In China practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are either acupuncturists or herbalists. In California, in order to pass our certification exam, we have to be proficient in both acupuncture and master Chinese herbalists.

I didn’t have much herbal training when I went to Acupuncture school. I had practiced Acupressure and Tui Na for years before I went to Acupuncture school as a massage therapist. I was comfortable doing hands-on healing, but herbs were new to me.

By the time I finished school I had become an “herb geek”. Acupuncture students have to know over 300 herbs and over 100 herbal formulas by heart. I loved creating herbal solutions to my clients’ problems as an intern and saw some amazing healing with herbs for both my clients’ and my own illnesses.

In my practice, I recommend Chinese herbal formulas to most of my clients. Because Americans are comfortable taking pills as opposed to brewing herbal teas, I recommend Chinese herbal formulas in pill form. My goal is to make it easy for you to get the results you want.

A formula is a “team” of herbs which each have complementary properties and which work together to solve a specific pattern of problems. Just as you would build a team of people to solve a business problem, I use teams of herbs to solve health problems.

I only purchase American manufactured Chinese herbal formulas. The laws in California concerning herbal quality are strict and when I purchase herbs from California companies I know that the quality will be high. Unlike most pharmaceuticals, herbal formulas rarely have side effects, they’re quite safe.

Why do herbal formulas work? If I’ve recommended the correct formula to correct the imbalance you’re experiencing, you’ll get well. Chinese herbal medicine has been around for many centuries, as one of my professors used to say: “clinical trials for over a thousand years, over a billion people served.” This is proven medicine.

I’ve been practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine for more than 10 years and people who’ve never had acupuncture always ask me: “Why does Acupuncture work?” Here’s a short answer to what could be a long explanation.

Acupuncture is Energy Medicine. It’s all about moving energy. Here are a few examples: If your energy is stuck and you’re in pain, acupuncture can get the energy moving and get you out of pain. If your energy is going the wrong way and you’re throwing up, acupuncture can get it moving in the right direction. If your energy is very depleted and you’re exhausted, acupuncture can help to boost your energy. If you’re very stressed and your energy is going in many directions, acupuncture can “harmonize” your energy and get you feeling calmer and more in control. If you’re sick with a cold or flu, an acupuncture treatment can get you on the path to healing faster. Often more than one treatment is necessary, especially if you are dealing with a chronic problem.

What can acupuncture treat? Anything that you wouldn’t take to an emergency room. Most people think that acupuncture is just for pain, but that’s far from the truth. I’ve treated people with hepatitis, shingles, diabetes, asthma, severe headaches, all manner of women’s health concerns (painful periods, overdue pregnancies, menopause symptoms), various autoimmune conditions, digestive issues, skin issues, even depression, anxiety and sleep problems. Most acupuncturists are generalists—we’re used to thinking on our feet and solving problems—as far as I’m concerned that’s the best part of our job.

If I understand what’s going on in your body, I’ll know what to do to resolve the situation. When I start with any new client, I perform an in-depth consultation to review your needs and determine your path.