My Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Background

My interest was originally sparked by studying with Michio Kushi in Boston from 1969-1972. Learning Oriental philosophy and its direct influence on healing affected me deeply. I was inspired from this to study acupuncture. At that time, there were no schools in America. I chose England, where I studied with J.R. Worsley. His school emphasized the Five Element theory. His dynamic teaching was a vital springboard for me to begin my practice and continue my studies.

Over the past 30 years, I have been fortunate to learn from many excellent teachers. One among them all has had a lasting effect on me. He was Nguyen Van Nghi, a Vietnamese who lived in France and was also a western physician. His textbooks in French are renowned. He taught in America in the late 1980s and again in the 1990s. His understanding and ability to explain his ideas have been an inspiration to me ever since. He died in 1999 at the age of 90 years old. Others whom I have gained much wisdom from their spoken and written words are Giovanni Maciocia, Jeremy Ross and most important of all Jeffrey Yuen from New York City. To these and others unnamed I remain grateful.

For the entire year of 1999 I returned to school and graduated from the Maryland Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland. This experience, both humbling and rewarding, brought me up-to-date with the teaching of acupuncture in America. Upon returning to Asheville, North Carolina, I was asked to join the faculty of Atlantic University of Chinese Medicine in Mars Hill, North Carolina. Soon I became the academic dean as well as one of the principle teachers. I remained deeply involved in the accreditation process, developing the curriculum and working with the faculty for three years. In May 2003 I resigned.

Since then I have developed my private practice in Asheville. My love of teaching continues by teaching shiatsu massage at the North Carolina School of Natural Healing in Asheville. I still return to Maryland regularly, where I give personal consultations and individual acupuncture treatments.

My Viewpoint for Healing With Acupuncture

From my years of experience, I am convinced that the power and effectiveness of acupuncture is directly connected with the strength of the blood system. In Chinese medicine these are opposite and complementary: the energy (qi) and blood must harmonize for true health. With acupuncture, needles and heat applications such as moxibustion are employed to effect the qi. Traditionally, blood is affected by food and drink which includes herbs. Utilizing dietary principles of Chinese philosophy and medicine, I have seen how much better people respond to acupuncture when they are eating a healthier diet. Certainly herbs are powerful too. All together these—acupuncture, healthy diet and herbs— work synergistically for real healing.

Acupuncture need not be painful to be effective. Basically there are three styles of acupuncture practice. Chinese style uses thicker needles and stronger stimulation, seeking a clear response from the patient. At the other end of the spectrum is Japanese style. It uses ultra thin needles and little stimulation, seeking little or no response from the patient. The third way is between these two extremes. This is my way. If you are very sensitive to needles then I will use thinner needles. Most people who have not experienced acupuncture will be amazed at how minimal the needle sensation is. Your experience of the treatment will be one of calm and peace. You may feel your energies moving and you may become sleepy. The needles are left in for 15 - 30 minutes. There is no pain or bleeding during that time. Many people feel a positive effect, physically or mentally, from the first treatment. Others will need more treatments to achieve results. This mostly depends on how chronic vs acute your problems are, and on how willing you are to participate in the healing process by making some lifestyle and / or dietary changes.

Before Treatment
(1) Eat a meal / snack within 2 hours of treatment.
(2) Do not be over emotional.
(3) Avoid strong physical exercise.

After Treatment
(1) Eat when you become hungry.
(2) You may become sleepy earlier, so go to bed.
(3) No sex for 24 hours.
(4) No bath or swimming for 24 hours (shower is fine).