M, 41, WLT open-minded, possibly medically compromised artist, who is interested in exploring both the East and West sides of our bodies. Influenced by Vitalstatistix, Alfred E Newman, Private Eye and “The-Dog-praying-that-the-Cat-will-climb-into-the-tumble-dyer-for-‘Fud”. Looking for short term fun, but open to LTR. Are you drawn to me?@MrNiceNeedles
I’d like to introduce myself to the Graphic Medicine community. I’m a practicing acupuncturist hoping to find a collaborator in what I hope is a shared passion to improve health through better understanding. Let me explain…
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Acupuncture is now an accepted treatment of many private western practitioners. Over a million treatments a year are performed within the NHS alone, and ‘dry-needling’ is a regular tool physiotherapists. This is all before you start counting the practitioners, which I count myself, who treat according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) philosophy.
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So, the strangeness and novelty of ‘sticking-pointy-things-into-people-to-aid-their-recovery-from-illness-and-injury’, is slowly ebbing. The ‘What‘ we are doing is becoming less alien to the public. I would like to now see a far better, and wider, understanding of ‘Why‘ we are doing what we are doing.
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It’s this new stage of presentation and communication that I feel TCM needs a new approach and your help. Over these last decades, the painstaking translation of what ‘health’ is from a Chinese perspective, has been passed through the western ‘filter’, subtly changing how it is communicated. There is now a generation of western trained, and very practical, practitioners, who are well-educated, disciplined and are no more idealistic than your average doctor…there’s a palpable determination that we will be the generation to make acupuncture ‘normal’.
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A hundred years of western medical (WM) advances, has been quite simply staggering, made more remarkable that it’s been achieved in such a relatively short time. This, now complex, understanding of how the body functions, has gone beyond what the majority of us can really comprehend. WM’s ability to cope with acute medical situation is simply amazing. If you want to be kept alive after an infection or a trauma, or need worn out bits replaced, it is unparalleled, and close to miraculous.
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However, in my opinion, it’s has two major disadvantages. Firstly it’s a bit rubbish at any condition that turns chronic. In general WM’s answer to long term conditions is suppression and/or numbness. Secondly it is in a state of denial over the many side effects that result from these drugs. The fact that virtually all medication deals with symptoms, and not the root cause, demonstrates sharply it’s limitations (and perhaps also how passively our society sees healthcare).
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With over two thousand years of consistent, quantitative research to back up our practice, a TCM diagnosis can assess where the body is struggling to function. We make connection with seemingly disparate symptoms, which allow us to make sense of complex presentation, and point a way forward in treatment.
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The graphic form, and artistic illustration, offer mass communication of these ideas. The metaphors and imagery in Chinese Medicine are so rich and varied, that sitting writing this now, I feel the book would draw itself…
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…however that’s obviously not going to happen.
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I need you!
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I’m very open to any style, any form, and any narrative arc. I do feel whatever emerges should be a collaboration. Personally, I’m very interested in the ideas, but would leave how the content is displayed to you.
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I’m very realistic about the cost of producing a product like this. This isn’t a ‘vanity commission’ and we will need to jump that various financial hurdles towards publication. It will definitely require someone already interested to drive it forward. Having said that, any support or funding that we gain, will be directed towards ‘you’, the person putting in the drawing hours (and obviously the cost of production). For instance, I’ve had a number of conversations with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival who are excited about the idea (and how it might fit into a future program) and are offering support.
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So basically, I need you to bring your art to my medicine..who’s interested?
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Please contact me here
hugo@grasshopperclinic.co.uk
and to understand a little more about what I think on the subject have a look here
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