Asheville’s premier Chinese medicine clinic invites you to revitalize your health.

With their breadth of combined medical experience, our licensed acupuncturists share their collective resources in order to better treat your health issues through Chinese medical care. Our care includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, lifestyle adjustments, and nutritional guidance, as well as other adjunct techniques.

When evaluating you and your health concerns, our licensed acupuncturists take into consideration every aspect of your health. We strongly believe that mind, body, and spirit deserve equal attention, as their interconnection influences both health and disease. With this comprehensive approach, we continue to achieve superior clinical results, while supporting healing on all levels.

What are acupuncture and herbal medicine?

Discover traditional Chinese medicine at its most authentic and effective, right here in Asheville.

Classical Chinese Medicine stems from an ancient Daoist philosophy that views a person as an energy system in which body, mind, and spirit are unified, each influencing and balancing the other. The energy of “Qi” (Chi) is present and circulates throughout the body along specific pathways called meridians. Illness occurs if energy flow becomes blocked or insufficient. Different from Western medical approaches, which attempt to isolate and separate a disease from a person, Chinese medical philosophy emphasizes a holistic approach that treats the person by addressing the body, mind, and spirit as interrelated and connected.

We invite you to explore these many benefits with our talented and devoted team of licensed acupuncturists at the Chinese Acupuncture and Herbology Clinic in Asheville, Hendersonville, and Waynesville, NC.

  • AcupunctureMORE

    Single-use, sterile acupuncture needles are placed in acupuncture points to enhance the patient’s capacity to conquer disease, alleviate pain, and find homeostasis.

  • The Largest Herbal Pharmacy in the SoutheastMORE

    Including herbal teas, pills, granules (powders), essential oils, topical applications, and tinctures. Click here to learn more

  • MoxaMORE

    Moxa, or moxibustion, is a technique in which acupuncture points and/or body regions are warmed by burning an herb called Artemisia vulgaris over the area. The combusting herb burns evenly and provides soothing and penetrating warmth. This method is often used to alleviate pain and strengthen the body.

  • Gua ShaMORE

    “Gua” means to rub. “Sha” is a flush skin color or red marking that occurs during the process of rubbing. “Gua Sha” could also be called spoon massage because a porcelain Chinese soup spoon is a common tool used to rub acupuncture points and muscular areas. Essential oils can be added to the massage oil used to provide additional therapeutic effects.

  • CuppingMORE

    Cupping is a suction-type massage technique. Glass cups are used to create the suction. The suction promotes blood circulation in the area treated, which resolves tissue adhesions and stimulates healing.

  • Electrical AcupunctureMORE

    Electrical acupuncture is a technique that uses a small electrical current that passes through two or more acupuncture points. The stimulation that this technique provides has enhanced clinical results. Electrical acupuncture is commonly used for acute and chronic pain, as well as conditions alleviated by a steady, rhythmic stimulation of the acupuncture points.

  • Dry NeedlingMORE

    Dry needling is a form of therapy involving the insertion of acupuncture needles into specific trigger points in order to alleviate pain or tenderness. In this it is similar to traditional Chinese acupuncture, in which these are called Ah-shi points. Dry needling differs mainly in its specificity, focusing on the muscle or joint individually, whereas traditional acupuncture treats the person as a whole system, complete with diet, herbs, and the flow of energy (Qi).

What to expect on your first visit.

Relax. You’ve found us.

When you arrive at our clinic you will be greeted by the front desk staff and given health information forms to fill out. To save time, you may download and print these forms and fill them out before you arrive. Once the forms have been completed, please deliver them to the receptionist and a clinical assistant will escort you to a treatment room.

Your practitioner will spend 30–45 minutes collecting information about your chief concerns and review your medical history. You are encouraged to come with questions about your condition(s), and information about other treatments you have tried or are currently using. You will then move to the treatment table where your pulse and tongue will be assessed as part of the diagnostic process.

Acupuncture treatment will begin after a diagnosis has been made. Sterile, disposable needles are placed at acupuncture points that have been chosen specifically for you. As the needles are placed, patients often express a numbing, tingling, warming, or radiating sensation. Typically 10–20 needles are used for an adult treatment. Once all the needles are in place, you will lie comfortably for 20–40 minutes. Many people experience such a deep sense of relaxation that they fall asleep during their treatment.

During and/or after the acupuncture therapy, other adjunct techniques may be used. These include cupping, moxa (therapeutic heat), Gua Sha (spoon massage), and other techniques.

The need for herbal therapy, nutritional counseling, and self-care education is assessed with each visit. Your practitioner may give you an herbal formula to take, or provide dietary and/or lifestyle recommendations.

With some conditions, patients find immediate relief from their symptoms after acupuncture therapy. A treatment plan will be outlined for you, which will provide you with a clear idea of how many acupuncture sessions will be needed, and how often. We are not only practitioners of acupuncture; we are devoted to the study of Classical Chinese Medical Arts and have a long list of therapeutic resources. Take a look at all the traditional services we provide, as well as our more unique and contemporary services.

  • Self-CareMORE

    Self-care has a broad definition, which includes establishing daily and weekly routines that support optimal health, as well as treat illness. Self-care techniques include, yet are not limited to, breathing exercises, stretching, therapeutic exercises, walking, dry brushing, and journaling. Establishing the best self-care plan is specific to each individual. We help patients create this important part of therapy in order to cultivate wellness.

  • Nutritional ConsultationMORE

    Diet therapy is an important pillar of Chinese medical treatment. We offer every patient dietary recommendations and education about what foods should be increased and/or eliminated from his or her diet. Chinese medicine understands not only the vitamins and nutrients that are found in food, but also acknowledges the energetic “temperature,” signatures, and flavors of foods in their effective treatment of disease and cultivation of health. This is part of any acupuncture visit. A nutritional consultation can also be reviewed without acupuncture treatment.

  • Auricular TherapyMORE

    Auricular therapy is acupoint stimulation that is administered to the ear. With over 200 acupuncture points on the surface of the ear that can be stimulated by this method, therapeutic responses are many. The points are most commonly stimulated with acupuncture needles or acupressure seeds. Acupuncture to the ear provides a quick, therapeutic reaction by stimulating the release of endorphins, as well as other physiological responses. This endorphin release eases or eliminates anxiety, stress, pain, and cravings. Auricular therapy is commonly used when treating sleeplessness, depression, anxiety, addictions, and pain.

  • Facial RejuvenationMORE

    You can have a younger-looking face without Botox, surgery, or collagen injections. Facial acupuncture can increase muscle tone in the cheeks and neck, providing a natural facial lift. The stimulation of fine intradermal needles enhances radiance in the complexion, as well as collagen production and muscle tone at the site of acupuncture. An evaluation for facial enhancement can determine how many treatments it will take to reduce jowls, enhance cheekbones, or reduce wrinkles.

  • Scalp AcupunctureMORE

    This technique has been established on a foundation of traditional Chinese medicine, modern anatomy
, neurophysiology, and 
bioholography. In the late 1950s, auricular therapy discoveries led acupuncturists to observe the correlation between areas of the scalp and specific parts of the body. In 1971, after long-term clinical practice and verification, Dr. Jiao Shu Fa’s scalp acupuncture treatment protocols have become increasingly adopted by acupuncturists and acupuncture schools. Scalp acupuncture treatments are particularly helpful for the treatment of neurological conditions, including traumatic brain injuries and stroke rehabilitation.

  • Tui Na (Chinese massage)MORE

    Tui Na can be translated as to “push” and “grasp.” It is a form of massage that is often used in conjunction with acupuncture and moxibustion to relieve pain and restore balance of the meridians.

  • PediatricsMORE

    See pediatrics Q&A

  • 24 hour “on call"MORE

    We are here to answer your questions, guide your regimen of herbs and food, and come to you for treatment after hours, when needed. We have an acupuncturist that carries our 24-hour on-call phone at all times.

  • Peer review for complex casesMORE

    We work as a team of providers at the CAC. When faced with a complex health issue, we take advantage of all the clinical expertise amongst our practitioners to find optimal solutions.

  • CarePartners (hospital privileges)MORE

    We have licensed acupuncturists with privileges to see patients at CarePartners Rehabilitation Hospital and Asheville Specialty Hospital.

  • Corporate Employee Wellness ServicesMORE

    We would like to work with your HR department to create wellness services that support the health and productivity of your staff. Wellness services include smoking cessation plans, diet plans, and acupuncture treatments.

The Chinese Acupuncture and Herbology Dispensary

A wealth of herbs to treat a wide variety of health issues.

The Chinese Acupuncture and Herbology Clinic has the largest herbal dispensary in the Southeastern United States. Our practitioners have been trained in colleges that are nationally accredited and approved by the United States Department of Education. Our training allows us to offer the most comprehensive support for treating complicated health care concerns, as well as maintaining health and longevity.

In order to support your health, we take into consideration not only your symptoms and signs, but also any pharmaceuticals and supplements that you are taking. Herbal medicine prescriptions are always based on your unique state of health. Chinese herbal medicine is patient-centered rather than disease-centered. We address you, considering your unique imbalance or disease. This approach offers a more holistic perspective rather than one that only assesses a disease process.

Our dispensary includes many different forms of herbal medicines, providing comprehensive choices to meet your needs. Herbal medicines come in the form of raw herbs, powdered extractions, tinctures, pills or capsules, and essential oils. These medicines can be any part of the plant including the rhizome, roots, seeds, and flowers. Minerals and animal products are also used for some herbal formulations.

Our licensed acupuncturists mix custom, whole herb formulas specifically for you and your health. When designing custom formulas, a number of different herbs are used in combination. Custom formulas can range from small ones, with only three or four ingredients, to large formulas of up to 15 ingredients. These herbal materials are then cooked on the stove and after straining are consumed 2–6 times a day, based on the treatment goal.

Another method is the use of granule extracts. Granule formulas, like whole herb formulas, allow for customizing the specific ingredients used without the need to cook the formula at home. Granules can be thought of as instant tea. Preparation involves dissolving 2–6 grams of powder into warm water and drinking it 2–4 times a day.

Herbal formulas are also manufactured into pills and capsules; these are easy to administer and consume. Manufactured Chinese herbal medicine is commonly referred to as Chinese patent medicine. Our clinic carries an extensive stock of these patent medicines. Chinese patent medicines are great for home care kits, first aid kits, and travel kits. Our acupuncturists can help you design a kit that is right for you.

Dr. Cissy Majebe, the founder of the Chinese Acupuncture and Herbology Clinic, has also created a number of formulas that we keep in a tincture form. These formulas are based on classical Chinese formulas, yet have been adjusted based on present-day usage and the different manifestations of illness. These formulas are particularly effective for acute conditions, and also for ease of administration to children.

Essential oils are another important form of herbs in our dispensary. The essential oils that we use are medical-grade essential oils. We encourage our patients not to utilize essential oils that can be purchased in retail outlets such as spas or health food stores. Often times, these oils may claim to be “organically grown,” but the method of extraction of these plants may use toxic by-products. In Europe, essential oils are medical grade and this is why the Chinese Acupuncture and Herbology Clinic uses companies that access the medical grade essential oils from European companies. We utilize essential oils topically at acupuncture points, combined with a carrier oil such as almond or safflower oil and given in minute doses internally.

Our licensed acupuncturists will help you make an educated and informed decision regarding your use of herbal medications and supplements.