Women in Wellness: Meet Dr. Ashley!
Why acupuncture might be the missing link to your wellness routine
I’m so excited to share my first Women in Wellness feature with my community! I’ll be highlighting a different female in the wellness space each month and sharing their story. My first feature is someone who has been so integral in my healing journey, and I’m thrilled for you to meet Dr. Ashley, Acupuncturist and Doctor of Chinese Medicine and founder of The Acupuncture Nest in San Diego!
As a 3rd generation resident in Point Loma, Dr. Ashley takes pride in being of service to the local neighborhood. She works with individuals who are stressed and in daily discomfort to rebalance their bodies using acupuncture, herbs, and ancient Chinese Medicine techniques. Dr. Ashley integrates this 3,000-year-old practice to the current medical needs of each patient. She’s not only treating the symptoms, but her gentle approach also focuses on healing the mind, body, and spirit.
What I love about Dr. Ashley is that she takes time before every session to listen and get a big picture of any health complaints or ailments that you are experiencing. Her studio is so calming and her energy is so welcoming. I feel like I’m catching up with a friend at each session and often forget I’m her patient! Once we’ve gone over how I’m feeling, she strategically places the needles on points of the body customized to my specific needs. This re-establishes the circulation and effectively brings the body back into balance naturally and safely. Dr. Ashley is a wealth of knowledge and I always leave each session with resources and tactical recommendations custom to my health.
Dr. Ashley has graciously taken time to answer some common questions around acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. Let’s learn about how this wellness practice may just be the missing link to your holistic health routine.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient Eastern medical therapy that involves the use of tiny sterile needles to activate key areas of the body to alleviate discomforts and optimize the health of body systems. Acupuncture is used to regulate the central nervous system, promote circulation, decrease inflammation, and lesson tension (including physical and emotional). With this holistic and balancing approach, the body can be highly receptive to healing.
Who can benefit from acupuncture?
Anyone can benefit from acupuncture, and I mean it! If you have any discomforts in the body acupuncture can help. Everything from inflammation, nervous system dysregulation, stress, pain, immunity dysfunctions, reproductive issues, mood shifts, digestion discomforts, life transitions, and even cosmetic aging. Acupuncture is an all-natural solution for instant relief and helps rebalance, recharge, and recover.
How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture treats pain by activating your brain to release your own body’s natural pain killers (natural opioids), dump your body’s natural feel good hormones (serotonin and dopamine), and activates your parasympathetic nervous system (also known as “rest an digest”) to enhance circulation throughout the body.
Acupuncture can help change your body’s response to stress, helping you naturally get into the parasympathetic state, which is ultimately where all the healing in your body happens.
How often do you recommend someone receive treatment to see the full benefit?
My answer of course always varies, we are all very different and each condition differs. People heal at different rates based on age, lifestyle, previous medical history, etc. After an in-depth initial assessment, I will have a pretty good idea about the amount of treatments needed and tailor the plan accordingly. But I would say on average most people experience profound benefits after 10-12 treatments, then come back for maintenance treatments to maintain progress (which varies every 2-8 weeks).
I find that my clients who follow the acupuncture treatment plan, take an herbal formula prescription daily, and follow the lifestyle and dietary recommendations provided are the ones reaping the true benefits and full power of their regulation with Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. Acupuncture is cumulative – each treatment builds on the next, so if you want lasting results (especially with an ongoing chronic condition), you must commit to a treatment plan.
What led you to become a Dr. of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine?
My interest in medicine began at a very early age when my younger sister was diagnosed with a genetic disorder where she seized and was sick for most of her infancy. Watching my sister’s success with homeopathic care convinced my family and I that this would be our method of care for the family. Chiropractic, homeopathic, acupuncture, and herbal remedies aided us in a way traditional medicine never could, blessing my family, and sister with health and joy.
In 2009 I was rear-ended in an auto accident, resulting in over two years of chronic neck pain and I found myself looking at life very negatively. Remembering my sister’s hardships I turned to acupuncture, massage, and Chinese herbal formulas. These alternative modalities brought me the results I had been longing for. These methods left me feeling powerful and positive. I was able to find vitality within myself again.
I knew I wanted to work in the healthcare industry but once I saw the full range of care Chinese Medicine had to offer, it just clicked that this is something I would love to do. Chinese Medicine hits all angles needed for true healing – treating pain, emotional components, and the nervous system. Mind-body-soul approach to wellness is how our ancestors lived thousands of years ago and I want to share its power to the world.
“In life, we have experiences that bring us joy and fulfillment, and naturally, we want to share these experiences with others.”
I thrive helping patients in the same way my family was helped. In life, we have experiences that bring us joy and fulfillment, and naturally, we want to share these experiences with others. My personal growth and success with holistic health is what I want to share, more specifically with the knowledge and expertise in the field of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and Acupuncture. This is something I am deeply passionate about sharing with the world.
What is your favorite part about treating clients?
I feel like I am not working but just doing what I WANT to wake up and do: meeting amazing people who are taking initiative on becoming better forms of themselves by focusing on optimizing their health and wellness. How much better can that get?!
My goal is to help those in my community take charge of their health and enjoy life to their healthiest and fullest potential. My intention with each of my patients is to empower, educate, and be a conduit to their wellness journey. I truly want to see everyone grow into the best version of themselves though mind-body and soul.
My mission is to provide quality care by integrating western science with Traditional Chinese Medicine. I strive to empower my patients with education to promote their wellbeing and longevity, all of which make my job very fulfilling.
Give us one tip from Chinese Medicine that anyone can implement into their daily routine.
Moderating action (Yang) and rest (Yin) is the key to a balanced life. A second tip from me: eat whole unprocessed foods and eat with the seasons.
What does wellness mean to you?
To me wellness is a daily practice of implementing healthy habits to enhance mental and physical outcomes so that you can be and do your best to optimize your quality and quantity of life.
A big thank you to Dr. Ashley for the detailed look into acupuncture and Chinese Medicine! If you live in San Diego and are interested in trying acupuncture for yourself, you can book through her website and be sure to follow her on Instagram @theacupuncturenest for all things acupuncture and TCM tips!