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NewsAcupuncture Takes Off at September Space "September Space was founded to provide on-going support for people who are either direct victims of the tragedy, or who lost family members or loved ones," says Biryukov. "The people who come are widows, widowers and children. They may have worked in the World Trade Center and witnessed the attack, or were volunteers who worked in the aftermath of the event, such as psychologists and firefighters. "Most of the interventions focus on addressing post traumatic stress. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress include panic attacks, anxiety, insomnia, depression. In addition, we also treat cases of respiratory illness which are the result of direct or indirect exposure to toxins." Focusing on Ear Acupuncture
Biryukov says that for this population, ear acupuncture was chosen as the best option. Acupuncture interns and their patients meet in a quiet room, first for an assessment and then for treatment. "What makes our approach to ear acupuncture special is that each treatment is different. From the viewpoint of Chinese medicine, the ear can be seen as a microcosm of the whole body. The theory is that different areas of the ear influence different systems of the body. Which part of the ear the therapist will work on is decided by the signs and symptoms and personal health history of the patient." Interns do a complete intake of information with each patient. Then, using the paradigm of Chinese medicine, they palpate the pulses at patient's wrists to feel how energy is flowing through 12 energetic pathways, known as meridians. Each pulse indicates how a different energetic system of the body is functioning. The interns look at the patient's tongue, which also provides information about the status of energy and fluids in the body. They will then consult with the clinic supervisor about their observations; together they come up with a treatment plan for that patient, based on the assessment. When the intern goes back to the patient, he or she palpates the ear before doing any needling, as the tender points will confirm the areas that need treatment. With the patient sitting in a chair, the needling is done. Then lights are dimmed and soft music plays in the background; patients sit and relax, sometimes falling asleep and resting their heads on a pillow on the table. Biryukov says that over the course of the 13-week clinic, patients experience positive results. "They report to us that they feel less anxious, sleep better, function better in the workplace. Some are able to cut back on medications they are taking, such as anti-depressants, sleeping pills or inhalers." Most of the clinics offering ear acupuncture follow the protocol established by the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA), which consists of five standardized points used on all patients. At the September Space clinic, however, ear acupuncture is based on the perspective of Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) which is the focus of the Acupuncture Program at the Swedish Institute. A customized treatment plan is prepared for each individual. "The students love coming here," Biryukov says with a smile, clearly fond of the work she is doing. "They love the work, the patients show improvement, and the students are so happy to be able to contribute to a community still mending nearly three years after a devastating event." For more information News > |
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