A meeting with Lara Serviolle
I was so fortunate to spend time with Lara while studying herbs, and it’s always a pleasure to catch up and hear her take on all things Nature, Healing and Life…
What initially drew you to the field of alternative health and Chinese medicine?
I've always been drawn to the healing field, even from a young age. Back then, I didn't have a clear direction in terms of what type of healing I wanted to pursue. It wasn't going to be Western medicine; I found other practices too fascinating. Growing up, I saw people in my family, including myself, dealing with various health issues that were not well addressed by Western medicine.
This made me realise that healing went beyond what conventional medicine offered. My mother, who had connections to Japanese culture, introduced me to Shiatsu during my late teenage years. One Shiatsu treatment she arranged had a profound impact on me, even helping with my irregular periods.
This experience further solidified my belief in alternative healing methods. As time went by, my path evolved as I encountered different teachers, read various materials, and explored alternative healing practices. While I can't pinpoint exactly how I ended up choosing Chinese medicine, I knew it would be a departure from Western medicine and encompass a broader range of healing modalities. It felt like a natural progression, aligning with my desire for a more holistic approach to healthcare.
What aspects of Chinese medicine do you find most fascinating and effective?
I still have a lot to learn and grasp, but I strongly believe that understanding the connection between energy and disease is crucial for unraveling its mysteries. It seems that any disease can be traced back to an imbalance in energy. Whether it's the disrupted flow or the lack of equilibrium, energy plays a central role.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there is an effort to make sense of the unfamiliar concepts related to energy. It provides a solid starting point for comprehending these foreign ideas that we haven't grown up with or experienced in our culture. Despite the complexities involved, at the end of the day, it all boils down to energy. TCM equips us with tools like herbs and acupuncture needles to influence and manipulate this energy.
The more we practice Chinese medicine, the more evident it becomes that our main goal is to affect and regulate the energy within others. We aim to restore their health, to make them feel better. It's not just about a single approach; it encompasses a broader perspective. We begin to reconsider our language and definitions when it comes to restoring health. What does optimal health truly entail? It's akin to the balance found in nature, where wild animals coexist with worms and bacteria in harmony. Through energetic practices, Chinese medicine teaches us to see with increasing clarity.
Chinese medicine transforms us as practitioners, not only impacting the lives of our patients but also our own. Each patient we treat becomes a catalyst for personal growth and transformation. It reshapes the way we view life, encompassing more than just people and health. Chinese medicine offers a reciprocal journey, benefiting both the practitioner and the patient.
Chinese medicine calls for openness and transformation, both for the person seeking treatment and the practitioner providing it.
To effectively bring about change, we, as practitioners, need to undergo our own transformation.
You're mentioning about working on ourselves. What steps do you take to ensure that your patients are actively involved in their own healing process?
In Chinese medicine and other alternative healing approaches, it's important to understand that the treatment itself is just a small piece of the puzzle. While it can have a significant impact, depending on the skill and expertise of the practitioner, its effects are limited if the person seeking treatment doesn't make lasting changes. Whether it's due to their constitution or past experiences, individuals may find themselves in a state of discomfort or ill health. Our goal is to empower them to break free from that cycle and not remain trapped in patterns that have contributed to their condition. This is the key to sustaining long-term benefits from any intervention or treatment.
Chinese medicine places great emphasis on lifestyle advice and dietary recommendations, as evidenced by classical texts and historical practices.
These aspects are crucial because what individuals do during the other 24 hours of their day, including sleep, has a far greater impact than a brief treatment session that lasts only minutes. Incorporating nutrient-rich foods, ensuring sufficient quality sleep, and making conscious choices throughout the day are essential for long-lasting change.
While herbal remedies, taken daily, can also contribute to internal transformation, they are enhanced with a parallel shift in dietary and lifestyle habits.
Empowering individuals with their own well-being requires guiding them to recognise the actions and choices that may have contributed to their current health state. By highlighting these factors and offering solutions for improvement, we enable them to take charge of their health.
Nutritional aspects play a significant role in this process, as many patients unknowingly consume seemingly healthy foods that may be compromising their well-being. Identifying and rectifying these dietary concerns can yield remarkable results.
There have been instances where minor dietary adjustments have proven to be game-changers, particularly for patients with bowel issues. By pinpointing specific dietary concerns and suggesting changes, we have witnessed remarkable transformations.
The significance of lifestyle and dietary advice should never be underestimated, as it holds immense power in promoting holistic healing.
By empowering individuals to make informed choices and adopt healthier habits, we help them achieve long-term well-being. This holistic approach extends beyond mere treatment and addresses the underlying factors that contribute to overall health.
In Chinese medicine, we don't treat the disease, we treat the person. Can you talk a bit about how you tailor treatment plans to meet the individual needs of each patient in Chinese medicine?
Tailoring treatment plans in Chinese medicine is not a premeditated process. It is an instinctive act that arises from a connection with the patient. As practitioners, we must enter the treatment room in the right state of mind and create an environment conducive to understanding the patient's needs. Every second of interaction, every word spoken or unspoken, and the nuances of their appearance and thoughts become vital clues.
We must discern what they truly require assistance with and how best to help them. It is an intricate dance of understanding and responding to their unique situation.
I don't approach each session with a fixed agenda. Instead, I am acutely aware that everything communicated during our interaction is essential information for the patient to process, and for us as practitioners to absorb as well. The exchange goes both ways.
I understand that every word spoken will require energy from the patient to digest and integrate into their lives. Implementing any changes discussed demands further energy expenditure. Therefore, I must be mindful of the patient's capacity to process information within the limited time frame we have together.
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment strategy that can be neatly encapsulated in a single session.
As they share their experiences and the treatment unfolds, our approach will naturally evolve. It is through this fluidity and openness that the most effective plan takes shape. The true essence of treating a patient lies in embracing their individuality and tailoring our methods accordingly.
Each patient who seeks our care is distinct, and their ailments are intricately intertwined with their personal journey. Attempting to apply a standardised approach to either the disease or the person would be misguided. We must approach each case with fresh eyes, free from preconceived notions or rigid treatment protocols. It is within the unique context of the individual before us that the true path to healing reveals itself.
Tailoring treatment plans in Chinese medicine is a delicate dance that requires attunement, adaptability, and an unwavering focus on the patient's individual needs. It is an ever-evolving process, guided by our experience and the patient's responses.
By embracing their uniqueness and discarding rigid frameworks, we can navigate the complexities of their condition and pave the way for genuine healing.
If someone was considering trying Chinese medicine for a specific ailment, in a nutshell, is there a piece of advice that you would give them to try and find the right modality for them or the right therapist for them?
Having faith in the therapist and trusting one's intuition play a significant role.
In Western societies that prioritize logical and evidence-based approaches, having faith may initially seem challenging. However, it's important to remember that immediate understanding is not always possible, and that's perfectly okay. Patients should approach Chinese medicine with a willingness to try it and trust their gut feeling about the practitioner. It's unwise to make treatment decisions solely based on what makes immediate sense or what is currently understood.
It takes time and effort to gain a comprehensive understanding of this ancient practice with true understanding deepening through continued exploration and engagement.
Can you share a story about where herbs has really worked out when you've been treating someone?
I had a case of a young woman who suffered from amenorrhoea, a condition characterised by the absence of regular menstrual periods. Her menarche, occurred late in her teenage years, and she had only experienced two periods over the span of several years. These limited cycles were incredibly painful, leading her to rely on contraceptive pills. However, she yearned for a normal cycle without relying on hormonal changes imposed by medication.
In Western medicine, the primary reasoning behind using contraceptive pills is to ensure that the womb does not remain inactive, as it is believed that it shouldn't be allowed to "dry out."
Therefore, when natural menstrual periods cease, being on the pill becomes necessary to maintain some form of blood flow through the uterus. Every time the patient attempted to discontinue the pill and regain a regular cycle, she faced disappointment.
She made several attempts, enduring a year or two without any results, ultimately reverting to the contraceptive pill. The response she received from Western doctors was disheartening—they simply asked her if she wanted to get pregnant, as if that were the sole purpose for seeking an alternative solution. This approach left her feeling frustrated and dismissed.
Refusing to accept this unsatisfactory response, the patient decided to take matters into her own hands. She took a leap of faith and began her journey with a nutritionist, who, in turn, recommended acupuncture. At this point, I became involved in her treatment. Initially, I was skeptical about acupuncture's potential to address a chronic and possibly constitutional issue such as her lack of a natural cycle. My experience as an acupuncturist was still relatively recent, and I felt unsure about how to approach this particular situation.
However, my confidence in herbal remedies, known for their efficacy in gynecological problems and their ability to influence blood and hormone balance, remained steadfast. I drew upon what I had learned from my teachers and the positive outcomes I had witnessed in previous gynecological cases.
As the patient progressed, time passed with no visible changes. One month turned into two, and still, there were no signs of a menstrual cycle. Nevertheless, something remarkable happened - life unfolded in its mysterious way, as if events were destined to occur.
Out of the blue, the patient excitedly messaged me to share the incredible news—she had gotten her period! This breakthrough moment arrived just as she had contemplated returning to the contraceptive pill, almost acting as a silent reassurance from her body that the treatment was indeed working.
The timing was astonishingly close; had she taken the pill a day earlier, the period might not have manifested. Even as a practitioner, I was amazed by the delicate balance of timing and how it played a pivotal role in her journey.
I was genuinely thrilled for her. Her perseverance, despite enduring months without results, played a significant role in her ultimate achievement. It would have been easy for her to give up after nearly a year without periods—she had taken a break, explored nutrition, and finally sought treatment with me.
Are there any guiding principles that you use in your Chinese medicine practice?
In my practice, I firmly believe in the principle of "less is more." This concept, often mentioned in the context of Chinese medicine, holds true, but it can be challenging to put into words. Most early practitioners, including myself, struggle with the tendency to overdo treatments when we are eager to excel but lack experience.
We try everything to ensure positive outcomes. However, with time, confidence, and sometimes by sheer coincidence or circumstances like fatigue, we realize that we can't exhaust ourselves by attempting acupuncture, cupping, and various techniques in a single treatment.
Surprisingly, some of the most remarkable results have come from treatments where I hardly did anything—just a couple of needles. People have come back with referrals, amazed by the effectiveness. It reaffirms the idea that less intervention can yield incredible results.
What is something that you would say to your younger self as you embarked on your therapist training?
It's important to enjoy the long journey of learning, as there is no end to it. No matter how far you progress, there will always be more to explore and branches to consider. So, instead of rushing, slow down and embrace the fact that you will never reach a definitive end. More courses or rapid learning won't replace the valuable time spent in the clinic. It takes time and experience, in my case around ten years, to truly start to understand and integrate what you learn. Trying to speed up the process will only exhaust and detract from the enjoyment. Take it one course at a time, allowing a few years in between to fully absorb and appreciate the knowledge. Remember, learning is continuous, and there will always be more to discover. So, savor the journey and enjoy life.
Thank you Lara! So lovely spending time with you!
Lara Serviolle works as a therapist in Sligo, Ireland. If you would like to work with her you can contact her via:
email sligoacupunctureclinic@gmail.com
website http://www.sligoacupunctureclinic.ie