Why did you become an acupuncturist?
After months of back pain with no relief from various Western treatments, I saw a flier from a nearby acupuncture clinic. I decided to give it a try, hoping for relief from my pain, and got so much more out of it. The experience transformed my life and I became so fascinated with the process that I enrolled in acupuncture college—at the age of 60!—to find out more. This has become my passion. I am thrilled to be able to introduce new patients to the healing powers of Chinese medicine.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
For me, acupuncture is about nurturing the community. I treat my patients in a peaceful group setting, and I welcome all who come to my door. My sliding scale fees allow me to treat a wide variety of people who normally would not have expected to be able to afford acupuncture. By removing the barrier of cost, I am able to provide healing for any who desire it.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
It makes my heart happy to look out into my clinic and see a room full of peaceful, sleeping people! Patients are so appreciative, and often pleasantly surprised at acupuncture’s effectiveness. My work inspires me to be a better person, and I am so grateful to be able to help others.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
There are two major misconceptions that I hear. The first is that it hurts. There might be a sense of heaviness or mild achiness around the needles, but it rarely causes pain. In truth, most people sleep right through a treatment! The second misconception is that acupuncture is only affordable for people with high-paying jobs, or a lot of disposable income. But acupuncture does not need to be expensive in order to be effective. The community acupuncture model makes acupuncture accessible to the entire community.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
I integrate the concepts and practices of Chinese medicine into my everyday life. I receive regular acupuncture treatments and massage therapy. I also meditate and practice qigong.

Learn more and get in touch
desertwindsacupuncture.com
info@desertwindsacupuncture.com
(505) 554-1381
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Visit
6911 Taylor Ranch Drive, NW C-8, Albuquerque, NM 87120

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Why did you become an acupuncturist?
I was only able to afford acupuncture because I found Alberta Street Acupuncture in Portland, OR, which offered sliding scale services. They helped me with a number of chronic health conditions in a way that pharmaceutical drugs couldn’t. I also worked as a counselor at a detox program where NADA ear acupuncture was used on a daily basis for recovering alcoholics and heroin addicts—many with severe psychiatric conditions, some who lived on the streets. I saw how it helped them calm down, get through detox and stay engaged with recovery. These experiences radically transformed how I understood community health. I wanted to learn how to make acupuncture more accessible to everyday people, and how to facilitate the growth of community-based clinics.

What distinguishes you from other acupuncturists?
For me acupuncture is a community-building tool. Understood as such, this puts less emphasis on myself or my charisma. I’m not a guru, not going to pose as the be all and end all of your medical care. My outreach and my ability to facilitate changes in people is highly limited if I’m the only one providing acupuncture within a given community. Anything that is dependent solely on me will not be sustainable. My role therefore is not only to provide treatments, but also to get local health workers trained, and to help others establish clinics that are community-based.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
In a community clinic, it’s exciting to see diverse people of different backgrounds share a space. Several of my colleagues have started up clinics within Catholic churches, open to the public regardless of creed, for people who’ve never had access to acupuncture nor would have ever sought out or been able to afford an acupuncturist. I recently visited one of these churches, where a group of Mormons in the neighborhood started coming, and subsequently invited them to come offer a clinic in the nearby Mormon temple. Stories like this remind me that acupuncture isn’t just for well off liberals and new age folks. Acupuncture is, as has been traditionally in China, for the poor and the rich, the worker and the unemployed, the conservative and the liberal, the atheist as well as the born-again Christian. Acupuncture is for everyone. I love seeing this happen.

What is the biggest misconception you hear about acupuncture?
That acupuncture is only for people who have disposable income or who are liberal. There’s a growing number of community acupuncture and public health clinics that offer affordable services. Some addictions and mental health programs offer ear acupuncture as an adjunct to standard treatment, many of which operate in very conservative and rural areas of the U.S. These types of clinics will continue to make acupuncture accessible to people who would probably never seek out an acupuncturist. If you can’t afford any of the acupuncturists in your town, ask them to offer affordable sliding scale or community acupuncture treatments. They need to hear from you.

How do you stay healthy in your own life?
Being involved in my community while always finding time and space for solitude and nature. Have to pray. Every day.

Learn more and get in touch
crossroadsacupuncture.com
crossroadscommunityacupuncture@gmail.com
(575) 312-6569
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Visit
Greenworks Community Enterprise Center: 125 N. Main St., Las Cruces, NM 88001

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