Relief volunteers on pins, needles
Free clinic open at Bowness
June’s devastating flooding has left behind more than ruined basements and a pile of insurance claims. It’s also causing all kinds of physical and emotional stress.
That’s why the Calgary and area acupuncture relief project is stepping in to help.
“There are so many issues that come up following this type of disaster,” says Michelle Golany, a registered acupuncturist and one of the project’s organizers.
The project has set up a mobile trauma clinic at the Bowness Community Centre at 7904 43rd Ave. N.W. It’s open Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4 to 8 p.m. until the end of August. People who would like a treatment can just show up when the clinic is open — no appointments are needed.
The project is partnering with Acupuncturists Without Borders, which has responded to disasters all over the world. The treatments are designed to alleviate anxiety, insomnia, nervousness and bad dreams, as well as to enhance the immune system and address anger, fear and grief. Anyone who comes in will be treated for free, whether they were directly affected by the flood or are a flood volunteer. Three to four registered acupuncturists are on site for each shift.
“We are set up to be able to treat up to 80 people per night,” Golany says. “We’d like to see as many people coming through as possible to take advantage of this.”
Acupuncture can help with a variety of difficulties, according to Golany.
“What we are addressing balances the nervous system, helps relieve pain and has a relaxing ef- fect on the internal organs and the whole body system. It relaxes the body back down into a neutral position, so it can help heal itself.”
Registered acupuncturists use single-use, small-gauge stainlesssteel needles, inserted shallowly into the outer ear.
The acupuncture points in the ear are related to the rest of the body, says Golany.
Acupuncture can be used for people of all ages. Small metallic pellets instead of needles are used to treat very young children (as well as adults who don’t like needles).
“One of the reasons why this works so well is that it’s a very simple treatment that is immediately effective.”
One person who came in feeling sad, felt happy after the half-hour treatment, says Golany, another person, who had a headache for four weeks, found that the pain had lessened.
The acupuncture relief project is also setting up a mobile clinic in High River at the Disaster Recovery Centre on the rodeo grounds.