Iam an East Asian Medicine clinician, specializing in classical Chinese and Japanese acupuncture, acupressure, Chinese herbalism, gentle structural bodywork, and nutritional guidance. I am board certified by the National Certification Commission on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and licensed through the Oregon Medical Board.
All aspects of a person contribute to health and vibrancy. I chose to study classical East Asian medicine because it assumes all dimensions of a person are crucial to overall health. As much as we are led to believe the physical and emotional are unrelated to one another, within our bodies they are not. The physical nature of health is the basis of conventional medicine, but the emotional and somatic components are often overlooked or disregarded. In 2010, I delved more deeply into the emotional roots of disease in China with a renowned and remarkably effective peasant doctor, learning to treat all manner of illnesses, from mild to severe, by examining the emotional roots and causes of physical disease.
I organized and participated in the Healing Food Is Medicine series in 2011-12, a year-long course on seasonal health, nutrition and cooking, as I believe nutrition is an essential component for vibrant health.
I practice the ancient art of medical facial diagnosis. This highly specific diagnostic tool is one I continuously make use of, as it can greatly assist in diagnosing what is happening inside the body without the need for invasive or damaging procedures. I will be publishing my research in an effort to make this invaluable skill accessible to all.
East Asian medicine is very broad and deep, and entails a lifelong commitment to study. Basic schooling and credentials, as in western medicine, are the first steps, but continued study and learning are essential for any serious practitioner. As such, I am constantly integrating and refining new training, modalities, and ideas into my practice and life.
The ancients believed that a well rounded life informs a good practice of medicine. Outside of my practice, I find joy in long hikes, keeping up with the gardening, cooking and preserving food, translating classical Chinese medical texts, practicing yoga and qi gong, knitting, and writing haiku.
