Sticking It to AIDS

trikinetic.ca

by Marlane Press

Angela Foran - Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine Trikinetic Massage Therapy and Acupuncture

photo by Jaime Kowal

The pairing of her two, often competing, passions—travel and acupuncture—are what initially drew Angela Foran to rural Africa. There, in Uganda, she’s trained local health care workers to treat people infected with HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis using acupuncture.

Two trips later, the Vancouver-based traditional Chinese medicine practitioner says what will keep her returning to Africa is her Ugandan trainees’ and patients’ embracement of foreign medicine and techniques.

“I was amazed at the openness toward trying such a foreign treatment as acupuncture. There exists a certain amount of hesitation in Africa with respect to Western medicine, but Chinese medicine is proving to be a good bridge between traditional [African] medicine and Western medicine,” says the dimpled Eastside vegetarian.

Parenthetically, Angela fundraises for the PanAfrican Acupuncture Project, a Boston-based organization that brings acupuncture to Africans who are struggling with HIV/AIDS.

If that weren’t enough, in addition to her private practice at Trikinetic Massage Therapy and her part-time acupuncture practice at the B.C. Compassion Club Society, a Commercial Drive operation that dispenses medicinal marijuana, Angela also finds time to volunteer at the Dr. Peter Centre, an AIDS care facility affiliated with St. Paul’s Hospital.

Driven by a desire to continue assisting people afflicted with HIV, Angela envisions herself venturing to South Africa in the next two years to fulfill her goal of establishing her own clinic.

“I enjoy treating HIV and more emotional-based conditions because they tend to be more complicated. When someone comes back to me and says they haven’t had pain since my last treatment, it’s that much more rewarding.”

—Marlane Press