Acupuncture treats a myriad of health and pain issues.

All types of Pain: Tension Headaches, Migraines, Acute Injuries,  Neck and Back Pain, Arthritic, Carpal Tunnel, Tendonitis...

Digestive Issues: Acid reflux, GERD, Ulcerative Colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Candida, Constipation, SIBO...

Gynecological Problems: Dysmenorrhea, Irregular Menstruation, Infertility, Fibroids, Cysts…

Emotional and Psychological Issues: Insomnia, Depression, Anxiety…

Dermatological Issues:  Eczema, Psoriasis, Hives…

Allergies: Environmental and Food

Autoimmune Disorders:  MS, Chronic Fatigue, HIV, Crohn's, Rheumatoid Arthritis...

Adjunct Cancer Care:  Nutritional advice, Supplement Suggestions, and Treatment to Reduce Nausea and Maintain Immune Function

Facial Rejuvenation

Acupuncture is often used for pain relief, but has a broader application in practice. Acupuncture is the insertion of hair thin needles at specific points along meridians. Twelve main meridians plus 8 extra meridians are the virtual “highway” for energy, known as Qi, running throughout our bodies. The selection of points along the meridians serve to unblock the flow of Qi as in cases of pain or fortify the Qi if one is sick with any illness, or even to balance the Qi if someone is experiencing upsetting mood changes. Acupuncture in application is a “prescription” of points and often multiple points are appropriate to treat a given imbalance. Each treatment is designed to fit the individual and their specific complaints. All acupuncturists use their own individual techniques to administer protocols.

Sometimes acupuncture is also combined with moxibustion, which involves burning herbs over acupuncture points to send heat and nourishing Qi into the body. It enhances the actions of the acupuncture prescription and is particularly useful to move Qi and blood to relieve pain associated with injury or menstruation. It is also very efficient at combating intestinal upset caused by chronic illness and their treatments.

What to Expect?

Acupuncture is perhaps the best known of all Traditional Chinese Medicine Modalities.The points selected are determined after a differential diagnosis of each individuals specific complaints are evaluated and a thorough medical history is taken. Every point prescription is custom tailored for the individual. With the careful insertion of fine, sterile needles along defined meridians, acupuncture is relatively painless. The experience often results in sensations of heaviness, tingling, or warmth in the area of insertion as the flow of Qi increases. Themost immediate sensation from treatment is often a sense of deep relaxation.

Holistic Practitioners have always seen marked improvements when individuals make appropriate dietary changes. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM),  these changes are an integral part of overall treatment. A wholesome diet is seen as a tool for maintaining good health and healing a myriad of disorders from common cold, chronic pain, skin disorders, depression, to heart disease and diabetes.

Chinese Nutrition therapy not only recognizes the need for higher quality foods and better basic diets, but offers a clear picture of which of these foods are best for overcoming personal imbalances and maximizing vitality in each individual.

Healing with food is not haphazard; it is considered to be a foundation medicine. When diet is used correctly for prevention and treatment, other medicines are required less, if at all.

Treating your digestive system is absolutely central to treating your overall health.  It is connected to everything that happens in your body.  That is why I almost always start treating chronic health problems by first addressing an individuals digestive system and diet.

Visits for intestinal/ digestive disorders are one of the most common reasons that patients see primary care doctors.  They seek relief from Acid Reflux, Irritable Bowel Syndrome ( IBS), Bloating, Constipation, Diarrhea, to name a few.

Patients are often prescribed a number of drugs that bring little or no relief.  Aside from the fact that many of the treatments are ineffective, they most often result in many other unwanted side effects and can worsen the overall health of the gut.

What's even more alarming and discouraging is the unrecognized connection between digestive disorders and a plethora of other common difficult to treat health issues such as: Allergies, Arthritis, Auto Immune disease, Mood and Memory disorders, ADHA, Cancer, Eczema, Acne.  The list is too extensive to include all.

Functional Medicine Testing of blood, urine, saliva and breath can provide important nutrient absorption and  gut inflammatory markers that are invaluable diagnostic tools .  These lab results provide a clear diagnosis and help create highly effective treatments.  Invasive Western techniques such as Endoscopy, Colonoscopy,  Sigmoidoscopy, Ultrasounds, CT Scans are very costly and often do not  yield test results than can help with treating patient complaints.

I provide Functional Medicine Testing  along with Chinese Medicine Diagnostics.  This combination  provides real numbers and individual assessment for getting results. Targeted dietary, lifestyle and supplemental therapeutics see patients symptoms and complaints resolve and their overall health improve!

Functional Medicine Testing  offers a variety of fecal biomarker panels that help assess imbalance in areas that may be contributing to symptoms of Small and Large Intestine Bacterial overgrowth, Intestinal Dysbiosis “ leaky gut” and Food sensitivities: 

• Genova Diagnostics: A global clinical laboratory, pioneering a systems approach that supports healthcare providers in the personalized treatment and prevention of chronic disease.

• Micronutrient absorption  testing to assess any nutritional deficiencies and associated health issues.

• SpectraCell Labs: Specializing in personalized disease prevention and management solutions. Their pioneering nutritional and cardiometabolic testing, driven by state-of-the-art technology, assesses a spectrum of risk factors and biomarkers for optimum wellness.

• Additional tests to assess Adrenal function and Hormonal balance can also aid in creating a well rounded protocol:

• The Dutch Test by Precision Analytical: Extensive profile of sex and adrenal hormones and melatonin, along with their metabolites, to identify symptoms of hormonal imbalances. 

Nutrition Evaluations and Functional Medicine Tests are available in person, by Phone or via ZOOM.  

Options Include:

Initial Consultation and Evaluational : 90 minutes

1 Month Package: 30 minute weekly check in for help with implementing recommendation

3 Month Package:  extension of one month package

Phone the office for details and pricing.

*15 minute phone consultation FREE:  call (510-595-0700 or email to set up a time

Chinese herbal treatment typically designs formulas created specifically to address an individuals’ diagnosis. Herbal formulas come in prepared pill form called patented formulas or are also created in either raw or powdered formulations. The latter are designed with four classes of ingredients to address all aspects of herbal treatment: chief herbs for treating a patient’s specific illness, a deputy herb to reinforce the chief’s action or treat coexisting conditions, an assistant to counter act any side effects of the first two ingredients and an envoy to harmonize all ingredients and direct them to the parts of the body that they are to treat!

All of the emphasis placed on individual/constitutional diagnosis allows for a very harmonious treatment of imbalance with very few, if any side effects! It is often the case that issues ineffectively addressed by allopathic medicine can be successfully treated with herbal formulas. Some examples include: menopausal symptoms, insomnia, digestive issues, fatigue, osteoporosis/arthritis pain, menstrual irregularities and pain.

Herbal preparations are also an effective way of dealing with the side effects of some prescribed drugs or Western treatments. They have been found to curb the toxic side effects of many pharmaceuticals. They are proven adjunct therapies to chemotherapy and HIV treatment because they assist the body’s immunity and support constitutional strength without interrupting allopathic treatment.

I like to think of herbs as patient-specific treatment. All people have different constitutions, therefore herbal medicine can accommodate their differences while still effectively creating wellness!

Cupping is an old technique performed in both China and the West. The process traditionally uses glass jars, heated to create a vacuum, and placed on the upper back to relieve acute illnesses such as colds and fevers. Cupping can also be done all over the body to invigorate the flow of Qi and to relieve tension and pain. It is much like the inverse of massage – rather than applying pressure to muscles, it uses gentle pressure to pull them upward. For most patients, this is a particularly relaxing and relieving sensation. Once suctioned, the cups are generally left in place for about ten minutes while the patient relaxes.

Cupping is often used for treating:

- Upper and lower back pain

- Chronic nausea & vomiting

- Sciatica

- Frozen shoulder

- Much more

The Moxa herb, mugwort, is used by TCM practitioners to warm regions and acupuncture points with the intention of stimulating circulation through the points and inducing a smoother flow of blood and qi. Moxibustion (the process of burning Moxa) either on a needle or near the skin helps build the Qi and rid the body of excess moisture. It is often used to eliminate cold and dampness in the body, and can serve to turn breech babies. The heat never gets close enough to the skin to burn.

Patients usually enjoy this sensation of warmth and find it very relaxing!