I thought I’d stop by between migraines and visits to doctors. I had check-ups and annuals from head to toe, a visit for virtually every body part over the last week, plus a tweak at the orthodontist; the week ended at the office of a new acupuncturist.

I spent two visits over two days at an ear, nose and throat specialist who specializes in vertigo at the request of my internist. After hours at Dr. S’s office including a full battery of tests (the final one launched an ocular migraine) the diagnosis was: “everything is normal.” Never mind that the previous week I got so dizzy that I felt like I was in space in free-fall and then got sick to my stomach. Never mind that I was suffering for years with tinnitus and an occasional ear twinge. “Normal.” And his final words were: “It’s all part of MIGRAINE; I’m sorry I can’t help you” “I’m sorry I can’t help you more.”

It was time to help MYSELF more. As the acupuncturist (who is a licensed R.N. and Chinese herbalist) said, “when Western medicine says there is nothing wrong and you know there IS, you go to Eastern medicine.”

I am going for acupuncture twice a week. It was determined that (and EVERY doctor who has seen me has said this) my issues are from years of stress, cumulative and compounded by one thing after another. My liver is exhausted and it affects my heart. Nothing shows up on any of the hundreds of tests I have had but it is displayed in the organ pulse: stress and exhaustion. It’s time for herbs. A tonic to take during the time I am not getting needled.

I had a headache for two days; I got up at 2:00 am to take a couple of Advil. I don’t sleep all that well and the pain in my head had gone from the top (liver function) to the forehead (hunger) and then to the side (migraine, cluster headache). There was no relief. until this morning when I figured that I hadn’t had coffee in the morning for a few days; I hit the Nespresso machine. In thirty minutes the headache was gone. I was HAPPY. There was such a feeling of relief.

But then light-headedness and exhaustion kick in. I am just happy not to be in pain. I am determined to kick all this craziness. I don’t buy into American medicine and the statement “I’m sorry I can’t help you.” This is the twenty-first century. It’s back to the future for me.