青柳診所手記45

這些天很熱，我們的花圃大部分都還沒有裝上自動澆灌系統，所以我們早上做的第一件事就是澆灌園裡的植物。我現在才發現，澆水也不是一件容易的事。園子很大，植物又那麼多，管子又很笨重，將它從花園的一頭拖到另一頭還得費點力氣。有一天剛剛澆到一半，水突然間斷了。我很詫異，回頭一看，原來是在管子的中上段那裡有一個地方打了一個結，水卡住了流不過來。我把這個結子打開，水馬上又暢通無阻了。

這讓我想起我們做的針灸來。一個肩膀痛的人，我們在他的腳上扎針或拔罐，是很常有的事。有的患者很不解，問：“為什麼你們不在疼的地方直接治療呢？”

為什麼不呢？這就像澆水的管道 一樣，水流不出來，並不是因為我手中握着的這一截出了毛病，真正堵住的是在遠端啊。眼科也一樣。如果視力出了什麼故障，你覺得真的只是眼睛的問題嗎？中醫治療眼疾，往往從肝腎方面來治，豈不也是同樣的道理？所謂的肝腎陰虛是不是可以理解為通往眼睛的水管在肝腎這裡打了一個結？所以，無論你的身體有什麼不適，最好的解決辦法不是糾結於那個痛點，也不是吃去痛片，而是立馬去尋找那個卡住了的結子。

Sunshine Coast的一個患者幾個月前給我們帶來了兩棵長長的竹子苗。也真虧得他不怕辛苦，那麼高的竹子他居然坐着輪船帶過來了。我們種下竹子後，沒多久就發現其中一棵已經完全枯萎了。大師兄把它從根部剪掉了，在花盆裡種上了別的植物。幾天前我澆水的時候，突然發現在這個大花盆的最中央，一棵小小的竹子顫巍巍地綻放了出來。我站在這顆小竹子面前，充滿敬畏地看着它。

你承認嗎，生命永遠比我們想象的要堅韌許多，很多時候，我們都太早放棄了希望和追求？連一棵枯萎的竹子都可以重生，為什麼你堅信你的疾病就不能痊癒呢？那個讓你痊癒的力量，往往不是來自於醫生或者什麼高端醫學技術，而是來自於埋藏在你心靈深處的那顆小小的嫩芽，它叫做生命力，它正等待着你的培育和澆灌。

有一個朋友告訴我，他很愛他的母親，現在母親去世了，他很思念她。“我想她的時候，我不是盯着她的照片瞧着，而是坐在我們曾常常坐過的花園裡。院子的角落裡種了許多玫瑰花。當我閉上眼睛，風輕輕飄過來，將某種玫瑰花的清香送到我的鼻孔里時，我就微笑起來，因為我知道她也來過了，她試圖用她最愛的花香撫慰我，喚醒我的快樂…..”

這個朋友的話讓我很感動。我現在更不敢怠慢任何一株植物了，因為我知道，它們的生命力不僅僅來自於它們自己，甚至還來自於更加神秘、遙遠的一個世界啊。

Whispering of Willows 45

It has been hot lately. Most of our flower beds haven't yet been equipped with an automatic watering system, so the first thing we do in the morning is watering the plants in our garden. I've discovered that watering is not an easy task. The garden is large, there are many plants around, and the pipe is heavy, so it takes some effort to drag it from one end of the garden to the other. One day, just halfway through watering, the water suddenly stopped. Bewildered, I looked back, and realized there was a twist in the upper part of the hose, and the water was stuck and could no longer flow. I untied the knot, and the water immediately flowed smoothly again.

This reminds me of the acupuncture we do. When a patient complains of shoulder pain, it's very common for us to do needles or cupping on his/her feet. Some patients were puzzled and asked, "Why don't you treat the painful part directly?"

Why? It's like the water pipe. If the water can't flow, it's not because the part I'm holding has a problem, but the real blockage is usually at the far end. The same is true for any eye disease. If something is wrong with your vision, do you really think it's just a problem with your eyes? Traditional Chinese Medicine’s treatment for eye diseases focuses on the liver and kidneys. Isn't this the same principle? We often say an eye disease has to do with yin deficiency in the liver and kidneys, which can be understood metaphorically as a twist in the water pipe in the liver and kidneys area leading to the eyes. If you feel some pain, instead of looking at the pained area, or reaching for aspirin, begin a search for the twist.

A few months ago, a friend from the Sunshine Coast brought us two tall bamboo seedlings as gifts. It was admirable; he went through so much trouble hauling such tall plants while travelling by ferry. However, not long after, we realized one of the bamboo plants had wilted and was completely dead. Dr. Daniel had to cut it off at the roots and later we planted some other plants in the flowerpot. A few days ago, when I was watering, I suddenly spotted that in the center of this large flowerpot, a small bamboo shoot was peeking out, shyly and humbly. In front of this small bamboo shoot I stood gazing in awe.

Do you sometimes feel that life is much tougher than you would have imagined, and quite often, might we give up hope and our life pursuit too early? Even a withered bamboo can be reborn, so why do you firmly believe that your disease cannot be cured? The power that heals you often does not come from doctors or high-end medical technology, but from the small bud buried deep in your heart, called vitality, that awaits watering and nourishing by you.

A friend told me that he loved his mother dearly, and now that his mother has passed away, he misses her very much. "When I miss her, I don't stare at her photos, but instead, I sit in the garden where we spent happy times together. Many roses have been planted in the corner of my yard. When I close my eyes and a draft gently blows, the fragrance of a certain rose arrives at my nostrils; I smile, because I know that she is close by - trying to comfort me with her favorite flower’s perfume and awaken the seeds of my happiness..."

This friend's words touched me deeply. Now I dare not neglect any plant in my care, because I have a growing impression that their vitality comes not only from the depth of themselves, but may also from a more mysterious and distant world.