Holistic Education
I obtained a Master’s Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at the World Medicine Institute (WMI) in Honolulu Hawaii. I completed a four year post graduate program of study in both Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. I was very fortunate to attend WMI, one of the first accredited acupuncture schools in the country, and one of the very few that still teaches in accordance with the medicine’s Taoist roots.
I took my education further and apprenticed directly under Taoist Master Chang Yi Hsiang, Ph.D. In Dr. Changs clinic I assisted in treating many difficult cases involving but not limited to fertility, pediatrics, chronic immunology disorders, physical and emotional trauma, and oncology.
After graduating I operated the Acupuncture Clinic on two different cruise ships, treating more than a thousand clients. The sheer number of patients I saw gave me the opportunity to treat lots and lots of common conditions like back and shoulder pain as well as a wide variety of unique and complex ailments.
My mission is to bring health and wellbeing to this planet, one person at a time. My experience with patients, both in private practice and on the cruise ships, has confirmed my deep trust in Chinese medicine. There is nothing better than getting to assist in bringing health and happiness into the body, mind and spirit.
Exercise is another vital pathway to physical, mental, and spiritual health. Taoist practices recognized the importance of movement, breath, and meditation for the health of the organs and other internal systems/processes. I am a certified Yoga teacher, with training in Tantric Yoga. I also carry on the traditional teaching of Taoist Qi Gong.
Certifications
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L.Ac- Licensed Acupuncturist State of Hawai'i. Number 1222
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MSOM- Master of Science in Oriental Medicine- World Medicine Institute
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CNT (CCAOM)® - Certified Clean Needle Technique
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Qi Gong Instructor- World Medicine Institute
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Reiki Master and Teacher Trainer- Equipose Holistic Health
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Kaula Tantra Yoga Teacher- Durga's Tiger School
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Bachelors of Science- Biology- Warren Wilson College
My Story
Since I was a small child I knew I wanted to do something that could make the planet a better place. I always loved nature, so in my undergraduate years I studied Biology and dreamed of being a Conservation Biologist. However, traveling in South America after college I suffered from an injury to my psoas muscle that left me in a great deal of chronic pain for years. The injury was unusual, and Western doctors didn’t recognize it. The doctors I saw made me feel like I was making it all up, or that the pain was “all in my head”. They offered me antibiotics and pain medications and sent me away.
I felt scared and misunderstood, but I knew there had to be something else out there that could help me. I researched my symptoms online, and everything I read pointed me towards Acupuncture. I knew nothing about Acupuncture, but at that point I would have tried anything. The results were amazing! After one session I could feel the positive changes in my body and I knew I was on the path to recovery. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs completely healed my injury and improved my overall health in ways I never imagined possible.
This experience taught me a few very valuable lessons. It taught me true compassion and empathy for those living with pain. I learned that while Western Medicine is great at dealing with emergencies, it lacks solutions for people with chronic conditions. And I realized that in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine I had found a way to create the positive change I’d always wished for.