Education:
Julie graduated in 2002 with a Masters of Science Degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego, California. Since graduating Julie has studied extensively with Dr. Tan and practices the Balance Method, a highly effective style of acupuncture that is not taught in schools.
My Story:
In 1997 I suffered from Narcolepsy. I tried everything western medicine had to offer me. I went to specialists, I took many different kinds of medications, nothing helped. I finally got to a point where my life didn’t feel worth living and I was desperate. On a whim, I tried acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Within a month I started getting my life back, my sleep cycles started to regulate and the extreme fatigue was lifting. Within three months I did have my life back and I fell in love with Chinese medicine! I started school the very next semester and have never looked back. I have continued treatments off and on and I am always conscious of maintaining my health and sleep. Over 20 years later I am still benefitting. Chinese medicine has been such a blessing in my life and I look forward to helping as many people as I can become aware of what a beautiful and powerful medicine it is.
Suzanne’s Story:
My studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine began at Heartwood Institute in 1995 when the Asian Healing Arts program was only one trimester in the larger healing arts programs being offered at the school. I was suffering from chronic neck and shoulder pain from minor automobile injuries and shoulder dislocations. By some accounts, I was told that my shoulder would never improve. Six months into the advanced massage therapy program, with receiving near-daily Swedish and Deep Tissue massage, I was likely to agree. Until, I was immersed in the Zen Shiatsu trimester where I was introduced to the foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine, including such aspects as Zang Fu theory, the Chinese dietary principles of food as medicine, Chinese herbology, moxa, fire cupping, and Taiji, as well as the Asian Healing Arts of Zen Shiatsu and Pure Land meditation. Through the application of these aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Asian Healing Arts, I found the means to live pain free. My life was entirely transformed. And, I was deeply inspired. I went on to study further with the founding instructors of the Asian Healing Arts program and authors of Healing with Whole Foods, Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition for the greater part of 4 years and to embark on a career in the healing arts.
Thankfully, my path led to Auburn Community Acupuncture, where I was so inspired by community acupuncture that I became a volunteer receptionist. And, through Julie, found the encouragement I needed to jump into acupuncture school.
Education: Suzanne graduated in 2023 with a Masters of Science Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine which encompasses both acupuncture and herbal medicine. She brings nearly 30 years of experience in providing pain relief by way of Asian bodywork modalities such as Shiatsu, cupping and auricular Tae Shen therapy to her acupuncture practice. As a recent graduate and newly licensed acupuncturist, she is overjoyed and honored to be learning community style acupuncture under Julie’s observation and guidance.
