I was a pincushion

Yesterday I had my first visit to an acupuncturist. ! An out-of-the-blue adventure. I was up in Oakland visiting Abe, who had a regular appointment with said Chinese medicine therapist. So, wot the heck, says I, make me an appointment! And so it was.

Whitney, the acupuncturist, works out of the Oakland Acupuncture Project. The clinic is very cool in its format; it works on something of a community model, with a sliding scale and mostly shared treatment rooms (as they work in China). It's queer friendly.

Whitney was wonderfully matter of fact and relaxed in hir movements and conversation, making no big thing out of the treatment to this newbie. Which was great. I filled out some forms, answered some questions, then was led to a nice lounger, where I rolled up my trouser legs and shirt sleeves. Whitney then placed a number of long skinny needles into my legs, arms, right ear, and head. ! Half way through, the pain in my elbows and right shoulder (which were what I asked treatment for), was gone.

Nearly every one delivered its own sensation. For several, the sensation happened after a few seconds, blooming up one way or another. After that, silence... feeling, floating, breathing. It was kinda wild... heat slowly enveloped my right hand. One ear needle would throb, then another. I had a number of experiences I would call 'releasing'; either unexpected sighs out, sensations that grew and then let go, etc. Really interesting.

Today, I have a little pain in my right elbow, nothing in the shoulder or other elbow. I find that fairly remarkable. I'll do this again.

Yea adventures!