People are curious about Chinese medicine, and one of the first questions they ask me is, “Does it really work?” Allow me to answer it this way: It can certainly change your life.

In the summer of 2002, I was in a car accident, causing whiplash injury to my neck. As a result, I had two bulging cervical discs that caused a myriad of issues including loss of strength, radiating pain alternating with loss of sensation, and an inhibited lifestyle.

At that time, I had joined a Chinese Kung Fu school in Waukesha called Shao Lin Boxing Methods. The external martial arts had always interested me, and I was enjoying the time I spent there. Needless to say, the neck injury didn’t allow me to continue pursuing the external martial arts where varying degrees of jumping, punching and kicking are required. My Sifu, or teacher, realized this limitation and asked me if I was interested in learning Tai Chi Chuan and Qi Gong, sometimes known as the internal or “soft” arts, instead to help with the healing process.

My recovery process consisted of Chiropractic care, physical therapy and massage therapy; all of these treatments worked to help correct my physical ailments. The Tai Chi Chuan and specific Qi Gong that I was given by my teacher also played a large role in my recovery. I fell wholeheartedly in love with the internal martial arts and the endless array of benefits that one can acquire from them – particularly the journey of evolving mentally, spiritually, and physically. I have been a student of Tai Chi Chuan and Qi Gong since that summer, and have also been fortunate to teach these arts to others for the last five years.

Someone within the school mentioned that there was an acupuncture school in Racine. I had never before entertained any thoughts about changing my profession, but this prompted a response of, “What if…”. I talked with my Sifu – about his understanding concerning acupuncture and the school in Racine. One of the most profound conversations explored the concept of healing… specifically the idea that institutions can generate people who have gained the understanding and knowledge to undertake a profession, but the ability to be accomplished at helping people preserve health needs to come from within. This was a new view for me to consider.

After much reflection, the desire to help and heal people welled up inside; my willingness to share the arts that continued to shape me so much pushed me further. It became a family decision – one that I needed to make with my wife. We had a one-year-old daughter, which obviously commanded time and attention, but together we made the commitment to move forward on the path that would lead me toward becoming a healer.

After graduating from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine in 2008, I contacted the Chiropractors with whom I had become friends during my earlier Chiropractic work from the accident in 2002; they welcomed me and were supportive about integrating my services into their new facility in Brookfield. Talk about coming full circle!

To answer that initial question – yes, Chinese medicine does work. As I have discovered through my own experiences, it works because the approach takes the whole person into consideration. With time, understanding, commitment and guidance, individuals can maintain a happier and healthier existence… they can change their lives.

Could you use a change? When it is time for acupuncture and Chinese medicine to become part of your life, I look forward to working with you.