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Have you ever visited the home of a true-blue, dyed-in-the-wool Elvis Presley fan? I remember doing so once as a child. The house was like a museum. Everywhere I looked: posters, figurines, magazines, you name it, all of it reflecting an obsession with the Tupelo-born singer. I thought it was all so beautiful and marvelous. I thought Elvis was dreamy and I loved the 50’s vibe of the entire space.
When I lived in Madrid the first time, I used to go to a rockabilly club, King Creole, that was around the corner from my apartment. Guys who dressed just like him hung out there. Some of my first Spanish spoken to a stranger in Madrid was making a request to the DJ there. I asked him to play “Blue Suede Shoes,” stumbling just a bit because back then my Spanish came and went according to things like feeling timid or being at a loss for words. I didn’t have to translate the song title though. The DJ knew what I meant. He later danced with me and became a very dear friend. If I look for it, I’ll bet I still have a post card from King Creole that I saved as a memento. I loved that retro palace and all the Elvis-adjacent rockabilly guys I hung out with there. Listening to the guys speak on this youtube video gives me goosebumps because their accents reverberate in my memories of truly learning to speak fluent Spanish.
Elvis means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. That he may have had EDS means something too.
I don’t know what I think about the theory that Elvis had EDS, especially now that his daughter, Lisa Marie, has died of a cardiac arrest so recently. 1 There is a lot to think, if you ponder it. According to Dr. Tennant, a pain specialist who wrote a book on the subject of his health challenges, Elvis did not die of a drug overdose. EDS was a factor in his demise, Tennant writes in The Strange Medical Saga of Elvis Presley. EDS also made it possible for Elvis to dance the way he did, according to Tennant.
Hypermobility is on my mind for a number of reasons lately, and one big reason is that I wrote a book for other practitioners of Chinese medicine that will be published in September 2023. Yes! Over the past few years, a number of practitioners from different countries, including Spain, France, England, Belgium, and Canada (not to mention states from one side of the USA to the other) have emailed to ask me about treating patients with EDS. I finally decided to search for a publisher and write a book on the subject. Stay tuned, because I’ll be writing more about this in months to come. (Part of the reason I have been so quiet on this blog is because my writing energy has all gone to the book. But that is another blog post in and of itself, so I will return to this topic later.)
~~~ The update ~~~
~~~ Yes, my book is finally here! ~~~
For now, I am thinking about Elvis and his daughter—poor woman, may she rest in peace—and how it is for people with this condition who slip through the cracks. What might have been different for Elvis if he had gotten the healthcare support he needed?
The story of Elvis is worth pondering. Today, if we think about celebrities with EDS, it is usually women who come to mind. Halsey. Sia. The Sports Illustrated model Gigi Robinson. There seems to be a dearth of men with EDS in the public eye, though this appearance is contrary to fact. Men do live with EDS. No, EDS cares not for gender or for identity (a perfect example of this can be found in drag queen Yvie Oddly). If nothing else, the story of Elvis Presley is a cautionary tale for greater public awareness. This is not a rare condition.
We all have collagen and connective tissue is the most abundant substance in our bodies. For some, it’s unremarkable. For others, it regulates the contours of our lives. What people need is awareness plus options for healthcare and wellbeing. As a practitioner of Chinese medicine, I am so glad to be a resource for my patients. I hope that my book will help to further raise awareness and offer expanded options for people who truly need them, and by this, I mean the many individuals who live with EDS in all its manifestations. Looking back or looking forward, EDS is with us to stay.
The task, then, is to find ways to thrive, regardless. And this may take some creativity and dedication, but there are resources. For my patients, and for many, Chinese medicine makes a tremendous difference in their quality of life. From acupuncture to manual therapies like tui na (similar to a massage and akin to acupressure), herbal medicine or nutritional therapy, there is so much that a practitioner can do for for a zebra.
Maybe things would have been different for Elvis Presley had he been able to get the right treatment for his needs.
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Paula Bruno, Ph.D., L.Ac., is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, an AOBTA-CP traditional Chinese bodywork therapist, and a wellness educator and health coach. She maintains an active and growing practice at her Austin, TX office. Dr. Bruno is also available for distance appointments for wellness consultation or coaching.
In her first career, she was a Spanish professor.
Dr. Bruno’s specialties as a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner include: • Musculoskeletal health (acute or chronic pain relief; Ehlers Danlos syndrome & hypermobility support) • Digestive support, gut health, and weight loss • Aesthetic treatment, including scar revision • Men’s health • General preventative care and immune support for all persons.
She is the author of Chinese Medicine and the Management of Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome: A Practitioner’s Guide. Dr. Bruno also maintains a second website, holistichealthandheds.com, with resources and information curated specifically for people with hEDS and HSD.
When you are ready to discover what traditional medicine plus a vibrant and engaged approach to holistic health can do for you, either contact Dr. Bruno or book an appointment online.
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Two Hearts Wellness does not accept paid advertising on this website
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Note: Material on this web site site is not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease, illness, or ailment. A TCM practitioner in Texas identifies syndrome patterns but does not diagnose illness. Material on this web site does not purport to identify syndrome patterns.
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- Refer to “Dr. Kohli On Lisa Marie Presley’s Fatal Cardiac Arrest” for discussion of this sad event. ↩︎
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