How I came to be a practitioner of Oriental Medicine
My first introduction to Oriental Medicine was when I was about 7 years old. My Aunty, during my annual visits, would mercilessly massage my feet to strengthen my lungs. She also taught me that the face can be very revealing of our inner state. Over the years I have realised reading people this way can be natural and instinctive for many of us. See www.lotusinstitute.com for more on Chinese Facial Diagnosis.
As I started finding my own approach to maintaining health, my first inclination was to learn about food. And it was through the book Healing with Wholefoods by Paul Pitchford that I really learnt about Oriental Medicine (OM). In his book, Paul provides an overview of Oriental Medicine’s principles. He goes through the signs of disease, the patterns of OM diagnosis and how to choose food in order to regain balance and health.
One year, after a season of suffering with diabolical hayfever, I braved my first Acupuncture treatment. My first session of Acupuncture felt like the most sophisticated re-organisation my system had ever experienced. I was enlisted. Within two weeks at the Christchurch College of Holistic Healing, I began my studies in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine and felt I had finally found my craft.
My studies
During my time at the College I created and taught courses in the art of Chinese Food Therapy, a simple and natural approach to eating that allows for different body types and stages of life and addresses acute and chronic conditions. I have continued to explore and teach nutrition by integrating Western and Eastern approaches, using Oriental wisdom to recognise the body’s feedback each step along the way.
Since then
I left my college early with a National Diploma of Acupuncture and went off to spend the next 3 years working alongside Acupuncturist Shelley Hickson in Hawkes Bay. My experience grew rapidly as I had joined a very busy clinic and Shelley was very generous with her knowledge.
It was during that period that I saw the value of making Oriental Medicine relate-able for my clients. Through simple natural principles of a tradition that provides insight into the nature of processes.
I have since moved to Auckland to intensify my Spiritual Practice in the Way of the Heart. My daily practice includes meditation, yoga, an ongoing dietary consideration, study and amongst many other things a process of becoming more sensitive to the feeling dimension of life – a great asset to an Acupuncturist. See www.adidam.org for more.
Since 2007 I have worked in Auckland with a focus on Fertility and Pregnancy in my practise. As you will see from the testimonials I do also treat widely.
Now
Oriental Medicine has developed over thousands of years from many thousands of peoples observation’s and collective understanding of the nature of life. These natural cycles and processes, are understood to occur in the world around us and in the world within us. This way has not only stood the test of time, but is often providing parallels with what Western Medicine is discovering in modern day.
My approach is integrative, I use medical diagnosis you may have to help relate to the condition of the body. I refine the Oriental Medicinal diagnosis and treatment principles as progress unfolds. Over time the core patterns tend to reveal themselves like rocks in an outgoing tide. OM provides many ways to address these patterns. As I believe the most powerful approach is change that we sustain daily, I teach what is useful.
To explore more I suggest starting with Oriental Medicine or see the testimonials for the stories.
Enjoy
Lisa Houghton