Michelle Medina
Pronouns
she/her
Location
San Francisco, CA
education / certification
California Board Certified Acupuncturist
Certified Mayan Abdominal Massage
Master of Science, Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, mayan abdominal massage
words you live by:
We’re all just walking each other home. -Ram Dass
areas of expertise:
Fertility, reproductive health, pre & post-natal care, pain management, emotional imbalances, and general wellness
what/who inspired you to become a chinese medicine practitioner?
I learned about self-healing as a child, observing my grandmother use herbs from her backyard to make teas and liniments and use food as remedies for day-to-day ailments. I massaged my family members as a kid and was always curious about the body. This curiosity endured and I learned about health on my own, experimenting with food and herbs as I entered adulthood.
Beginning in college, I took several massage and energy work classes. Eventually, I tried acupuncture after I was in a car accident. I realized Chinese Medicine was something I wanted to pursue and share with others after experiencing an improvement and noticing the positive impact on my physical and emotional body. After several years of social work I took the plunge into Chinese Medicine and haven’t looked back.
what do you love about collaborative care?
The ability to treat a patient holistically. Being able to bounce ideas off other teammates, gaining more understanding and clarity about a patient’s situation, offering a different perspective that can make a difference, and have a patient feel the most supported.
what is something that you love helping your patients with?
I love being a witness for patients as they grow their families. I’ve always been a “helper” and being able to share what I know to give people agency, helping them advocate for their own health is a very satisfying feeling. I see the work I do with patients as starting a ripple in a pool of water, where I can have an effect on them, which will then impact their immediate circle, and then touch their whole community.
what inspires your work?
My grandmother and teachers have inspired me to delve deeper into healing arts, and now I see living life in good health as a necessity. Being a woman in America inspires me. At times it feels subversive just knowing how the reproductive system works, and if I can help people be more connected to their bodies I know I am fighting a good fight.
what is your self care ritual?
My self-care toolkit includes journaling, eating with pleasure, practicing Iyengar yoga, walking the Marin Headlands, tending to my garden. I am a shy extrovert and find connecting with people I care about really grounds me.
what are you reading/listening to right now?
I’ve recommended Exit West by Mohsin Hamid to everyone looking for a good read lately, and I’ve recently started reading books by Louise Erdrich. I’ve been enjoying listening to On Being, Ologies, and fertility-based podcasts lately, but my guilty pleasure is listening to true crime.