Free Acupuncture Clinic in India
Dear friends,
As a huge fan of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), I strongly believe in the effectiveness of its treatments, for example, acupuncture, cupping, gua sha and more. I have met quite a few TCM doctors who specialise in acupuncture and I must say that the treatments have personally helped me quite a lot.
I’m happy to see that this effective and powerful practice is being disseminated to countries all over the world including India. India is one of the most famous countries that produces knowledgeable and experienced doctors, thus it is very good news to know that acupuncture is becoming one of their alternatives tools to save peoples’ lives.
In particular, I applaud Charles Martley, the director of the Free Community Clinic of Acupuncture, for his untiring efforts to make a difference in the lives and health of the poor people of Ananda Nagar. As I always say,
“Be different, be altruistic.
Work for others in response to their needs.
Raise eyebrows, be generous without agenda.”
Tsem Rinpoche
Acupuncture Clinic in India
Posted by Yara Coelho on Jan 19, 2011
In October 2009, I headed to India, for 6 months, to experience the culture, religions, gastronomy and most of all, to visit the Free community clinic of Acupuncture of Ananda Nagar. This is an article that was published by the “The Acupuncturist Magazine” a prestigious British Magazine specialized in Chinese Medicine.
I had studied TCM in Portugal and Spain for three years, and I felt I was ready to go to China. While searching for universities that would best fit my interests, almost by accident I bumped into the most incredible project of Acupuncture in rural India, in the state of West Bengal, a village called Ananda Nagar, where the patients are treated for free.
Ananda Nagar is a small village, away from the beaten track and tourist routes, one day by train from Kolkata, a place not many westerners visit.
After exchanging some emails with Charles Martley, the director of the clinic and the person who’s behind the project, I felt extremely encouraged to visit and find out how Acupuncture is helping its people.
The four days I spent at the Hospital were very intense and inspiring. I was welcomed by all the staff at the clinic who made sure I’d understand the dynamics of their work, the problems they face, and the struggle of the local people, who in many ways lack the most basic health care. I felt completely integrated and even though, as a student, I decided not to practice and observe instead, I was actively invited to do so if I wished.
The poverty in Ananda Nagar is obvious; the clinic survives with great difficulties thanks to a man who refuses for this project to die, Charles Martley the director of the hospital and who practices Acupuncture in the USA. His small clinics in Vermont became “sister” clinics to the project, and his patients, aware of the work done in India, decided to donate 2 dollars, added to the visit fee. Other people prefer to give single large donations, volunteer at the clinic, donate material, or other skills.
I was amazed by the hard work the Indian acupuncturists do and the amount of energy and care they put into each day of practice. Everyday more than 60 or 70 people come to get treated with acupuncture, mostly women of all ages, children and men. Most of them, due to the lack of health care in the region, travel great distances by train, bicycle or even walking under the harsh sun. When everything fails and the pain becomes unbearable, only acupuncture might alleviate their suffering.
The Free acupuncture clinic is very similar to the “barefeet doctors” model from rural China, with the staff going through 3 years of training and forced into the practical work as soon as possible, as they’re always shorthanded, giving the possibility for the Indian acupuncturists to have a great deal of practice and experience.
An acupuncturist in Ananda Nagar deals with all kinds of health problems, but mostly with symptoms of emptiness (low kidney, spleen Qi) and dryness, premature aging, digestive problems, bladder infections, headaches, etc.
The similarities between the hot and dry environment of the village and the bodies of the people were astonishing. Most of them presented a state of dryness I had never seen in my life, the skin on their feet and legs would show gigantic cracks, resembling the semi-desert grounds, punished by the burning sun.
The incredibly dry skin filled with cracks.
Extreme dryness.
Many children arrived with congenital deficiencies or paralysis. Polio reached the record of diseases in 2002, with 450 cases. I witnesses 2 cases of paralyzed children who were following a treatment at the clinic, and the results are very positive. Gynecological problems are also a big issue. For the Indian culture, large families are very important, with sons being more desired than daughters. For many rural Indian families, having male sons works as a “life insurance”, as they carry the family’s name and bring their wives to live and work at the in-law’s house for the rest of their lives.
A small child being treated for Polio – a disease already extinct in the west.
Many Indian woman, as a result of the high child mortality rate, give birth several times to guarantee a large family, sometimes nine or ten times, forcing their weak bodies to generate a life that will increase their poor condition.
Other problems, englobe back pain, joint pain, arthritis, and all kinds of musculoskeletal problems. Because Ananda Nagar is a rural area, most people endure extremely hard physical work. As most houses don’t posses water systems or electricity, it’s normal to see women carrying great quantities of water or wood on their heads, causing a lot of cervical problems.
Kamal, who’s been practicing acupuncture the longest, guided me through the dynamics of the clinic. First the patients see the doctor in a separate room; he will carefully check the pulse, tongue, face, and do the diagnosis. He will then prescribe a series of points most indicated for the symptoms. The patient will wait for his turn at the front porch, an area surrounded by nature, till one of the beds is available.
Men and women are treated separately in different rooms, the largest one with seven beds being the ladies treatment room. The acupuncturists move between patients and rooms simultaneously; there’s never a minute of rest. The clinic functions six days a week, from 9am to 1pm, but with the aim that no patient will walk away without treatment, most of the mornings extend to the afternoons.
People flock to this clinic with all sorts of problems.
I was extremely sad to realize that all the things we take for granted here in the west are considered almost a luxury in this clinic; basic things like new needles are a commodity they cannot afford. The needles are sterilized and used over and over, causing more pain and discomfort than necessary to people who deposit all their hope in this form of medicine. The children are probably the ones who suffer the most, as their skin is more sensitive, and I still have images in my mind of how their tears would fall down their faces every time they’d get pinched… but they wouldn’t move or protest. They’d just let the tears fall and say it hurts.
Everything is lacking in this clinic except the will to serve humanity, the will to help others without expecting anything in return, which is the highest form of altruism. It’s amazing how sometimes people who have so little, have a greater ability to share the little they have. I’ve visited acupuncture clinics while studying, but I never felt this intense sense of spirituality and community.
Even with all the struggles and needs, this clinic is working for 20 years now with great success. The mission of the clinic is to offer high quality health care, free for all who can’t afford the fee of 3 rupees. In a land where education is limited and the natural resources are scarce, in the XXI century, the “barefeet doctors” and acupuncture show they’re alive and they’re improving the lives of thousands in a little village lost in time.
Note: Ananda Nagar survives thanks to the generous donations from people who believe in this project. If you’d like to become a “sister” clinic and support Ananda Nagar, please contact Charles Martley, the director of the clinic at: charles@madriver.com
If you’re a practitioner or a student and you’d like to volunteer at the clinic or improve your practical skills, you’ll be warmly welcomed to do so. This experience will enrich your life, just like it did to mine.
By Yara Coelho – Student of CENAC (Spain) and Westminster University.
Source: http://www.heartofavagabond.com/ananda-nagar-acupuncture-clinic-of-west-bengal/
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Truly inspiring article, glad to know about the free community clinic of Acupuncture at Ananda Nagar. Firstly I would like to thank Mr. Charles Martley, for his effort to create a help center for the needy at the rural area. His great concern of the environment people and able to build a good relationship to reach them.
I believe, ass long these free acupuncture treatments is effective, it will be accepted and will welcome many more to seek treatment. I ‘am also puzzled with the great humanitarians of the acupuncturist who work tirelessly, for these patients, as there are only so few of them but willing to render their service at any time without fail.
Thank you for the sharing, hope to visit and contribute something for the project and do wish the program will continue to support and help the needy.
Thank you for sharing this inspiring article .Acupuncture have indeed improves the lives of thousand in a little village.From this article we can know that acupuncture can help to cure so many sickness and discomfort.
The man who run the project, Charles Martley, the director of the Free Community Clinic of Acupuncture, is the one who should receive the loudest applause for his untiring efforts to make a difference in the lives and health of the poor people.
So wonderful to know that there is a free acupuncture clinic in Ananda Nagar, India. Acupuncture is surely a trusted and effective treatment. it’s a surprise me that TCM treatment is accepted by the local people in India as they have their own traditional method. But as long as treatment is effective, it will be accepted. Thank you Rinpoche sharing for this wonderful, touching and inspiring article ?
Im an Acupuncturist(registerd under the state council of Acupuncture therapy, Govt:of West Bengal, India ), with more than 30 years practicing experiences in rural area of Nadia district,West Bengal to serve the poor peoplethrough charitable Acupuncture clinic.
Im interested to know about your hospital. I want more information about your works . looking for your reply, please…
Thanks and regards.
kalyan
Dear Kalyan Mazumder,
Thank you for your comment and glad to know about your charitable work in Nadia district, West Bengal.
For more information about the community clinic of Acupuncture of Ananda Nagar, you may contact the Program Director, Mr. Charles Martley via email at: charles@madriver.com
You can also visit their website at: http://www.acuindia.org/the-clinic.html
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Acupuncture really can temporary healing and alleviate the sufferings due to sickness of patient. That was great. I really agreed with what Yara Coelho said that “the things we taken granted might be an necessity to the Free Community Clinics of Acupuncture.”
I really salute to Charles Martley and Yara Coelho who dedicated their life to serve in this poverty community.
I hope I can do some contributions to support this clinic to reduce burden on daily expenses.
Jason
When we have an altruistic wish to make a difference to the lives of people in poverty and suffering, then we will definitely bring about a whole positive change to their spiritual, mental and social landscape. The patients of this free acupuncture clinic in India are mostly women , whose lives of stress and strain have all but broken them down physically.Having to carry excessively heavy loads of wood and water, as well as having to give birth so many times in the hope of producing sons to please the husband and family,all this has worn these poor women out. Hence they are most in need of medical treatment. Fortunately, the free acupuncture treatments they receive help go a long way for them.
Indeed such great humanitarians are the acupuncturists who work tirelessly, for these patients, as there are only so few of them and there are 60 or 70 patients a day,and they have a beautiful policy of not turning any one away.They, the acupuncturists, couldn’t possibly have turned away the poor patients, who had come from long distances by train, by bicycle, by walking under the harsh sun.
The man behind the whole project, Charles Martley, the director of the Free Community Clinic of Acupuncture, is the one who should receive the loudest applause for his untiring efforts to make a difference in the lives and health of the poor people of Ananda Nagar by setting up this free acupuncture clinic.
Thank you Rinpoche sharing for this wonderful, touching and inspiring article by Yara Coelho.
Feel so very warm because there is someone who is determined to help treat the people here. Are there Indians who are learning such potent methods too?
I am great fan for TCM and especially acupuncture, having seen so much of its benefits for Rinpoche and many of his students.
So glad to know that there is a free acupuncture clinic in Ananda Nagar, India. Acupuncture is surely a trusted and effective treatment. I have this treatment few years back to treat my back ache and it works. However, it does surprise me that TCM treatment is accepted by the local people in India as they have their own traditional method. But as long as treatment is effective, it will be accepted.
A big thanks and appreciation to Charles Martley in setting up this free clinic to help the people without return. It must be such a relieve for the people to be able to get free treatment due to their financial constraint.
Sincerely, hope the clinic will have more sponsors so patients can obtain hygienic treatment.
Interesting that acupuncture is accepted here in Ananda Nagar, maybe because I had my expectations and projections that it is alternative Chinese medicine and wouldn’t’ be found in a place like India with their own Ayurvedic medicine.
But, I’m glad that they locals have accepted and benefited from it. Through the efforts of Charles Martley, who founded the clinic and Yara Coelho who help bring this message to the world, more will jump on the bandwagon and contribute in various ways.
Heartwarming to read of such community spirit and care.
Wonderful news for a small town Ananda Nagar,,West Bengal. A acupuncture clinic was set up ,where the rural communities who lack the most basic health care having problems of various kind of aliments are treated for free.Not only any practitioner or a student could volunteer at the clinic and improve their practical skills.This opportunity experience will enrich one life,all because of one wonderful man Charles Martley who set up this project that have change the lives of many. Acupuncture have indeed improves the lives of thousands in a little village.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful and inspiring article
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article. It is interestinf to know that acupuncture can help to cure so many sickness and discomfort. Additional to that, there is free acupuncture services in a cli ic in Ananda Nagar. It is amazing to see so many come and volunteer while some donate to the cause. The folks in Ananda Nagar is so lucky to have this free clinic in their area to treat their sickness as they are poor. May this clinic continue to receive donations and volunteers from around the world. I wish them good luck.
With folded palms,
Vivian
Very heartwarming to see community clinic set up to offer free services for the rural folks, who are suffering from many diseases and illnesses due to lack of health care and harsh physical condition, both at work and at home. What is more applauding is the type of treatment offered here is Acupuncture which does not have side effect. The clinic is sufficiently organized to cater to patients of both the genders of all ages. It must be sheer joy to be able to save lives and relief pain at no cost to the patients. Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing this news!