67. Dr. Jun Xu’s calling from West Africa
Dr. Jun Xu went to Leprosy village in 2013, 2014 and 2016, soon he will go to the leprosy village on March 31, 2017.
In 2013, there was no a single room being used for treatment in the leprosy village, Dr. Xu and his team had to use a tent. The temperature was around 125 Fahrenheit degrees.
The leprosy patients were waiting for their turn to be attended. Dr. Jun Xu saw about 200 patients a day.
Typical leprosy patient:
Early Stages
Spots of hypopigmented skin- discolored spots which develop on the skin
Anaesthesia(loss of sensation) in hypthese opigmented spots can occur as well as hair loss
“Skin lesions that do not heal within several weeks of and injury are a typical sign of leprosy.” (Sehgal 24)Progression of disease
“Enlarged peripheral nerves, usually near joints, such as the wrist, elbow and knees.”(Sehgal 24)
Nerves in the body can be affected causing numbess and muscle paralysis
Claw hand- the curling of the fingers and thumb caused by muscle paralysis
Blinking reflex lost due to leprosy’s affect on one’s facial nerves; loss of blinking reflex can eventually lead to dryness, ulceration, and blindness
“Bacilli entering the mucous lining of the nose can lead to internal damage and scarring that, in time, causes the nose to collapse.”(Sehgal 27)
“Muscles get weaker, resulting in signs such as foot drop (the toe drags when the foot is lifted to take a step)”(Sehgal 27)
Long-term Effects
“If left untreated, leprosy can cause deformity, crippling, and blindness. Because the bacteria attack nerve ending, the terminal body parts (hands and feet) lose all sensations and cannot feel heat, touch, or pain, and can be easily injured…. Left unattended, these wounds can then get further infected and cause tissue damage.” (Sehgal 27)
As a result to the tissue damage, “fingers and toes can become shortened, as the cartilage is absorbed into the body…Contrary to popular belief, the disease does not cause body parts to ‘fall off’.” (Sehgal 27)
Every year, Dr. Jun Xu and his team bring around $300,000 worth of medicine donated from his team members and Americares in Stamford, CT to treat the leprosy and other patients in Senegal and Guinea Bissau. http://www.americares.org/, in 2017, his team also received medicine donation from Direct Relief in California, https://www.directrelief.org/.
Dr. Jun Xu and his team finally established a clinic in the leprosy village, one building for the clinic, and another building for the living of doctors and nurses.
Leprosy village people were celebrating the opening of the clinic.
There are 8 wards, which could hospitalize the patients if it is medically necessary.
Dr. Jun Xu’s team usually stay in Senegal for 10 to 14 days, these are the foods his team brought from US in order to keep them health and safe. They do not dare to eat street food.
The above are the coolants contained food Dr. Jun Xu’s team brought from US
Dr. Jun Xu and his team from US in 2006.
If you are interested in joining Dr. Jun Xu’s team or donating to his work in Senegal, please address your check payable to AGWV, and send to
Jun Xu, MD, 1171 E Putnam Avenue, Riverside, CT 06878, USA.
Dr. Xu promises that all your donation 100% will go to Senegal and his team will nerve use a penny from your donation. You will receive the tax deductible receipt. Any amount is a great help for Africa patients.
For more info, please visit our websites at
http://www.drxuacupuncture.co/ and http://www.africacriesout.org/
Case Discussions
- 69. Occipital Headache, How Can Acupuncture Treat It?
- 68. An Ancient "New Way" to use Acupuncture to treat Cervical Dystonia
- 67. Dr. Jun Xu's calling from West Africa
- 66. Why did Tiger Woods receive PRP treatment for his knee and ankle pain?
- 65. Eczema and Acupuncture Treatment
- 64. Acupuncture and Infertility Case Discussion
- 63. Dr Jun Xu was featured on Greenwich Time on August 26, 2015
- 61. My Medical Trip to West Africa in April, 2014
- 59. Frozen Shoulder and Acupuncture Treatment
- 57. Headaches and Acupuncture Treatment
- 54. Acupuncture and Peripheral Polyneuropathy
- 52. Acupuncture and Rheumatoid Arthritis
- 50. Acupuncture and Facial Rejuvenation
- 49. Acupuncture and Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome
- 48. Acupuncture and Multiple Sclerosis
- 47. Acupuncture and Tinnitus
- 46. Acupuncture and Fibromyalgia
- 44. Acupuncture and Irritable Bowel Syndrome-IBS
- 43. Acupuncture and Insomnia
- 42. Acupuncture and Postchemotherapy Syndrome
- 41. Acupuncture and Bell's Palsy
- 40. Acupuncture and Dupuytren’s Contracture
- 39. Acupuncture and Stroke
- 38. Acupuncture and Shoulder Arthritis
- 37. Acupuncture and Intorable Headache
- 36. Acupuncture and Wrist Pain After Bike Riding-Ulnar Nerve Impingement
- 35. Acupuncture and Hip Pain and Trachanteric Bursitis
- 34. Acupuncture and Heel and Foot Pain
- 33. Acupuncture and Lateral Ankle Sprain
- 32. Acupuncture and Archilles Tendon Injury
- 31. Acupuncture and Shin Splint
- 30. Dr. Xu's Book Signing, Acupuncture and Burning sensation at right lateral thigh
- 27. Acupuncture and Hip Pain and Osteoarthritis
- 26. Acupuncture and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- 25. Acupuncture and Low Back Pain-Spine Compression Fracture-Collapse of the spine bone
- 24. Acupuncture and Low back pain again after back surgery
- 23. Acupuncture and Chronic Low Back Pain-Herniated Disks and Pinch Nerves
- 22. Acupuncture and Acute Low Back Pain - Low Back Sprain
- 21. Acupuncture and Trigger Finger-Dont' Text Message Too Much
- 20. Acupuncture and Wrist Pain
- 19. Acupuncture and Elbow Pain
- 18. Acupuncture and Rotator Cuff Tear-Shoulder Pain 2
- 17. Acupuncture and Frozen Shoulder-Shoulder Pain 1
- 16. Acupuncture and Cervical Spondylosis-Neck Pain
- 15. Acupuncture and Severe Neck Pain and Hernic Disc
- 14: Acupuncture and Trigeminal Neuralgia
- 13: Acupuncture and Occipital Neuralgia
- 12: Acupuncture and Cervical Dystonia
- 11: Acupuncture and Drug Abuse
- 9: Acupuncture and Smoking
- 8: Acupuncture and Allergy and Sinusitis
- 7: Acupuncture and Asthma
- 6: Acupuncture and Bronchitis
- 4: Acupuncture and Osteoporosis
- 3: Acupuncture and Weight Control
- 2: Acupuncture and Intolerable Headache
- 1: Acupuncture and Unexplained Infertility