Years of pre-acupuncture physical toil, harvesting potatoes and picking fruit has taken it’s toll on my body, leaving me with a susceptible lower back.

For the last 5 years regular acupuncture treatment and heightened awareness of no can do activities has kept me relatively pain free n easy.

However whilst taking off my wetsuit on this fateful day, I casually used my foot rather than my hands to drag down the leg of said suit.
Big mistake!

I knew I was in trouble straight away but hoped that my severe lower back pain would resolve quickly.

Alas, days end saw me bent over like an old man and unable to straighten without significant pain and discomfort, severely compromising my ability to get in and out of my vehicle.

In addition I found it impossible to sit for more than a few minutes at a time, severely disrupting my ability to publish blog posts, write emails and update http://www.worldacupuncture.com product pages as promised.

Ugh, not a pretty site.

The following day was an unofficial public holiday in Australia for the running of a horse race, known as the ‘Melbourne Cup’.

Phew, no clinic enabled me to gingerly travel to the residence of my long time assistant and resident tonetskyu (rice grain moxibustion) expert Andrea.

She generously applied tonetskyu  and inserted some intra-dermal needles close to the most painful points.

I experienced some relief and was able to get a better nights sleep and travel to work the next day.

My colleague Nick then applied acupuncture as pictured below in conjunction with a Kidney root treatment.

Again I enjoyed sufficient relief to complete a very busy day in clinic.

The situation was complicated by the fact that my daughters and I were to  travel some 300 km on Friday to visit  old family friends on their property in the hills behind Coff’s Harbour on the mid North Coast of New South Wales.

Of more immediate concern was my ability to travel 200 km to and from my rooms in Brisbane not to mention being able to treat the many patients booked in for treatment on the Thursday as a result of the aforementioned unofficial public holiday on Tuesday.

Fortunately my assistant on the Thursday morning Andrew, an accomplished student who had been diligently practicing his traditional acupuncture skills throughout the year gave me another treatment.

Utilizing the marks that I had asked Nick to make on the previous day; Andrew skillfully administered an identical treatment.

Suffice to say that I made it through the day and got home in one piece, albeit slightly bent.

My daughters arrived that night and we awoke on Friday morning to the news that our destination, Coff’s Harbour had experienced a massive deluge of rain overnight and flooding was rampant.

To complicate matters the intense low pressure system that was contributing to such an extraordinary rainfall was going nowhere and the rain was forecast to continue for the next 24 to 48 hours making our planned journey more than a little perilous.

Add to that my extremely suspect lower back condition and we were experiencing some degree of trepidation, a situation not remedied by a phone call from my close friends in the eye of the storm strongly suggesting that we abandon our journey.

Our friends communicated some significant concerns about our safety, especially gaining access to their property.

This assessment was based on the fact that at the time of the phone call access to and from the property had been cut off by rising floodwater’s.

Nevertheless, my daughters and I rarely have exclusive time together and decided to cast caution to the wind and make the trip.

Thankfully all went well and we had a fabulous although extremely wet weekend.

The moral of the story is that fortune favors the bold and traditional acupuncture was incredibly effective, resolving my pain and discomfort sufficiently for me to travel such a distance and negotiate some hair-raising creek crossings, enjoy a wonderful party and arrive home in much better shape than when I departed.

To cap it off, I went for my first surf since injuring my back yesterday enjoying some pristine conditions at my local break at Rainbow Bay a little over a week after suffering from an extremely nasty dose of acute lower back pain, from my perspective as a patient a very good result indeed!

I hope all is well with you and yours.
Kind regards,
Alan
PS.
The following images should give you some idea of our adventurous weekend in addition to showing me on the treatment table for a change.

Thumbs up as I receive a Japanese Acupuncture treatment for severe acute lower back pain

Locals discussing strategies to re establish contact with the outside world. Note: The size of the rock the fellow in the background is moving

First car through post flooding

A safe haven high in the hills behind Coff's Harbour

Alan Jansson is an internationally recognized teacher and practitioner of Traditional Japanese Acupuncture.  For well over a decade, independent of and in conjunction with Masakazu Ikeda sensei and Edward Obaidey, Alan has presented, convened and hosted more than 40 Traditional Japanese Acupuncture workshops in Australia, New Zealand and USA. Driven by a strong desire to promote the consumer friendly nature, clinical efficacy and potency of Meridian Based Traditional Japanese Acupuncture, Alan is a staunch advocate of practically based workshops and draws upon his 25 years clinical experience and 14 years post and undergraduate teaching in a concerted effort to lift the bar globally in the clinical application of this most amazing medical art.

Join him in Exploring the Art of Acupuncture in the 21st century at  http://www.Worldacupuncture.com

]]> http://www.worldacupunctureblog.com/japanese-acupuncture-relieves-my-acute-lower-back-pain/feed 0 http://www.worldacupunctureblog.com/japanese-acupuncture-infants-new-babies-dolphins-and-the-beach http://www.worldacupunctureblog.com/japanese-acupuncture-infants-new-babies-dolphins-and-the-beach#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:33:54 +0000 Alan http://www.worldacupunctureblog.com/?p=2159 Hi There,

Today’s Japanese Acupuncture post is primarily pictorial.

Images of infant patients, new born prodigy of existing patients, dolphins at play, the beach and the ocean were all captured in the last week.

I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Wishing you prosperity and peace,

Alan

6 day old Laird resting easy whilst mum has a Japanese Acupuncture treatment

Japanese Acupuncture for dad and bub, mum and bub's twin sister also enjoyed treatment for the flu.

We were lucky enough to be given permission to film the Japanese Acupuncture treatment of both of these delightful infants.

The full video of treatment will soon be added to our growing audio-visual library at http://www.worldacupuncture.com

Fishing, the human version

Fishing, the mammal version

Water Qi/Ki as the ocean meets the land

Lot's of Qi/Ki in this image

The first of a lush sequence of a surfing dolphin

Whoa, dolphin hitching a ride on a very nice lil wave

Dolphin, maximum projection n full speed ahead

Alan Jansson is an internationally recognized teacher and practitioner of Traditional Japanese Acupuncture.  For well over a decade, independent of and in conjunction with Masakazu Ikeda sensei and Edward Obaidey, Alan has presented, convened and hosted more than 40 Traditional Japanese Acupuncture workshops in Australia, New Zealand and USA. Driven by a strong desire to promote the consumer friendly nature, clinical efficacy and potency of Meridian Based Traditional Japanese Acupuncture, Alan is a staunch advocate of practically based workshops and draws upon his 25 years clinical experience and 14 years post and undergraduate teaching in a concerted effort to lift the bar globally in the clinical application of this most amazing medical art.

Join him in Exploring the Art of Acupuncture in the 21st century at  http://www.Worldacupuncture.com

Yesterday I took some time out to go wandering on a deserted beach south of Byron Bay, NSW.

Looming storm clouds and a very swift on-shore breeze ensured a sincere lack of humanity, timing was perfect as the rain started to belt down not long after returning to my car.

I captured a few images , I trust you enjoy.

Lotsa,

Alan

Storm Looming

Lennox Head

Preparing for Flight

Take Off

In Flight

Birds of a Feather

Alan Jansson is an internationally recognized teacher and practitioner of Traditional Japanese Acupuncture.  For well over a decade, independent of and in conjunction with Masakazu Ikeda sensei and Edward Obaidey, Alan has presented, convened and hosted more than 40 Traditional Japanese Acupuncture workshops in Australia, New Zealand and USA. Driven by a strong desire to promote the consumer friendly nature, clinical efficacy and potency of Meridian Based Traditional Japanese Acupuncture, Alan is a staunch advocate of practically based workshops and draws upon his 25 years clinical experience and 14 years post and undergraduate teaching in a concerted effort to lift the bar globally in the clinical application of this most amazing medical art.

Join him in Exploring the Art of Acupuncture in the 21st century  http://www.Worldacupuncture.com

Hope you enjoy !

Lotsa,

Alan

‘StarClass’,  Japan keen patient Dan advised that I might upgrade at check in for A$250, after over an hour in the queue I thought it was a great idea.

Northern NSW, Australia with Mt. Warning in the background

Kingscliffe Beach, NSW, Australia

A few G’s and we were up, up and away

Into the Clouds

Alan Jansson is an internationally recognized teacher and practitioner of Traditional Japanese Acupuncture.  For well over a decade, independent of and in conjunction with Masakazu Ikeda sensei and Edward Obaidey, Alan has presented, convened and hosted in the vicinity of 30 Traditional Japanese Acupuncture workshops in Australia, New Zealand and USA. Driven by a strong desire to promote the consumer friendly nature, clinical efficacy and potency of Meridian Based Traditional Japanese Acupuncture, Alan is a staunch advocate of practically based workshops and draws upon his 25 years clinical experience and 14 years post and undergraduate teaching in a concerted effort to lift the bar globally in the clinical application of this most amazing medical art.

Join him in Exploring the Art of Acupuncture in the 21st century at http://www.Worldacupunctureblog.com

For more info, please visit: http://www.Worldacupuncture.com

After finishing clinic around 1.15 pm, we ‘chowed’ (ate) down our tucker (food) kicking off what was an extremely productive initial Traditional Japanese Acupuncture workshop for 2009.

Most of the students present spend time with me in clinic and regularly attend our Japanese Acupuncture workshops.

I am hard to impress when it comes to students, having taught for more than a decade.

However, the commitment and effort the current group puts into their study and work is inspirational.

They are setting the bar very high for the next generation of students of Traditional Japanese Acupuncture.

The  student’s total awareness of the patient’s comfort in clinic is vital.

In conjunction with this awareness, the leading student’s commitment to refining and developing their Acupuncture skills bodes well for their future.

Sunday afternoon/evening I attended/photographed the magical wedding, deep in the hills in the Byron Shire in Northern NSW.
It was a wonderful occasion full of joy and gratitude.

A Magical Place for a Wedding

In Da Bush over the Road

I was fortunate enough to be able to stay the night with friends in a magnificent timber home with extensive verandas overlooking ‘The Lost Valley’.

On Monday morning both of my hosts requested an Acupuncture treatment, one for what was becoming a chronic lower back issue involving a prolapsed upper lumbar disc, the other for knee and thumb pain as well as an extremely stubborn mouth abscess.

What a wonderful way to express my gratitude to mine hosts for Bed and Breakfast plus a timely session in the hot tub overlooking the magnificent vistas of the aforementioned ‘Lost Valley’.

Lost Valley is up there somewhere

A Letter Box from Yesteryear

Both patients felt immediate relief from their ailments.

Traditional Japanese Acupuncture, with its extraordinary portability, flexibility of application and on a majority of occasions’, immediate positive results provides a multitude of opportunities to be of service.

These are just a few of the reasons why I’m such a passionate purveyor this extraordinary traditional medical art.

The trust this post finds you well and happy.

Lotsa,
Alan

Footnote:

I attended the funeral of an inspirational friend and patient last Friday.

Over five years of treatment, Keith and I developed a deep mutual respect.

Keith fully appreciated the power of Traditional Japanese Acupuncture having overcome huge adversity with the assistance of this potent and durable healing art.

Without going into great detail Keith suffered a massive attack of Pancreatitis 5 years ago and when the medical diagnosis of his condition took days rather than hours his Spleen was destroyed and his Liver massively damaged.

He was written off by the medical fraternity and told he had weeks/months to live.

To cut a long story short, Keith sought my assistance at the behest of his youngest daughter and after two Japanese Acupuncture treatments he ‘miraculously’ regained his sense of smell and as a result of this phenomena his appetite returned.

A self confessed skeptic, Keith got a good sniff of the possibility of some sort of recovery from this life threatening condition and applied his amazingly resilient spirit to once again be able to walk unassisted, stand without feeling like he had just stepped off a ride at Disney World, see without feeling like he was looking into a mirror ball, enjoy his incredibly supportive family and relish his food.

Over the next 3/4 years Keith was permanently on the Liver Transplant list, his status required the constant use of anti rejection medication (Immune Suppressants) accompanied by some nasty side affects including diabetes.

During this time Keith received regular twice weekly Traditional Japanese Acupuncture treatment.

With many factors working in his favor,  Keith received the most unexpected and very rare news, after 3/4 years on the transplant list his Liver had recovered sufficiently for him to be removed from the list.

The medico’s were stunned by Keith’s unexpected recovery.

This wonderful news was followed by his life long ambition of traveling to ‘The Kimberley’s and the Great Australian Outback being fulfilled, for many months he and his amazing wife, Lyn savored their unexpected good fortune.

About a year ago, the medico’s decided that they needed to place a shunt in Keith’s Liver, unfortunately there were some unexpected difficulties and infection set in.

Keith was prescribed antibiotics to counteract the infection only to learn after 3 weeks of absolutely terrible health ‘I feel like I am dying’ that he was highly allergic to the prescribed drugs.

His health had been fatally affected and his decline was gradual but constant until his passing.

To me Keith was inspirational, not once in those years of treatment did he blame, condemn or criticize anyone or anything for his situation.
He always had time for others and constantly spread ‘Good Vibes’ to all and sundry.

I am extremely grateful to have met a person of such stature and will miss his smile, one liner’s, his compassion and empathy immeasurably.
Rest In Peace Keith and thank you for all that you gave to each and every person you met in my practice, none will forget you!

Alan Jansson is an internationally recognized teacher and practitioner of Traditional Japanese Acupuncture.  For well over a decade, independent of and in conjunction with Masakazu Ikeda sensei and Edward Obaidey, Alan has presented, convened and hosted in the vicinity of 30 Traditional Japanese Acupuncture workshops in Australia, New Zealand and USA. Driven by a strong desire to promote the consumer friendly nature, clinical efficacy and potency of Meridian Based Traditional Japanese Acupuncture, Alan is a staunch advocate of practically based workshops and draws upon his 25 years clinical experience and 14 years post and undergraduate teaching in a concerted effort to lift the bar globally in the clinical application of this most amazing medical art.

Join him in Exploring the Art of Acupuncture in the 21st century at http://www.Worldacupunctureblog.com

For more info, please visit: http://www.Worldacupuncture.com

]]> http://www.worldacupunctureblog.com/life-death-and-japanese-acupuncture/feed 2 http://www.worldacupunctureblog.com/24-years-practicing-acupuncture http://www.worldacupunctureblog.com/24-years-practicing-acupuncture#comments Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:52:43 +0000 Alan http://www.worldacupunctureblog.com/?p=868 In 1984 I arrived in the town of Gatton, not quite 100 miles south-west of the Queensland state capital, Brisbane, Australia.

I had completed the majority of my acupuncture studies and an old friend had assured me that there would be a strong demand for my services in this archetypal country town.

This was the site of my first acupuncture practice and it was here that I took that giant step from student to practitioner.

With my late wife Kayelene’s extraordinary support and the motivation of providing for her and our beautiful three-year-old daughters, I set about creating my first acupuncture practice in the town where I knew only 2 people.

To cut a long story short, my journey was made so much easier through my association with the local rugby league club.

For four seasons I accompanied the teams every Sunday to the playing venue, sometimes leaving home at 9 AM and not returning until 11 PM that night.

If a player was injured I would run onto the field to attend to them and qualify the seriousness of their injury.

A huge responsibility considering there were four teams with a total of 60 players and the odds of injury in this game are very high.

Knee, shoulder and back injuries were relatively common, broken legs, jaws and arms happened too frequently, soft tissue injuries abounded.

During one particular game I dealt with a broken jaw, ruptured knee ligament, broken wrist and last but certainly not least, a broken neck.

All of these injuries belonged to people I knew well.

From that day on I knew that my career on the sidelines tending the injured was very finite indeed.

I was paid the princely sum of $300 per season, however the goodwill and respect earned during this time was of major importance in helping me in establishing a successful Acupuncture practice.

Almost every player and many of their family members experienced their first acupuncture treatment at some time during my four years of working with them.

In that time we also won 3 consecutive A grade premierships, no mean feat in the very rough and tough world of country Rugby league.

24 years on, whilst attending the Hawks ‘Team of The Century‘ celebrations at the  Shire Hall, the hospitality and generosity of spirit of my friends in downtown Gatton deeply moved me as they acknowledged the efficacy of acupuncture, the willingness and commitment of mine self and the contribution I had made to the club and community.

It is occasions like this that reinforce how privileged I am to do what I do!

For the trust, faith and friendship shown to me during my stay in Gatton and the camaraderie I felt on Saturday night, I remain extremely grateful.

Alan

Some images of the people and the place.

morning.

Kind Regards,

Alan

]]> http://www.worldacupunctureblog.com/life-is-a-beach/feed 0 http://www.worldacupunctureblog.com/japanese-acupuncture-workshop-dates-for-2008 http://www.worldacupunctureblog.com/japanese-acupuncture-workshop-dates-for-2008#comments Mon, 14 Apr 2008 04:22:43 +0000 Alan http://worldacupunctureblog.com/japanese-acupuncture-workshop-dates-for-2008/ G’Day,

Against my better judgement I went down the coast to Hastings Point in Northern NSW for a surf this morning.

Snared this shot of Craig after having 9’2″ of surfboard wipe the smile of my left cheek. the one I sit on….ouch!

All but the New Zealand dates have been finalized for 2008 Acupuncture Workshops.

THE CLINICAL APPLICATION OF TRADITIONAL JAPANESE ACUPUNCTURE

Part 1.

USA

New Jersey 21st/22nd June

9am – 5pm

Eastern School of Acupuncture
& Traditional Medicine
427 Bloomfield Ave. Suite 301
Montclair, NJ 07042

San Diego 28th/29th June

9am – 5pm

‘Terrace Room’

Marina Village Conference Center

1936 Quivira Way

San Diego, CA 92109

AUSTRALIA

Brisbane

Saturday 2.pm. – 5.00pm

17th May, 7th June, 26th July, 16th August

Queensland Sports Medicine Centre

Gate 2

‘The Gabba’

Brisbane

NEW ZEALAND

Christchurch &/or Hamilton.

Spring 2008

To be Coinfirmed

]]> http://www.worldacupunctureblog.com/japanese-acupuncture-workshop-dates-for-2008/feed 0 http://www.worldacupunctureblog.com/autumn-images-from-rainbow-bay-australia http://www.worldacupunctureblog.com/autumn-images-from-rainbow-bay-australia#comments Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:38:29 +0000 Alan http://worldacupunctureblog.com/autumn-images-from-rainbow-bay-australia/

Hope you have had a revitalizing break.

Some images from my hood and thereabouts as summer says it’s goodbyes.

Lotsa,

Alan

But I have ducked out to gather a few ocean action images.

Hope you enjoy these.

Have a good 1,

Alan