Volunteer Trip

On October 6th, I'll be heading to Mumbai to volunteer for two weeks. People are always asking me why I do this and this is what I tell them: I’ll never forget the first time I came to India. A young man came to the clinic asking if Walter and I could come to his home to see his mother. We went that afternoon. This was the first time I had visited the inside of a home in the slums and I came to understand the living conditions that the people are faced with. One small room that served the purpose of a bedroom, dining room and living room for four or more people. The elderly mother was lying on the cement floor, and upon seeing her we knew immediately that she had had a stroke. She was resting on a blanket and nothing else. Upon further inquiry we understood that she had been like this for a couple of months and because it was not within thirty days of the onset, the doctor refused to treat her. We told the young man that his mother had a stroke, and suggested a thicker mattress to protect her from the cold floor. We encouraged him to include her in family activities to get her moving around as much as possible. And to bring her to the clinic when they could get her to walk. I’ll never forget this story.



Photo by Lydie Nesvadba

A number of things struck me then, and have stayed with me to this day. The low level of care for the millions of people in Mumbai alone is overwhelming. The amount of education required to help people with basic self care is overwhelming. The daily survival mechanisms of these people, which go back multiple generations, is also overwhelming. I immediately understood the importance of what we offer. Where I come from in the United States, Chinese medicine is usually seen as secondary care or primary care in conjunction with allopathic medicine. However, here we can help people as primary care and, more importantly, community support. This is the difference between compassionate medical care and none at all.



Photo by Lydie Nesvadba

Since 2008, Barefoot Acupuncturists has treated 4,500 patients in four clinics that are set up in rural villages and urban slums. After chronic or acute pain, the range of treatment includes paralysis and stroke recovery, digestive disorders, gynecological issues, stress and anxiety, and hypertension.

If you believe health is a human right, DONATE to our cause:
$ 30 will allow a grandmother to reach and use slum latrines on her own, giving back to her some independence and dignity.
$ 50 will enable a family breadwinner to go back to work and to prevent the family from falling into poverty.
$ 150 will help a paralysed stroke patient to walk and talk again.

Even a small donation will make a world of difference. Please help us reach our goal.  All money collected will go directly to the clinics in Mumbai.  Anne is covering all of her own expenses related to airfare, travel, accommodations.