Acupuncture | Chinese Medicine | GW Center For Integrative Medicine

Since 1998, GWCIM has been integrating top-quality Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine services in Washington, D.C., in its healthcare approach, helping patients to achieve their goals.

Why Acupuncture at GWCIM?

Our acupuncture services stand out for several reasons:

Experienced Practitioners
All our acupuncturists bring over 10-25 years of individual expertise and advanced training in traditional Chinese medicine and other modalities and specialties. With a combined experience of over 70 years and a wide fields of modalities across our four providers, we are truly senior acupuncturists.

Most Styles of Acupuncture Available
No matter which acupuncture school you prefer, you’ll find it at GWCIM. Our acupuncturists are trained in a variety of schools, including:

TCM
Classical Chinese medicine
Five Element acupuncture, Worsley style
Japanese-style acupuncture, Toyohari and Kiiko Matsumoto style
Micro-needling & Facial acupuncture

Beyond Needles and Points
Our acupuncturists are also trained in the fullest range of Chinese medical techniques. When indicated, you can receive the following as a part of your treatment or stand-alone treatments:

moxibustion & infrared heat
herbal topical treatments (salves, plasters, liniments)
cupping & guasha
acupressure & tuina
micro-bloodletting
ear & scalp acupuncture
LED stimulation (AcuLight)
electro-stimulated acupuncture
ear-seeds & magnets
QiGong, meditation & breathing instructions
Sho-ni-shin Japanese massage

Chinese Herbal formulae prescriptions

Chienese medical Nutrition and Diet

Multi-Specialized Care
Each of our acupuncturists is skilled in multiple medical areas, allowing them to assess your health holistically and offer unique, well-rounded care. These specialties include:

Naturopathic Medicine (Dr. Deirdre Orceire, ND, LAc)
Chinese Herbal Medicine (Dr. Tiffany Hoyt, DAOM, M.Ac, M.CHM., LAc)
Somatic Experiencing (Dr. Angela Gabriel, LAc, SEP)
Functional Medicine (Dr. Ashley Drapeau, PA-C, LAc)
Integrative Psychotherapy (Dr. Sally Novac, LCSW, LAc)

Collaborative Approach
Our acupuncturists are an integral part of the GWCIM team of integrative medicine specialists, which includes physicians, naturopaths, mental health providers, nurses, movement therapists, and mind-body instructors. This team-based integration and combined expertise are our grounds for holistic and effective care. Together, we care about every patient!

About Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine, the oldest documented medical system, views health holistically, treating illness as an imbalance caused by internal and external factors. It includes herbal medicine, acupuncture, nutrition, mental exercises (meditation, breath work, QiGong), and physical exercises (QiGong, Taichi, martial arts).

Practitioners assess a patient’s health history, lifestyle, pulse, tongue, and vital signs to identify imbalances, aiming to reverse and prevent them. Acupuncture, a safe practice for all ages, involves inserting 1–20 sterile stainless-steel needles into specific points for up to 25 minutes to restore balance.

Conditions treatable by acupuncture

Acupuncture is widely used to address numerous health issues, with strong evidence supporting its effectiveness. Commonly treated conditions include acute and chronic pain, injuries, headaches, sleep disorders, arthritis, gastrointestinal functional disorders, GYN/OB care, infertility, stress-related illnesses, anxiety, depression, pediatric and geriatric care, chemotherapy-induced nausea, facial and other types of paralysis, EDS, dysautonomia, dental pain, and substance dependence. Additionally, acupuncture is gaining recognition as an alternative pain therapy amidst the opioid crisis. To achieve optimal results, acupuncture is often integrated with Western medical treatments.

Meet our Acupuncturists

Tiffany C. Hoyt, DAOM, M.Ac., M.CHM, LAc.
Angela Gabriel, MSOM, LAc, CH, SEP
Ashley Drapeau, PA-C, L.Ac., MPAS, MAC
Deirdre Orceyre, ND, MSOM, LAc.
Dr. Sally Novak, LCSW, LAc (Sally haș an acupuncture practice in Ellicott City, MD)