Pulling out acupuncture needles
Daily tea with Dr. Mas and company
Today I was able to take the vitals of many patients that came in. I became very comfortable with interacting with the patients as well as communicating what I needed from them across the language barrier. Soon into our shift Dr. Mas explained his approach to treating patients “In order to get rid of the pain permanently, we must treat the cause of the pain and not just the pain itself.” This concept is not nearly addressed enough because many relate instant pain to the injury or problem at hand. However, the locals of Kodaikanal are so used to dealing with aches and pains on a regular basis that what feels like excruciating pain to many Americans, would feel like a mild pain to these people. In addition, middle class Americans have access to frequent doctor and pharmacy visits to follow up with a check-up and more medication, compared to the one doctor visit a local family will make every couple years. Given these facts, the patient must be proscribed a medicine or treatment that efficiently targets the source of the pain and not just the pain itself. Jodi, a physical therapist from the States, has been using acupuncture on the patients to alleviate their pains and to fix problems such as pinched nerves. The Chinese acupuncture Jodi has studied uses deep needles that penetrate the body in order to allow chi, or energy, to flow through the body. The energy flow through channels or meridians that have certain gates throughout the body. When the needles are inserted into these gates they allow the chi to flow freely, relieving the pain and pressure in certain areas. Some may argue that this is not an effective medical treatment, but each patient walks away saying they feel much better, and the number of patients coming in specifically for her to treat them has been growing continuously. Although this may be an effective treatment in the US in an impoverished placed such as areas of Kodaikanal where people are working all day every day and hospital visits are rare, an acupuncture routine may not be appropriate. Decisions such as whether or not to use acupuncture in the regions hospitals come up a lot. Theoretical effectiveness versus the reality of the treatment must be assessed based on the culture and resources. The ride home from the hospital was accompanied by procession taking place through the main streets of Kodai. The participants had very elegant face paint, were holding baskets on their heads, and holding pots that encased an open flame. The festival is not popular outside of Kodai, and therefore I could get much information about it. Saying all of this I would like to point out that I do not mean to bash my beloved country in this post or any after this. I am simply trying to point out the differences in how a doctor must practice when coming from to States to somewhere like Kodaikanal. Even though the goal of healing the people we are treating to the best of our ability is always in sight, the process of getting there may be completely different. On that note, good morning to the West and good night from the East; may your day be as happy as the patients when they leave.
The group observing Jodi removing needles
Festival through the town streets holding flaming pots
Festival continued