MMW 10-Year Anniversary $10,000 Goal

On February 15th, our most recent Acupuncture volunteer, Derek Becker, arrived in Nepal to begin serving patients in the Kathmandu Valley. He is now treating patients in a clinic in Chabahil, just outside Boudhanath in Kathmandu. Derek is assisted by a Nepali translator, Debaki who just graduated from a new acupuncture school in Nepal. Derek is serving as her mentor and helping to prepare her to be an indepedent acupuncturist for a nearby hospital. Here is a description of his experince so far. We are so thankful for Derek's hard work and for the collaboration with Debaki. We could not be treating patients so effectively without her help. We are also grateful to the Acupuncture Relief Project for offering her training as a wonderful translator.

In three week’s time we have delivered a total of 282 treatments to 70 unique patients.  The age range is typically 40-60 years old and roughly 65% female.  Most patients have returned for treatments at least four times, and only 15% of patients haven’t returned at all. So far people have come to clinic seeking relief from pain (shoulder/arm, sciatica/low back pain, joint pain/arthritis, burning pain in the legs, gout), severe menopausal symptoms, hypertension, thyroid issues (mostly hypo), constipation, gastritis, urinary issues, headaches and insomnia.

Shoulder pain is by far the most common chief complaint. So far acupuncture has been effective at alleviating pain in nearly every patient with shoulder pain.  Sometimes the pain decreases incrementally over the week and other times the pain is completely gone by the end of the treatment (but typically returns within 24-48 hours, progressively getting better throughout the week).  

Treating the same patients daily for a week affords many learning opportunities.  Let’s be honest – some of the patients have conditions that I’ve struggled to figure out how to treat.  One of those patients was Bishnu.

Bishnu is a lovely human who came to clinic two weeks ago reporting pain behind the knees.  Though she didn't include it in her chief complaints, it was clear that she was severely congested nasally and has lymph drainage issues with scrofula of the neck and swelling near her left lymphatic duct. We have been focusing on this in clinic and have taught her lymph drainage massage techniques which she is practicing daily.  It's a slow burn, but her facial complexion and shen (countenance) has brightened daily.  It is such a joy to partner with her and Saroj in healing.

The clinic day typically ends between 4p and 5p.  After another brisk 35 minute walk back to my apartment in Bodha, I am both tired and invigorated.

In order to keep up the pace, self-care is a must.  My routine involves getting to bed relatively early, starting every morning with Qi Gong, video chatting with my wife and daughter twice a day (the best thing), journaling, playing guitar and walking 4 miles a day. As I did not previously have a daily meditation practice, I committed to an online peer-group embarking on a 21-day guided meditation (and so far it’s been great).  In order to stay present and connected while in clinic, I try to give every patient a JMT (Japanese Meridian Therapy) Root Treatment before deep needling. The process involves clearing the mind and waiting/welcoming the arrival of Qi, which not only gives me a chance to energetically connect with the patient and prepare us for collaborative healing, it also gives me an opportunity to practice "micro-meditations" throughout the day. 

In order to connect socially, I have a ritual of ending every work-week Friday night at an “open jam” (music) night at a café near my apartment that is a haven for ex-pats (many of them old hippies).  I have made friends from Austalia, Spain, Lithuania, India and the US – and took a guitar lesson from one of the awesome bluegrass musicians.  

All in all the experience has been life-affirming, informing and enriching.  The healing interactions in clinic are very much collaborative, and I believe the process is impacting everyone involved.  I am ever grateful to be a part of it.