Why acupuncture?
In this post, Murad and I share the reasons we became acupuncturists. In the pictures above, we were in our final year of acupuncture studies. We were in an internship at the Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Back then, we were just mates! We didn’t know we would get married one day, create a family and found Kingston Hill Clinic together. More than twelve years later, we look back at those early days when we chose acupuncture as our career and discuss how we relate to it now.
Why did you become an acupuncturist?
Murad – It was while working as a dentist that one of my senior colleagues introduced me to acupuncture, describing the benefits some of his patients had experienced with some local acupuncturists. He was not versed in Chinese Medicine himself but often referred patients experiencing jaw and face pain to an acupuncturist. The feedback from his patients was quite impressive with most reporting vast improvements within just a few sessions. This sparked an interest to find out more about acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. I thought that there may be other kinds of problems that acupuncture could help so I wanted to know what other conditions I could refer to an acupuncturist for treatment. The more I researched this ancient wisdom the more gripped I was with its history, philosophy and practice. There was a strong attraction with how Chinese Medicine assess well-being that resonated with my own ideas of health. The more I researched the principles of acupuncture, the stronger my connection became with this ancient medicine. It eventually became clear that I did not want to refer patients for acupuncture, but I wanted to offer the acupuncture treatments myself.
What do you most enjoy about practising acupuncture?
Murad – Watching the acupuncture work. It still impresses me how magical acupuncture can be and how life changing it has been to so many people. It always makes me smile in amazement when the simple placement of a few acupuncture needles changes the way somebody feels or how their body functions. It’s a wonderful feeling knowing that I have something valuable to offer that could make a difference to somebody’s life.
Do you have any areas of interest in your practice?
Murad – I am happy to see anybody in my clinic that I think I can help. I would consider myself a general practitioner of acupuncture. In a typical day I would see a variety of different health concerns and illnesses. However, I spend a lot of my time with clients experiencing aches, pains and sports injuries. Having worked in a fitness centre for a few years I got to see an array of muscular problems, especially neck and back pain, and that continues to be the case.
I believe a healthy digestive system holds the key to our well-being. Any issues concerning our digestion, or problems in the abdomen in general, could have an impact in our other health systems. It is for this reason I have a special interest in helping those with digestion and abdominal problems.
Why did you become an acupuncturist?
Fatima – When my mother was diagnosed with cancer, it was a life changing moment for me. She passed on four months later…
Those four last months we had together, I realised that I was on the wrong life path. I was completing a Masters in Interactive Multimedia, and I had plans! Those plans were built on a love for films and literature I had developed as a child. I can see now that this interest was an escape…
In any case, these plans died with my mother… As her spirit rose to heaven, her last motherly act (towards me) was to pull mine down to Earth and ground it firmly.
The grief I felt gradually turned into a thirst for life. I didn’t want to escape anymore. I wanted to live, and to live my purpose! This is when I found acupuncture…
What do you most enjoy about practising acupuncture?
Fatima – In contrast with various jobs I had in my early twenties, I now have a career that completely fits with my personality. It is in my nature to enjoy listening and to love helping.
In my practice, I can be intuitive. In the readings related to Chinese medicine, I can be reflective. My job truly allows me to be all that I am while helping patients with conditions that benefit from acupuncture and other complementary therapies I practise.
Another aspect I love about being an acupuncturist is learning! I learn from my patients. They often inspire me with their wisdom and capacity to adapt to the circumstances in their life. Moreover, there is so much to learn from the literature and practice of Chinese medicine! One lifetime may not be enough to explore it all…
Do you have any areas of interest in your practice?
Fatima – When I married, I didn’t expect to struggle for years to get pregnant. As a result, fertility has become an important part of my practice. Trying for a baby has given me insight on what fertility patients undergo on the physical and emotional level. This has subsequently had a significant impact on the way I work.
Another important area of interest is mental-emotional issues like stress and bereavement. La vie est belle! Yes, life is truly beautiful, but sometimes, we are caught in a dark patch. Chinese and complementary medicine can assist patients to feel better on the mental and emotional level. It is very rewarding when a patient creates a positive shift in their life.
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