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Kirsten Cowan, L.Ac
I have been a community activist and advocate
since childhood.
In my twenties I became ill with undiagnosable symptoms, and after seeing specialist after specialist I finally became a patient of natural medicine (like many people, it was the 'last thing I tried'!). I discovered the amazing empowerment and well-being that came from the perspective it offered: that we are whole beings, not collections of defective body parts and troublesome symptoms, and that health and wellness are part of a process of self-development and interconnection.
The combination of rigorous scholarship and life-affirming wholism presented by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) attracted me to TCM. I have also had a lifelong interest in Chinese medicine, having lived in Hong Kong from the age of 10 to 13, and seeing at that time all around me lives lived with the benefit of its herbal and food based healing practices.
At Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine I completed a rigorous 5 year training program combining traditional Chinese medicine theory and diagnosis, anatomy and physiology, acupuncture theory and practice, herbal medicine and herb-drug interactions, western medicine, clinical assesment, body work, and practices of energetic healing such as tai chi. I completed over 1000 hours of clinical training treating patients, including 3 months treating patients with HIV/AIDS at the Being Alive Center in West Hollywood, who benefit immensely from acupuncture. After graduation (where I was chosen by my class to give the student address) I passed the California Acupuncture Board licensing exam, recognized as one of the world's most stringent.
In my twenties I became ill with undiagnosable symptoms, and after seeing specialist after specialist I finally became a patient of natural medicine (like many people, it was the 'last thing I tried'!). I discovered the amazing empowerment and well-being that came from the perspective it offered: that we are whole beings, not collections of defective body parts and troublesome symptoms, and that health and wellness are part of a process of self-development and interconnection.
The combination of rigorous scholarship and life-affirming wholism presented by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) attracted me to TCM. I have also had a lifelong interest in Chinese medicine, having lived in Hong Kong from the age of 10 to 13, and seeing at that time all around me lives lived with the benefit of its herbal and food based healing practices.
At Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine I completed a rigorous 5 year training program combining traditional Chinese medicine theory and diagnosis, anatomy and physiology, acupuncture theory and practice, herbal medicine and herb-drug interactions, western medicine, clinical assesment, body work, and practices of energetic healing such as tai chi. I completed over 1000 hours of clinical training treating patients, including 3 months treating patients with HIV/AIDS at the Being Alive Center in West Hollywood, who benefit immensely from acupuncture. After graduation (where I was chosen by my class to give the student address) I passed the California Acupuncture Board licensing exam, recognized as one of the world's most stringent.
About me
Photos by Denise Cicuto
Why my medicine is different
The healing I practice is effective, energizing, empowering, and
ecologically sustainable.
Effective: I use alternative medicine and techniques that have been proven safe and effective to relieve pain and symptoms and address underlying health conditions.
Energizing: Every treatment incorporates care, relaxation, and rejuvenation, using essential oils, massage, and guided meditation, so your heart and soul can calm while your body heals.
Empowering: I will work with you to overcome the habits and patterns that are holding you back from total health. I will never give you a list of 'don'ts' - I am your partner in creating a new way of living that truly sustains you.
Ecologically Sustainable: Good for you, good for the planet - I have worked hard to find sustainable sources for the herbal medicine I prescribe. The herbs in my practice are certified organic, and come from local Bay Area growers, or sustainable family farms in China. I don't want to worry about pesticide residue, heavy metals, environmental degredation or human rights abuses, and neither should you. The other benefits? Just like fresh, local, organic food tastes better and is more nutritious, local and organic herbs are more powerful.
Effective: I use alternative medicine and techniques that have been proven safe and effective to relieve pain and symptoms and address underlying health conditions.
Energizing: Every treatment incorporates care, relaxation, and rejuvenation, using essential oils, massage, and guided meditation, so your heart and soul can calm while your body heals.
Empowering: I will work with you to overcome the habits and patterns that are holding you back from total health. I will never give you a list of 'don'ts' - I am your partner in creating a new way of living that truly sustains you.
Ecologically Sustainable: Good for you, good for the planet - I have worked hard to find sustainable sources for the herbal medicine I prescribe. The herbs in my practice are certified organic, and come from local Bay Area growers, or sustainable family farms in China. I don't want to worry about pesticide residue, heavy metals, environmental degredation or human rights abuses, and neither should you. The other benefits? Just like fresh, local, organic food tastes better and is more nutritious, local and organic herbs are more powerful.