FAQs
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
By law, acupuncturists in California are required to complete 50 CEUs per two-year licensing period. I usually take anywhere between 80 and 100 CEUs. My main focus right now is on acupuncture and herbal continuing education. I'm a big believer in integrative care, since both eastern and western medicine have much to offer. Especially on the front of herbal medicines, we have a lot of information about how herbs work from a western point of view. Learning more about how to combine these two views on herbs allows me not only to prescribe herbs even when patients are on pharmaceutical drugs, but it also helps me write herbal formulations that address health issues from different angles, which leads to better results.
- What types of customers have you worked with?
Conditions I treat cover a wide range. Women's health issues like irregular or painful menstruation, menopausal discomfort and pregnancy support, and stress-related diseases that range from simple symptoms like shoulder and neck pain to more severe presentations of autoimmune conditions are probably the most common. I treat a lot of pain conditions and have special training in Master Tung acupuncture which excels at pain management. Things like insomnia, headaches and migraines, smoking cessation, weight loss, thyroid problems, anxiety and digestive disorders are also very common.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
When you are looking to hire an acupuncturist, it is important to make sure the professional you are planning to hire is a licensed acupuncturist, not only an MD trained in acupuncture. As an acupuncturist, we have to go through 4 years of rigorous training. We spend two years learning locations of points and theories behind acupuncture points, we learn about herbs, how to administer herbs with medications, and we spend a full year of needling instructions before we even start in the clinic. MDs, on the other hand, take a crash-course in acupuncture for 200 to 240 hours. Studies show that most injury from acupuncture comes when it is performed by medical acupuncturists (MDs), not licensed acupuncturists. Also, you want to find a practitioner that will work with you not only by providing acupuncture, but also by helping you identify contributing factors to your disease. S/he will work with you on nutrition, exercises, posture, and hopefully will also have access to a herbal pharmacy, since many conditions improve better and faster if acupuncture and herbs are combined. It is a good idea to call and talk to your acupuncturist. You will want to find a person that understands your concerns and that you feel comfortable with. Acupuncture is not like western medicine, where you get to see your doctor for 10 to 15 minutes once a year. Acupuncture is about restoring and maintaining health, so even after the symptoms have resolved, it is always advisable to get monthly "tune-ups" to prevent any new problems to occur.