Validation
It’s nice when something you’ve been thinking and feeling is confirmed, right?
Not that I am someone who needs validation, but since this condition became my best friend, validation is all I've been looking for, and I finally got it. I was referred to Silver Springs Wellness, where I recently spoke with Dr. Maryanne Travaglione DAOM, LAc. She specializes in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Let’s dive into a quick history of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):
TCM is based on two unique and fundamental Chinese concepts: Qi, which is pronounced "Chee" and translates to "vital energy" and yin and yang, which is the harmony of all the opposite elements and forces that make up existence. These two concepts are considered the 'roots' of TCM, and the basic principles and theories of these roots are considered 'stems’. TCM provides guidelines for both the practitioner and patient on how to facilitate harmony best. Acupuncture, Moxibustion, Herbal Medicine, Tui Na (Chinese massage), Nutritional advice, and Cupping are methods used to treat internal rebalance.
At my appointment, my in-take was refreshing. I finally felt like I was genuinely heard. I love that my doctor was conversing and working with me to try and find the root of all of this. It almost felt like therapy. I provided a brief history of my body since my cycle began and even shared my recent history from MPF. All of my theories and also the adjectives that I've been using over the last five years to describe how I felt were all correct! THIS is what I was waiting for, and this shit felt like a victory. Bloated and full are two adjectives that I often use to describe how I feel and to explain why I cannot eat. I found out that my body/uterus is indeed full! Which makes food in-take and digestion difficult for me. And because I am not eating, my body is lacking a whole lot of important shit that needs to be corrected asap.
After my intake, Dr. T performed acupuncture on my mid-section and my feet (the usual), but then she introduced me to Moxibustion. Moxibustion involves the burning of moxa, a cone or stick made of ground mugwort leaves, on or near your body's meridians and acupuncture points. It's believed that the heat helps stimulate these points and improves the flow of Qi in the body. The practitioner lights the cone and lets it burn slowly until your skin begins to turn red. Once you start to feel the heat, the practitioner removes it. Indirect moxibustion is more commonly practiced because it's a safer option since burning moxa doesn't touch your skin. I did get a warning that Moxibustion does leave a weed-like scent, but you know I don't care. Just don't try to smoke the moxa people.
Overall, my session was very peaceful, and I walked away knowing that Dr. T and I were on the same page. In my next session, I will be introduced to raw herbs. Dr. T will put me on a short-term raw herb plan, and I'm very excited about this. I love trying new things, and I realize that Eastern medicine is way more informative and honest with its practices.
