Acupuncture and a concoction

My craftiness has been slacking lately. But, with Dustin only have FOUR more days of work, our project list is about to take off!!

I haven't done anything crafty this week, but, I did do something interesting on Monday.

I've mentioned our quest/trouble to bring home a baby in passing here. You name the tests, we've had them. Name the specialist, we've seen him... and  his peers for a second opinion. The medical community throws up its hands at our situation. On paper, we are baby machines. In reality, we've had 4 miscarriages and lost our son at 37 weeks.Nothing is connected; there is no easy solution.

On Monday, I went to an acupuncturist. Our most recent 'game plan' includes me giving myself 2 blood thinner shots a day once we are pregnant. I decided that if I am going to have to do that, what's acupuncture?

It was an experience! I ended up not having a treatment that day. I was even told I will be an easy patient. I'm the patient who can't be figured out in most cases, so this was a shock! He was also MUCH more confident that our situation wasn't a problem and that he had answers than both specialists have been... and anyone else for that matter.

The first 20 minutes of the appointment found me sitting in a chair in his office. He knew nothing about me but my name. He didn't even know why I was there. He looked at my ears and the underside of my forearms and felt my pulse in my wrist. From that, he asked me about a few things... all are true:

• I have a lower back injury
• I have low blood pressure
• I am dizzy from time to time
• I'm ALWAYS cold. ALWAYS
• I am anxious (HA) to the point that he's surprised I don't have stomach trouble
• I am taking a medicine that is altering my hormones
• I need to watch my sugar

I can't remember what else. But, all of these things are, in fact, true. And, he discovered all this by doing nothing but looking at my arms, ears, and pulse. I was a bit skeptical (I'm still cautious) but starting off like this helped. I know Chinese medicine has been around for a few thousand years :) but, we are raised in a culture where you take medicines and go by blood tests and often just try things just to see if they work.

Our first job: warm me up and calm me down. Two things I will greatly enjoy having taken care of :)
However, our treatment plan currently is for me to mix 3 spoons of this in 2 oz of water and drink it 3 times a day.

Imagine chewing up a beef bouillon cube or just shooting the packet of seasoning that comes with Ramen Noodle. That would be better than this stuff :)

And the thing is, I was so out of my element and clueless that I had no questions for the man. I don't even know what is in this stuff that I am choking down three times a day :). I saw him mix it up. I assume it is a herbal mixture. I do know that we are "bringing balance to my body". I'm all for that. But, when I go back next week, I'll be ready with my list of questions. Especially the one that asks "So, what is this stuff?"

I am also waiting the arrival of a book he suggested. It is called Healing With Whole Foods.  From what he said, it sounds to be a bit Book of Home Remedies in a cookbook. I'm excited about getting it. We have slowly been altering what we eat to be healthier (even though we really do like Tuna Helper :)). This will help us to be more informed along that process.

This is definitely To Be Continued.... on Wednesday of next week, as a matter of fact!