Dr. William’s Story
I have been fascinated by Chinese culture and natural medicine since I was eight-years-old. Cultivating my interests and following my instincts take me on journeys that contribute to my personal and professional growth.
The longest road was the severally premature birth of my youngest son, Jarid, who was born at 25 weeks, weighing less than 2 pounds. As with my oldest son, I had eclampsia that resulted in seizures. I woke from a coma three days later to learn that Jarid had 27 serious complications. The Western medical prognosis for Jarid was a lifetime in a wheelchair and oxygen with an expectation of mental deficits. When I was finally able to see Jarid, a flood of knowledge came to me. I simply knew what to do for him.
With the support of my husband and against the advice of Western providers, I embarked on my toughest passage. I first resolved dire health problems by sneaking herbs, via pumped breast milk, into the hospital. I convinced the staff that juiced carrots had tinted the breast milk. They called it liquid gold because Jarid thrived on it. I alternated herbs as I targeted different conditions. Jarid came home, four months later, on oxygen, weighing 4 pounds.
Continuing my research on herbs and mechanisms of conditions, I was able to get Jarid off of the oxygen and I took him to the Philippines to give him the best warm salty air environment for his lung tissue to regenerate and support his development while strengthening his immune system and gut health.
It was a long road, but by the time Jarid was a year old, he had no adverse medical conditions, not even asthma. When his brother, Joshua, then 14-years-old, attended summer classes at the University of California Berkeley, I completed two summer intensives at the Berkeley Acupressure Institute. By the end of the advanced program, I realized that my instincts of caring for Jarid were accurate. On this day of realization, I was advised by several of my instructors to consider a degree in Chinese medicine. Elated, but not convinced that I could attend such a program, I had a profound encounter that afternoon.
On my daily path back to our sub-leased apartment in Berkeley, I felt a strong presence behind me. I did not want to be bothered as I was enjoying my daily greeting of cats, dogs, and bees. But hers was a force from whom I was unable to escape. She caught up to me and immediately asked what I was doing there. Not quite sure where this frail elderly Chinese woman was headed with her questions, until she became more poignant. After a brief explanation, she told me that she had been practicing acupuncture longer than anyone in California. She told me that one day I would learn who she was and [with no doubt in her mind], I would become an acupuncturist. “This meeting was not an accident,” she said.
I explained to her that I had an epiphany, earlier that day, about Chinese medicine during a course taught by Joseph Carter. L.Ac. It was he and Brian O’Day, L.Ac. who advised me to consider the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Science (ACCHS). I had not considered being a Chinese medical practitioner until that day, but my husband, a military officer, had orders moving us to Germany. She said something to the effect of fate, destiny, and remembering our chance meeting. Apparently she, “never came to the East Bay,” but had felt a strong need to come here that day, and, after seeing me from across the street, knew that I was that reason. She expressed with all certainty that I would go to school for Chinese medicine and that I was important for the profession.
Her energy was intense and her intent was clear. Less than 10 minutes after we parted ways, my husband’s military manager called me. She explained that she had to revoke the military orders sending us to Germany because another individual was supposed to be slotted for that position. As fate would have it (her words), the individual was stationed in the Bay area; the location we wanted so that Joshua (the older son, could attend college in California directly after high-school. Knowing that we sought that location, she had already cut the military orders. My mind was racing. I couldn’t think. I called ACCHS for directions. I do not remember the bay area rapid transit ride to the school. I only remember walking in the building feeling like I was home.
I graduated from ACCHS with a Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The woman I had met that fateful day was Miriam Lee, the woman responsible for the legalization of Acupuncture in California and, hence, the United States. Her style of being true to the medicine has inspired my own growing practice.
Jarid is now 24-years-old and has experienced no medical problems. He is one of the healthiest, happiest, and smartest people I know. An avid healthy eater and boogie boarder, Jarid published Catching Waves, a book on water safety for beginner surfers when he was a pre-teen. He cooks, juices, gardens, completed a degree in Engineering and is enjoying his Engineer position in Asheville, NC.
Before embarking on my journey with acupuncture and herbal medicine, I had the fortune and privilege of serving in the U.S Army. After my initial degree in traditional chinese medicine, I served as an acupuncturist on Fort Bragg while completing my PhD in Research. I engaged in research, education, and started the framework for encouraging the use of herbs into the military medical community. After I completed my doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, I was contracted for a year to help stand up a Whole Health program at a Veteran Administration Medical Center (VAMC) as the lead Acupuncturist and program manager.
I currently run two small clinics where I continue to serve the Asheville, NC and Johnson City, TN VAMCs. I served as president of the North Carolina Society of Acupuncture and Asian Medicine before being appointed by the North Carolina General Assembly to serve on the North Carolina Acupuncture Licensing Board. I provide free internships for students and recent graduates of acupuncture. I am on faculty at ACCHS in California, am an approved continuing education provider for the national board, and a professional presenter. I also have an herb farm and keep bees in the Appalachian mountains where I am working several books.
Dr. Williams’ Bio
Dr. Jennifer M. Williams is a national board-certified Doctor of Acupuncture Medicine and Herbalist licensed in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. She operates two acupuncture clinics, a farm, and a retreat. She is a certified provider of continuing education (CEU/PDA) for NCCAOM and is on faculty at the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences in the California Bay Area. She serves as chairs on an international committee for the Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine in Kunming, China and the American Society of Acupuncture. Jennifer continually refines and integrates concepts into practical frameworks of differential diagnosis and treatment in her practice. Her presentations blend ancient wisdom with modern science to help practitioners and patients better understand pathomechanisms with focused treatment strategies for significant and sustained outcomes. She specializes in complicated chronic conditions, neurological presentations, brain injuries, and severe chronic pain.