Spring greetings!  I so enjoy this time of year as a period of reawakening.  In Chinese medicine, Spring is about “Wood” energy and the power of new growth.  With that in mind, the Foundation Fighting Blindness has several upcoming events to help you stay productive with your retinal disease.  I would highly recommend attending the upcoming FFB chapter meeting during which iPads and iPhones will be explored.  I have so many clients who benefit from these easy to use products.  Did you know that they can be run almost completely by audio commands and that they will even talk back to you?  Attend this exciting seminar!

Happy New Year!  I am glad to be safely back at work following my successful summit of Aconcagua last month.  Never one to sit still, I will begin working with Courage Center’s ski program next week.  Courage Center is a Golden Valley, MN based organization that works with individuals with virtually any type of physical impairment.  Their programs range from intensive physical therapy to outdoor activities.  The ski program has space available for either blind or limited-sight skiers.  If interested, please contact program coordinator Nels Dyste at nels.dyste@couragecenter.org

Nels Dyste – Adapted Skiing from Tim Nelson on Vimeo.

That’s me on the right training with Guide Rhonda and fellow trainee Peter. Skiing blind was a bit scary but also exciting and very do-able with a skilled guide.  Join us!

I will be taking a brief break from the clinic from November 29th through December 25th to attempt my 5th of the Seven Summits, Argentina’s Aconcagua at 22,840.  While I’m excited about it, I also find it difficult to leave work behind and will be thinking about all my great clients.  Keep doing your eye exercises and eating your kale!  Look online for “kale chips” recipes; my new favorite snack.

• To “climb along” you can go to www.alpineascents.com/cybercasts.asp and look for the November 30th Aconcagua trip.  We’ll be posting frequent dispatches from the mountain.

• I will be back in action as the Pindoctor on December 26, 27 and 28 as well as the entire week of December 31–January 4.

• You can still schedule appointments using the big yellow button to the right.

• I’ve been doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work with the website and there are many great changes coming this winter.   It’s a lot of work but it will be much easier to navigate and content including the blog and videos will be better organized.

• Have a safe and special holiday season and know that I’m thankful for being able to help you with your healthcare needs.  It’s a great gift to be of service and I appreciate each and every one of my clients.

• PS…I expect you to be eating kale chips while reading my climbing blog!

Hello! It seems as though lately I need 34 hour days to spin all my plates! There has been much excitement and activity here in Pindoctorland. Some highlights:
• A recent 85 year old client with dry macular degeneration was dropped 3 lines on the near-vision chart after just 10 acupuncture treatments!

• Congratulations to the Foundation for Fighting Blindness in raising $150,000 during their VisionWalk campaign! Thank you to all who donated to Team Pindoctor.

• Please attend my upcoming lectures:
*Vision Loss Resources, 1936 Lyndale Ave. S., October 17th at 11:15
*Foundation for Fighting Blindness, also at VLR, October 27th at 12:00. RSVP to aclayton@fightblindness.org for the lecture on the 27th.

• I am thrilled to be working with Courage Center this winter to help those with visual impairments get out on the slopes!  I will also be working to re-certify as a Professional Ski Instructor so that next year I can take skiers out as a solo guide.

• Please book soon if you want to do the Vision Repair Service program in 2012.  The last appointment date I will be taking new clients is Monday November 12th as I will be gone for most of December to attempt my 5th of the “Seven Summits,” Argentina’s 22,800′ Aconcagua.

• Thanks for your patience while I do some “digital surgery” with the website.  We’re working on better implementing social media/newsletter/blog, etc.

• Onward and upward!!

Rugs can be hazardous, causing slip and fall injuries.

“Oh, No!”  This was my reaction yesterday when I heard that my 60-year old aunt tripped, fell and broke her arm.  Slip and fall injuries are the leading cause of emergency room visits for seniors and for people with vision problems–an estimated 7,000 annually!

One of the easiest remedies is to get rid of area rugs altogether, especially if they are made from thinner materials that can wrinkle, not made with non-skid backing or located at the base of steps.  Rugs placed atop carpet can be just as hazardous.  If you have a friend or family member that has trouble with vision or mobility, consider mentioning it to them and even assist them in rolling ‘em up and getting the rugs out of the way.

Last weekend I attended the Foundation for Fighting Blindness’s annual convention here in Minneapolis.  I was impressed with the amount of research being done for various vision disorders however, many attendees with degenerating vision seemed dismayed with the fact that Continue reading →

some of the most promising medical treatments were “in the future” when they need help now.  Offering immediate help with acupuncture is my fight.  And, unfortunately I have to do battle on so many levels every day.  Is my suggesting of dietary changes really more radical that the doctors at the convention who tout a new macular degeneration drug that you have to start taking in your 30s?!  No one in the audience batted an eye at that idea and that concerns me.  Have we become so dependent on Big Pharma to rescue us from ourselves?

In a separate breakout session, I was thrilled to meet mountain climber (including Everest) and status-quo challenger Erik Weihenmayer who happens to be blind.  He gave a lecture on overcoming adversity that I found very meaningful.  For him, like many of my clients, it was about the adversity of being treated differently for being handicapped.  For me, it’s about transcending the adversity directed towards the medicine I practice.   Every day is a fight to get acupuncture recognized for it’s value in healing.  I also fight for people to trust themselves to make better decisions.  Maybe it’s going for a walk instead of watching Wheel of Fortune.  Or doing eye exercises instead of not.  A pear for dessert instead of pie.  Trying acupuncture instead of giving up hope and going blind.

Erik said “We will go to amazing places if we try.”  I couldn’t agree more.  Let’s Go!

Visit Erik’s site at www.touchthetop.com   Photo Below:  Erik & Mats at the FFB convention.

Erik Weihenmayer & Mats Sexton at the Foundation for Fighting Blindness Convention in Minneapolis.

I had an incredible learning experience in Copenhagen. The new acupuncture protocol is quite amazing and I am excited to try it. I have some clients already starting with the protocol next week on a “clinical trial” basis. Continue reading →

Greetings from Copenhagen!  After nearly 7 years I’m finally getting the chance to study with John Boel–Jr!  It turns out his son is also an acupuncturist and now teaches many of the courses.  He’s a delightful teacher and the class has an interesting international cast:  a man from Switzerland, a woman from Swaziland via Sierra Leone, a French-Canadian living in Florida, a Frenchman living in Spain, a Mexican of Lebanese heritage, a German man and two Brits!  A fun group for sure. Continue reading →