Why did you become an acupuncturist?
Chinese medicine has always been of interest to me since my early twenties, when I was suffering terrible migraine headaches. As I got older, I had more and more health issues that negatively affected my everyday living experience. Time and again, Western medicine failed me. My acupuncturist helped me heal in ways that Western medicine told me were impossible. After my son was born, which was thought to be impossible, I was convinced that I wanted to be part of this healing for other people.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
My acupuncture experience has offered me a wide range of methods and treatments. I have had the good fortune to study Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese herbs, Five Element acupuncture, Kiiko Matsumoto-style Japanese acupuncture, and tuina massage. I also spent many hours in the service of a local veteran’s hospital that has helped me understand different levels of pain, both emotionally and physically. I am always looking for new things to learn and am always amazed at the way this medicine helps individuals heal on so many levels.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
To me, Chinese medicine offers everyone the gentlest, most effective treatment for many ailments that commonly affect people. Many of these ailments, left untreated by Western medicine, turn into major medical problems in the patient’s future. Knowing that I’m helping people potentially avoid these major problems—without side effects, medications, or major expense—gives me the highest reward.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
The biggest misconception of some is that acupuncture needs to be proven effective. It’s my experience, after seeing people suffering from the side effects of Western medicinal treatments, that it’s Western medicine that should prove itself. Chinese medicine has been treating people for centuries and has had thousands of masters adding to the medicine along the way. Western medicine has been studied for only several hundred years, and offers chemical compounds that treat symptoms of disease while causing many other issues that then get treated with other chemicals. The choice seems clear to me. Chinese medicine can take an already healthy person and make him or her healthier. Whereas, Western medicine takes healthy people, gives them chemical compounds, and makes them unhealthier.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
How do I stay healthy? The same way I tell my patients—I see my acupuncturist regularly, and exercise and eat well.

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goldencabinetacupuncture.com
brenda@goldencabinetacupuncture.com
(484) 707-0468
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8794 Easton Road, Revere, PA 18953

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
My family was saved by acupuncture tremendously—with my lower back, during our daughter’s birth, and my husband with a spinal cord injury. I was thankful and inspired by those who helped us when we were facing challenging times. I felt like I was missing something meaningful and useful to share with the community.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
I only treat one patient at a time. I have two reasons for this: to build rapport and trust with each of my patients, and to allow extra time for other modalities, such as tuina massage or moxa therapy, in addition to acupuncture. These lead to speedy recoveries. Additionally, I specialize in pediatrics. As a mother myself, I can understand parents’ concerns over children’s health issues. I also love treating children. I use non-needle methods for treating them. I also speak Japanese fluently.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
Every time my patients say they are doing/feeling better after a treatment, I feel very warm inside. Witnessing proud happy expressions from little ones when they get needled for the first time brings me big smiles. Getting referrals from my patients also make me really happy. Also, getting to know my patients and laughing together is special.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
There are two: 1. “It hurts!” Acupuncture needles are very thin. Many feel a little prick with a needle is inserted. After that, feelings of warmth, ache, and fuzziness are common. If you feel a sharpness lingering, let your acupuncturist know right away, and he or she can adjust the needles.

2. “I tried it and it didn’t work” Acupuncture is a cumulative therapy for some conditions. As you receive more treatments, greater effectiveness is expected. It’s important to give it faith and find an acupuncturist you can trust.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
Cooking and eating real food, especially miso soup (almost daily). Having relaxation time is important, too. I love reading books/magazines in a nice, warm bath. Watching silly Japanese shows and laughing out loud is relaxing to me as well. Gardening, dancing, singing, and doing tai chi and yoga all keep me happy and healthy. I believe getting massage and acupuncture regularly is crucial to healthy living.

You mentioned using non-needle methods for treating children. Can you explain that?
I needle kids only when they feel okay and give me permission to do so. I show them the needles before hand. The youngest person I’ve needled was three years old. He was so curious after seeing his mom being needled and wanted to give it a try. In addition to the needles, I often use a laser pen (microcurrent) to treat younger kids. These pens don’t cause any sensation, and often kids are fascinated by red light. I also use pediatric tuna massage, moxa heat therapy, shonishin (another non-needle technique), acupressure, and Chinese formulas in tincture form. In general, children respond more quickly than adults to acupuncture treatments.

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eugenefamilyacupuncture.com
eugenefamilyacupuncture@gmail.com
(541) 525-9580
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492 W. Broadway, Eugene, OR 97401

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
I first stumbled upon acupuncture through a book I read in the 70s. It made so much sense to me, that there was a blueprint for maintaining health, rather than just managing disease. Practicing acupressure and reflexology on myself, I learned to recognize the warning signs of injury and illness. It has been a remarkable experience, witnessing the results of acupuncture on myself, and my family and friends. When the opportunity arose to enroll in a training program to become an acupuncturist, I jumped at it. This has been the most interesting and rewarding profession, learning how the body, mind, emotions, and psyche work together to maintain us.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
I believe that wellness is about what kind of relationship we have with ourselves as well as how well we adapt to change. Learning self-care techniques and learning to recognize signs of imbalance in the ways we use our energy—these are as important as the treatments themselves. My role is to create the space where healing happens, and teach that to my clients. In addition to my private practice I also conduct wellness clinics, where groups of people get the tools they need for self- care as well as a mini-treatment.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
Watching the process of healing, and especially when I see the look of curiosity and surprise as acupuncture changes the way clients perceive their body’s responses. People go from “please fix me” to “oh, that’s why this is happening.” Most importantly, the satisfaction I get from teaching people to see the connections between our thoughts and our feelings, and our body. I view acupuncture as a systems review, like having a schematic diagram of how the body is supposed to work when all systems are a go. Except unlike a machine, this process is organic, and acupuncture is both a science and an art.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that it is outside the mainstream. That was true 20 years ago. But over these last 20 years, it’s gained acceptance. It’s offered in hospitals, for example, most often for pain. And that leads to another misconception, which is that it is primarily for pain. Because East Asian medicine focuses on balance, it releases muscles. As the muscles release, pain is alleviated—and digestion, breathing, and mental focus all improve. So pain relief is only the beginning of what acupuncture offers. Like so many modalities, people sometimes come to acupuncture with the attitude that all they need to do is passively receive treatment. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Healing is achieved, no matter what the treatment, when we participate in the process. Without that, real change can’t be maintained.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
I try to synchronize my life with the seasons, and in times of change I make organic chicken soup with lots of roots and veggies (and a small shitake mushroom). It also helps me to look at the night sky regularly, for perspective and inspiration. And when I am having trouble, I beat a drum to remind myself of who I am.

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elenlauperacupuncture.com
elenlauper.lac@gmail.com
(818) 459-4953
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3171 Los Feliz Blvd, Suite 211, Los Angeles, CA 90039

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
While receiving acupuncture treatments for a hip problem during a particularly stressful time, I realized I was much calmer and focused, so I continued treatments even after the hip pain was addressed. I was surprised when allergy season arrived that I had no symptoms. The concept of addressing imbalance before it manifested in symptoms of illness was thrilling. It became clear that my greatest source of imbalance was my work as a CPA. I was more concerned about my secretary’s neck pain or the office manager’s acid reflux than my clients’ millions. Upon telling friends and family that I intended to pursue a degree in Oriental medicine, I received choruses of approbation. This surprised me. But I soon realized that others had been seeing for a long time what it had taken me much longer to realize—that I was meant to share my passion for wellness.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
Who I am distinguishes me. That is what distinguishes every acupuncturist first and foremost. Acupuncture is an energy-based treatment, so it is important to resonate with the energy and personality of your acupuncturist. Listening was an important part of my prior careers as an actress and then as an accountant in wealth management. Many patients have told me I have kind eyes, but what I think they are really saying is that they feel heard and they see it in my eyes. I am trained in several styles of acupuncture: TCM, Traditional Japanese, Kiiko Matsumoto, and Acupuncture Physical Medicine. As a result, I can choose the style or styles best suited to a particular patient or situation. I allow 90 minutes for the first session and 75 minutes for follow-up sessions, so I am never rushed and am always able to fully focus on each patient.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
I enjoy helping others on their path, whether physically, spiritually, or emotionally. Acupuncture is an amazing medicine. I find that I leave my office each day rejuvenated because people are being helped in ways that they never even imagined were possible. How many professions can say that?

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
There are two main misconceptions: one, that it hurts, and two, that it is a magic bullet. Acupuncture needles are incredibly fine and people experience a variety of sensations, but not usually pain. Also, acupuncture is very powerful and people may see amazing changes immediately, especially in acute situations. The effects, however, are cumulative and may require several sessions to see real improvement, particularly with chronic complaints.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
While I view health and wellness as a continuing process, I also like to compare it to a three-legged stool. The three legs are physical, emotional, and spiritual—and external. On the physical side, diet and nutrition, exercise, and sleep all are important. I walk, do yoga and pilates, bicycle, kayak, and ski. I eat whole, local foods, and I try to go to bed at the same time every night. On the emotional and spiritual side, I practice a gratitude meditation, spend time with my husband, friends, and my cats, and I sing with a group that performs for hospice patients. On the external side, I get regular massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic treatments, and I go for an annual Western medical wellness exam (physical). When I do not pay attention to any one of these areas, I feel it, in much the way that a stool is crooked or falls over if one leg is shorter or missing!

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diannerbarclay@me.com
(802) 342-4880

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105 Center Street, Rutland, VT 05701

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
Before becoming an acupuncturist, I worked with horses. I was amazed at how much better my horse felt after his acupuncture treatments, so I decided to try it for myself. As time went on, training and competing became less of a priority, and holistic medicine became a deeper interest. I wanted to learn more. Now, I am very happy to be able to share my knowledge and my skills with my patients. Nothing brings more satisfaction that knowing you’ve helped someone feel better!

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
I am very comfortable talking to people, so they generally feel very comfortable with me. I am happy to work with a patient on any level, whether it’s physical pain, emotional imbalance, or spiritual seeking. I have done much personal exploration into these areas, and my life experience allows me a unique perspective on whatever my patients might bring to the table.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
I love the interaction with the patient. The trust my patients place in me is something I never take for granted. I also love that each day is different, and that I get to witness the positive changes that happen in patients’ lives.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
The biggest misconception I hear is that it “doesn’t work.” This statement is often made by people who only tried one treatment, or one practitioner, or expected acupuncture to “heal” them without taking any responsibility for their health.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
I do my best to eat healthy, get enough sleep, get outside daily (weather permitting!), and stay engaged in activities that I love. Meditation, qigong practice, growing my own food, and walking in the woods with my dog are all activities that contribute greatly to my physical and emotional wellbeing.

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fullheartacupuncture.com
abby@fullheartacupuncture.com
(508) 341-3481
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494 Union Avenue, Framingham, MA 01702

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
For many great reasons, I decided to become an acupuncturist and make these studies a huge part of my life. But the main reason was that I wanted to help people understand their bodies better. Our bodies have amazing abilities, and it important to understand how yours functions to the best of its ability.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
I have studied both Western psychology as well as Chinese medicine. This knowledge gives me a different approach to acupuncture than many other practitioners.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
It is such an amazing feeling to see the process of healing. There is no way to not enjoy your work when you feel that you are constantly helping people.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
I constantly hear that acupuncture only works as a placebo. This truly is a misconception, and many facts and studies can prove that. Acupuncture works on many different levels, including physical, mental, and biological.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
There are many ways to stay healthy, but personally, I have dedicated a lot of time to the study and practice of martial arts. I also enjoy spending time creating exercise programs that focus on health and maintenance for your body.

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oloacupuncture.com

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119 West 23rd Street, New York, New York 10011

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
My path to becoming an acupuncturist began with my own low back injury as a teenager. After years of finding no relief, I happened upon a book on acupressure then had the incredible luck to study with a Master acupressurist from Japan and a 37th generation Chinese medicine doctor. I then began to study Taoist philosophy from a 74th generation Taoist master from whom I learned the foundation of early Chinese science, including natural healing. All this took place while I was completing two apprenticeships in the construction trades, but I left that line of work to become an acupuncturist and open my own practice in 1986. Since then I have been fortunate to have helped thousands of people and support my family by practicing the world’s most advanced and tested form of natural therapy.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
While there have been nearly 20,000 licenses issued for acupuncturists in the U.S., very few of those have been successful in building and maintaining a full-time practice. I have been working full time in the same area of the East San Gabriel Valley for 27 years. I have been successful because I get good results for a high percentage of my patients and am honest about when I may not be able to help someone. My goal is to see that everyone who walks in my door will go out that door benefiting from my services, even if that service is telling them I cannot help them and referring them to someone who can.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
The best part of my work is that I am able to help the vast majority of those who seek my help for virtually any health problem, and I do it with a safe, natural therapy. When the patient is happy, it makes me happy, so I end up being a pretty happy guy.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
The biggest misconception about acupuncture is that it hurts—that is not at all the case, especially when the modern, ultra-thin needles are used. Acupuncture causes the body to produce a natural chemistry that typically puts people (and even animals) into a state of deep relaxation. Many patients tell me they get their best rest during these treatments. Most people cannot believe that laying there with several needles poked in them can be so relaxing!

The next biggest misconception is about how it works. Acupuncture stimulates your body’s own resources, helping your body to do a better job of healing and maintaining itself. That is why acupuncture has the potential to be useful in so many conditions.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
Helping people heal in a calm, relaxed environment greatly helps my own energy. I also learned many years ago that keeping a simple, healthy routine is very important. When we eat, exercise, work, play, rest, and serve others in a set routine, our bodies make the most of our energy. I also take Chinese herbs and give myself regular acupuncture. This has helped me stay healthy enough to have only missed four or five days of work due to illness in the last 27 years!

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laverneacupuncture.com
laverneacupuncture@gmail.com
(909) 599-2347

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3827 Emerald Avenue, La Verne, CA 91750

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
Chinese Medicine has been a significant part of my life since about 2004. I was looking at a somewhat dismal medical diagnosis and felt compelled to try something different from pharmaceuticals. I found an acupuncturist/Chinese herbalist and six months later I found myself without symptoms. I knew that I had found something worth sharing and decided that pursuing my own formal training was one of the best ways I could give back.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
I’ve worked with a wide variety of populations throughout my life and I’ve shared and learned from all of them. The one thing that everyone seems to need, regardless of what they do or how they live their life, is a safe and comfortable healing space where physical, mental and emotional experiences can be expressed and resolved. I do my best to provide that kind of space to everyone who I support with acupuncture.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
There’s nothing better than seeing someone get off the table feeling more like themselves, whether that be without pain, without stress or simply more like their “usual, happy self.” It’s so humbling and rewarding to support others as they begin to see and engage in their own healing and overall wellbeing, and to see those positive effects trickle into all other areas of their life as well.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
While the overall impression of the power behind acupuncture continues to change, many people still believe that it really only can help them with pain, specifically musculoskeletal pain. Acupuncture is really more about promoting life. This can be understood in a literal sense, as it does improve fertility in both men and women, but it also means that instead of dealing with seasonal allergies, emotional turmoil or digestive issues as permanent aspects of your existence, acupuncture can bring about bigger change so that you can bring your focus away from what ails you and back to the life you want to live.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
Staying healthy involves many areas of your life. I maintain a “nutritionally balanced life” by keeping things in some kind of balance. I do my best to eat more vegetables than carbs or meats, incorporate meditation and either tai chi, yoga or qigong into my daily routine to keep me focused and centered, and get outside and play as often as I can. I also set aside time to laugh and feel supported by the people I love as well as time to support them. Life can be crazy, but making sure that you give yourself the best chance to feel balanced will allow you to take part in what really matters to you.

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metta-acupuncture.com
erika.lyn.lac@gmail.com
(503) 662-2815
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2706 SE Lincoln Street, Portland, OR 97214

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
I never went to the doctor growing up. I learned from an early age that with excellent health, we can thrive. I have devoted my life to helping people achieve a life with less pain, stress, or illness and to teaching them a lifestyle of balance. When I discovered acupuncture in college, it felt like instant magnetism. I was drawn to its unique and deep healing abilities.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
Instant and lasting results. Trained in Kiiko Matsumoto’s style of acupuncture, I utilize a feedback system of diagnosis that ensures that I precisely pinpoint the root cause of your discomfort, and that you leave my office feeling dramatically better. I consider myself a health detective—unraveling the story of who you are, offering you physical relief, and providing you tools for transforming how you feel in your life. You provide me your health map, and, like a pilot, I locate the precise coordinates to unlocking your physical and emotional recovery.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
Interacting with my patients and watching miracles happen. People change right in front of my eyes. As they continue their treatments, I watch them feel happier and live healthier. A woman recently came into my office for back pain. She had been in a car accident and after going to her chiropractor for a month he suggested she try acupuncture to help alleviate her pain. Her body movements, personality, and physical findings showed me issues that existed before the accident, and together with her words, I was able to quickly locate her personal prescription for healing. She is now pain free and back to her everyday life. Miracles like this are the fuel that keeps me excited about this medicine.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
1) Acupuncture doesn’t work. 2) Acupuncture uses big needles and hurts. Acupuncture has been around for 5,000 years. It is a highly regarded medical practice that has been referred to by Western medical doctors, chiropractors, psychologists, and other healthcare professionals for over 30 years in America. Many newcomers walk into my office thinking that the size of an acupuncture needle is the same as that of a hypodermic needle, which is the needle used for vaccinations. Acupuncture needles are hair-thin and often cannot be felt when inserted. A fun fact: It takes 15 acupuncture needles to fit in the hole of a hypodermic needle.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
Being an athlete, yogini, and swimmer, I have always been very involved with my physical and nutritional health. I exercise daily for at least an hour, I eat well, I work hard, I make sure to spend time with my friends and family, and I try to receive bodywork once a week. I am energized by my life’s work. It is such a privilege and joy to practice acupuncture every day. I truly feel blessed to have such wonderful patients who fill my day with connection, laughter, and discoveries. Thank you!

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pointoflifeacupuncture.com
paola@pointoflifeacupuncture.com
(415) 823-1796
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166 Geary Street, Suite 1102, San Francisco, CA 94108

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
After I got myself much healthier and stronger through a macrobiotic diet, I was introduced to acupressure and Shiatsu (Ohashi and Masunaga were my teachers). I saw its effectiveness and kept studying deeper into acupuncture and herbal medicine. As I had a very poor diet as a kid, herbs have been very valuable in my adult years.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
I have been a licensed acupuncturist for 28 years. My Japanese style includes a lot of massaging the reflex areas and points to feel if they give the desired release. I look for root causes, so I ask people about traumas, physical or emotional, illnesses, surgeries and accidents, even ones that they think are behind them.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
Every person is so different. Discovering the root of why someone’s life force is blocked, sometimes under layers of other symptoms or prescription drugs, is very rewarding and puts me in touch with this miraculous phenomena: Life. Acupuncture makes people and acupuncturists more openminded and connected to what we really are.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
Needles are hair-like antennas. I call them i.s.o. needles. In hospitals, the same word “needle” is used for injections or inoculations, which cut holes in your body and hurt, and sometimes make you sick too. I have had people who would never allow another needle because they have had too many, but they let me work with acupressure, moxa, cupping or a little hammer for superficial stimulation of the skin. This produces a very relaxing and healing effect.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
I do a five-minute qigong routine (Qi Fusion style) and a few salutations to the sun. Also, sitting meditation, Vipassana, and personal-growth meetings with small groups. Gardening and cooking with my own grown produce and wild vegetables is very fun and relaxing for me.

What conditions do you prefer to treat?
Traumatic brain injuries or neck injuries because they are so insidious. They can cause personality changes and great mental stress. Medical drugs do not seem to enhance quality of life, or the accident is forgotten but the person has bad problems from it—from insomnia to sleeping too much to confusion.

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(805) 229-1321

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225 North Arnaz Street, Meiners Oaks, CA 93023

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