Bio
I have been a competitive runner for over fifteen years and ran Track & Field and Cross Country for Butler University primarily focusing on middle-distance events. At Butler, I studied Psychology and Mandarin Chinese, a combination that would later contribute to my interest in East Asian Medicine and Philosophy. Post-collegiately I have continued to train towards my goals in the sport and maintain a healthy lifestyle of which exercise has been a major component. Running has been an outlet for me and has taught me many life lessons surrounding hard work and dedication to my craft.
During my running career, I dealt with injuries and setbacks thus having to explore many different approaches to healing. Through this journey, I found Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine and it completely changed the way I approached running, injuries, and recovery. The holistic approach of East Asian Medicine provided me with a new perspective on athletics in general and motivated me to eventually focus my Doctorate work on the sport of Running and the use of East Asian Medicine to improve one's running. Not only has this medicine provided extremely effective and practical ways to improve recovery and healing, but the philosophy around the medicine has brought me a deeper appreciation and reverence for the sport. Outside of running, I enjoy roller skating, disc golf, spending time with friends, learning new languages, and exploring new places in nature.
In 2022, I earned my Doctorate degree in Acupuncture with a Specialization in Chinese Herbal Medicine at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM). I am licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Medicine and am a Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).
Blending my history in sport and many years studying the art and philosophy of Chinese Medicine, I have developed a unique style of Acupuncture, bodywork, and herbal consultation for not only athletic needs, but human needs as well with an overarching goal of bringing patients back to a place of balance and comfort in their bodies.
Styles/Influences
While in school, I gravitated towards a few different styles and lineages of Chinese/Japanese Medicine that inform the way I treat.
Dr Tan Balancing Method
Dr Tan Balancing method involves the use of distal points with channel and body region relations, i.e. using points at the elbow for problems with the knee because of their mirrored nature and channel pairing, to treat stagnation and pain.
Qigong
Qi gong, or "qi work" is a style of moving meditation which teaches an individual how to get in touch with inner-workings of the body. This deep awareness is extremely important for both physical and mental health as it allows one to "check in" and better discern the state of their body and mind.
Japanese Style Acupuncture
Primarily informed by palpation, Japanese style Acupuncture involves extensive bodywork. It is distinct in its use of thinner gauged needles and gentle treatments. The use of moxibustion, a warming and blood circulating therapy, is also at the forefront of these treatments.