Art and acupuncture for a better city

I always learn so much from you, my patients. Today is no exception. I just received an email with information about a fantastic art work called the Portland Acupuncture Project.

In an effort to identify important spots around the city and bring a sense of interconnectedness, an artist named Adam Kuby is placing large scale needles in different points around the city.

With this "acupuncture", Portland is sure to become one of the healthiest cities!

Thanks Laura for sharing the info!

Just because it's Friday.

Maybe because it's Friday the 13th or just in case someone needs to laugh a little today, I thought I would post a recent observation a patient of mine made.

Since I do house calls and occasionally find myself squinting because there is not enough light in the room where I'm treating someone, I decided to hire the help of a small light. I picked out this little book light because it fits well in my travel case and provides just enough light to stick the needle exactly where it needs to be. This is what it looks like:

Little did I know, until my patient pointed it out and sent me the picture below, that my light had a previous life as an alien in the original movie, War of the Worlds. Here it is in it's movie debut and a slightly different costume.

I promised her and everyone else that if it starts to shoot lasers during treatments I will immediately send it back to it's home planet.

Happy Friday the 13th!

A Super Weekend...

The anticipation. The excitement. Seeing the best doing what they do best. What a weekend!!!

Scramble left… scramble right… pass the acupuncture needle…

Before I confuse too many football fans, I should clarify; I’m not talking about the Super Bowl here! Sorry. That may have been an exciting game, but I’m buzzing with excitement about a different display of talent and grace.

Here is a “play-by-play”.

This weekend some fortunate fans descened on Pasadena and got to see Coach Kiiko Matsumoto, once again, generously share her latest “plays” and winning point combinations. In an eye opening, fun and often funny two day seminar, Kiiko Sensei scored all sorts of victories while navigating the tough field of stubborn and complicated cases.

A history of chronic cough, a lower leg neuropathy, a frozen shoulder, a case of painful menstruation are just a few of the “players” that ended up on the losing team as Kiiko Sensei whipped out her needles and sent these symptoms packing.

Her winning “team” consisted of rookies such as “Mr. Trochanter Treatment”, “Ms. Bai Liao #2" and "Mr. Bai Liao #3”, “Mr. Outer Kidney Shu” and “Mr. Edge of 12th Rib”, together with some of the seasoned veterans such as “Mr. Oketsu.” Together, they delivered wonderful results and sent the fans home inspired.

What a weekend indeed. I can’t wait to apply these strategies in the coming weeks! Domo Arigato Gozaimasu Kiiko Sensei!