A journey of healing‎‎ by A.R.

Around January of 2009, my husband and I had reached the end of our rope with infertility treatments. This is the second marriage for both of us. I had tubal reversal surgery in 2004, hoping for one more baby with my new husband, who had no children of his own. We were optimistic after the surgery, but we ended up experiencing miscarriage after miscarriage. We subjected ourselves to every test available, but nothing was found. No treatment of any kind helped us carry to term.  I had seen two different acupuncturists over the years who were both skilled but I still miscarried again and again.
The last acupuncturist that treated me one day decided that he would treat me for "trauma". He explained later was something he picked up on during the course of our sessions. The day he decided to treat me for that trauma he perceived was a day I will not easily forget. He was not wrong about the trauma. But he did not tell me that day what his plan was. He just treated for trauma. Little did he know what he tapped into. My body was completely unprepared for the floodgates that were opened. I felt horrible, both physically and emotionally. I nearly passed out on the table and was so terrified by that experience that I never returned.  This was not in any way the fault of the practitioner. I just don't think either one of us was prepared for what ended up happening .
After a few years I decided I wanted to try Chinese medicine again.I found Mike on the website for the Elephant Pharmacy . But after my last experience with needles I was not willing to go that road again, so I emailed Mike and asked if he would see us as a couple for herbal treatment for infertility. I asked him some questions about possible reasons why I had experienced bad reactions to acupuncture, and he wrote back a very nice email that was quite detailed, sharing his thoughts.
During our intake I answered the usual questions, and then I told him something that I rarely told anyone. I told him I was a survivor of 14 years of domestic violence in my previous marriage. I told him out of pure fear, because I was terrified that yet another TCM practitioner was going to intuitively "pick up" on trauma and treat me without telling me. I was not up for a repeat of such a "surprise".
Mike treated us with herbs and was very skilled at his work. His pulse diagnosis is amazingly accurate. He is a great listener. We had one miscarriage during treatment , and then in June of 2009, yet another one.
 I had battled depression for many years. Medication never worked for me, and I had given up hope that I would ever feel "normal" again. Over the course of a few months, my depression slowly began to lift.  After 6 months Mike very gently started some bodywork with me in addition to the herbal work. We started withQiGong.  I was still not ready for needles.  And yes....slowly but surely he eased me into processing trauma. There was plenty. But after those 6 months I had slowly begun to trust him. That was some hard earned trust and by no means easy for him....
Little by little, my journey to emotional healing was unfolding. It is one of the hardest things I have ever walked through, but oh so worth it.  By the time I had been in treatment for 8 months, Mike finally introduced acupuncture needles. We started with just a few. He never left me alone in the room during treatment with needles. He is not only a wonderful acupuncturist, but also a gifted teacher. I learned so much about Chinese medicine from him. I learned so much about myself. His patience is a gift.  I was not an easy client to treat. . But he stuck with the treatment. And with me.
Chinese medicine is about the whole package. Mind, body and spirit. I came to see Mike for infertility treatment, and over the course of the last year and a half I have not only experienced physical healing, but tremendous emotional healing as well. I am not depressed and not on medication. That all by itself is amazing. I never thought I would be free from depression. I had chronic shoulder pain that is now completely healed. My high blood pressure is now normal. I feel healthier than I have in years, both emotionally and physically.
My treatment for infertility ended up leading me to the long road to healing from childhood abuse and a violent marriage.Emotional healing can very much be achieved by means of Chinese Medicine. I had no idea that was even possible. All those years of therapy and medication, and in the end the healing truly began through Mike's treatment.
 I have not conceived again, but I am sure that if that is meant to happen it will, when the time is right and my body is ready.  If it does not, it will be okay.  Infertility is no longer the all consuming heart break that it was.  The most important (and unexpected!) joy is that I found myself again.
Mike is one of the most skilled and caring TCM practitioners I know, and I highly recommend him. And that statement just does not do his work justice!