Michiko Marx

When I was in junior high school, I had a kidney disease and was forced to live a life with many restrictions, such as no PE class and strict salt-reduced diet. Fortunately, the kidney issue went away in a few years, and I could return to a normal school life with no restrictions. Because of this experience, I was more aware of the importance of health.

After growing up, I had several unpleasant symptoms. It was not a disease, but the symptoms were very annoying.  I saw a few doctors for these symptoms, but none of them gave me clear diagnosis nor treatments. One doctor prescribed medication to reduce the symptoms. When I took it, some of the symptoms disappeared, but they came back when I stopped it. Since I didn’t want to keep taking the medicine, I stopped it and had to live with the symptoms.

After I came to the United States and started studying Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) at University of East-West Medicine in Sunnyvale, I found those symptoms can be explained and treated in TCM. The TCM diagnosis made sense to me and I was very happy. I got acupuncture treatments from the teacher at the school’s clinic, treated myself with acupuncture and herbs, and made some tweaks in my diet and lifestyle. In a few months, symptoms were significantly reduced. When they come back, they are much lighter and more manageable.

I believe holistic medicine helps us to improve/maintain our health, and prevents us from developing disease. As a TCM practitioner,  I am very interested in helping people around me with acupuncture, herbs, cupping, moxibustion, and other effective modalities depending on patients’ conditions. I wish all of us can enjoy a life full of energy and fun, and free from pain and disease.

In my spare time, I enjoy hiking and playing tennis. I love eating and I’m exploring recipes for simple, healthy and tasty dishes.  Food is medicine for me.