ABOUT US

I am an NCCAOM Board Certified Acupuncturist, licensed by the State of South Carolina. I have been helping my patients "Feel Better With Acupuncture Today" since 2007.

My Credentials include:

~Bachelors in Professional Studies from New York College of Health Professions' Graduate School of Oriental Medicine - 2008

~Masters in Science and Oriental Medicine (Acupuncture & Chinese Herbology) from New York College of Health Professions' Graduate School of Oriental Medicine - 2008

~NCCAOM Board Certification in Acupuncture (Dipl. Ac.)

I specialize in Japanese acupuncture, TCM Gynecology / Infertility, Pain & Stress Management through Acupuncture and ancillary techniques such as moxibustion, gua sha, shoni shin and cupping.

I am also the proud owner of Anderson Holistic Health. Here you can experience many different healing modalities to help you reach and maintain your optimal health.

I feel that the true healing power and unique wisdom of Chinese medicine lies in its ability to treat any issue that arises in the physical or emotional body in order to create balance and healing in any patient. This genuine holistic practice can create a path towards true wellness and health by piecing together the parts that are so often separated by Western medicine alone.

I strongly believe that your healing comes through deep nourishment of the spirit and by alleviating not only the suffering of the body but also the heart. I have a deep respect for the relationship between patient and practitioner and how when there is full trust, understanding and communication, true healing can take place.

I believe…

~an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

~that healing should be accessible and achievable for all people, and that by better understanding our bodies, we can empower ourselves to take charge of our own health.

~you should leave my office feeling better than when you walked in.

~you know your body better than anyone else ever will. As your acupuncturist I want you to feel empowered to take care of your own health, understand the process of healing and all the available paths to wellness.

~in medicine that looks at you as a whole person and not a collection of separate symptoms and that everything is connected.

~your happiness, fulfillment, and ability to feel relaxed and at-home in your body are vitally important and inseparable from your physical health. Mental and emotional health are intricately linked with physical symptoms.

~in medicine that addresses root causes and not only symptoms. By treating the root cause, you will achieve lasting results and not be dependent on someone else for your health.

~drug-free health! While some prescription medications are life-saving and necessary, many only treat symptoms and carry risks and side effects that can be avoided with a functional approach.

~we have immense power to self-heal, and that the current healthcare system often doesn’t support taking an active role in our own care. I encourage questions and critical thinking.

Thank you for allowing me the honor of being with you on your path to health and wellness!

-Denise

Click on an ICON to see Denise's credentials

Rachel Thoma, MSAOM, L.Ac.

I am an NCCAOM Board Certified Acupuncturist and Herbalist, licensed by the State of South Carolina.

I was raised in the Hudson Valley region of New York. I participated in gymnastics and volleyball competitively for many years. My interest in the human body and how it works lead me to pursue a career in a health-related field.

I attended the University at Buffalo and graduated in 2015 with a degree in Biological Sciences and a minor in Health and Wellness. After graduating, I started acupuncture treatments and began shadowing an acupuncturist. Inspired by how Chinese medicine takes all aspects of a person’s life into account and personally feeling the positive effects on the body, I decided to enroll in acupuncture school.

I graduated with Honors earning a Masters degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in 2019. I worked in the school’s herbal medicine pharmacy for 3 years where I developed a passion for herbal medicine.

I have 3,000+ hours of clinical training in several outpatient health centers treating students, community members of all ages, and veterans at the local VA hospital. I am committed to providing individualized care to promote wellness of the body, mind, and spirit using Traditional Chinese Medicine.

What Is an Acupuncturist?

Acupuncture is an ancient practice in which tiny needles are placed on specific points under your skin. These needles are used to stimulate certain points of the body. People choose acupuncture both for therapeutic or preventative purposes.

There are two kinds of acupuncturists, professionals who practice acupuncture:

A licensed acupuncturist is someone who is a professional who has studied acupuncture and eastern medicine in order to maintain the health of their patients, and completed three academic years (around 3000 hours) of education at the Master’s Degree level in an Acupuncture Program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM).
A certified acupuncturist is a licensed doctor or dentist who has completed a training program equivalent to at least 200 hours and 100 hours of supervised experience.

Program and certifications may vary, though, depending on the state that you live in. Acupuncture is now a popular practice in the western world.

The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK uses acupuncture in some of its general practices, as well as pain clinics and hospices.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) reports that the number of people using acupuncture for pain management is on the rise.

About 35 million Americans regularly use acupuncture treatments, so the need for acupuncturists is high.

Cancellation Policy

There will be a 50% of Service charge for less than 24 hours notice of cancellation.

100% will be charged for less than 1 hour notice and No Call / No Show Appointments.

Thank you!

Primary Care Acupuncture Center