Hi Anna,

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We quickly judge failure or success based on limited time frames. We want results not just now, but yesterday; if something takes time and energy, we often don’t put forth the effort.

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I came to you with a severe case of pneumonia and a sinus infection which 10 days of antibiotics should have cured; this turned into 20 days on antibiotics and no improvement. I thought alternative medicine would be the great quick fix. You explained up front this is not a quick fix but therapy and we would be healing my body of the root causes of the diseases. I thought great; fix me up quick and I will be on my way with my life, no longer down and dealing with side effects of antibiotics; as you can read—I did not want to hear what you said about therapy, I wanted the quick fix like everyone else. In my mind I thought 1 or 2 treatments and boom - all better. This was what I heard (well not sure from where), but everyone knows this stuff just works really fast and takes very little time and I would get all better without any real effort on my part. Then it reality hit me…….

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The first treatment for the pneumonia and sinus infection showed no improvement at all; I was still coughing, congested, wheezing and feeling really ill. You said to give it a few more treatments and also discussed herbs with me; I agreed to take the herbs as well. From treatments 2 to about 8; there was almost zero improvement, in fact I seemed to be getting worse and went back to the doctor who only said, "More antibiotics," but since I had already been on them for 20 days, I did not think another round would help much.

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You treated me again with more needles and more herbs determined to get me healthy. The truth started sinking in that my health would take time no matter how I tackled it. I could give up the herbs and acupuncture, go back to the doctor and get more antibiotics which gave a ton of side effects and probably at this rate take another month or two at least to improve my health or I can keep coming for acupuncture. I experienced no side effects from the herbs or acupuncture and enjoyed the nap I was getting each time I came in and decided to try it a while longer. Then about the 10th treatment I noticed I was a little better, it was getting easier to breathe again and my congestion had lessened. This was an extremely slow, uphill battle the entire way with very slow and incremental improvements. I think by the time we did treatment 20 I was starting to feel a little more human. It was probably close to 30 treatments before I was over the pneumonia and sinus infection. Then I was on herbs for several more months and saw you in maintenance mode for a while to keep my immune system strong.

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Thank you for your diligence in keeping me healthy and encouraging me on the long journey!

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A. H.