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Article by Michael Finn
Copyright Michael Finn

Symptom pictures are clinical anecdotes. My intent is to present 'chronic symptoms' set against the backdrop of the clients circumstance(s). By delving deeply into the operating levels of the client's contemporary life and personal history, one discovers the symptom(s)' genesis, its holding pattern, its signature, and then, its usefulness.

When a new awareness arrives, the symptom(s)' course is disturbed or altered. The message embedded within the illness is part of the very symptom(s)' correction.

1.Diagnosis - Chronic Urticaria (Hives)
2.Signatures: 'Not enough room in This Here Town' - 'I am itching to be released'

At the outset, let me say that inflammatory skin conditions (I've found), very often relate to a person's

• Sense of personal space
• Inability to define strong personal borders
• Struggle to assert one's identity and needs into the wider domain - be that, a family, a relationship, a home, a work situation.

In the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine, such a problem involved the Lung Qi (a fine, energetic underpinning of the lung's vitality. This Qi is unsupported. The skin is intimately related to the Lung Qi and is sometimes the voice, or forum of expression (peripheral organ) speaking out loudly, for the shy, unsure and pensive lungs.

My Story
This anecdote is written by one of Michael's clients to foster ongoing learning from clinical experiences.
Throughout my life I have suffered three debilitating bouts of chronic urticaria(?) otherwise known as hives. The two most severe bouts have been within the last five years, one lasting 18 months, the most recent 9 months. Hives are large, hot and itchy welts which can appear anywhere on the body.

In my case all over, including my face and even down my throat. While brief episodes of hives are often associated with allergies, the explanation for my chronic condition was a mystery to my GP, and several specialists. Every blood test proved negative, and the only treatment they could prescribe was a cortisone based drug called Prednisolone which acts on the immune system.

Due to the side affects of the drug only limited amounts can be taken with significant intervals between courses. The drug gave me some brief hive-free periods, but of course it's not a cure or treatment, and definitely not the answer I was looking for. The conventional medical avenues exhausted, I tried various natural alternatives including kinesiology, chiropractic spinal adjustments and homeopathic remedies, with no success.

A friend recommended Michael Finn of the Paddington Acupuncture and Natural Therapies Clinic to me.

Michael was really the first person who introduced the idea that the cause of my hives might not be physical. Michael prescribed some natural medicines which act like antihistamines (I was taking the strongest conventional antihistamine available, which didn't stop the hives). While still exploring possible physical causes, we did lots of talking about my life situation, identifying some areas where clearly my home situation just wasn't working for me. In particular for me were issues of "personal space" and respect.

Don't ever underestimate the power of talking about things. I've always been a person who "bottled up" my emotions (but apparently my body had found another way of expressing itself). I saw Michael weekly for about 6 weeks for some calming acupuncture and talk. Michael is really easy to talk to, he's a great listener and offered some valuable suggestions about how I could make some positive changes to my attitudes, and my life. He never gave up trying to find an answer, and for the first time I felt that someone was really committed to making me well again.

The hives gradually improved over this time, almost back under control with the antihistamines. Around this time I kept a long awaited for appointment with a well known doctor who is also a naturopath. A link was made between the things Michael and I had been working on, and the bullying I received as a child from an elder sibling. I had long since disregarded this aspect of my childhood, and felt very "over it". The more we talked though, connections to my needs, behaviours, even choice of partners over the years became obvious, as well as probable triggers for each episode.

I continued my visits to Michael, and within two weeks I stopped taking the antihistamines and the hives were completely gone. I've always considered myself an "open minded sceptic" when it comes to natural remedies, but the whole idea of emotions manifesting themselves in such a physical and extreme way was difficult to take to heart, it seemed too easy an answer. The real proof for me of course will be never suffering another bout of hives, which only time will tell. What I can say for certain is that I feel freed by this understanding of myself. For the first time in years I'm not waiting for the next bout of hives, and most importantly, I have somewhere to go for help.

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