My Approach
Many people who come to see me are struggling with an illness or an injury that has not responded fully to conventional treatments. Most have never seen an acupuncturist before and are unsure what to expect. Part of my goal as a practitioner is to help make acupuncture more of a mainstream treatment by educating my clients. While I respect the long history of acupuncture, I also embrace evidence-based medicine. The growing acceptance of acupuncture in the United States is based in large part on the numerous research studies that demonstrate its efficacy.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are part of a medical tradition based on the systematic review of a patient’s signs and symptoms and his or her subsequent response to treatment. This tradition has evolved and been refined on innumerable patients over the last three thousand years. Although its roots are ancient, its practice today is very modern. Click here to learn more about acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.
My Treatment Philosophy
The great strength of traditional Chinese medicine is its focus on wellness. My role as a practitioner is to address your health concerns with the goal of increasing your quality of life. I work to empower clients to live healthier lives so that in the long run they don’t need to rely on acupuncture or herbs.
Becoming a Certified Acupuncturist
To become an acupuncturist I completed a four year Masters degree program in acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at Northwestern Health Sciences University. I am board certified in acupuncture by the National Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and am a licensed acupuncturist in the state of Wisconsin. I received my B.A. with honors from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. I have a special interest in the use of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine in the areas of fertility, oncology and pain management. Most of my continuing education has focused on these areas. I am also a member of the Society for Acupuncture Research and the Society for Integrative Oncology.
Many people ask me why I became an acupuncturist. By lucky accident I took a class on acupressure while at Madison. The teacher, Dr. Xiping Zhou, was a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine. He talked to us about the balance and interplay of yin and yang, the functions of qi in the body, and our deep connection to the natural world around us. I realized I had found a healing tradition that resonated with my values, beliefs and the way I saw the world. Although it was miles away from the career I had imagined for myself, I knew I had found the right path. I am grateful everyday for that chance meeting with Dr. Zhou.