Megan Lung TCM W2D2

Today I shadowed Director Chen for TCM. She uses electroacupuncture. After efficiently and expertly putting in needles (sometimes up to 20 per patient), she will have her assistant administer a mild electric current. 

A lot of her patients had problems with hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body). This usually happens due to a stroke. Many of the patients she saw today have improved ROM and were just being checked up on or were there to refill their medicine.

One of the doctors that Dr. Chen is overseeing explained that TCM physicians practice acupuncture in many different ways. Some practice by placing acupuncture needles in "motor points" (where nerves penetrate the muscle belly). Some practice by placing them in trigger points (soft tissue tension). Some practice by placing needles in nerves, which are usually with patients who suffer from sciatica. The idea is that where the needle penetrates, the muscle 'relaxes', allowing for natural perfusion of blood and nutrients to the area. It reminds me of the lymphatic techniques we learn in OMM to increase circulation of the body.

Dr. Chen also brought up a unique problem that TCM doctors in the hospital face. There are numerous private clinics outside of the hospital that many patients go see instead of the doctors in the hospital. This could lead to illegal or harmful practices. In fact, we saw two patients who had 3rd degree burns on their backs from someone incorrectly practicing cupping. One of the patients is in the picture above. There are two red lesions on his back representing the burns. I imagine it must be quite difficult for people to discern professionals from those who just want to make money.