My Story
In the United States, most people interested in a medical career follow the typical path of conventional Western medicine. So, naturally, a lot of my patients want to know why I chose to go into acupuncture, a practice rooted in ancient Chinese techniques. The short answer is, acupuncture helped me through a difficult period in my life, when it seemed conventional medicine had fallen short. I was so excited about the healing potential of acupuncture that I made it my life’s work to help others in need of medical alternatives. Through high school and into college, I suffered from severe acne. The doctors I saw treated me with heavy doses of antibiotics. While the medications were helpful, taking these pills for five years straight left me with a weak immune system, which led to different problems. I started having frequent sinus infections, for which my doctors prescribed another medication. Unfortunately, the new prescription came with some unpleasant side effects. The doctors’ answer to that? Yet another type of pill. Like so many patients in the conventional healthcare system, it seemed I was caught in a vicious cycle: every medication led to more medications. Eventually I was taking five different pharmaceuticals at the same time, with little hope from the doctors that I could ever get off this medical merry-go-round. There Had to be a Better Way
I refused to accept that I’d have to take pills for the rest of my life. I had heard that acupuncture could be an effective alternative, so I decided to give it a try. As it turned out, acupuncture provided the relief I had been desperately seeking for so long. With ongoing acupuncture treatments, eventually I was able to get off of all the medications and live freely again. I was so impressed with the results that I found my own career calling in the field of acupuncture. After earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri, I enrolled in the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine to start my journey toward becoming a licensed acupuncturist. More Trouble Ahead
Though I had overcome my problems with acne and sinus infections, it wasn’t long before I had a more frightening health scare. One day in a class at acupuncture school, we were learning about tongue and pulse diagnosis (in Chinese medicine, you can learn a lot by examining a patient’s tongue and taking their pulse). After demonstrating the technique on me, my instructor became quite concerned. After class, he took me aside and explained that I showed signs of a serious disease. Naturally, this was upsetting news. Western medicine does have its merits, so I sought a second opinion by getting a full physical. My Western physical gave me a clean bill of health, reporting no issues whatsoever. That was a relief, but the warning from my acupuncture professor still weighed heavily on my mind. Two years passed uneventfully. Then, as my professor had predicted, I started experiencing symptoms of a serious illness. I was battling extreme fatigue and muscle weakness, which was quite uncharacteristic for this former collegiate swimmer. Worst of all, I was overcome with bouts of vertigo, dizzy spells that made it seem like the world around me was spinning. I knew something was seriously wrong, and my research led me to believe I might be experiencing early symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Getting no definitive answers from my Western physician, I once again turned to the ancient practices of Chinese medicine. And once again, acupuncture and other healing techniques helped me overcome the elusive illness that threatened my way of life. I’m extremely happy to share that, today, I am symptom-free and enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle. Moreover, my tongue and pulse no longer show signs of disease. My own personal experiences have made me an absolute believer in the healing power of acupuncture. And my decision to specialize in this field is reinforced every day, through the thousands of people who find physical comfort and peace of mind at our clinic. If you’re searching for answers about your health, give us a call today to find out how we can help you, too.
