My Certifications

Diplomate of Asian Bodywork Therapy

A Diplomate of Asian Bodywork Therapy is a practitioner who is certified by the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (NCBAHM®). It is a considerable professional achievement to earn the designation Diplomate of Asian Bodywork (NCBAHM). NCBAHM certification indicates to employers, patients, and peers that one has met national standards for the safe and competent practice of Asian bodywork therapy as defined by the acupuncture and herbal medicine (AHM) profession. For additional information, about the Diplomate of Asian Bodywork Therapy, please visit the NCBAHM Website.

Diplomate of Chinese Herbology

A Diplomate of Chinese Herbology is a practitioner who is certified by the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (NCBAHM®). It is a considerable professional achievement to earn the designation Diplomate of Chinese Herbology (NCBAHM). NCBAHM certification indicates to employers, patients, and peers that one has met national standards for the safe and competent practice of Chinese herbology as defined by the acupuncture and herbal medicine (AHM) profession. For additional information, about the Diplomate of Chinese Herbology, please visit the NCBAHM Website.

Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine

Doctors of Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine

Doctors of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine are trained in the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and modern biomedical sciences. They take a whole-person approach to care—considering symptoms alongside factors such as sleep, stress, movement, digestion, energy, health history, and lifestyle.

Their training includes acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, point location, anatomy, physiology, pathology, clinical assessment, and integrative care. Doctoral programs in this field combine advanced study of acupuncture and herbal medicine with biomedical education and evidence-informed clinical practice.[bridgeport +1]

At a3 Acu Wellness, care is personalized rather than one-size-fits-all. Your practitioner listens closely to your concerns, identifies patterns that may be contributing to imbalance or discomfort, and develops a treatment plan aligned with your health goals. Depending on your needs and applicable scope of practice, care may include acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, lifestyle guidance, nutritional support, and adjunctive East Asian medicine therapies.

An Integrative Approach

An integrative approach combines the strengths of biomedicine and acupuncture-based care in a coordinated, patient-centered plan. Rather than replacing conventional medicine, acupuncture is used alongside appropriate medical evaluation, diagnosis, medications, physical therapy, laboratory testing, and specialist care to support the whole person.[nih +1]

At a3 Acu Wellness, we consider both your medical history and your lived experience—including pain, sleep, stress, movement, digestion, energy, and daily routines—to create care that is personalized, safe, and aligned with your goals.

How It Works

• Medical understanding: We review diagnoses, imaging or laboratory findings when available, medications, treatment history, and care recommendations from your medical providers.

• Chinese medicine perspective: We assess patterns of imbalance through a Traditional Chinese Medicine lens, including the ways symptoms, stress, sleep, digestion, and lifestyle may be interconnected.

• Personalized treatment: Acupuncture may be combined with appropriate Chinese herbal medicine, lifestyle guidance, movement, nutrition support, and restorative practices within your practitioner’s scope of practice.

• Coordinated care: When appropriate, we encourage communication with your physician and other providers—especially when you are managing chronic conditions, taking medications, preparing for a procedure, or receiving specialty care.

• Evidence-informed decisions: Recommendations are guided by clinical judgment, patient preferences, safety considerations, and the best available evidence. Integrative care does not mean using every therapy; it means choosing the right combination of therapies for you.[nih +1]

What This May Look Like

For someone with chronic low-back pain, an integrative plan might include medical evaluation to rule out serious causes, physical therapy or guided movement to restore function, and acupuncture to support pain management and relaxation. Medication decisions remain with the prescribing clinician, while your acupuncture care is tailored to complement—not conflict with—your broader treatment plan.

A Whole-Person Partnership

Integrative care recognizes that health is shaped by more than a diagnosis. It brings together conventional and complementary approaches in a coordinated way, with attention to physical, emotional, and lifestyle needs.[nih]