Credentials
DEGREES
AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine
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Doctor of Acupuncture with Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (DAcCHM) (Honors), Summa Cum Laude
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Chengdu University School of TCM Immersion
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Master of Acupuncture with Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (MAcCHM), Magna Cum Laude
University of Texas at Austin
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Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies and Government, Plan I Honors
LICENSE
Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) with the Texas Medical Board (TMB)
NCCAOM Diplomate
CERTIFICATIONS
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National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer and Nutritional Coach (NASM-CPT, CNC)
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Functional Medicine Practitioner (CFMP)
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Wahls Protocol Health Practitioner
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Brain Health Professional Coach
Something New.
I fainted, and they thought I was just hot. I fainted again, and they said to eat more salt. 7 more times and a couple of concussions later, no new advice. Blood pressure dipping to 70 over 30, skin irritated, itching, and splitting open, still no root cause. My body said, "But wait, there's more!" My left pupil began dilating randomly, and around the same time, I learned the joy of brain fog, tremors, migraines, and tension headaches. In my twenties, my health was in decline with no path forward and no answers. Every test was normal.
I was pre-med at UT, and while following a physician, I had my first seizure. In the ER, I asked, "Why is this happening to me?" The answer? "Some people are just wired that way." After that day, I tried something new: a marriage of functional medicine and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). While both are more mainstream now, back then, I was firmly against the grain. After a lot of change, work, and being willing to be different, I've enjoyed clear skin and being blissfully vertical and headache-free since.
Something Different.
"In an ideal world, living a full, healthful life would not be hard. Unfortunately, our greatest struggles may come from our health. But sometimes, those struggles propel us toward a new path, to transform."
Helping Others.
It's been almost 15 years since I left that ER wanting something different. So many wellness articles talk about being brave. I can honestly say I have never felt brave, just unlucky and in desire of something more. I was bold enough to seek it out, and looking back now, knowing it takes 10 to 15 years for research to reach the clinic room, I realize thinking outside the box was my only option.
I am incredibly grateful to have been able to study a traditional medicine from a country that is not own and to my amazing mentors who shared their knowledge so freely. Insights gained in those years changed my life and my son's forever. These days, I'm just the resident nerd who loves helping people peel back the layers of their own health journey, still blown away by the incredible impact of holistic approaches for autoimmune and neurological conditions. Good things come from being bold.
Something Bold.
In 2015, we welcomed our son into the world, and during a very long birth, he suffered a large stroke. I found myself in a familiar place of very little options. After more research on PubMed and looking into alternative approaches, we started acupuncture at 5 months. I went to China to follow in the teaching hospital in Chengdu. Then, I came home and researched more: American Sign Language (ASL) in nonverbal autism, nutritional approaches to traumatic brain injuries, and sensory processing. After more learning, more reading, and more of trying the bold options, we've had great outcomes. With cerebral palsy as a result of his stroke, we didn't know if our son would be able to walk. He runs with our border collie, has incredible receptive language, and uses his AAC to make his voice heard.
