Ancient Chinese Secret

Chinese Medicine. I got my first introduction to is Thursday when I went to Garbanzo’s chiropractor.  Since I have occasional knee pain while I run, Garbanzo has been harassing me to go this his guy.  Garbanzo started going to him when he started playing rugby. The chiropractor was a sponsor of the team gave special care to the guys before and after games. 

I finally gave in to him after I did a long run and felt it for a couple days after.  I figured, what the hell.  Plus, unlike other experiences I have had with them, I knew this guy tried to solve the issue rather than just continual treating it over and over again. 

What I wasn’t entirely prepared for was his Chinese medicine approach. Garbanzo had always described it as the “twig and berries” medicine.  Which can be misconstrued into a perverted sense too.  But, he didn’t quite describe the true approach.

Filling out the paperwork, I noticed one major thing – no questions at all related to medical history and/or family medical history.  Think about the last set of forms you filled out for a doctor or, hell, even a dentist that did not ask those questions.  Yeah, I can’t think of any time either.

Meeting the Doc was exactly how I thought it would be. Nice guy. Professional. Very complimentary. I am the only one in the family he has not met.  He loves both of the girls who usually go in with Garbanzo.  He reviewed the info with me, then sprung on me the test.  He was going to have me touch different pressure points and test to see what my body is “struggling with.”

Okay, I thought, this should be interesting.

I did disclose I had allergies since there was a question about headaches.  He did his little tests, and started asking a number of questions about blood sugar.  My allergy headaches, he predicted, were a result of blood sugar not allergies.  Really?  Then, after getting all of the blood sugar indicators go positive on him, if will, he said, “you are at a high risk of diabetes.”

Not surprising really – diabetes runs in my family.

He went through another series of tests, and said something about how I carry too much stress in my body.  Again, not a huge shock….it’s in my DNA.  Meet my dad, my grandpa, my uncles, etc….we all carry it the same way. What was interesting was the fact he felt I was at a higher risk for diabetes than cardiovascular issues.  My family is at a high risk for all really.  I don’t recall what he said that explained why he felt that way – especially after disclosing my family history around that too. 

Oh, and another huge comment he made – thyroid fluctuations.  If you have been a reader of my blog, you will recall earlier this year I was tested for a thyroid condition.  The test came back negative.  What’s odd is that I have various symptoms of having one – but all indicators in within normal limits.  Without telling him any of this, he mentions it too.  He thinks it’s related to my blood sugar again.

He then asked when I was in a car accident.  Huh?  Something showed him I was either in a car accident or sustained trauma.  I had been in a car accident 20 years ago.  Wore a seat belt, no injuries. Something in my neck screamed car accident, I guess.  So, he ordered x-rays.

Then he laid me on the table to check my back. My hips are messed up. That seems to be causing the bulk of my grief in my knee. Again, he told me exactly where I’m probably feeling knee pain as a result of it.  Yep, he nailed it….again.

Oh, and my arches are fucked up which I already knew.  I’ll be getting some real orthodics as a result.

All in all, it was a weird visit.  An eye opening one too. He made this cynic pause with the smart ass comments. Now, will it work?  No idea. Garbanzo swears by it all. He was never a runner because of the joint and shin pain he had – now he finds running fun because it is totally pain free regardless of the surfaces.  All I know is that the soccer games last Sunday have screwed up my joints to the point where I haven’t been able to get in a good run all week. Not good considering I am 3 weeks away from the half-marathon. 

As long as he doesn’t start giving me weird instructions about feedings after midnight, don’t get wet, and all of that jazz – we should be good. 

7 Comments Add yours

  1. I love my chiropractor. She fixed my neck and shoulder pain when physical therapy and a cortisone shot did not.

    I see her once every six weeks for an adjustment and its fabulous.

  2. Nice screen grab!

    I’m definitely in the most chiropractors are quacks category. Same with folk remedies. Western medicine may not have all the answers but it has a process for determining right from wrong. Handwaving and anecdotal evidence are just that.

    That being said, if it works for you more power to you.

  3. Just me... says:

    Keep us posted on this.. I’m sick of visiting the orthopedist and no real treatments of the cause, just the symptoms.. Thanks!! :):)

  4. My chiropractor doesn’t do the Chinese stuff, but he is still a miracle worker. And thyroid and blood sugar are related. I am hypothyroid and have low blood sugar issues. When one is out of whack, the other is also. When they tested your thyroid, did they give you your TSH number?? Normal is a load of crap. Lots of doctors can’t decide what the normal range should be. New standards show normal at .3 to 3.0. I feel best around 1.0.

  5. I have been going to our “wellness center” for about two years now. I am an inch taller. I have changed nothing else in my life that would change my height! We have not made a clinic visit except well child visits in this time either. We have been able to take care of everything naturally (I say we- my children and I) the kids go at least once a month and (who carries stress in my head, neck, and shoulders) go about every two weeks. I have never been so healthy in all my life. A screwed up spine means screwed up signals to your body means illness.

    good for you – give it at least 3 months before you give up or form an opinion

  6. Vixen says:

    LOL! I’m def not a nay-sayer of alternative medicine. Esp if it works! I’ve thought about looking into something similar bc of all the issues I have with being hyperglycemic and my knees.

    You’ll have to keep us posted. 🙂

  7. garbonzo says:

    I hope he doesn’t prescribe “not getting wet.” That could be a problem!

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