Ama Wellness Center

Acupuncture & Integrative Care

Acupuncture

Acupuncture supports the body’s innate capacity for regulation and adaptation. By engaging the nervous system, circulation, and internal signaling pathways, treatment helps restore balance and responsiveness across physical, emotional, and physiological systems.

Each session is individualized and responsive, shaped by careful listening, pulse and channel assessment, and ongoing observation rather than a fixed protocol. The work unfolds through relationship and attention, not force.

The needles used are extremely fine and inserted gently. Most patients experience minimal sensation, often followed by a feeling of relaxation, grounding, or mental clarity. Treatments are designed to be restorative and regulating, not aggressive.

For some concerns, such as acute pain, tension, or stress-related symptoms, relief may be felt quickly. For more complex or long-standing patterns, change tends to occur gradually through steady support and refinement over time.

My approach is rooted in classical Chinese medicine and Taoist channel theory, informed by decades of clinical experience. I work with how stress, emotion, physiology, and lived experience move through the channels as a single, adaptive whole rather than as isolated systems.

Rather than overriding symptoms or applying standardized treatment plans, care is guided by pattern recognition, constitutional assessment, and the body’s own responses. The goal is to create the conditions that allow regulation, reorganization, and more effective self-response to emerge.

Acupuncture may support chronic pain, stress-related conditions, hormonal imbalance, digestive concerns, sleep disruption, and periods of physical or emotional transition.

Chinese and Western Herbs

Herbal medicine is an important part of my clinical work and is always prescribed with care. Chinese herbal medicine differs from most Western herbal traditions in that herbs are rarely used alone. Instead, they are combined into formulas, often containing five to fifteen herbs which are designed to work synergistically and adapt to your specific pattern.

Formulas are customized for each patient and may change over time as the body responds. The selection, dosage, and proportion of herbs are guided by constitutional assessment, symptom presentation, and ongoing observation rather than a fixed recipe.

I primarily use plant- and mineral-based herbs and intentionally avoid animal-derived substances. When appropriate, Western herbs may be incorporated, particularly when high-quality organic Chinese herbs are unavailable, always chosen to complement the overall treatment strategy.

Ethical sourcing & quality

Care for the body is inseparable from care for the environment. I am committed to ethical sourcing and do not use medicinal substances derived from endangered species or from practices that cause harm to living beings.

All herbs are sourced from suppliers that meet strict quality and safety standards, with a strong preference for certified organic cultivation whenever possible. This ensures that the medicine you receive is both effective and free from unnecessary contaminants such as pesticides or heavy residues.

Flexible, patient-centered use

Herbal medicine can be prepared in a variety of forms to suit your needs and lifestyle, including granules, powders, teas, or capsules. Recommendations are made collaboratively, with attention to ease of use, tolerance, and long-term sustainability.

Herbs are prescribed to support regulation, nourishment, and resilience, working alongside acupuncture to help the body reorganize and respond more effectively over time.

Chinese and Western herbal medicine may support hormonal balance, digestion, immune function, stress response, sleep, and recovery from chronic or complex conditions.

Functional Medicine

Functional medicine offers a way to understand how individual physiology, biochemistry, and genetics influence health over time. Rather than focusing solely on diagnosis, this approach looks at how systems interact and how small, informed adjustments can support resilience and prevent future imbalance.

One area where functional medicine can be especially helpful is in the interpretation of genetic data. Certain genetic variations, known as polymorphisms, can influence how the body processes nutrients, detoxifies, or responds to stress. A well-known example is the MTHFR polymorphism, which may affect folate metabolism and, in some individuals, contribute to clotting tendencies, mood changes, or reproductive challenges.

When clinically appropriate, identifying such patterns can guide targeted support, such as specific forms of B vitamins, nutritional adjustments, or lifestyle changes, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. These kinds of refinements can help reduce strain on the system and support healthier physiological expression over time.

Functional medicine can also inform decision-making around medication response. In certain cases, genetic insights may help clarify how an individual is likely to metabolize specific medications, including some used in the treatment of depression or cancer. This information can support more personalized, thoughtful care in collaboration with prescribing providers.

Overall, functional medicine is used here as a tool for prevention, optimization, and informed choice, helping patients better understand their bodies and participate actively in their own care. Genetic information is never treated as destiny, but as one layer of insight that can guide more precise and compassionate support.

Functional medicine may support hormonal balance, cardiovascular health, mood regulation, fertility, and long-term disease prevention through individualized assessment and care.