Sarah Halverstadt, L.Ac., MTCM

Sarah brings a unique blend of attentive listening, non-judgmental openness, humor, and skillful questioning to the office; though in truth, these skills are part of her nature and they serve in all aspects of her life. She loves to explore the body and the world through experimentation and examination, everything from goat herding, cheese making, Panchakarma dieting and purging, juice fasting, meditation, breathing exercising, hiking under the big blue sky, camping, or reading heaps of books... You get the idea. Here she is in the Utah desert visiting family, and as she walked by a jumping cholla, it blessed her with a cactus treatment (see right knee). While the needling might look painful, this jumping cholla was in fact a master acupuncturist. Sarah felt no pain or discomfort from the spines and was able to remove them easily. Which is to say, she feels the cactus is one of her Plant Spirit allies.

SPecialty

Sarah utilizes Esoteric Acupuncture, combined with Chinese and Japanese acupuncture, to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. Esoteric Acupuncture is about whole wellness. It emphasizes patterns of healing that go to the core of our being to encourage transformation and change at the level of the Heart Shen (spirit). When we are aligned with our true nature, health naturally follows. Of course, there are times when our bodies may require more support due to the complexities of our lives, and Sarah may include herbal formulas, cupping, moxibustion, gua sha, and dietary recommendations to reinforce balance and harmony in the body, mind, and spirit.

Sarah works with both adults and teens.

Women’s health, hormone imbalances, fertility.

Pain management.

Mental health.

Digestive disorders, weight loss.

Detoxing, cleansing, fasting protocols, and more.

Background

In 1999, Sarah’s first introduction to acupuncture occurred during a street medic training in Portland, OR. One of the participants had twisted his ankle and the instructor proceeded to insert needles around the swelling. Within minutes the patient was smiling, and Sarah’s curiosity was piqued. She plied the instructor, an acupuncturist from Denver, with many questions, until in total exasperation he said, “If you’re this interested, come to my clinic and see for yourself!” She did and therein began her journey into Chinese Medicine. Beginning her formal education in the year 2000 at the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Denver, Sarah moved to San Francisco in early 2001 to complete the last three and a half years of training at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2004, earning her Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine. She worked with diverse communities within the Bay Area: Saint James Infirmary sex workers, HIV and AIDS patients, low-income ear clinics, elderly homes, and much, much more. After thirteen years in the Bay Area, Sarah returned home to the mountains, four distinct seasons, sunshine, fresh air, and all the amazing hiking trails of Colorado.