Chinese medicine shaped my life from an early age
Many of our cohorts discover Chinese medicine later in life, however some are fortunate enough to begin their journey much earlier in life. Online MSc in Oriental Medicine student Jo Rochford shares how she discovered the fascinating world of Chinese medicine at just 18 years old……
I have been an acupuncturist for 21 years this year, having qualified from CICM in 2000. It’s difficult for me to imagine a life without Chinese Medicine flowing through it, because my entire adult life has been shaped by it. I started acupuncture treatment age 18, was lucky enough to secure a place on the Lic. Ac. course at age 22 and started training in acupuncture as I turned 23.
I remember one of my tutors remarking how lucky I was to have a lifetime of Chinese Medicine ahead of me, as she hadn’t started training until midlife. I’ve often reflected on her comment and as the years pass I can only agree with her. To be given the gift of being part of this wonderful profession; this rich, diverse system of medicine, is something I am eternally grateful for. The opportunity to view the world through this intriguing and fascinating lens, the privilege and honour of walking alongside patients in their journeys through life and the discovery of a subject that I am unceasingly interested in, leaves me struggling to do justice to it with words. My work is not ‘work’ at all, it has quite simply become how I live my life.
I was part way in to my first year at University, aged 18, when I caught a virus and never really picked up afterwards. I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and had to suspend my studies. The fatigue, muscle aches, dizziness and nausea that persisted long after the virus, were what led a friend to recommend trying acupuncture. Over the next six months, the treatment amazed me. I changed from a person who had to lie down for the rest of the day after walking round Tesco’s, to someone who restarted and completed their university course, saw huge improvements in their wellbeing and had enough energy to take up Tai chi and Tae kwondo.
How could I be anything but fascinated with Chinese medicine after that? I grilled my practitioner for information, read everything I could get my hands on and still had tons of questions. The more I learnt, the more I was intrigued by this completely different definition of what health was and what it meant to be healthy. I wanted to know how acupuncture worked, why it worked and why Chinese medical practitioners thought about the body in the way they did? Starting an acupuncture course seemed the natural progression to this information gathering.
I loved every bit of the Lic. Ac. course. To be honest, my time studying History had been interesting but I hadn’t really enjoyed life on a small university campus, as my interaction with others there felt narrow and constrained. I wanted to meet people from all walks of life, hear their stories and make connections. Despite studying acupuncture at a college over 100 miles away from where I lived, I made great friends and just felt I was in ‘the right place’. The support of my tutors and fellow students meant I felt free to ask, explore and debate all those questions I had, without ever worrying if I was asking a silly question.
The year after I qualified as an acupuncturist saw the birth of my first child and the next two children quickly followed. Initially practising in evenings, part time, from home after the childrens’ bedtime, transitioned to renting space in a multidisciplinary clinic when small, energetic children and the creation of tranquil clinic surroundings no longer mixed well! The practitioners I met there broadened my knowledge, improved my clinical practise and helped me realise the benefit of working with and alongside other healthcare professionals.
The following year I was offered the chance to work in the acupuncture department of the pain clinics, across three sites, in our local NHS trust. The contrast of working in NHS pain clinics and private practise was fascinating and I still work in both areas today. At the same time, the imminent closure of the multidisciplinary clinic where I rented space for my private practise, led me to start my own multidisciplinary clinic, The Treatment Rooms. I now have practitioners from more than 25 disciplines working alongside me.
A desire to start studying again, to challenge myself and get my brain working, led me to the NCA two years ago to study an MSc in Oriental Medicine; Research and Practice. I didn’t have the same capacity to regularly travel to an acupuncture college as before I had children, so I loved the fact NCA offered an online course that could fit in so well with all my other commitments. My fellow student cohort are from all over the world; South Africa, New Zealand, Germany, France and the UK. However just like last time, the support of tutors and fellow students has been invaluable and created a great atmosphere to learn and grow. I can’t deny the course has been challenging at times but it has been so interesting and worthwhile. It’s hard to believe I will enter my final year this September.
We wish you all the best with your continued studies Jo.