Experiences of healing and health days I watched BBC2's programme 'Alternative Medicine: The Evidence' with fascination because it featured a heart surgery operation in China using acupuncture instead of a general anaesthetic. In the programme leading scientists from University College London, Southampton University and the University of York, confirmed something that I have realised from my own experience of acupuncture with Mojdeh Danesh: that acupuncture actually works to provide pain relief. I have recommended to my friends, family and colleagues for years, that acupuncture should be taken seriously and that they should make an appointment with Mojdeh for a consultation to help with their ailments and illnesses where other forms of pain control have been of limited help. Mojdeh's acupuncture treatments worked for me in sorting out my circulation problems, and I have been fit and healthy for many years, a fact that I attribute to Mojdeh's advice and acupuncture treatments. My family and friends comment on how well and young I look for my age and I always tell them it is down to acupuncture and following Mojdeh's advice through her Sunday Health Day workshops, based on the principles of the five elements, which are at the root of five element acupuncture. I make sure that I book for a treatment at the change of each season (there are five!) to maintain my health in top condition and I heartily recommend Mojdeh's acupuncture treatments for overall health and well being. My experience is that Mojdeh's treatments are highly professional, full of care and they work. Michael Draper Law Lecturer I first visited Vaikuntha about 5 months ago. My GP had diagnosed Hypothyroidism and started me on thyroxin. I was referred to a specialist who I eventually saw some months later. He was very kind and keen on his subject and agreed with my GP's diagnosis. My auto immune system was attacking my thyroid resulting in the hypothyroidism. He was unable to tell me why this was happening but advised me that it was easy to treat. The thyroxin I was taking was not the full dose and he foresaw that I would need to increase it some time in the future. The message was that I would be taking these drugs for the rest of my life. This was quite a shock: I have always enjoyed fairly good health and rarely take medication, believing that if my body is unwell there are underlying causes, not necessarily physical. I resolved to get other help and decided on acupuncture. As I had not lived in the Cotswolds for long I did not know many people so looked in the yellow pages. The advert for Vaikuntha caught my eye so I phoned them. A woman's voice answered, her name was Malene. She advised me that Mojdeh could see me quite soon, this was encouraging. In fact the whole phone call was positive and I was also asked to stay to lunch on the day of my appointment. When I put the phone down I felt reassured and knew I had made the right choice in contacting Vaikuntha. Walking into Vaikuntha for the first time was also reassuring; not just because of the welcome I received but because the house itself was beautiful and the atmosphere calm and tranquil. As this was my first visit I was due to see Mojdeh Danesh, for a half hour session before the acupuncture treatment. I told Mojdeh the story of my diagnosis and asked if acupuncture could help. Her response was positive, but more than this, in the comparatively short time that we had spoken, I felt the skill and compassion with which she heard and responded to my story. She explained that the treatment involved opening energetic gateways by the placement of the needle. The needle would be taken out straight away but I might continue to feel it in place. I do often feel the sensation of the needle after Mojdeh has withdrawn it and sometimes, usually when I am relaxing before sleep, I can feel it again. The first session left me feeling energised and relaxed. Caroline had also massaged my legs to take any toxins away and sometimes will also massage my back for the same reason. This is a very full treatment and I need time to adjust before going out again. As I am always invited to stay as long as I need to, I can relax in the comfort of this environment: Enjoying the beautiful garden or sitting in front of a log fire. Shortly after my first treatment I was advised of a diet that would help me. I was overweight and also suffering with menopause symptoms. These were no joke and often woke me at night with palpitations and sweats. Following my treatment and within a week of my starting this diet the menopause symptoms had reduced and soon after had gone altogether. This made a huge difference to me, I was able to sleep well and already felt better. I continued going weekly for treatment and also started yoga classes with Claire another Vaikuntha student. I have suffered with aching in some joints for a few years and subscribed to the view that this was indicative of rigidity in my nature. Yoga helped me see how I hold my body and the male/female imbalances that I consciously work with are also apparent. I enjoy the gentle stretches that challenge my body to relax into the movement and I continue to feel much benefit from the weekly sessions. I have also had a course of Q2 treatment which takes toxins out of the body and provides bio-energy for the body which helps the healing process. This treatment also has a beneficial effect and complements the acupuncture and massage. About a month ago I asked Malene to do my astrological chart. I had some knowledge of this but wanted a greater understanding of how the planets were affecting me. This is teaching me a lot and I continue to return to my charts to confirm aspects of it that I had not fully appreciated. Malene has a straightforward way of explaining this which is both supportive and challenging; helping me to work with the more dynamic influences in my chart. Her humour and insights have been much appreciated. Most weekends I also go to the Sunday workshops in which we meditate and Mojdeh gives talks. It would be difficult to describe the learning and healing that takes place during these workshops as it takes place on many levels. However I experienced a healing there which was pretty amazing. About 3 years ago I had been in a very stressful job and suffered with Labarynthitis. My GP said that this was a virus which was affecting my inner ear. My balance had gone and I was very sick whenever I tried to move. Rest was the main treatment and I was off work for 2 weeks. My Doctor also told me that it might reoccur. It did 3 years later. I was very surprised to wake up on the morning following my treatment to find that my balance was again becoming unsteady. I phoned Vaikuntha as I was going to the Sunday workshop. Mojdeh advised that I go to the workshop, someone would pick me up and that my treatment would continue during the day. She felt that this illness was coming out and that I was healing. I felt the truth of this and found that over the course of the day my dizziness and unsteadiness gradually improved. I found the afternoon meditation particularly powerful and that night I slept really well. The next day I found that I had no more symptoms at all. Within 24 hours I was free of an illness which had previously caused me to be completely still in bed for a week and for which I had to take 2 weeks complete rest before returning to work. I have now been receiving healing from Mojdeh for six months; it has always been a positive experience; even though sometimes I laugh and sometimes I cry. I am continuing to go for treatment and know that there is still work to be done. The challenges of coming to terms with how I have created this illness in my body are important to my future health; the learning crucial to my personal development and growth. I do not expect instant results, after all it has taken me a long time to develop the hypothyroidism, but I do feel well and am no longer suffering with the tiredness that resulted from the lack of thyroxin. I stopped taking the medication a few months ago, however this drew a negative response from my GP, who sadly was unwilling to support this decision. I would like a dialogue about my health choices between all involved and so I am at present looking for a GP who is more sympathetic to complementary therapies. The treatments that Mojdeh has recommended and carried out have proved to be beneficial and very positive. But more than this, the treatments that Mojdeh and others at Vaikuntha have offered are all given with the greatest of care and love. Jacqueline Smith.