About Me

Masters degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (M.Ac.O.M) from the Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin (A.O.M.A)
Licensed to perform acupuncture & herbal medicine (L.Ac.) by the Texas State Medical Board (License # AC00929).
Nationally board certified (Dipl. O.M.) by the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine). Current standards require over 3200 hours of study, including 1008 hours of supervised clinic time with patients.
Passed board examinations in the fields of acupuncture, western medicine, and Chinese herbs.
Studied Hari (a Japanese meridian therapy style of acupuncture), with Kuwahara Sensei for 9 months.
Studied moxibustion therapy with Mizutani Junji Sensei.
Certified in OSHA and CPR training.

I have been interested in natural remedies for as long as I can remember. In fact, when I was young, I often refused to take medicine because I felt that “toughing out” the illness would probably have the same effect as taking the medication. As a child, I didn’t understand the “magic bullet” approach that many western medications offer; it just didn’t seem authentic enough. I am grateful to have become aware of Chinese medicine, which is a practice that treats the root of the problem in order to alleviate the symptoms in a very cyclical way.

Throughout the years my understanding of gardening has deepened my appreciation of the cyclical nature of health, wellness, and life in general. My father set me up with my first garden when I was about 10 years old. I loved every aspect of gardening from the soil and seeds to the bugs and blooms. I enjoyed the hard work and was rewarded with the bountiful harvest. I believe that gardening benefited me the most by allowing me to understand the nourishment and balance needed for each stage and each aspect of life. When planting a garden, a good foundation is vital for a flourishing outcome. The acidity or alkalinity of the soil, the balance of clay and sand, and the dryness or wetness of the earth, the seasons, and the degree of sun or shade all have severe effects on the vitality of the bud.

This balance is integrated into of each part of every life. In order to be physically and mentally healthy, balance must be established. Like plants that need just the right type and amount of fertilizer in their soil, if we don’t maintain a balanced diet we upset the equilibrium within our bodies creating deficiencies. Our internal systems are then unable to cope and mitigate processes in our bodies necessary for health and wellness. I have learned that all these things can be easily explained by the brilliance of the yin and yang. The diversity of needs demanded of different plants is comparable to the needs of my many diverse clients. Every person requires something different in order to thrive, even if they appear to have the same symptoms or diagnosis.

That love and interest in the natural world has unsurprisingly led to my interest in natural health and healing. Chinese medicine is the ideal choice for me, and for anyone seeking a holistic and balanced method of healing. Herbal cures are cost effective and natural ways of healing, and I believe that we have the ability to heal ourselves with the knowledge from nature. Just as learning is only accomplished from within, healing is found the same way. As medicine, plants can be amazing companions to us on this journey through our earthly existence.