How should patients choose an acupuncturist?

Referrals are always a great way to start. Ask family and friends if they see an acupuncturist that they have good results with. I am also getting referrals from more MDs so ask your physician if they know someone to refer to.

Look for a Certified and Licensed Practitioner

Check into education. My graduate level program was almost 4,000 hours of training including 900 hours of clinic. It was a five-year program after four years of undergrad. In North Carolina, chiropractors receive a certification with 200 hours of training, and MDs with 350 hours. Physical Therapists now practice dry needling in NC with no education requirements. The training is typically a weekend workshop with no state or national exam or supervised clinic hours required.

What would you like people to know about TCM?

I would like people to know the wide scope of problems that Oriental medicine can treat.  Acupuncture has been approved by the World Health Organization for the treatment of many diseases. Many people know that it treats body pain. We can also treat general disorders such as women’s issues, insomnia, gastrointestinal problems, cold and flu, fatigue, aftermath of stroke and many others.

This medicine can also have a profound effect on a patient’s mental or emotional state. We treat the effects of stress, lower anxiety, calm the mind without dulling it, sharpen focus and decrease irritability. This is done by helping the body to work as it should, to put it back in balance.

What education was required to become a Doctor of Oriental Medicine?

I graduated from a five-year graduate level program at East West College of Natural Medicine in Sarasota, Florida. I earned a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine and a Bachelor of Professional Health Sciences. I completed residency programs at East West general health clinic and at Health South Rehabilitation Hospital in Sarasota. I am nationally board certified by the NCCAOM which is the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. I am licensed as an Acupuncturist by the state of North Carolina. My first degree was a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Simmons College in Boston.

What interested you in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?

I went to an acupuncturist for back pain at the urging of a friend. I was amazed that I could walk in to her office with severe back pain and walk out pain free. I was treated for nasal congestion and was able to breath after the treatment. I tried to learn about TCM, but it is a complete and complex system of medicine that is very different from the allopathic view. I was fascinated and drawn to it and was at a stage in life when I was looking for my second career.  This profession fit my criteria on many levels. I enjoy a deep connection with my patients, will always keep learning about health and wellness and medicine which fascinates me, can enjoy the rewards of my efforts building and maintaining a good reputation over time, and know that I am helping people to live healthier, happier lives. I appreciate the holistic approach of this medicine, I am concerned about my patient’s welfare from head to toe.