People often ask me, “Does acupuncture work?” Or sometimes, “Who taught you?”
Whether someone comes in burned out, emotionally overwhelmed, in physical pain, or simply seeking to stay in balance, acupuncture offers a way to remember what wellness feels like. It’s not just about solving problems—it’s about building resilience. Strengthening the immune system. Easing anxiety. Catching imbalances before they become dis-ease.
I was fortunate—blessed, really—to study in New York City with some of the most respected masters in the field. These were not just instructors; they were torchbearers of traditions stretching back hundreds of years. Their knowledge wasn’t simply academic: it was lived, tested, and infused with wisdom.
One teacher was Kiiko Matsumoto, a powerful force in Japanese acupuncture. She trained in the lineage of the blind acupuncture school under Master Nagano, and she passed down to us something that changed my practice forever: the art of palpation. Kiiko taught us how to use our hands not just to press or prod, but to listen. To feel for imbalances under the skin—and then, with intention and clarity, place a needle where it could make the deepest shift.
Our education didn’t stop there.
We trained in Sports Medicine Acupuncture and Acupuncture Physical Medicine. These modalities are rooted in muscular anatomy, where needles are used to release tension from overused or injured muscles. Physical therapists call this “dry needling,” but what makes our approach unique is pairing the physical techniques with classical Chinese diagnostics, treating not just the muscle, but the pattern that led to the tension.
We also studied Five Element acupuncture. Under the guidance of Lorie Dechar and Jim McCormick—two of the most seasoned Five Element practitioners in the country—we entered a different kind of the healing terrain. We learned how the Five Element Theories can support our emotional well-being, helping to bring our spirit back into alignment with the body.
Through different perspectives, we learned how to support people through chronic pain, trauma, PTSD, and the bone-deep fatigue that comes from long-term stress or illness. We saw firsthand how acupuncture could ease the grip of addiction—especially during opioid detox—and how it could help people come back into their bodies after years of disconnection.
So why acupuncture? Because it’s more than a treatment. It’s a relationship. A dialogue. A medicine that listens as much as it speaks. And it works!
