Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Make sure you choose a qualified acupuncturist with a valid state license. You can check the status of an acupuncture license online as well, and we even have a link on our website. A quality acupuncturist should explain clearly what to expect before, during, and after a treatment, and should check in with you to make sure you are comfortable every step of the way. =)

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. Acupuncture can be a little scary as a concept for new patients, but we really go out of our way to answer questions patients may have, explain clearly what we are doing and how it might feel, and make our patients feel safe and well taken care of. We think our gentle approach is a hit!

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. The ability to take someone who is in pain or feeling poorly and watch them walk out of the office smiling is the best part of this job. And that happens daily!

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Patients usually want to know if acupuncture hurts. I answer that while you might feel the insertion of a needle briefly, it is usually far more gentle than most patients expect. My patients usually say "That's it? What was I worried about?"

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine can treat SO many things. I find people are often very surprised to find out that things like migraines, and sleeping issues, get very good results from acupuncture. I really like treating headaches and migraines because they affect quality of life for people in some pretty dramatic ways, but we usually see immediate reductions in frequency and severity. So once patients begin using acupuncture for these conditions, and they see how easily improvements occur, they always wish someone told about this as an option earlier. You can see a link to some of the commonly treated conditions for acupuncture on my website.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. Yes! We do at least 50 hours of continuing education every 2 years for acupuncture in the State of California. However, as a teacher...I'm always learning and perfecting my craft, so that number is much higher in reality.

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. There have been some great research studies showing how helpful acupuncture can be for many different kinds of pain. My website gives a few examples. here are some great studies listed on the benefits of acupuncture for osteoarthritis of the knee, menstrual cramps, low back pain, and high blood pressure.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. We are in-network for many major insurance companies, such as Anthem, Blue Shield, Aetna, and Healthnet. So many people can access our services for very reasonable rates. In addition, many insurance companies have wellness discounts if you do to an in-network provider, even if you don't have insurance. Insurance can be complicated, so feel free to ask us questions, and we'll try our best to guide you through.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. Usually getting an acupuncture degree requires 4 years of undergrad and 4 years of graduate work, so it's a big time commitment. I think the school you choose is really important because it will prepare you for both the licensing examination and practicing in the field. I recommend the school I went to, ACTCM (The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine) in San Francisco, and the school I currently teach at Emperors College of TCM in Santa Monica, CA.