May 5, 2020
In today's episode, we meet Lindsay Bierwert, a licensed Acupuncturist at Lotus Acupuncture. She has been practicing for 3 years in Charlotte after receiving a dual Master's degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She found Acupuncture and Chinese herbs at the end of her college career when a professor recommended it to her while finding support for herself with the treatments.
Lindsay enjoys the holistic view of her clients. She spends time with each person listening to the challenges they are coming in with as well as the stories they tell regarding their history. She believes a person's history as well as diet, exercise, digestion, sleep all affect each other and the chief complaint. Lindsay was inspired during her trip to China to see how integrated Acupuncture is in the medical model there.
"There are things that we can do to help your body relearn and adjust and regulate its hormones properly."
We learn that herbal medicine is made up of twigs, roots, leaves, and flowers in a specialized concoction as a complement to the work done with Acupuncture. The herbs can help expedite the process and provide relief in between treatments. She discusses the actual needles that are used and reports that ~30 Acupuncture needles can fit into the opening of a hypodermic needle. About 20 needles are placed in the body in specific locations depending on the chief complaint and the session can last anywhere from 30-40 minutes. Lindsay describes the treatment process starting a 1x week for approximately 12 weeks before tapering, but notes that each person has a different response. She describes that with Acupuncture,
"We are accessing your body's natural ability to heal itself. Your body was designed to heal itself and to be healthy. It doesn't like being autoimmune or having an immune issue."
She is passionate about working with young women who would like support around menstrual cycle issues, anxiety, and depression. We learn that Acupuncture can support many areas including pain, allergies, digestion, emotional struggles to name a few. Lindsay offers a free consultation to anyone who is interested in learning how Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help them.
Lindsay suggests the book "The Web that has no Weaver" by Ted Kaptchuk and the podcast "Qiological" hosted by Michael Max both for more information on Acupuncture and Chinese medicine. In the Charlotte community, she has been inspired by Cori Stuart, a Reiki practitioner, and Laura Puckett, an Acupuncturist and owner of Lotus Acupuncture. In her opinion, both of this women help their clients access parts of themselves in unique and special ways. Lindsay loves the Charlotte community because of the diversity and acceptance of people.