Though the roots of Acupuncture go back 5,000 years, the practice as it is today is recognizable back to about 2,000 years ago.  In this millennia old history, acupuncture has travelled throughout China and into many other countries.  It has been influenced by both the traditional medicines from areas as diverse as ancient Greece, India, Central Asia, as well as modern medicine from the West.  There is no one way, or orthodox way to approach acupuncture.  In light of this, there are some defining characteristics that all schools of acupuncture share.  My approach has been evolving since the first needle I inserted in 1994, and I have a diverse skill set for the various needs that are called for in the diverse atmosphere of clinical practice.  The particulars of my approach are something we can discuss as they pertain to your needs.

If you have never had acupuncture, it can be most simply summed up as follows: The insertion of a sterile disposable needle into specific points in the skin/fat/muscle for the purpose of providing treatment according to the theories of Chinese medicine.  How it works is still up for debate, as there are a few ways that have been identified that describe the effects of acupuncture.  What is becoming less and less of a debate is whether or not it does work.  Simply google NIH (National Institutes of Health) and acupuncture, you will find a growing number of conditions that are recognized as being treated by acupuncture.  

If you have questions about acupuncture and whether it is appropriate for your condition, please contact me, I am happy to discuss this with you.  

Chinese herbal medicine is a very subtle and complex system involving hundreds or thousands of possible ingredients that are chosen from to create a formula that is specific to each individual.  No two people, and no two diseases are alike.  In order to successfully treat an illness using Chinese herbal medicine, a multitude of signs symptoms and other findings go into the matrix of diagnosis upon which the formula is produced.  The herbs can be given in pill form, powder for tea, raw herbs to be cooked at home, or precooked and packaged by the pharmacy.  I only order from the most reputable and diligent pharmacy that I know of, you can look them up: kamwo.com

Daoism offers a variety of methods and means toward health and happiness.  It is a rich tradition, one native to China which spans millennia.  Over the course of time various practices have been incorporated into the Daoist experience.  Some of these are well known in the west, like qigong, taiji, and other martial arts forms.  There are also the various meditation techniques that are specifically Daoist.  In addition to these there are many other ways of being that exemplify Daoist ideology, through the arts, music, etc.

I am an ordained Priest in two mountain lineages, Qingcheng and Wudang mountains, in the Longmen sect of Quanzhen Daoism.  I return to these mountains annually to study meditation, various Daoist arts and practices, and medicine.  I take students with me as well.   If you are interested in pursuing a study of any of these, please contact me for information on how to do so.