Kai means open.
Open as in joyous
(kai xin:open hearted)
Open as in to blossom
(kai hua:open flower)
And open as in open clinic. It is a new kind of clinic for this part of the world, but it is based on the popular clinics where we trained in China and Japan. Here the space is shared, with screens between couches.
Of course, we have room for you to discuss things in privacy, but most people find this is a far more relaxing experience than the usual treatment rooms. We find that some things, like exercise or meditation, work better when you are in company.
So take off your shoes, lie back. Enjoy your own space. Enjoy time out.
Welcome to Kai
 When I was growing up, I witnessed 3 of my close family members suffering the acute and long-term effects of schizophrenia. This experience influenced the course of my life in two significant ways. Firstly, I was struck by the vulnerability of human individuality, the potential for enormous suffering (both for the victim and for the family) and I was presented with an image of the unbearably difficult side to reality that we all must struggle to understand. This triggered the desire in me to do something to help those who suffer ill health. Secondly, I saw the woeful inadequacy of the medical services available for those with schizophrenia, the poverty of understanding offered by science and even the cruelty and neglect that can pass as medical services in such circumstances. This inspired me to seek new understanding and answers from whatever sources I could find.
I undertook a long process of investigation into psychology, healing techniques and religious traditions. Emerging unexpectedly from this mix were Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine, the two oldest and greatest healing systems on the planet. Though these traditions are on the surface less spectacular in approach than I might have expected to settle with, I quickly learned to draw inspiration from the timeless wisdom contained within them – a wisdom that stresses the importance of a daily routine that works in harmony with nature’s rhythms, which focuses on long term health and has remarkable insight into the causes of disease.
Part of a true healing approach includes a change in perspective when faced with human suffering – not just a fix. As far as we know, a complete cure for man’s ills is not available. Perhaps if we take this as a starting point we can begin to see the importance of working together to find every possible means of easing human suffering. There is so much more that could be done if we drew fully upon our creativity. And, within Chinese Medicine itself, there is a the potential for the practitioner to continually refine the art – the art of helping people to live life to the full. That’s what I hope for.
Bogner Regis. Circa 1969. Still searching.
Look at that angry face. The frustration of knowing that somewhere in the world there was wisdom, but not yet knowing where to look. But then i was 5 years away from discovering martial arts and Bruce Lee. 27 years away from studying Chinese medicine and for the first time feeling that something really made sense. 29 years away from being an acupuncturist. 38 years away from where i find myself today.
Still searching.But with a better map.
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