My Specialties

Because I have practiced Chinese medicine for so many years, I have had the opportunity to specialize in a variety of health concerns. Although I feel competent to work with any condition, over the years I have particularly developed my knowledge and experience with the treatment of chronic pain, TMJ, digestive and immunological disorders, fatigue, women’s health, pediatrics, upper respiratory disorders, addiction, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and neurological problems from any etiology. Over the years, I have also come to appreciate the potential of traditional Chinese medicine to support longevity, vitality, disease prevention, and general well being.

Acupuncture is an excellent modality for treating most cases of pain, whether acute or chronic, often with immediate results. I employ a very individualized approach to acupuncture, as people vary greatly in the type of needling approach that is comfortable for them. I often use some bodywork as well as craniosacral therapy simultaneously with acupuncture, in order to increase the efficacy of treatment. Craniosacral therapy is also invaluable in the treatment of TMJ, head injuries and many neurological problems. I spent 9 months in a practice in Michigan where I worked mostly with severe cases of TMJ, using both acupuncture and craniosacral therapy.

For the treatment of digestive disorders and autoimmune or other immune disorders, I sometimes utilize laboratory testing. I have had great success with combining traditional Chinese medicine with a westernized approach to many of these problems, and I find that the combined approach is significantly more effective that either approach alone. Often there is a need for dietary, detoxification, and/or nutritional treatment along with acupuncture and herbs.

I also sometimes integrate laboratory testing for the treatment of hormonal and brain chemistry imbalances. I find that the traditional Chinese medical approach is essential in that it addresses root imbalances in a very integrated way, offering the fundamental re-harmonization of the body, and I prefer that approach over a westernized naturopathic treatment. However, there are also very powerful ways to address some of these issues with targeted amino acid therapy and other nutritional interventions that offer the ability to quickly and powerfully impact the system, serving as viable alternatives to antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications.

Patients are often amazed by how quickly Chinese medicine works with upper respiratory problems. Relief from acupuncture is obvious, and herbal formulas offer a true alternative to western pharmaceuticals in many cases.

As you can read in my resume, I have many years experience working with addictions. In the past I utilized only acupuncture, as treatment was done is a group setting, but on an individual basis I also work to rebalance the brain chemistry with amino acids and harmonize the body with herbs. Although it is not in my resume, I have very extensive experience working with eating disorders as well.

The potential of Chinese medicine to promote longevity and well being in older patients is an exciting field and a largely untapped resource. Traditional herbal approaches offer safe and effective support for fortifying what we term the “essence”. The essence is considered to be the source of hormones, neurotransmitters, and other “vital substances” of the body. One could use essence tonics as herbal alternatives to HRT, or to treat some of the degenerative conditions associated with aging, or simply as safe longevity elixirs.

Healing Philosopy

In Chinese medical theory, there is a general philosophy that we must treat both the root and the branch of a problem. If someone comes in with what appears to be simple back pain, we take a closer diagnostic look to see if the pain is simply the outward manifestation (the branch), of a deeper issue (the root). Sometimes of course, pain is simply due to a physical injury, and I treat the issue on a very physical and mechanical level. However, there are cases of pain that appear to be strictly mechanical in nature, that actually have an energetic component that should be addressed for a superior treatment result.

In the case of internal problems, we could have 5 patients with the same western diagnosis, for example, heartburn, and all 5 patients could have a different root, or energetic imbalance, giving rise to the symptom. Although we would treat the symptom directly, it is also essential to treat the root in order to get any lasting result. It is for this reason that the success of a practitioner rests on diagnostic skill.

Although there are some patients who come to me for straightforward treatment and relatively simple correction of something that has gone out of balance, there are others whose illness and pain offer a true opportunity for change in their lives. Sometimes that change involves an alteration in lifestyle, and sometimes it presents as an opportunity to become mindful of our belief systems, and ways in which we may be holding stress and unprocessed emotions in our body.

Many popular philosophies today teach that we are responsible for everything we experience, including all our illnesses. They propose that the very existence of illness indicates that we did something wrong; perhaps we ate the wrong foods, or engaged in negative thinking. Of course there may be truth to that, but chances are that we did the best we could at the time, or there is simply no apparent cause, and perhaps we were born to have to deal with certain conditions. In any case, it is counterproductive to berate our past actions or psychological states. Although such philosophies are meant to empower us, they sometimes have the opposite effect, leading us to feel at fault. The implicit judgment inherent in such beliefs can tend to undermine the sense of compassion we so desperately need at such times. Compassion toward oneself is very different from indulging in self pity. I often ask my patients how they would treat a child who is experiencing the same symptoms or distress that they are experiencing. I believe that we should approach ourselves with the same compassion as we would a child, which is itself, a profoundly powerful healing force. We often need to relax our struggle with illness; let go of making it the enemy, and allow it to be our teacher and guide. I encourage people to be responsible to their illness rather than for their illness. Such an attitude will encourage healing. We can then utilize acupuncture, herbs, or any other healing modalities to speed up and encourage the healing process by correcting disturbed energy flows of body and mind, creating a new homeostasis, thus altering physiological functioning.

I believe that the challenges and difficulties we face in our lives always hold some kind of potential for growth and personal evolution. Sometimes we don’t realize the gem of opportunity in our pain until much later. When it comes to illness, especially life threatening disorders, the fuel for our evolution is usually very apparent. We either succumb to despair and fear or we are pushed into compassion, self awareness, and an incredible transformation of priorities. Usually we experience both, and although we feel pushed to the edge, our experience becomes bittersweet rather than pure suffering, the more we can open to illness as a transformative experience. As hard as it may be to accept, there is a profound level of healing that can occur regardless of whether we live or die.

One thing that I have always appreciated about traditional Chinese medicine is the intimate relationship between body and mind. The Chinese medical system acknowledges that excessive emotional states can injure the internal organs. For example anger and resentment may injure the liver. Conversely, a disorder of the liver may generate irritability and a tendency to become easily angered. A weakness of the kidneys may cause someone to be fearful, while chronic fear may injury the kidneys. All the internal organs are associated with different corresponding emotions. It is not of great concern which came first, the chicken or the egg, the imbalanced emotion or the organ dysfunction. We simply work with the energy system, to impact the mind and body simultaneously. It is ultimately a matter of rebalancing and harmonizing the body/mind system.

The Chinese medical approach is inherently holistic, and has been for the thousands of years that it has been practiced. It is my intent to continue that tradition.