Blockages

Dear Patient,

Lately we’ve been working with a patient at my clinic who has nerve damage in his nasal passages as a result of multiple sinus surgeries. If he gets too much air flow through his nostrils, it’s painful, because the increased air flow irritates the exposed nerve endings. So we still want some air flow through the nose, just not too much.

This has been an interesting case, because usually when we treat someone with sinus problems it’s very straightforward: the nasal passages are inflamed and blocked, so we needle points to open them up. In short order the patient can effortlessly inhale and exhale through the nose, problem solved.

But cases like our patient with the nerve damage remind us that the pursuit of maximum movement and flow isn’t always the best course of action. Sometimes blockages have a purpose. Sometimes they protect us.

There’s a lot of talk in wellness and self-help about removing blockages—blockages in your meridians, in your chakras, creative blocks, obstructions to personal growth and development, barriers to your true potential. Sometimes we got so concerned with removing blockages that we fail to examine why they’re there in the first place. Impediments can serve us. They can steer us in a new direction, or force us to get creative, even protect us from harm.

It’s good to know where your blockages are. But not all of them need to be crushed, or broken down, or powered through. Sometimes our blockages are right where they need to be.

Love and gratitude,

Your Acupuncturist