ABOUT

I received a Masters degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Yo San University in Santa Monica, CA in 1995.  Since then, I have continued to expand my knowledge of the body and explore new methods of treatment.

TCM is a body/mind medicine with a very holistic view of how the body works. From the Traditional Chinese Medicine standpoint, there is a direct correlation between the health and well-being of our minds and bodies. These findings have been validated by current science and continue to be an area of great study.

The principle belief of TCM is that wellness is not merely the absence of disease, but the presence of a vibrant body and mind. There is an ancient saying: “A doctor with ill patients is a bad doctor” because a good practitioner keeps his patients feeling well and content, and free of dis-ease: A radically different approach from that which westerners are accustomed.

From the beginning of my practice I was drawn to ask the question: Why? Why is a person having certain health issues and what is going on at a deeper biochemical level?

At school, I had the opportunity to work with some amazing practitioners and was exposed to some very cutting edge diagnostics. That laid the foundation for me and since then, I have continued to research and explore new methods of testing and treating patients.

Although Traditional Chinese Medicine continues to be the foundation of what I do as a practitioner, since graduating I have spent a great deal of time learning how the body works from a western standpoint: studying blood chemistry, researching Gastrointestinal health, brain health, thyroid conditions, allergies and more.

I have always felt that health and wellness are best achieved through a comprehensive approach and have therefore striven to integrate my understanding of eastern and western medicine. Hence, Integrative Medicine.

I find that many western tests are useful in determining physiological imbalances like hormone deficiencies, the presence of heavy metals, the integrity of the GI tract and the health of the blood. I then layer on to that the energetic principals of TCM, creating a unique, comprehensive treatment plan for my patients.

I now use a wide variety of methods to test and treat my patients.

Some of the additional tools I have added to my foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine are:

NAET allergy identification and treatment for allergies.

Korean Hand Therapy which strong small magnets on the hand to treat all of the health issues I would use needles for. This  is an exceptional way to treat pain and great for those afraid of needles!

Blood Chemistry Testing gives me a great deal of information well beyond a normal lab test, and provides insight into how the body is functioning and what patterns of imbalance exist. For example, while standard testing may show levels within a normal range, Saliva testing, which is used to  assess a persons biological terrain, is an effective way to identify imbalances before they become major health issues. It is also a very effective way to assess hormone function and adrenal health.

Stool Tests are an excellent way to determine if parasites are present and can help identify the cause of digestive imbalances.

Hair Analysis is a useful tool for identifying Heavy Metal Toxicity

Working from a preventative standpoint, these tests often provide me with crucial information that signals future health problems. Western doctors will not run these tests as standard procedure unless a condition has fully developed because, from their perspective, there is no  medical justification for it.  But that kind of mentality ends up costing the patient: in time lost at work, money spent on extreme health procedures, and most importantly, their loss of ease and comfort.

I have found affordable resources for my patients  so they can get the blood tests or radiological testing needed to best assess their health issues.

My goal is to, first, understand the root cause of the problem and then, to correct the issues so you can live a vibrant, pain-free life.

I treat a broad range of conditions, including fertility and GI health issues, asthma, allergies, arthritis, migraines and thyroid problems.  I also have many patients who come to me for basic overall health support and maintenance, whose primary desire is to be healthy, vibrant and alert as they age.

I am passionate about education and feel that ignorance may be bliss, but knowledge is power. My goal is to help all my patients achieve optimal health and then teach them how to maintain it.