Chinese Medicine Adventures with Damien Bodnarchuk

May 2012 Update

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Mon, 21 May 2012 01:10:00 +0000

Hi Blogs,

It has been busy and busier. Here's a peak around acupuncture in Bondi and Bondi Junction. Stay awesome.

Bondi: Splashy

Just in case you didn't see it. Rolls Royce parked on the park with RR number plate

General update for April 2012!

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:35:00 +0000

Hello Blogs,

I have been running around and now I have some time to give you an update!

This is me in a sequined red bow tie..! Thanks to the clinic manager at Gp on Ebley. This was for fashion forward Friday!

Not for the squeamish! During a break in tutorial I was teaching ( the professor had gone next door to do one on one point location) we had some down time. Just so happens I brought along some 6 inch needles to play with. What a brave year! Two people did self acupuncture with a through and through technique from St 37 to Bl58. Good for shoulder pain.

Showing how much of the needle has gone in

Here we have a brave student!

Needle all the way in

Just about poking through on the other side, through the calf muscle (bump in middle of calf muscle)

Some beds set up for community acupuncture

People playing on a window ledge, main road Bondi

Here's a general update from March!

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Communal Community Acupuncture under the Wellness by the Sea programme in Bondi Beach

One of the tables that got donated. Old but super strong!

Foam padding on it, then a blanket is used on top of that. Pretty comfortable actually!

Here's the space used. They very generously allow us to use the chapel

Treatments and ran out of table space, so used a towel on the floor!

Chinese medicine is going into registration Australia wide from July1. Here's Judy James, president of AACMA, giving one of several 5 hour seminars on it!

End of the seminar

Me handing out flyers on the street with a friend to promote my everyday clinic in Bondi Junction

An amazing Sydney sunset! Bridge on the left

Compound Liquorice Tablets

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:21:00 +0000

Gosh, during some slight stress recently and changeable weather conditions I picked up a nasty cough. Slightly productive from a dry start. Had for over a week now! I am my own worst patient and did nothing about it. I especially didn’t want all the western mixtures for it, although it was generously offered to me by the practice nurse where I am working in the medical surgery.

I spoke to a TCM practitioner friend of mine and he offered for me to try some China import herbs he had in his dispensary. They are in tablet form. Surprisingly its is one herb: Gan Cao or liquorice.

I have been taking them and they have been extremely effective in taking the phlegm out of my cough and therefore reducing irritation and reducing my cough. I love them!

Bondi Not for Profit, Communal, Community Acupuncture

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:42:00 +0000

Yesterday was the second week I practiced from Bondi Beach with the not for profit communal community acupuncture experience!

Here a stream of thought overview:

Sunlight, warm weather. I got in at 12pm with two people waiting. Saying hello re-arranging the tables and chairs and setting up my massage table. Only one table due to organising difficulties. Using floor for as second table!

First patient calls daughter to come for treatment. Another person arrives. Take out needles of first 2 people and start new person. People coming and going in the open room. I make a cup of tea. A lovely girl from Germany turns up. Met before: she is on a mission to learn about acupuncture. No problem. Get permissions for her to observe and she happily chats to the next patient as he is face down on the table getting acupuncture. I’m treating his tiredness.

Daughter of first patient arrives. She has viral conjunctivitis, just like one of my patients from last week! Guess what? Turns out by coincidence she is a doctor too, just like the patient last week! I do the same treatment around her eyes and she is on the towel on the floor face up. The only available space.

Soon another patient. Girl with a fairy tattoo on her back, in tow her blond haired 10 year old son who starts to open my needle packets…Thanks for the help, but I don’t think I need that assistance right now! Haha. 9 patients later Lance and his dog Elvis turn up at 5pm to start their group for environmental sustainability (Transitions Bondi, here's their link: http://www.transitionsydney.org.au/tsgroup/transition-bondi). They both need a treatment. No problem…

The lovely person from Germany, Lance(on the ground) and Elvis the dog getting acupuncture at Bondi

Lance and Elvis the dog getting acupuncture!

More info here:

Bondi Not for Profit, Communal, Community Acupuncture

Viral Conjunctivitis and Acupuncture

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:11:00 +0000

I saw my viral conjunctivitis patient again. She stated, “It’s worked!”,

I felt a little bit under stress with my last patient, who was also a doctor. I decided to go for a rather dramatic treatment with some close to the eye acupuncture points.

I’m very happy to say that this patient got a lot of relief the next day and signs and symptoms had cleared up for her. This was great as she was in a lot of discomfort.

As we chatted she reflected that when she has had the issue in the past it would take 2 weeks to clear up. I saw her on day 5 of her condition and it was all ok by day 6. That’s a reduction by half the time of recovery. Overjoyed!

Also I didn’t give her a black eye. Double bonus :P

Like looking for a Tiger in the Jungle.

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:33:00 +0000

Another week and another momentous amount of discovery as I forge on to be a great positive, courageous, outrageous success at what I do in Chinese medicine!

Firstly I had a lovely patient who came in to clinic. Brand new business owner under all sorts of financial and business pressure. Ouch. He came in for a chat and I decided to do an acupuncture treatment for him. The day before he got a check in the same clinic, that I work in, with one of the doctors. His blood pressure was through the roof! I mainly did calming points and some well known blood pressure points.

Like “hunting a tiger”. Why do I say that? I’m always trying to broach that gap between theory and reality in Chinese medicine. What is reality in Chinese medicine come to think of it!? Ha ha. It depends… The patient came back to clinic the day after for a follow up with the same doctor and I happened to be in clinic too. What do you know? He isn’t on meds and his blood pressure was dramatically reduced. I chatted to the doctor about it. We like it!

Another lovely patient came into clinic. This time a doctor as a patient. Me: a little bit nervous. We chatted. Turns out this person has a bad case of viral conjunctivitis, both eyes. In fact I could clearly see it. The redness and the discomfort was obvious.

As you would expect with any professional, they follow their profession, as would I. Anyway after using steroid drops and so on the eyes were still very uncomfortable. What do I do? Well firstly the face is a tough place. I know some people who can’t go near the throat, let alone the face. However luckily for me one of my most constant patients at the UTS clinic when I was at university as a student was a face patient. They had terrible jaw pain that I was constantly treating them each to give them relief. Back to the doctor. I decide to go for all the indicated points for such a case. Mainly around the eyes. Ever done Stomach one? It’s above the eye socket bone, in the hollow below the actual eye. I suddenly realise I am doing this to a doctor. “What is the mechanism for this and that”, “How can you prove that a meridian is real?”.

Anyway I went for it. I did Gall Bladder 1, Stomach 1. Actually I backed out of Bladder 1. I decided on Bladder 2 as I have read that this can be just as effective. I did go through informed consent with the fact that there maybe micro bruising though… I hope that there isn’t a black eye..! After I put the needles in I left, but turning off the lights as requested, poor old Liver energy stress. When I came back in to check there was deep snoring. All was well. I’ll have to give you and update of results next week!

Happy Hunting!

New Australian Dr. Based Lobby Group:Alternative Med, Shut it down

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:11:00 +0000

There is a group of people who really want to close down alternative medicine in Australia.

This is influenced from the UK, which has closed public funded alternative medicine Uni courses.

Now the article claims there may be a rethink with private health funds and rebates in Australia, as English medical insurers have removed rebates for alternatives.

With Euro austerity measures developing there are bound to be cuts.

It would be great to see more open mindedness at these times of change though. What will help? Relying on just one way of thinking similar to a monoculture or broadening vision and using as many dynamic points of view as possible to develop and respond?

Here's the article:

http://www.smh.com.au/national/tertiary-education/scientists-urge-unis-to-axe-alternative-medicine-courses-20120125-1qhtm.html

Yin Yang cats

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:03:00 +0000

No more comment needed :)

Think positive and the Universe comes to you!

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:03:00 +0000

Wow January is almost done! Getting closer to half way into the first quartre of the new year already!

So I got into the ocean properly for this year and it was fantastic. Then I went into my favourite spot down at Bondi: Icebergs and did a few laps and had a cup of tea.

While I was there Jennifer Hawkins ( former Miss Universe winner!) turned up for a photo shoot.

Check it out in this link: Newspaper article

Here's the behind the scenes shots !

It was a beautiful day !

Win a free treatment!

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:27:00 +0000

Comment on facebook BondiAcupuncture.com and go in the draw for a free treatment!!

Check it out!

Early Morning Bondi on the Bike

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 00:21:00 +0000

Here I am cycling to Bondi early morning to do Chinese medicine consultations for the fitness group Evolution to Wellbeing after their training session.

Enjoy the sunrise and the early morning tweeting birds :)

1 million plus youtube and on radio acupuncture!

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 06:10:00 +0000

Was great to check my videos recently to see one of them is well over 1 million views!
Check out the weird, outrageous and funny comments:

Also I was on the local radio station, Bondi FM. I did an on air treatment! It was great fun and the presenter was very happy with the result, have a quick listen if you get time :)

Community Acupuncture: McDonalds of Acupuncture?

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 03:37:00 +0000

Anyone wanting a good price for acupuncture might be interested in community acupuncture. But what does this term mean and is this the McDonald’s of Chinese medicine?

A quick look at a website from a community acupuncture association called ACMAC’s (the association of community and multibed acupuncture clinics) states it’s all about affordability for the patient.

A practical example of this is the community acupuncture network (http://www.communityacupuncturenetwork.org/) . They state it is a non-profit organisation based in America that gives a price range from $15-$40 per treatment. Google “community acupuncture Australia” and you might find a site that has cheap acupuncture, cash only.

A basic dictionary definition of community is a group of people with a shared interest. When I asked a couple of friends about this in the context of acupuncture they came up with ideas like: not for profit, or a volunteer service by people to help others. Surely that’s how it would be so cheap they said.

So when the term “community” is used in a context with acupuncture it takes on other connotations of not for profit. That’s because the roots of community are about people sharing with each other, without benefiting off of each other.

So how does this heavily used term become defined within acupuncture and business? Well it’s a grey area.

Glancing at the ACMAC site it doesn’t specifically say what this definition is. If we look over a community acupuncture site in Sydney it doesn’t mention if it’s not for profit or not.

Community acupuncture for some is definitely a business though. Someone profits from a large turn over and can charge cheaply because there is a large number of people coming through the door. That’s fine.

The intent behind what is done is as important as the deal though. Qualified acupuncturists providing cheap community acupuncture can be based under two models. A business one and a not for profit one. When using the term community acupuncture, this should be made clear.

Making this clear will go a long way with helping everyone be less naive about the reason for low cost treatments and to make an informed choice. To know that community acupuncture can mean volunteer or a business means a clear choice.

A seminar in Sydney is coming up the 29^th October run by a group called ACMAC (the association of community and multibed acupuncture clinics) will provide a forum for this.

The Australian features the Boot Camp I help with acupuncture and herbs in Bondi

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 08:46:00 +0000

The Australian newspaper checked out the boot camp the day I was down there a few weeks ago!

I didn't get a mention as I was actually training, but Hugh Jackman did, check it out!

Here's the link for the article as well:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/boot-cramp/story-e6frg7mf-1226167073165

GP on Ebley: Chinese Medicine Professional Damien Bodnarchuk!

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:36:00 +0000

I am practicing acupuncture and herbs from Gp on Ebley in Bondi Junction.
This is a very dynamic and progressive general practitioners surgery with a range of specialists working from it. Here's a snap shot of me on their website :)

Great to be a part of it :)

This is there website:
http://www.gponebleymedicalcentre.com.au

Green spaces and parking places

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 01:51:00 +0000

I was on my way somewhere in the city last week and I saw some greenery on the road.

It was set up with chairs, tea and plants! On one of the busiest streets in Sydney.

This group of radicals had paid for their parking spots and set them up how they wanted to!

Awesomes

Paid parking tickets on the side of the road :)

Bondi: Sunny Days!

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:39:00 +0000

At the moment the weather has gone cold and a bit rainy!

Last Friday was a super hot day.

Here's a reminder, to keep you inspired, of that sunny day.

Bondi Beach: Festival of the Winds

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:58:00 +0000

The Festival of the winds is a kite festival down at Bondi each year.

My favourites were the whale kites. Held up high by a box kite above them they looked very majestic and even realistic swimming in the sky.

Also this was a favourite one. The high up kite on a single string. This reminded me of when I was in Beijing almost at the same time as this last year. Wherever you were in the city you could look up and above the massive unit blocks you would see at least one kite, high, high up.

Hugh Jackman and BondiAcupuncture.com

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 23:16:00 +0000

Haha. Thought that would get your attention!

I was training with Evolution to Wellbeing this morning, the group I do acupuncture and herbs with, at Bondi and guess who rocked up?

Well he rocked by on the way to the surf for a swim. He said hi, was surrounded by 6 or 7 paparazzi . He asked us to join him. Next time Hugh. Have a great day

This picture taken yesterday at Bondi:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/27/hugh-jackman-shirtless-on_n_982878.html

Early Morning Bondi and Evolution to Well Being!

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:22:00 +0000

Friday I'll be up bright and early again!

I'm am the main health professional working with the very organised and holistic training group: "Evolution to Well Being"

See you there 6.50 am!

Evolution's website: click on their logo!

Disco Smoke and Acupuncture

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 01:25:00 +0000

I was doing acupuncture at Bondi Road Medical Centre the other week and I was walking through disco smoke!

The guy who fills the doctor's liquid nitrogen container stopped by and did his normal refill. I haven't been there before when he's done this. Liquid nitrogen swept the floors and the place was disco'd!

Here's a video of kids and liquid nitrogen. Haha Fun!

http://blog.austinkids.org/2009/07/07/creating-clouds/http://blog.austinkids.org/2009/07/07/creating-clouds/

BondiAcupuncture.com

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 23:02:00 +0000

Hey check out my facebook page:

BondiAcupuncture.com!

Like and I'll like you :)

Evolution Bondi, Acupuncture Bondi!

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 04:57:00 +0000

If you want me at 6am Friday mornings I am down at Bondi Beach helping a fitness group called Bondi Evolution to Well Being.
http://www.evolutiontowellbeing.com.au/Bondi

I am their alternative health "go to" person.

So I get to meet this great group of people and do acupuncture and massage for them to keep them going!

See you there at sunrise!

Quick look at tutoring Chinese medicine!

noreply@blogger.com (Damien Bodnarchuk B.Hlth Sc Tradtional Chinese Medicine) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:52:00 +0000

I have been in a privileged position to tutor a class at University of Technology, Sydney in the undergraduate Chinese medicine course.

Here's a quick spin around the room to show you!

It's been challenging, fun, hard and amazing to see everything from the other side of teaching.

And guess what? I feel as though I have learnt more from this side of things than the other side as a student!