I made the bitter tea from the flowers and after I drank it, the oily taste, smell and sensation disappeared. Just as my subconscious wisdom told me it would.

Click here for one version of a gallbladder cleanse.

Click here for some words on gall bladder cleansing from the Mayo Clinic.

Yep. So it is.

Needle in the hand for headaches.

Needle in lower leg for neck and back pain.

Needle in the foot for red and irritated eyes.

Needles in the hands and feet for PMS symptoms. Four needles can do the trick that time of the month!

Needles in the ears for almost everything….

Isn’t that fantastic?

What if….?

What if acupuncture was affordable to almost everyone?

Chinese medicine is, after all, for EVERY body.

Well, then the practitioner has to change the way acupuncture treatments are administered, because the way most practitioners work is based on one client per hour. Naturally the price for that hour has to reflect a reasonable income for the practitioner to cover rent, insurance, student loans, needles etc. A simple equation reveals that to make it possible to substantially lower the price for a treatment, it is necessary for the acupuncturist to see multiple patients at the same time.

So how would that work? The answer is community acupuncture.

Imagine a quiet area, where four or more comfortable zero gravity chairs are occupied by deeply relaxed people. Acupuncture needles at work. The qi is flowing, moving in to areas that has been depleted and moving out of areas that has been congested. A smooth flow of qi lets the body create health on its own. The simple reality of acupuncture.

And then there is the payment system, based on a sliding scale. I want as many people as possible get the benefit from acupuncture. In many cases, the result of the treatment will be greatly improved if there are multiple treatments within a short period of time. So the traditional once a week treatment cycle is not always optimal for healing. A lower price per treatment will ensure that most of the patients actually can afford an increased number of treatments. There will be a recommended price range, let’s say $20-40. The patient can anonymously pay the amount which is comfortable for them by placing the payment in a lockbox.

Yes, I would spend less time talking with the patient but on the flip side, I would let the treatment -the time with needles inserted- last longer.

Stay tuned. Exciting changes in the acupuncture department are coming to The Art of Healing!