PulseMed Being Well Re-Launch
I think it's time to return to writing about alternative medicine. In retrospect, I helped a lot of people that way (we had millions of website visitors and an email list of more than 3,000), and evidently, I was good at it, so it may be a calling of mine. I've been away...
In 2005, I took a major break from alternative medicine. After creating the Pulse of Oriental Medicine website (PulseMed) in 1999, writing nearly 500 original articles over 3 years, and self-publishing my general audience book (Powerful Body Peaceful Mind: How to Heal Yourself with Foods, Herbs and Acupressure), I went into acupuncture private practice.
The acupuncture practice, though, by the end of 2004, was not what I expected, and I was somewhat baffled by that- and I started doing very well with ecommerce and the advertising income from PulseMed- so I stopped practicing acupuncture and went "e", as in electronic/internet.
I acted as the editor for a massive article writing project and did freelance internet marketing, email marketing, and so on. Then I got a job with Adventure 16, an outdoor/backpacking gear retailer, helping to launch their first business-class web store. I've been doing that for 6 months while internally processing what else to do in my spare time.
I've been away in other ways as well. I haven't practiced what I preached in my book. I never really expected to, even when I wrote it- I think I said somewhere in there that the alternative medicine guru's must be B.S.'ing because none of us are perfect. What I loved in the Chinese medicine I came to understand was that it helped imperfect people live better lives- even helped explain some of our urges for the things that are bad for us.
So I feel a need to return to using the medicine more, not just writing about it. I'm more of a regular joe now in terms of the working world- in that I have a 9 to 5 job, and maybe that will help me help regular people more.
I look forward to writing, to you reading and asking questions- please feel free to add comments here and ask questions- interaction is part of a good blog!
All the best,
Brian
13 comments:
Hi Brian! Missed you and your magazine and it's info. I too have been working a "day job" for the past 3 years, doing acupuncture on evenings and weekends. For 2 years my full time practice could not pay the bills and having 1 child in college and another entering 2 years later I could not continue that path. I do believe you were "chosen" as an editor and with your knowledge and background experience that is probably what you love doing so should be very productive and ambundant doing it! Take care, glad to have you back!
Cathy in Erie, CO
Glad to have you back! I'm interested in what you're planning to do to get back into a healthy state -- so please share. ;-)
Linda
Keizer, Oregon
Your return is timely, welcome back. I have applied to Acupuncture school for Fall 2007 and I am curious about your negative experience with private practice, can you expand on that? Also, are you aware of Classical (as opposed to solely TCM) schools other than the Swedish Institute and NCONM in Portland?
Steve in PA
welcome back...looking forward to reading your newletters again. Jackie Mississippi
Hi Brian, Thanks for coming back. As someone who is just starting out as an acupuncturist, it is nice to have your e-magazine/newsletter to refer to. I used to read it while still in school. Will you please expand on why practice fulltime wasn't what you thought it would be?
I'd also like to ask Cathy from Erie, CO what problems she faced economically. Thanks.
Nikki in Atlanta, GA
Hi Cathy, thanks for the positive thouhts.
Linda: I have to commit to a certain amount of exercise a week- I'm getting better at that- and I've been moderating sweets etc.- but I probably need to do a food journal for a month to see the truth of what I eat. Food and exercise are the foundations of the health we can control.
Steve and Nikki, I'll clarify what happened in my practice in another post- it seems to deserve that much space.
Steve, I'm sorry but I'm not aware of that- it's actually nice to hear there are some- so do they define 'classical' as according to the classics of acupuncture? Or something else? Not 5 element, is it?
Some other responses from the tech-unsavvy or tech-lazy or whatever ;-) always just kidding!
Dear Brian,
It's been two years!?! Unbelievable! I'm happy to see that you'll be doing
your newsletter again; thank you.
Amy
When it rains it pours. I have received a lot of good interaction as a christian, and from a most wonderful acupuncturist. Now here comes Brian down the Tao (feet and head, of course) and what can i say? God is good, the tao is healing!
I encourage you to continue. i occasionally encounter your old pal Zev in the forum named TCM. The world is TCM is so small, my pals crop up all over the place.
Very warmest wishes and agape!
Robb
Hi Brian
I enjoyed your magazine, good to know you're back. In Singapore, acupuncture is a very popular treatment for a variety of ailments and so TCM is part and parcel of everyday life. Most hospitals have a TCM clinic. It's probably lack of informed knowledge that's prevennting more people from using acupuncture or Traditional Chinese Medicine, hope you have better luck next time
round.
Wyn, Singapore
Dear Brian:
Its good to see you are back. I have your book in my acu clinic for patients to check out, its always out! Thank you for your dedication and wisdom. I can't wait to see what you have to say at this stage in your life!
Pam
Denver, CO
Hey Brian,
I am glad you are back and thanks for sharing your story. It is nice to know I am not the only onw who gets off track from time to time. I know you will do great and I look forward to reading your stuff.
Pura Vida
Randi
"Classical" Chinese medicine is described by the Swedish Institute's wesite..."While most people are familiar with the 12 Primary Meridians, the Secondary Channels are equally important. Classical Chinese acupuncture recognizes and uses more than 70 energetic pathways, which include:
The Luo Vessels and their relevance to emotional, hematological and gastrointestinal issues.
The Eight Extraordinary Vessels and their use with constitutional, reproductive and identity issues.
The Divergent Meridians and their implication in the treatment of chronic diseases.
The Sinew Channels and the tendinomuscular terrain.
While many schools acknowledge the existence of the secondary channels, most neither teach them in-depth nor use them in practice."
Steve in PA
Ya Steve, good point- I know not everyone got the same teaching on these vessels in my school... it depended on the teacher you had- and if you read any extra books- I thought Yitian Ni's book was good, and there was an out of print book on this by somebody whose name starts with an R... sorry for not having that off the top of my head. But knowing the luo's and TMM's (tendinomuscular meridians) has helped me a lot- the more you know, the more treatment options you have and the more ways you can think through your point prescription choices. I would definitely look for a school where you could not only learn them, but have a chance to try them out in the clinic. In our school, your treatments were discussed and approved by your supervisor, and some supervisors wouldn't want you to do something they never did, or hadn't learned- but others would let you go if you were later in the program or had proven you knew the basics.
Brian!
It's Asaf from PCOM. Cool blog. I am living in Israel now and supervising clinic at one of the schools here. All the best to you and Linda!
Asaf Mazar,
Israel
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