Session 1

SHARNAM CLINIC is where all the healing takes place

February 23, 2011 -- session 1

I show up at six pm. the place isn't too packed, which is good. They direct me to the back corner of the reception area, where there is a device that has two steel plates, about 5 inches in diameter and half an inch thick. It looks like a makeshift electronic drum kit, raised on a white plywood structure. It's plugged in and starts to vibrate. I am to put my palms on it for 5 minutes.

My guess is that it is electrical stimulation, gentle at that. But I don't ask.

After 5 minutes, I am told to remove my shoes and place my feet on a similar device that is stationed on the floor. Yup, you guessed it, for five minutes.

At the end of this, I am feeling charged up. Electrified. I'm sizzling with expectation.

Next, I lie on a bench and they strap my knee with electromagnets. This feels tight on my knee, really tight. Like they are somehow pressing down on the knee, even though the magnets are small disks of three inches or less in diameter. This time, it lasts 10 minutes.

Then the fun part. Where the real magic happens. Dr. Chaudhary inserts 4 needles, them acupuncture needles, into my legs. Two needles in each leg. They don't hurt much at all going in. Both legs have needles placed symmetrically to each other. I keep the needles in for 30 minutes. During this session, an assistant holds two devices that look like electric razors, except that they have glowing, pulsing red heads where the razors should be. These, I'm told (because I do ask) are lasers. Yes, lasers!

Little did you know.

After the needles are removed, I'm shown some leg strengthening exercises, which I do without much incident. And then I go home.

I get home exhausted, with a severe headache. I've been so tense all day about getting this procedure started, I guess it's caught up with me. I pretty much crash out as soon as I can.

Sleep, the greatest healer of them all.