All about acupuncture

Preparation for a new phase

2011-03-28T09:47:00.002+01:00

This is an exciting time for the project.

We found a new venue which will be suitable for future expansion. Now it is down to signing the lease and getting marketing up and running.

It is a building with a lot of history and now converted with lots of light and open space. It gives an air of relaxation and possibilities.

We hope to announce an open day soon.

This is where it all began....

2011-03-16T21:08:00.003Z

This is an article hopefully will be published on BAcC quarterly newsletter to the members. I have been meaning to write it for a long time talking about my experience and why I started the first community acupuncture project in Yorkshire.

Multi-bed acupuncture – a first hand experience

On a recent visit to Taiwan, I spent some time observing a Chinese Medicine/acupuncture practitioner. The atmosphere in the clinic was quite different from the typical acupuncture practices in the UK.

The waiting room was busy and buzzing. One woman was sitting on a bench with various needles on her knees whilst chatting happily to other patients who were sitting around waiting for their appointments. A man with needles on Du20, Du23 and Yin Tang was turning around from his chair in enthusiastic discussion with fellow patients in the waiting line.

After that visit, I asked myself, is the one-on-one model of practicing acupuncture the only way to work here in the UK? How would patients perceive a communal environment, which is the norm in the Far East?

I decided to find out the answer. I set up a pilot scheme in a deprived area of Leeds in 2007 after obtaining a small grant from the Scarman Trust. The funding was used to buy equipment, including a treatment couch and chairs, and contribute towards rent. I worked on a voluntary basis, which was a prerequisite of the funding but charging a small fee for each patient as a token to ensure they were committed to the treatment. This money covered administrative expenses, e.g. phone calls, marketing leaflets etc.

I rented a room, approximately 400 sq ft, in a community centre. For each session, it was set out with a consulting table with two chairs, one treatment couch and 3 reclining chairs. The couch was surrounded by a couple of screens for privacy. There was an additional screen to divide off the consulting area. The 3 reclining chairs were arranged in a semi-circle without further screen or division.

One major issue was patient confidentiality. There was no way to stop other patients listening in the consultation so I designed a questionnaire which patients filled out at their first visit. This allowed me to quickly get an idea what they came for without disclosing confidential information. I also offered patients the opportunity to discuss their conditions in a separate room, but surprisingly, most were happy to carry on the consultation in the communal room.

For new patients I allowed 30 minutes to arrive at a diagnosis and complete needling. It was a challenge sometimes. However, if all Four Diagnostic methods are applied properly, it is possible to achieve this tight schedule. 20 minutes were allocated for follow-up sessions.

After needling, patients were left to rest in the couch or chairs for up to 20 minutes. A lot of the time, they were able to carry on their relaxation after needle withdrawal, which was a real bonus. In a private setting, they would normally be hurried to make way for next patient.

I enjoyed working this way. I could keep an eye on all the patients whilst working around the room. Patients made friends or met old acquaintances while attending the sessions. It was a highly energised environment for people trying to get better and a totally different atmosphere from other settings I have worked in.

The response was overwhelming. Within 4 weeks from kick-off and with minimal marketing, all appointments were taken up (8 in total for half a day). Very soon there was a waiting list. Around half of the patients had acupuncture treatment some time before but had not been attending due to concerns about cost. The other half were new to acupuncture and would not have dreamed of trying it before this project came along.

We saw patients who were on benefits and unable to work. Treatment helped them to gain a sense of control in their lives. We saw a pensioner with knee pain, who was getting no relief from surgery. He magically improved with acupuncture treatment and then went on hiking to raise money for charity. These cases made it all worthwhile being an acupuncturist. Given their circumstances they would not have access to acupuncture treatment through a more traditional private one-on-one setting.

Whilst a number of cases were more suited to a private setting, I feel strongly that multi-bed acupuncture provides a real alternative which can help many who are otherwise excluded. I also feel it is important to let patients choose the type of acupuncture treatment setting that best suits their circumstances.

The pilot scheme has confirmed to me that the ‘multi-bed’ concept is a workable model here in the UK. The fact that there are many similar clinics sprouting out across the country proves the point. It is not however for the faint hearted! The work is much more intensive than conventional one-on-one sessions, not just in managing patients but also in the extra administration and clinic maintenance.

The project ran for two years after the funding ended. I am indebted to the help and support from Olivia Brummer-Hill, Tim Brown and Debbie Smith (all members of BAcC), and Rose Heywood (a volunteer receptionist), all of whom selflessly participated in the project.

Having won the Higher Education Social Entrepreneurship Catalyst Award in 2010, the project is now looking to the future. Our plans are to establish a sustainable social enterprise. This will allow us to expand the benefit of acupuncture to an even wider section of the community.

I hope this article gives a useful insight into what it is like working in a multi-bed setting. You can reach me through email (acumedica@gmail.com).

Some new development

2011-03-10T17:55:00.005Z

The clinic work of community acupuncture based at Burley Lodge has been put on a hold for the last 3 months to give way to more development and expansion.

During this time, I continue to receive enquiries for the clinic and treatment. I think we are doing the right thing to make acupuncture more accessible to all.

A few issues that's been on the agenda
[1] Finding a permanent base
[2] Maximising &
[3] Measuring the social impact

Finding a permanent base is tricky as it is difficult to forecast our income flow. The new venue needs to be accessible easily with public transport, plenty of parking, facilities for disables, etc. There are a few candidates coming to consideration. Watch the space.

A great year!

2010-12-05T20:21:00.004Z

The Leeds Community Acupuncture Clinic has completed its last treatment session on 30th November for the year 2010. It was a day full of snow and we decided to keep the clinic open. We were really happy to see most patients turning up and able to say happy holidays to them before year end.

Looking back, we have been in operation for 3 years and giving out nearly 500 treatment sessions at a lower cost for the community.

Many thanks to our volunteer acupuncture practitioners, Olivia Brummer-Hill, Tim Brown and Debbie Smith. Big thank you to Rose Haywood for her volunteering at the reception who dealt with huge amount of admin work.

With the new funding from HEFCE and UnLtd, we look forward to a better year in promoting health amongst the community.

Viva acupuncture!!

2010-09-08T23:44:00.008+01:00

I came down with a fever last night (nearly 40C) and felt achy everywhere.

In my mind, there were a few options: [1] take paracetamol [2] take some herbs [3] do some self acupuncture [4] some traditional treatment called Gua Sha (literally meant 'to scrape away the fever' in Chinese).

I went for option [3]. Acupuncture is documented to be very effective in relieving fever. It involves a special technique though. It is not widely used nowadays as taking paracetamol is a much simpler solution, I suppose.

I thought I would like to try out our "ancesters' treasure" and see really how effective acupuncture is in reducing fever.

I must admit that the experience was slightly unpleasant as I had to needle the tip of the finger (which makes me sound like a wimp to diabetic patients!).

My husband couldn't bear to watch "the operation" but the fever was gone in 3 hours. Although I am still left with some pains and aches, I am not complaining. It's time for some good old "drink plenty of water and have plenty of rest"!

Combating cancer treatment side-effects

2010-09-01T22:30:00.005+01:00

Today, the Simplyhealth website published an article entitled 'Acupuncture helps with cancer treatment side-effects'. It is refreshing to see a medical insurance company looking supportive to complementary therapies.

The article is mainly about a cancer patient reporting beneficial effects from receiving acupuncture treatment by reducing bouts of nausea, relieving fatigue/anxiety, improving appetite/mobility, etc.

In fact, there is plenty of evidence showing acupuncture helpful combating side-effects from cancer treatment. For example, Cancer Research UK publishes lots of relevant information on their website.

Acupuncture has its unique position in complementing conventional cancer treatment as it does not seem to 'interact' or 'cancel out' cancer treatment patients are receiving, whilst relieving the side-effects.

Most cancer treatment is about a blanket elimination of body's ability to reproduce and replicate. The body needs be strong enough to withstand the 'treatment' (or 'elimination'). Acupuncture aims to stimulate body's own recovering process, to help the body out-live cancer cells during the cancer treatment.

In clinic, I see cancer patients benefit from the acupuncture treatment. A middle-aged lady reported that nurses were impressed by her level of energy during radiotherapy. Another came off anti-nausea medication after a course of acupuncture treatment. A long term patient with cancer in many parts of the body surprised her oncology consultant by looking/feeling so much better than her case history implies.

Many cancer patients may not be able afford regular private acupuncture treatment. Many may receive treatment within the NHS but from practitioners trained during a few weekends. I truly recommend patients seek out and receive treatment from practitioners who are properly trained (generally for 3-4 years) in the discipline of acupuncture (just like any other treatment you may receive).

The Community Acupuncture model aims to make acupuncture accessible to a wider community by providing lower cost treatment, making long term regular treatment a possibility. Many patients enjoy receiving treatment in a community setting. Some consider it a nice outing during the week.

We hope there will be more acupuncture clinics working with this model so that more people can benefit from acupuncture treatment at the level they can afford.

Winning HE Social Entrepreneuriship Catalyst Award

2010-08-15T23:18:00.004+01:00

We will be receiving funding from the Higher Education Funding Council. The result was announced at the end of July.

It is a fantastic news!

Winning the award gives the community acupuncture project a boost not only in the financial terms but also a great lift in morale.

For the last two years, the community acupuncture clinic has been serving the local community from Burley Lodge Centre. Going forward, we aim to relaunch and focus on issues faced by communities in need, e.g. stress/depression/anxiety and obesity. We also hope to achieve better integration with main stream healthcare system.

Watch this space.

Inspirational...

2010-04-27T00:05:00.004+01:00

I was very flattered.

I was invited by my old College, Northern College of Acupuncture in York, as an 'inspirational practitioner' to their bi-annual conference in July. I will be talking about my community acupuncture project along with other practitioners.

Upon receiving the invitation, I was laughing at the title 'inspirational practitioner' - how did they come up with it?!

On the other hand, I am very proud that what I've been doing is inspirational to others. I believe the idea of community acupuncture should be more popular amongst practitioners. More clinics should be set up to benefit more patients in need of treatment.

May the force be with us!

2010-03-29T23:05:00.003+01:00

It was great to meet with comrades in the field of community acupuncture.

I went to Sheffield last Friday to meet with two practitioners running a community acupuncture clinic down there. We had useful exchanges on practical issues like patient management, clinic settings to more tricky topics like financials and legal structures. We agreed to keep in touch and maybe inviting the clinic in Manchester to meet up next time!

By coincidence, someone setting up in Norwich rang up to have a discussion. They are also going through the same issues like us. I gave them a brief update on legal structures (which I spent 4 hours the other night to learn about) and they gave us very useful information on applying for funding.

It all seems that someone out there knows about what we are doing and pulling useful connections for us. May the force be with us!!

Legal structure....

2010-03-18T22:57:00.004Z

Can anyone believe I spent 5-9pm tonight sitting in a closed room to learn about the right legal structures to operate social enterprises? I admit I was non-stop yawning during the last half an hour.

Good thing is that I am much clearer in my mind which form the project is going to take on in the future. It is a big step forward!

A very busy clinic

2010-03-16T22:24:00.003Z

Looking into the appointment book this morning, I just realised that the clinic sessions were fully booked for the next 3 weeks.

On one hand, I am pleased that the clinic is popular and that our service is in demand. On the other hand, both new or repeat patients are going to stuggle to get appointments they need.

The clinic will open for an extra hour from next week to ease the 'congestion'!

Eureka moment ! - Fire Element

2010-03-12T21:06:00.007Z

Looking through a children's picture encyclopedia with my 6-years old at his bed time. The page was on digestion system. We were looking at a picture of a child with the drawing of the whole digestive system superimpose on it. We had a good giggle about which end the food goes in and which end it comes out.

We explored into details of how the food goes in the mouth, into the stomach, then to very long and wriggly small intestine... then I just could not believe why I didn't think of this before...

In Chinese Medicine theory, internal organ systems are classified into 5 types, using 5 Elements to symbolise it - Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

It is easy to understand that Liver/Gall Bladder (Wood), Spleen/Stomach (Earth) and Kidney/Bladder (Water) are in the same categories. They are in similar anatomic position and doing similar jobs. It is more intriguing that Heart and Small Intestine are classified in Fire, Lung and Large Intestine in Metal.

The heart is located in the chest whilst the small intestine is in the abdomen. One is part of the circulating system and one is digestive. One can see why Heart is associated with the Fire Element - symbolising energy and life source. The association with Small Intestine is not so obvious.

The picture in the book draws it out. Pushing food along 5 metres of wriggly organ requires an IMMENSE amount of energy and is no less of a job than pumping blood through the whole body! No other internal organs do such energetic work than the heart and small intestine!

A new enterprise

2010-03-11T22:54:00.001Z

The community acupuncture clinic has been running successfully for 2 years from Burley Lodge Centre. I feel it is time to consider our next steps.

I think social enterprise is a suitable structure for the project to move onto to become a more formalised entity. It is important to me that the project's focus keeps on its social aim, providing low cost acupuncture treatments, and not gets driven by profits.

This afternoon I went to a Business Link event for social enterprises exploring healthcare opportunities. Lots of useful leads to look into if we want to explore possibilities of getting public sector commissioning. I am not sure how I will survive reading through pages of dry statements and policies.

At the end of the event, a new community radio station asked for my contact that they are interested in what I do. Great! I am looking forward to my first on air appearance.