Acupuncture, or as we like to call it, Acupokure

So yesterday, I had my first acupuncture appointment.  I was able to be worked in one week after calling, considering the usual wait is 9 months, I was excited.  Things went fine.  He checked my "6 pulses" and said that I was low on energy. (The bags under my eyes could have been a hint there, too)  He also my spleen was deficient.  (Poor spleen!)  It was kind of cool because he felt my temperature on different parts of my stomach and side and I could feel differences in temperature. Apparently, my spleen, liver and lungs are too cold.  They need more warmth/blood/energy.  So he put 10 needles in and around my feet, legs, hands, arms and head.  Only one hurt, the one on my right hand "because Americans have a hard time letting go."  Oh, I nearly forgot.  The bunions/wide feet are another sign if spleen deficiency.

I'm supposed to notice if anything happens in the next 2-3 days and report back next week.  The only thing I noticed differently was that last night my nose was running a lot while I was cooking dinner.  That never happens.  (He asked if I had allergies or colds a lot; I said no; he said I need to be careful for lung disease.)

OK.  So I'm curious to see what happens.  As for fertility, he says that he's had 90% success in helping overweight women become pregnant.  I thought to myself that I do need to lose 10 lbs.  There are 4 or 5 different syndromes that I could have and it will take time to figure which one it is.

So, I'm curious, but I'm skeptical.  It is so hard to turn off the other voice in my head that evaluates many situations I'm in.  I have seen a lot of studies on pseudo-science and it's really hard not to check off in my head: technique 1 (my nodding and/or volunteering information), technique 2 (his throwing out multiple explanations until one fits), etc.  I don't think being skeptical is bad.  That's what we as research psychologists are supposed to be.  And if, for it to work, I have to fully believe in it, then it's just a placebo effect!  Here's where I bring in my rationalizations.  Maybe acupuncture is fully correct in terms of adjusting my energies.  I do believe in Yoga as a way to connect mind, body and spirit.  But maybe it's more like feng shui, which I also like.  Feng shui is great as far as general principles for organizing furniture and living spaces to make them more warm and friendly.  I start getting anxious, though, when I'm supposed to put red in a particular corner to encourage fertility.  (That said, we do have a crystal over the bed because Dave's feet head out the door---death position! Bad! Bad! Bad!) I think acupuncture, if it does work, works because it is stimulates nerve impulses in certain areas.  Again, perhaps it's my Western medicine bias, but I have a harder time with some of the other explanations. 

So, I shall let you know how things turn out as they happen.

Last night we carved pumpkins.  I made more of a modern art on with  swirly bits for his eyes and mouth.  We're behind on the candy though.  Dave, this is a reminder to go to Target today for candy! 

Off to work.  Hellish day.

8:13:52 AM