Andrew Clark L.Ac, LMT, DAOM
My passion for Chinese Medicine developed out of a lifelong interest in the human body; how it works and how to help it work better. That interest moved me to study both biology and dance in college, and was developed further over my 14 years as a professional dancer and teacher of dance in NYC. I started working with Massage Therapy in 2005 and quickly decided that helping others find their way out of injury and illness was to be my life’s work. A four year Doctoral program in East Asian Medicine that included the study of Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine and Bodywork modalities was the next step in my education and now I employ all of those techniques in my clinical practice.
In the hustle and bustle of modern life we often forget the simple joy of life without pain, without anxiety or depression, without digestive or reproductive issues; we forget ourselves. By clearing those barriers away we reconnect with who we were always meant to be.
These are some of the acupuncture techniques and traditions that I often use:
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Tung Lineage Acupuncture: Formerly a secret family lineage of medicine, it was opened up to the world by the renowned acupuncturist Tung Ching Chang in the 1960's when he taught a small number of students in Taiwan. Tung's acupuncture system contains hundreds of points not taught in "traditional" acupuncture schools and focusses on using few needles to create incredibly focussed and powerful treatments. Especially useful in pain conditions and internal medicine, this often forms the "base" of Andrew's treatment plans.
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Motor / Trigger Point Acupuncture: Though this method has traditional roots, it has been further developed by modern research to work with the connection between the nervous system and the muscular system to address Myo-Fascial Pain Syndrome, muscle spasm, chronic and acute muscle imbalances and the postural issues associated with them.
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Scalp and Auricular Acupuncture: Recent developments and research have revealed a number of "microsystems". Scalp acupuncture has been demonstrated as especially effective in neurological disease, post-stroke hemiplegia, vision and hearing issues with a neurological cause and chronic stress conditions. Auricular acupuncture has been the subject of research by numerous organizations including the US military and Addiction Service Providers and has proven to help with harmful habits, addressing post-trauma and post-abuse syndromes and re-balancing the relationship between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
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Electro-Stimulation Acupuncture: Most often used in conjunction with Motor Point Acupuncture or "TCM" acupuncture, E-stim provides gentle stimulation to the points. This stimulation can be used to break cycles of pain and spasm in the muscles, making both massage and other acupuncture treatments more effective. It can also be used to boost the strength of point combinations without the discomfort that may accompany strong needle techniques.
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"TCM" Acupuncture: This is the series of points and techniques most often taught in the West and in China following the Cultural Revolution. While many argue that this system has lost much to the process of streamlining various acupuncture lineages, it retains many useful applications and deserves consideration in any treatment plan.
Degrees:
Doctor of Oriental Medicine
2016, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, San Diego
Masters of Oriental Medicine
2015, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, New York
AOS in Massage Therapy
2009, Swedish Institute, New York
Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Dance and Choreography
2001, Connecticut College
Licenses:
Acupuncture (New York, New Hampshire)
Massage Therapy (New York, New Hampshire)
Certifications:
Diplomate of Oriental Medicine
NCCAOM
Certification in Kyo Jung
2017, Institute for Classical Asian Studies under Dr. Jackowicz
Certification of study at the International Acupuncture Training Center
2015, Beijing China
Pre- Peri- and Post-Natal Massage
2009, Carol Osbourne-Sheets
Post-Graduate Study:
Tung's Acupuncture (2018, Dr. Henry McCann)
Tung’s Acupuncture (2017, Susan Johnson)
Neurofunctional Acupuncture (2016, Dr. Dan Wunderlich)
Awards:
Valedictorian Award (2015)
Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, NY