As a Lafayette Acupuncturist with 25+ years or experience, I can help you with the treatment of aches and pains, injuries, digestive disorders, gynecological issues, allergies, immune deficiencies, fatigue, sleep disorders and stress, and many other conditions. For information on conditions I work with, check out ‘Illnesses/Health Imbalances Treated’. After completing the Initial Intake Form, your first visit includes a detailed review of the issues affecting your health and quality of life. From this we will work out a comprehensive treatment plan together. Besides acupuncture, I may prescribe herbal medicine and supplements, and use other modalities to help you, including bodywork, moxa, suction cups and guasha (dermal scraping). For more info, check out ‘Common Acupuncture Questions‘. As a former Professor and Academic Dean of the Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley, I have a unique perspective on the strengths and benefits of this ancient medicine, its integration with modern medicine, and how it can benefit you.
I received my BS in Nutrition and Food Science from UC Berkeley in 1986. After exposure to acupuncture while teaching English and studying Chinese in Taiwan, I studied and received my MS in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1991.
Since then I’ve taken and produced numerous continuing education classes to further my growth and development with the medicine. Some of my more influential teachers include the well-regarded Doctors Yitian Ni, Pingqi Kang, Robert Dreyfuss, Richard Tan, Robert Chu, and Kiiko Matsumoto.
“Acupuncturist of the Year” by the American Association of Acupuncture & East Asian Medicine (AAAOM) in 2003,
“Professional Excellence Award” by the National Board of Acupuncture Orthopedics in 2004, and
“Pioneer of Acupuncture & East Asian Medicine” by the AAAOM in 2007.
I knew relatively early in life that I was going to be a healer, but wasn't sure about which path I would take. So at the grand age of 23 years, I traveled throughout Mexico and Central America, practicing basic acupressure techniques on people and promoting vegetarianism as I practiced my Spanish. After a year in the university of life, I returned to UC Berkeley and completed my degree in Nutrition and Food Science.
I then travelled to Asia to teach English, and it was in Taiwan that one of my students, a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, turned me on to herbs and acupuncture. I was there in the winter when it was cold, rainy and polluted, and I was getting sick all the time. The acupuncture and herbs worked wonders, clarified my direction in life, (and I stopped being a vegetarian).
I returned to San Francisco in 1988 to study at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. After graduating with a Masters of Science and getting licensed in California, I practiced in Berkeley and San Francisco at Quan Yin Healing Arts and the Immune Enhancement Project.
I treated a lot of HIV/AIDS, and this was a life-transforming experience. Combination drug therapies for HIV had not yet arrived, and my patients relied on acupuncture and herbs to help maintain their health and help combat the wide variety of opportunistic infections and disorders that arose from a weakened immune system. Needless to say, my knowledge, skills, and empathy increased dramatically from the experience.
I also got involved in acupuncture policy and served on the board of the California State Oriental Medical Association for eight years. In addition to serving as president, editor in chief of the California Journal of Oriental Medicine, and producing 5 acupuncture conferences, I helped shepherd seven pieces of legislation that were signed into law and increased the public’s access to high quality Acupuncture & East Asian Medicine by protecting and clarifying our scope of practice, secured and expanded our role in the California Workers’ Compensation system, preserved and advanced the California Acupuncture Board, established higher standards for the education and training of CA Licensed Acupuncturists and the eventual development of a national Professional Doctorate in Oriental Medicine (too many years later in my opinion).
This activity in part led to my work as a clinical instructor, teaching professor, and academic dean at the Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley. We revamped the curriculum and helped transform the school into one of the preeminent institutions in the western world for the study of Acupuncture & East Asian Medicine.
Having retired from the world of acupuncture politics and education, I'm now in private practice as a Lafayette acupuncturist at Lamorinda Healing Arts and Radiance Family Wellness. I’m also the proud father of two healthy and flourishing daughters who sparkle and delight my world, and stay sane and balanced with meditation, reading, yoga, running, biking, ultimate frisbee, tasty cooking experiments, and acupuncture.
Acupuncture Lafayette:
Experienced Acupuncturist & East Asian Medicine Provider serving Lafayette
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(925) 297-4785