Treatment
A typical first visit involves an assesment of your current health condition with a priority given to what brings you to the clinic that particular day. Whether for the treatment of shoulder pain, menstrual cramps, or anxiety part of the strength of East Asian medicine is taking into account detailed aspects of your body and inner state to determine next steps in treatment. I’ll want to know what you eat, how you digest, how you eliminate, how you sleep, and more. Afterwards I’ll take a look at your tongue and feel the pulses on your wrist to verify a treatment approach. Using the classic models of the body and world views a diagnosis can consist of seemingly poetic terms such as “Liver Yin Deficiency” or “Heart Fire Excess”, yin, yang, five elements, essence and spirit…these are ancient ways of looking at psycho-physical systems of bodily function. At times there is overlap with the allopathic model but ultimately traditional medicine aims at creating a total transformation of a person’s life through helping them adapt to the constant personal, social, seasonal, and environmental changes.
I always treat the main complaint but include treatment for the overall “constitution” of an individual based on the initial assessment. This approach is called treating the “root and branch”. The branch is the immediate symptom while the root is the underlying conditions and causes that have long term impact on health.
Treatment can consist of acupuncture and some combination of moxabustion (using gentle warmth and smoke), cupping (think a massage in reverse), gua sha (rapid rubbing of large areas of skin with stones to move blood), herbal prescriptions (to help nourish, move, eliminate, or calm down systems in the body), dietary recommendations, behavioral & lifestyles recommendation, or breathing and visualization exercises.
While my clinical experience has been varied my main interests are emotional support, chronic illness support, cancer treatment symptom management, and sexual health. I was mentored for five years under Dr. Erlene Chiang, a third generation Chinese medicine doctor, and learned from her how to approach these types of cases. Chinese medicine is versatile though and issues such as insomnia, pain, menstrual regulation, fertility, headaches, digestive disorders, and more can be treated.
Values
As an East Asian rooted medical practice, I am committed to providing care that prioritizes harm reduction, non-judgmental support, and sex and gender affirmation. I approach patients with a trauma-informed and resource-informed mindset, and believe in transparency in all aspects of relationship. I strive to educate myself and patients, and take a holistic approach that recognizes the unique manifestation of personal, generational, social, and environmental causes in each individual. At this practice, I see each patient as a whole being, deserving of respect, dignity, and a personalized plan for their health.
As an East Asian rooted medical practice, I not only value the principles and practices of traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean medicine, but I also recognize the importance of bridging cultural gaps and sharing knowledge with others. I honor the traditions of East Asian medicine by actively participating in cultural exchange and mentorship programs, as well as by having taken time to study in China and Japan to that further education and understanding. My commitment to preserving and promoting the richness of East Asian medicine extends beyond my practice, and I am proud to be a part of a larger community that values and upholds this precious cultural legacy.
Reverence & Gratitude to the generations of doctors before and after me who devote themselves to healing society through personal cultivation and the power of meaningful relationships with others.