A Dinner Date with Acupuncturist Dr. Philip Nino Tan-Gatue

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Relax! That's not me with a needle pierced through my skin. I would have loved to be the guinea pig, or the lab rat, that night, but no matter how adventurous I was, there still remains the hesitation if its about an old age tradition.

In this day and age, who would believe acupuncturists still exist? Modern medicine has several advance methods, equipment and technologies already so I was actually baffled that Mainland China's traditional Chinese medicine or alternative method of curing used by their ancestors was still around to treat various kinds of problems. Where ever is the source of this kind of treatment, many are still doubtful that it is indeed effective.

We all know how the new generation resist the old practices, the same way how the oldies are hesitant to adapt new technologies, but I guess some people are still into what they believe works. Like what some people say, you don't fix something that is ain't broken.

However, our dinner date with acupuncturist Dr. Philip Nino Tan-Gatue, a Medical Doctor and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, emphasized the point that the acupuncture method is really just complementary. Meaning, it should be coupled with other means to make it effective or eventually work.  There still exist the need for discipline to keep to the required treatments other than just solely acupuncture.

Bloggers all having dinner with Acupuncturist Extraordinaire Dr. Philip Nino Tan-Gatue

"Traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force — known as qi or chi (CHEE) — believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance.

In contrast, many Western practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue. This stimulation appears to boost the activity of your body's natural painkillers and increase blood flow"

Dr. Philip Nino Tan-Gatue answering our questions about his complementary medicine

Acupunture is actually more than just the use of needles. Wikipedia states that it is the stimulation of specific acupoints along the skin of the body involving various methods such as penetration by thin needles or the application of heat, pressure, or laser light. This is probably why a fellow blogger said that he has witnessed somebody using toothpicks in his treatments.

That story made me raise my brows for it added to the doubt that was already swirling in my head from the moment I got invited to join the dinner date. From the very first moment I stepped into the Nomama restaurant located in Capitol Commons of Pasig City, our venue for the dinner date,  I've been wondering aimlessly due to the fact that if acupuncture was indeed effective, then why is it not that popular?

Some needles that he uses for acupuncture treatments though he mentioned there are better needles out there

Bloggers with Dr. Philip Nino Tan-Gatue all posing for a group photo

This method of relieving pain or curing illness by placing needles into a person's skin at particular points on the body were just scenes in the old movies that were popular in the old days. Now, they're showing futuristic ways for treatment that made acupuncture a thing of the past. It is now up to us if we would still believe in what our ancestors practiced during their days, and probably some until now....or if we will embrace the quite expensive modern ways of treatment coupled with the absurdly sky-rocketing prices of branded medicines and laboratory services. Though we now have the "generic" medicines that somehow eases the financial burden, many equally skyscraper-high doctors' fees are making it more difficult as well to get professional treatment.

I believe that when in doubt, the only way to counteract that thought is by trying it out for myself. May it be dangerous, or will create more eventual problems, I am the adventurous type that is willing to take risks just to test something out or prove a point. I am not really suffering from any extreme pain or sickness but I would very well feel if there were any improvements in my body after an acupuncture treatment.

I may consider getting an appointment soon when they announce it's available for us already. Thus, watch out for my next article about this sensational traffic as I undergo the acupuncture treatment soon.

The good doctor and acupuncturist holds offices at four locations where he accepts acupuncture treatments. You may also find him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acupuncturist.manila

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