I met a friend of friends (now a first degree friend) a few weeks ago who has an acupuncture practice and since I like riding the wave of serendipity I decided to schedule a meeting. I don’t have any notable physical ailments that I’m trying to heal so I decided to do a more generic stress treatment.

There was a 30 minute interview where I got to answer really personal questions (which I love doing) about my diet, exercise, sex drive, family history with illness, drinking habits, and all kinds of other things. She gave me a few suggestions to improve my diet (have breakfast in particular), then took my pulse and told me all about what that was saying about me and my organs. Apparently, my heart and lungs are not taking in their share of the chi in my system. It’s all being hogged by the stomach, liver (where the drinking happens!), and lower organs. So, her plan was first release some of the general stress in my system, and then open up new pathways for energy to travel between my upper and lower halves.

The stress release was my first experience of acupuncture. I lay on my stomach and she put about a dozen little tiny needles (which I got to examine beforehand… they’re like tiny little pointy brushes… they bend really easily) in a sort of “T” across and down my back. It was simple, painless, and not at all like having your blood drawn from all over your body at once (which I somehow imagined). She left the needles in until my body stopped reacting to them (apparently they get a little red as energy is released at those points like taking the top off a boiling pot). Apparently I recovered fast considering the amount of alcohol I drink… which means I have a really strong liver. Go liver!

The second half involved me laying on my back and her placing three very strategic needles along the center of my chest. But before doing that, she used some kind of paste and placed it on my chest in various places and lit them with incense. It was supposed to bring heat to my skin and prepare them somehow for the crazy jolt I was about to experience. After about 5 minutes of smoldering hot spots (which were not really that hot… mostly soothing and warm), she explained that these needles would redirect my chi, and the sensation would begin with the simple poke that I felt before, but then there would be a secondary sensation 1-5 seconds later that is more of a clenching, and that’s the chi apparently being moved or redirected or something.

I thought it would be subtle, but then the first needle went in. The first part happened, and then the second part was super strong. I felt like my body became incredibly mournful and sad… but in such a strong way I felt like screaming. It wasn’t painful, it was emotional. The second and third needles were slower and weaker to respond… but that first one was a doozy! I couldn’t talk for about a minute. And then I just lay there, still recovering and trying to get a hold of all the crazy emotions that were pulsing through me. They were unattached to anything in particular. Vickie said that it seemed like she had unblocked something that had been blocked up years ago and my body had never re-opened that particular passage way. Maybe it was divorce related, or maybe death of my father related, or maybe some other breakup or difficulty related. Anyway, the sensation eased up after about 5 minutes but I just lay there sort of exhausted.

Finally, she said I could sit back up and I realized that she had taken the needles out minutes ago. But I thought they were still in because of all the weird pulsing and aching that was still going on. I got up and put my shirt back on, and eventually left the office after scheduling 4 more visits in the next months. About half an hour later I felt clear and strong again. Placebo effect or no, I’m feeling more balanced these last couple days.

I’m excited to try the next 4 treatments… first of which is tomorrow… and to find out if it has any more lasting effects on my stress levels and mindset.