credentials
EDUCATION & LICENCES
I am a Bay Area native and a Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist. I received my Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1993 from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco. I then went on to receive my National Licensure by the NCCA (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) and my California Acupuncture License from the State of California in 1994.
I started my practice in 1995 on Potrero Hill in San Francisco and later moved my office to Union St in Cow Hollow also in SF. After I moved to the East Bay I opened my office in Montclair Village, Oakland where I still am today.
Before studying medicine, the first chapter of my life was focused on classical music. From age six I became an avid pianist discovering the great masters of classical music. I performed as a soloist and studied at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where I received my Bachelor’s degree. This was a very exciting time that was incredibly fulfilling but, ultimately led to me changing course to the study of medicine. More about that
Additional Training
I have always loved teaching. From any early age I taught piano and continued to do so for many years both in San Francisco and Boston. After I changed paths from music to medicine (read about that) I became a member of the teaching and clinic faculty at the Meiji College of Oriental Medicine in SF in 1997. Meiji College later became The Acupuncture and Integrative Medical College in Berkeley where I taught until 2008. I have also served as a board examiner for the NCCA licensing exam.
I have always loved research and was happy to be part of a research team at UCSF Medical Center. We conducted a double blind study measuring the effects of acupuncture on cardiac bypass patients post-operatively, specifically on wound healing.
I have also been a guest speaker at the Integrative Medical Forums held at UCSF as well as a guest lecturer at the UCSF medical school.
I have an extensive background in both Western and Eastern Herbology. Two things that I loved learning through these endeavors is wildcrafting of Medicinal plants as well as medicine making in the Wise Woman tradition. Since that time I use both Western and Chinese herbs in my clinical practice.
I have also expanded my skills in the area of Japanese Contact Needle Technique studying with Anryu Iwashina from Japan. This technique uses solid Gold and Silver instruments on the surface of the meridian points rather than needles that go through the skin. The treatment initiates energetic flow through the properties of the different metals in contact with the bioenergy of the specific meridian points.
For pediatric patients, I use both Shonishin techniques as well as Japanese Contact Needling. I love treating children and their family members hence my practice name Healthy Family!
Furthermore, I have also completed training in Japanese Shiatsu Massage and therapeutic Chinese Tui Na massage which I incorporates in my practice. These past several years I have been deepening my diagnostic skills studying the Contemporary Shen Hammer Pulse Diagnosis which is an uninterrupted lineage of ancient pulse knowledge updated with modern cultural norms.
I continue gaining inspiration from ancient Chinese Medical texts and study with the foremost sinologists in the field, including Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallee.
Other wonderful influences over my career include: Scholar and Daoist priest Lui ming of Da yuan Circle and the wisdom of Lonny Jarrett and Jeffery Yuen.
