Hi! Thanks for visiting my profile. Over the past 20+ years of practice, I’ve developed my own style of treating based on experience, advanced training and interests in certain specialties. To assist visitors to my website in getting to know more about how I practice, I’ve divided my profile into sections.

Training & Credentials

Master’s degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego, CA, and Diplomate of Oriental Medicine with NCCAOM. This training included included over 3,500 hours of Chinese medicine and allopathic medicine: anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology, and Oriental medicine organ syndromes (Zang Fu) along with extensive clinical training in acupuncture and herbal medicine. Pacific College is renowned for its excellence in the disciplines of herbalism and acupuncture, and its academic standing is considered to be one of the best in the country.

Before studying acupuncture I was a licensed massage therapist in Denver, CO where I worked with chiropractors and in spas. This background has helped to hone my palpation skills and now I often will combine acupressure massage with acupuncture to facilitate movement of joints and healing of soft tissues.

From 2014 to 2021, I worked with patients suffering from orofacial pain or jaw dysfunction at UNC Dental Faculty Practice. I still receives referrals from UNC for trigeminal neuralgia, TMDD, migraine, and various orofacial pain disorders.

Philosophy of Care

My philosophy of care is to treat each patient as an individual. I believe in an integrated approach and that is why I prefer to make a diagnosis based on reported signs and symptoms, as well as on traditional Chinese medicine principles. I believe that health is a balancing act that requires an ability to adapt to our environment, both internal and external. The value of acupuncture is its connection to the deeper wells of energy in the body that are reflected on the outside. I strive to investigate this with each new patient and help connect that person with his or her deepest reservoir in order to find better balance and functioning.

Style of Treatment

As an expansion on my philosophy of care, how I treat goes hand in hand because the individual is the focus, not the method. Some patients respond best to acupuncture only, whereas others do best when another modality is added in, whether that be cupping, massage, or auriculotherapy, etc. I would describe myself as more of a “hands-on” practitioner than most, and I spend a bit more time palpating, massaging, or performing other modalities when indicated by diagnosis. This is the reason that I offer more options for follow-up appointments. Usually I will recommend something like cupping as a single service if I believe that will benefit, and I also add onto services providing combinations of these modalities at no extra charge. It’s not a one-size-fits-all type of practice and my aim is that you leave feeling nurtured as well as treated.

Treatment Specialties

I have advanced training in just a few areas – orofacial pain, immune health, musculoskeletal issues, and auriculotherapy. While I can definitely treat many health issues outside of these specialties it is also a fact that I have more experience with some conditions. Issues most treated include:

• Headache and Migraine
• Jaw pain
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Knee and back pain
• Rotator cuff injuries or tendonitis
• Post concussion syndrome
• Immune health (broad category includes diabetes, thyroid, Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, etc)
• Symptoms of cancer treatment (nausea, pain, neuropathy)
• Nerve-related disorders (trigeminal neuralgia, neuropathy, sciatica, carpal tunnel)
• Skin health (facial rejuvenation, acne, dermatitis, psoriasis)

Telehealth

I really enjoy helping promote better health through nutrition, and this is another area in which I combine western and eastern principles. I’ve completed several trainings via Apex Energetics on functional medicine including interpreting blood chemistry, assessing thyroid function and understanding how the immune system works. My training in clinical herbs is perhaps the most comprehensive because it was part of my education at Pacific College. Try telehealth if you are suffering with an acute or chronic health issue, reaching a plateau with your current regimen of diet and nutrition, or just want to amplify results for yourself and gain traction so that you remain as healthy as possible.

Herbal medicine goes beyond mild cures and patches. It can truly revive cells, reduce pain and congestion and promote a much faster and more complete recovery. Supplementation with herbal formulas eases symptoms and speeds recovery. Prescriptions for allergies, muscle and joint pain, Irritable Bowel, gynecological issues, and more are available in patent pill form, making them easy to ingest and comply with prescribed dosages.