Hebron Trip
In November 2011, I went to Hebron, Palestine to set up a free acupuncture clinic for 2 weeks. I volunteered through a charity, World Medicine, which is a non-religious and non-political organisation that sets up free acupuncture clinics all over the world in disadvantaged areas. The trip was a great success, I treated anywhere from 25-45 people a day, with 4-6 people in a room at a time, most of them were treated sitting up in chairs. People came for treatment everyday or every other day. Apart from very chronic conditions, which mostly had small but significant improvements, most people got 75-100% better, which was incredible to see. They responded so well to the acupuncture, and we had many a laugh at my terrible attempts at speaking Arabic!
I treated a six month old baby who had dislocated both of her hips in the process of being born. The doctors were trying everything they could but without much success. The parents had lost hope that she would ever get better. I used 3 points both sides, one in her hip and two further down her leg that are on the same meridian, and very good for hip problems. She didn’t cry and didn’t seem to be at all bothered by the acupuncture. After 3 sessions, she was moving better, her hips weren’t clicking anywhere near as much and her parents were over the moon, they felt that there had been a significant difference.
A lady who was confined to a wheelchair came in for 8 sessions. She could stand up, but not for long, she felt very weak and her legs felt absolutely freezing and very heavy. She also felt very tired. After the acupuncture she felt more energetic and positive, she was able to stand for much longer periods of time, her legs felt stronger and lighter and they were much warmer.
A man who had had frozen shoulder in both his shoulders came in for 2 sessions. He could barely raise his arms and was in a lot of pain. After the acupuncture he could lift both arms and move them freely.
For me to be able to do this, I had to raise £1500 to cover the costs of the flights, clinic space, translators, a receptionist and needles. I gave my time for free. If you would like to sponsor this kind of trip, I am going to go again either in 2012 (hopefully!) or in 2013 when I have finished my masters in Chinese herbal medicine.
The Situation in Hebron
Hebron is the largest city in the occupied West Bank, home to 160,000 Palestinians. It is also home to one of the first Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the only one right in the heart of a Palestinian city. Once a bustling hub of activity, the city centre now resembles a ghost town.
A colony of 600 Israeli settlers lives in the city centre, requiring a garrison of more than 2,000 Israeli soldiers to defend them.
The cultural and economic life of the town is being suffocated. It’s a war between neighbours where the main goals are to conquer one more metre of the city, keep the enemy at bay, and simply stand one’s ground.
Hebron has been divided in two; H1 a Palestinian controlled section & H2 an Israeli controlled
- The rights of the settlers to live in the city is not recognized by international law and their behavior is condemned by many
- In H2 Palestinian populations’ movements are heavily restricted
- As a result of these restrictions and over a decade of closures and segregation half the shops in H2 have gone out of business and 75% of Palestinians live below the poverty line.
- "Violence, arbitrary house searches, seizure of houses, harassment, detaining passers-by, and humiliating treatment have become part of daily reality for Palestinians”
- The UN counted more than 100 checkpoints in the Israeli controlled sector of the city in 2005
- Since September 2000, more than 1000 Israelis and 6000 Palestinians have been killed
For more information about Hebron and how we can help please see:
