Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture treatments include the optional use of Fire Cupping, Moxibustion, Gua Sha, Tui Na (massage & acupressure), and Shi Liao Diet Therapy.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient therapeutic practice that involves the precise insertion of very fine, sterile needles into specific points on the body. From the perspective of Chinese medicine, these points are used to influence the flow and balance of Qi within the body and to address patterns of imbalance that may contribute to illness. From a biomedical perspective, acupuncture provides a gentle sensory stimulus to the nervous system and surrounding tissues. Research suggests that this stimulation can influence pain processing, circulation, muscle tone, and the autonomic nervous system, while also supporting the body’s own regulatory and healing processes. Rather than treating the body as a collection of separate parts, acupuncture considers the interconnected relationship between systems. Each treatment is individualized according to the unique pattern of symptoms, constitution, and circumstances of the person, with the goal of supporting the body toward greater balance, regulation, and resilience.
Acupuncture can be used to support a wide range of physical and emotional concerns, from pain and digestive or hormonal imbalances to stress, sleep, and overall well-being. Rather than treating symptoms in isolation, my approach looks at the larger pattern of what may be contributing to imbalance and works with the body’s own capacity to heal.
What to Expect
Your first treatment begins with time to slow down and get to know what is happening in your body. We’ll talk through your health history, current concerns, symptoms, patterns, and what you would like to work on. This initial assessment helps me understand the larger picture and develop a treatment that is specific to you.
You may feel a brief prick as a needle is inserted, followed by sensations such as warmth, tingling, heaviness, or a gentle ache. For many people, the experience becomes deeply relaxing once the needles are in place. I generally use fewer needles, chosen intentionally according to what your body is presenting that day, rather than treating with a large number of points.
The needles are typically left in place for approximately 30 minutes, giving your nervous system and body time to settle into the treatment. During this time, you can rest, breathe, and allow yourself to be supported. I incorporate grounding touch into each treatment, creating space to connect with the body through gentle, intentional contact.
My approach is different from IMS (intramuscular stimulation), or dry needling, which is primarily directed at muscles and trigger points. Acupuncture is a whole-person medicine: I am looking at the relationships between systems and the patterns that may be contributing to your symptoms, rather than focusing only on the area where you are experiencing discomfort.
In my practice I have special interest in digestive and gut health, menstrual and hormonal concerns, sleep and nervous system health, and pain. Regardless of what brings you in, treatment is individualized to you and may draw on acupuncture, Chinese medicine, touch, and other supportive practices.
"To cure disease after it has appeared is like digging a well when one feels thirsty, or forging weapons after the war has already begun."
Chinese Medicine is a preventative system of medicine rooted in Taoist philosophy and natural law. It is not just Acupuncture and Cupping, it is an art and way of life.
Yǎng Shēng Fǎ (養生法), translated as "the art of nourishing life," is an ancient Taoist and Traditional Chinese Medicine concept. It focuses on continuous health cultivation and preventative self-care rather than just treating illness. Also known as the 8 limbs of Chinese Medicine, Yang Sheng Fa consists of practices to support health and well being on a daily basis. The 8 limbs are:
Meditation and Breathing (our state of mind),
Diet and Food
Movement and Exercise
Feng shui
Cosmology and Astrology (Place and Time)
Herbal Medicine
Tui Na, Cupping
Acupuncture
Within the complexities and mysteries of illness and disease, the 8 limbs can act as a guide and a map towards reclaiming health. If we are eating a balanced diet and our condition isn’t improving, we might consider our state of mind and how often we are moving our body each day. As a Chinese Medicine practitioner I utilize this map in my sessions to support and guide treatment. I am passionate about nutrition and movement and incorporate accessible daily practices into my treatment plans.
Integrative Bodywork
For those who prefer a needle-free approach, Integrative Bodywork offers a hands-on way of working with the body through a blend of acupressure, Tui Na massage, myofascial techniques, energy work, and gentle joint mobilization. Treatments are individualized to support mobility, circulation, nervous system regulation, and the release of physical holding patterns.
I offer two treatments:
75-Minute Integrative Bodywork
A full-body, individualized treatment combining multiple hands-on techniques to address areas of tension, restriction, pain, and imbalance.
60-Minute Breast & Rib Massage
A specialized treatment focusing on the breasts, chest, ribs, and surrounding tissues to support mobility, circulation, ease, and connection within this often-overlooked area of the body.
Please see booking page for more detailed treatment descriptions.
My Philosophy and Approach
I see every body as a unique ecosystem of intelligence that has physical and energetic parts. I treat from a whole system perspective, meaning I don’t look at things as singular, I look at them as connected to a whole system. A river that stops flowing is not an isolated event or separate from the forest that stand beside it.
I am an advocate for a less is more approach and I lead with curiosity and listening rather than agenda to fix the issue. I believe the body knows what it needs if given the opportunity to feel into what that is. I believe healing is a co-creation between the practitioner, the intent and attention of the client, and the body intelligence. In my practice I offer an open-hearted presence to support clients into deeper somatic awareness and embodied connection. I am passionate about educating my clients and providing lifestyle support to take out of the treatment room.