Inger Giffin M.S., Licensed Acupuncturist, Dipl. Ac.

Acupuncture & Energy Medicine Training:

-Master of Oriental Medicine, Five Branches Institute, CA
-Graduate University of California, Santa Cruz:  Biology
-Herbal Internship, ZheJiang TCM University, HangZhou, China
-Reiki Master
-Energy Medicine certification program

Experience:

-7 years in Women’s Health Clinic
-2 years General Medicine Clinic
-3 years private practice

Lecturer:

-Guest speaker; ZheJiang TCM University, China
-Ongoing class series:
“Introduction to Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine”
“Chinese Herbal Secrets”
“Five Elements:  Unraveling the Mystery of Your Psychi”
“Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture”
“Chinese Medicine for Weight and Pain Management”
-Guest Lecturer, Women’s Health Class; Cabrillo College, CA; 1999
-Lecturer, Women’s Health Series Classes; Blaine Street Women’s Correctional Facility; 1999
-Lecturer, “History of Women’s Health Movement”; Santa Cruz Women’s Health Center; 1998

Memberships:

-American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

-California State Oriental Medical Association

Volunteer Work:

-Health Educator, Guatemala, 2001

-Health Educator/Patient Assistant, Women’s Health Center,1997

Inger Giffin L.A.c, began studying holistic medicine in 1993, in the days when most people had not even heard of the term.  “When I first began studying and people would ask what my focus was, I would get blank stares over and over again when I said “acupuncture”.  But in the last 17 years, she has seen acupuncture go from a truly “alternative” form, used by a select few already immersed in the practices of natural living, to a mainstream practice that is now being supported by even the top medical schools in the country.

In fact, the terminology used to describe Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture in the western medical world has even changed from “alternative” to “complementary”.  This means that it is no longer being seen as an alternative to the “real” form of medicine (western medicine), but as a viable and effective adjunct to all the other therapies a patient may be receiving.  This is very exciting for Inger, as a major inspiration for her work was the fact that what was being offered by conventional medicine was doing nothing to empower people or take their reliance off the medical system. With western medicine’s current embracing of the medicine, more and more people are able to turn to it for healing, and thus empower themselves to become their own healers. “If the acupuncture helps someone feel better, and I can teach people to tune into their body’s ability to create balance, and then they take that home and make a tiny change which results in the quality of their life improving, then my day was worth it.  Because when they start feeling better, and therefore enjoying their lives more, they become better parents, friends, workers…and that spreads out into their community, and they can then become teachers for others…that’s what makes this work so fulfilling.”

Inger has treated thousands of people successfully and has traveled teaching seminars on acupuncture and herbal medicine.  “People are thirsty for this medicine…they are desperate for something other than what they’ve been given.  They come to my seminars, I answer their questions, and even if they’re skeptical, they’re willing to try because they have no other choices…after their treatments they end up dragging their husbands or children in because they’re amazed by what this medicine can do.”

Inger was originally licensed in the state of California, which has the most stringent requirements for licensure of all the states.  She still maintains her California license and also holds licensure in Colorado.  She is also a Master level Reiki practitioner, and is certified in various other forms of hands-on-energy medicine.  Her 7 years working in a western women’s clinic has educated her on the common issues facing women, and has enabled her to bridge the gap between herself and providers of conventional medicine.  Inger especially enjoys focusing on treating complex internal medical issues such as migraines, digestive disorders, women’s health issues, fatigue/chronic fatigue, and fibromyalgia.  She is also thrilled to have recently completed an Advanced Herbal Internship at the ZheJiang TCM University, in HangZhou, China, which is the third top medical school in that country.  Her studies included hospital rounds in the Internal Medicine, Gynecology, Gastrointesinal, and Respiratory departments.

In keeping with her beliefs that holistic health includes the health of one’s community and environment, Inger is committed to making her practice as “green” as possible.  She also helps organize the local chapter of the International “Slow Food” organization, which encourages people to return to eating more locally and sustainably produced foods.  She believes that eating whole, clean foods that are right for your constitution, is the foundation of wellness, and counsels patients on which foods they need to focus on.  In that vain, she is in the process of writing a (cook)book which will focus on Chinese balanced-based dietary principles and making eating healthy foods fun!In her spare time, you can find her jogging through the local trails, in the garden, cooking delectable foods, attempting (mostly unsuccessfully) to become a bicycle commuter, or snuggling with Tintica, her beautiful green-eyed kitty!