Many of you have asked me how my telemedicine practice is going and exactly what I am doing during these sessions. Moving the medicine online has been an interesting journey. It has involved integrating new tools (technology) but mostly using my old reliable tools (Chinese medicine), albeit in a new context. So far I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how effective the medicine I practice can be practiced online!
I am happy to report that I’ve consulted online with many Covid-19 patients, and so far, they are all reporting benefits and improvement with our online care. This is enormously rewarding!
It has also been my great pleasure to keep up to date and continue to care for many of my long term and ongoing patients who are dealing with their existing health issues and the new challenges these turbulent times are presenting. I am pleased to be able to offer this continuity of care.
It has been very satisfying to assist so many folks with personalized immune protocols, personalized stress protocols, and strategies for just generally surviving as healthfully and as gracefully as possible in the time of Covid-19.
I’ve also learned quite a bit in the last month of seeing and treating patients online.
First and foremost, I have learned that I can still make a very good Chinese medicine and extraordinary vessel diagnosis online.There are four methods utilized in gathering the data to make a Chinese medicine diagnosis: palpation, listening, looking, and questioning. Of course, online I have a much greater emphasis on looking and listening and questioning. I am relying more than ever on tongue diagnosis, a foundation of Chinese medicine diagnosis. My new telemedicine technology even allows me to blow up the tongue and take a real good look!
Treatment is a different story. I’ve gotten creative and am relying more on many of the home healthcare and cultivation skills I have acquired over the last thirty-seven years of practice.
I can still effectively prescribe herbs and recommend supplements. Orion Herbs, our affiliated herb shop, is fully functional and making same day and next day deliveries. Personalized herbal prescriptions are a very important part of what Chinese medicine offers.
Of course I can’t needle you or treat you directly. But I can direct you in treatments that you can do yourself, at home, under my guidance, and with my diagnosis. This includes moxibustion (heating acupuncture points with herbs), self acupressure (massaging acupuncture points), cupping (we have home cupping sets), specific breath and movement exercises, and the foundation of our practice, home extraordinary vessel magnet treatments. I have used these home care magnet treatments as a powerful tool for cultivation and wellness for decades and now they are providing a way to “treat” my patients daily in their homes.
These telemedicine sessions are offered in brief 15 minute (a brief check in and herbal review with basic home care suggestions), intermediate 30 minute (more time for more complex issues and additional recommendations), and extensive one hour sessions (time for more complex issues or longer guided treatment sessions).
In addition to the “clinical sessions,” I am offering hour-long counseling and cultivation sessions. Utilizing the Three Womb Model I developed, we can discuss specific counseling issues and concerns and/or implement specific strategies for your cultivation and wellness practice.
I feel grateful that in this time of Covid-19 I am able to continue to serve and practice the medicine I love!
Much healing and love to all,
Dan