Dr. Amy Mager joins The Elevated Practice Podcast to share a rare perspective shaped by decades of clinical work supporting patients at two profound transitions: birth and end-of-life. Through her experiences in acupuncture and Chinese medicine, Dr. Mager reflects on what it truly means to practice with compassion, clarity, and professional responsibility.

With more than 40 years in practice and over 20 years in state and national leadership, Dr. Mager breaks down the real-world frameworks every acupuncturist must navigate: advocacy, networking, referrals, and understanding your scope of practice. She explains why knowing your practice act matters, how strong professional relationships improve patient care, and what it takes to build lasting value and confidence as a provider.

The conversation also tackles one of the most common (and confusing) questions patients ask: “What about dry needling?” Dr. Mager walks us through the history of dry needling, how it impacts the profession, and exactly how to respond when patients say they’re considering dry needling with a physical therapist.

Finally, Dr. Mager offers a clear call to action: get involved. She outlines why participation in state organizations is essential for protecting the profession, shaping policy, and strengthening our collective voice. Whether you’re newly licensed, a seasoned practitioner, or even a student, this episode will leave you with practical steps to improve your care, grow your confidence, and help elevate acupuncture as a respected medical profession.

Find more about Dr. Amy Mager at:

wellnesshousenorthampton.com

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Dr. Thomas Avery Garran brings his unique background researching, growing, farming, and processing herbal medicine in China to this discussion of considerations for cultivation and processing of Chinese herbs in North America . Dr Garran is one of a handful of individuals involved with spearheading research in the domestic production of Chinese Herbal medicine, and he discusses challenges of scaling herbal production, the importance of growing conditions, and the need for research into the chemistry of domestically grown herbs, along with the significance of Daodi practices and the potential for domestic herbal medicine to thrive with the right resources and community involvement.

You’ll learn about the history and conditions of herbal cultivation and processing in China, the challenges of replicating those conditions here in the states, and what considerations must be accounted for when considering how to scale domestic herbal production. Dr Garran explains the similarity of cultivating medicinal herbs to painstakingly producing a fine wine, and the importance of terroir. You’ll learn why it’s not easy to just throw some seeds in the ground and produce consistent herbal medicine. Dr Garran even shares some surprising examples of unique knowledge necessary for processing each species.

This interview not only highlights the potential strategies for growing Chinese Herbs in the States, but also takes the listener on Dr Garran’s journey from clinician and student to researcher, farmer, and teacher, aligning his life through the decades with the plant kingdom. It is impossible to complete listening to this interview without gaining some insight and shared reverence for the awesomeness of plants.

Learn more about Thomas Avery Garran PhD:

https://herb-whisperer.com/about/thomas_avery_garran

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Did our ancestors treat spooky ghost possession? And how creepy are Gu? Just in time for Halloween, in this episode, Dr. Lorraine Wilcox takes Gretchen down a path interweaving metaphysical beliefs with creepy crawly bodily infestations as they travel two millennia back in time to understand the historical and cultural significance of Ghosts and Gu in East Asian medicine. Did all doctors believe in ghosts? And how does someone know if they’re infested with Gu?

Lorraine and Gretchen explore the origins of these concepts, their evolution over time, and how they intersect with traditional healing practices. The conversation delves into the role of ancestors, the definition of Gu, and the surprising gender dynamics surrounding these beliefs. They discuss historical treatments and modern interpretations of Gu since the Ming and Qing dynasties, emphasizing the ongoing relevance of these ancient ideas in contemporary society, and explore Gu’s intersection with ghostly beliefs. They discuss the role of women in traditional medicine, and how cultural interpretations and social norms shape our understanding of mental illness and aberrant behavior. Lorraine even shares stories where doctors pondered how to deal with patients who dreamed about risqué interactions with ghosts!

As is her specialty, Lorraine gives illuminating scholarly insight into ancient practices and takes us on a journey leading to modern medical contexts, emphasizing the importance of preserving historical knowledge while adapting it for contemporary use.

Learn more about Dr. Wilcox on her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LorraineWilcox/videos

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In this illuminating episode of The Elevated Practice Podcast, host Dr. Gretchen Badami speaks with veteran acupuncturist, herbalist, and educator Cara Frank, founder of Six Fishes Healing Arts, China Herb Company, and China Herb Seminars.

With over four decades of clinical experience and teaching, Cara has shaped the landscape of herbal medicine in the United States. Their conversation centers on her newest passion project — a comprehensive Ophthalmology Course that demystifies how Chinese herbal medicine can address eye and vision disorders such as myopia, cataracts, visual fatigue, dry eye, and degenerative eye disease.

Cara shares the thinking process behind selecting and modifying formulas for eye conditions — from using Ding Zhi Wan to treat myopia with emotional roots, to differentiating damp-heat and deficiency patterns in red or cloudy eyes. She explains how classical theory, modern research, and her decades of clinical insight come together to help practitioners build confidence in diagnosing and prescribing herbs for complex internal conditions.

This discussion also touches on:

• Pattern-based reasoning in ocular medicine

• Preventive herbal approaches for early-stage cataracts and visual decline

• Practical guidance on dosage, form selection, and patient compliance

• Creative applications like herbal foot soaks, glycerin formulas for children, and bone-broth prescriptions that extend herbal care beyond the clinic

  
  

Whether you’re an herbalist, acupuncturist, or student, this episode will expand your perspective on what’s possible when ancient herbal wisdom meets modern ophthalmology — and inspire you to see the medicine through new eyes.

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Learn more about Cara Frank at;

https://sixfishes.com/cara-frank/

Part II of a 2-part series with Jean Giblette continues from where in Part I (7/22/25) we last discussed the recent US history of growing Chinese Medicinal Botanicals, and Part II moves in-depth into the challenges and opportunities of domestic herb cultivation, the importance of preserving genetic diversity, and the role of farmers, universities, manufacturers, and practitioners in this burgeoning industry.

Over the past 30 years, Jean has been at the forefront of efforts to receive grants and funding, garner university support for research, and advocating for ecological farming practices and genetic diversity. Actionable items include practical steps and opportunities for practitioners to support the industry, as well as building networks and recognizing opportunities to support the domestic herbal cultivation. Learn how traditional knowledge and modern science can come together to protect our planet’s medicinal botanicals and sustain and grow Chinese medicinal botanicals in the US. Listen to the full episode to learn how you can support the domestic production of Chinese Medicinal Herbs and contribute to a sustainable future for herbal medicine.

Learn more about Jean;

info@highfallsgardens.net

zaishengherbs.com

highfallsgardens.net

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In this episode Gretchen interviews Dr. Ed Neal, an MD who, shortly after Med school, began his lifelong journey studying, translating, and decoding Chinese Medicine texts and bridging modern medicine with the ancient wisdom of the Nei Jing. He shares how his understanding and practice of East Asian Medicine has been informed through an ever changing and deepening understanding of the Inner Cannon through the process of Text Archaeology.

Dr. Neal explains how the understanding of modern diseases, and even the modern human existential condition itself, can be reframed and experienced through the stories from which we create meaning and understanding in our world, sharing examples of practical application with oncology patients.

Dr. Neal not only guides his patients through a paradigm shift of their diagnoses, but he is an educator and developer of the Apricot Grove, a community of practitioners, artists, and inquisitive minds who desire to apply nature-based medicine to not only healthcare, but to life itself, through reconnecting individuals with their own human stories within the greater cosmos.

Part 1 of a 2-part series discusses the recent US history of growing herbal medicinals from the Chinese Medicine Pharmacopia. Jean Giblette, trained in TCM and having devoted her life to growing and advocating for domestic production, shares the timeline and players involve with bringing Chinese medicinals to the US, national challenges and successes throughout the decades, and logistics involved with successful ecological agriculture.

Jean begins by giving the listener an understanding of parallels in interest between the organic earth movement of the 1970’s and interest in acupuncture and natural medicine, how in the 1990’s many of the seedlings and plants made it from China to select small farms and gardens around the US, and the obstacles to domestic herb cultivation. She shares past successes and failures of grants, research and partnerships with federal and state organizations, and the problematic influence of agribusiness and our financialized economy on ecological agriculture. She explains many of the nuances of growing Chinese herbal medicinals, and the multiple benefits and timely nature of why we need to find a way to move forward with domestic production.

Part II will build off this episode, delving deeper into current-day global and domestic issues, and what steps practitioners, farmers, manufacturers, and legislators can take to support production of domestic herbs. This 2-part series is a must-listen for all practitioners of East Asian herbal medicine as we protect our access to herbs in an age of ever-growing economic uncertainty and global trade wars, to not only educate ourselves but find practical ways to become involved and unite as a professional community.

Jean’s Info

Websites: zaishengherbs.com and highfallsgardens.net

Email: info@highfallsgardens.net

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Acupuncturist and herbalist Michael Arsenault shares his journey of how he found Chinese medicine and developed his successful line of natural herbal skincare products, Emily's Skin Soothers.

A martial arts injury led Michael to study acupuncture and herbs, where his most important patient became his daughter, Emily. A homemade pediatric eczema formula was his first product, and what follows is Michael’s journey into business and entrepreneurship. Michael shares how he got his products promotion in the press and prime real estate on grocery store shelves, how to avoid marketing costs and the costs of product research, and practical tips of how to overcome challenges creating and scaling his natural skincare business. Eventually expanding to other products, he shares the story of how he successfully got his products into Whole Foods, and you’ll find out it was not just luck! As the icing on the cake of this amazing product success story, you’ll also hear about the unexpected celebrity endorsement (!) that topped off his business success.

This interview documents the success of a father who healed his daughter, and used his success to provide natural healing to skin conditions throughout the country. Emily’s Skin Soothers is a nationwide brand that credits its success to the humility, commitment to natural healing, (good luck), and savvy business sense of a loving Dad.

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Want to lean more about Mike and Emily Skin Soothers?

https://emilyskinsoothers.com/

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