How Oriental Medicine Found Me

During my senior year at American University, I was diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, otherwise known as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Over the course of two years I saw three gastroenterologists who all told me “diet has nothing to do with it” and put me on high doses of steroids and other risk-laden immuno-suppressive drugs. My symptoms barely improved, and now I had the unwanted side effects of mood swings, moon face, and a constant cold or infection. I was 22 and at my wit’s end until a co-worker told me his mother was an acupuncturist. Though I had never even heard of it, I thought, “Why not?” and decided to give it a try.

Five months later, I had my life back. Not only were her treatments extremely calming and effective, but this was the first health care practitioner who took more than five minutes to talk to me, let alone 2 hours on the first visit. She advised me extensively on diet and lifestyle – two things in my life that definitely needed shaping up and were big contributing factors to my symptoms. After this course of treatment I went into remission for the first time and even felt well enough to travel and live abroad for a few months.

I continued going back to Oriental Medicine over the next few years for help with my gut issues, stress, and a repetitive strain injury. I ended my brief career writing and editing as a “dot comer,” and tried working in a variety of health care settings including a physical therapy practice, yoga studio, water rehab facility, and women’s health clinic. Then one day I had an epiphany – that I could be part of the solution I had so heavily invested much of my time and curiosity in -- and applied to acupuncture school.

In 2002 I began my studies at the Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin, Texas (AOMA). Throughout my 3 1/2 years of schooling I worked at White Crane Herbal Medicine, the herbal pharmacy and gift shop owned by AOMA and staffed by its students and graduates. This experience greatly enhanced my herbal studies competency, and confidence in working with the herbs. I also learned Zen Shiatsu bodywork and interned in the Shiatsu student clinic, learned Qi Gong from Master Li Jun Feng, and completed over 1,000 clinic training hours. All of these experiences enhanced my learning experience exponentially.

I hold a Master’s in Oriental Medicine (OM) from AOMA, am recognized as a Diplomat in OM by NCCAOM and have been licensed and practicing in Wilmington, North Carolina since April 2006. During this time I have studied extensively with David Euler, head instructor for Kiiko Matsumoto’s Japanese style of acupuncture.

I have also completed courses in Japanese moxabustion, weight loss, herbal formulas with John Chen, and Dr. Tan and his world famous Balance Method which is employed in the community clinic setting. Dr. Jake Fratkin’s course on the Western testing and integrative treatment of allergies and digestive issues was one of the most useful classes I’ve taken to date in terms of instant usability and success rates with patient treatments.
My special areas of interest for private treatment are (but not limited to): women’s health – including fertility and pregnancy support, digestive disorders, and chronic headaches. The community clinic is an excellent method for dealing with chronic or acute pain, addictions recovery, weight loss, allergies, PTSD and general stress reduction.

I am blessed to have been found by this 3,000 year old traditional medicine. Though I also feel passionately about Oriental Medicine’s place in the modern world. This is why my continuing studies not only focus on acupuncture techniques and Chinese herbs, but also on Western and integrative medicine. I have witnessed the marriage of the two heal the most difficult cases, and I try to bring their essence into my treatments and patient interactions on a daily basis.