Week 1

The first week of clinic was great.  The clinic is located in the 7th Ward office complex -- essentially the Chancellor's (alderman's) office serving the Chabahil district of Kathmandu.  There is a biomedical clinic on the first floor with nurses and midwives who are happy to refer patients for acupuncture.  

On our first day opening up the brand new clinic, the employees in the office gathered in the clinic at noon with much interest and enthusiasm.  A man quickly took off his shirt and hopped onto the treatment table as the Chancellor ceremoniously handed me the first needle. Everyone gathered around to see what would happen.  No pressure LOL.  The patient reported shoulder and arm pain and off we went.  As soon as his needles were in we moved onto the next patient, and the pace kept up like this until we had treated seven employees.  

The following day nearly all of the patients returned for another treatment, reporting relief and improvement after the first.  Another five people also came, likely as referrals from the patients we treated the day prior.  By days three and four we were treating 17 patients a day including new faces and returning patients. 

So far people have come to clinic seeking relief from pain (shoulder/arm, sciatica/low back pain, joint pain/arthritis, burning pain in the legs), severe menopausal symptoms, hypertension, thyroid issues (mostly hypo), constipation and insomnia.   Surprisingly - considering how polluted the air is here -- no patients have reported asthma and very few have reported respiratory issues.  However, many of the patients had weak pulses in the Lung position. 

The pace is rigorous - we are treating patients back to back for 8-9 hours.   We're taking a 30 minute lunch break around 2p and the Chancellor's office is providing us lunch (often times with enough leftovers to take home for dinner).   Anyone who knows me even a little knows that I enjoy taking my time and that speed isn't my forte or M.O. (my bandmate Stephen has dubbed me "Sleeper Cell").  So I am quite pleased with the efficient pace that we've kept up in the Chabahil Clinic, and we're getting quicker every day (by day four we treated four patients in one hour).  

The brisk walk home takes roughly 35 minutes through densely populated streets.  I come home from clinic pretty tired, but also invigorated.  

In addition to the experience being a great exercise in efficiency, it's a great opportunity for study.  I take our patient log home with me daily to reflect on what's working, what's lacking, and refer to text books and notes to incorporate new strategies into the next day.  (For my CM friends -- I'm presently focused on Master Tung points and Dao Ma's).   I also have a weekly call with my mentor Khadijah Kysia (LAc, MSTOM) who is shedding tremendous light on tough cases and places where I feel stuck clinically.  I'm very grateful for her time, expertise, camaraderie and encouragement.  

In order to keep up the pace, I'm getting to bed and waking relatively early, starting every morning with Qi Gong, video chatting with my loveliest of lovelies Linda and Eve twice a day (the best thing), journaling and walking 4 miles a day.  In clinic I've found that giving every patient a JMT (Japanese Meridian Therapy) Root Treatment to before deep needling not only gives me a chance to energetically connect with the patient and prepare them for healing, but also gives me an opportunity to practice "micro-meditations" throughout the day (the process involves clearing the mind and waiting/welcoming the arrival of Qi).  And a few hours ago I picked up a guitar on loan to me for the duration of my stay -- another must for self-care :) 

The clinic was closed Friday for a holy day -- Maha Shiva Ratri.  A million people came to Chabahil to worship (and some to party) at the famous Pashupatinath Temple (which is located down the street from clinic).  

Not really knowing what to expect, I arrived at the festival around noon and saw a very long line so I stood in it.  1.5 hours later I was handing my shoes and socks to someone and another 30 minutes later I was 50 feet from the entrance to the main/holy temple.  The friendly english-speaking Nepali behind me informed me that the temple was only meant for Hindus  "Americans" weren't meant to enter.  I had already waited 2 hours so I decided to see what happened (and told him sincerely that I meant no disrespect).  After another 30 minutes the doors to the temple finally opened and the mad rush of the people lined up was so frantic that I had no choice but to be shuffled in.  My new Nepali friend told me I was lucky, and saved me on a few occasions as I stumbled through the hall of deities not knowing the customs.  And he was right, I was lucky.  I was reminded that we are all One. 

Thanks again for all the messages here and on social media.