About Alison
About Alison Wood MSOM, L.Ac.
Alison is a clinical herbalist, licensed acupuncturist and Chinese medical practitioner; a medicine maker, mother, scientist and devoteé of Nature. Alison’s medical practice is centered around taking the time to obtain a sensitive and accurate diagnosis, and then using herbal and embodied therapies to heal.
Alison sees each individual as a unique ecosystem which, when guided intelligently, will inevitably transform and adapt to a more vital state of being. Chinese Medicine is dynamic and personal, treating the presenting experience in any moment. Chinese Medicine can address a wide range of health issues, from acute to chronic, mild to serious, if there is willingness to take the time and make needed changes.
Alison applies therapeutic food and whole plant medicine along with embodied therapies such as acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, vibration, yoga, breath work, medical massage and bathing practices, as tools for uncovering natural vitality. She believes there is a plant medicine for everyone and everything; the healing relationship between humans and plants is as old as humans themselves.
Alison’s experience as a mother has provided 12 years of experience in effectively treating the usual family maladies - cuts, scrapes, bug bites, rashes, fevers, coughs, wheezes, tummy aches… all using natural medicine. We have all that we need to heal ourselves, from the earth, and one another, if we reach out to get help, and apply the patient perseverance to see things shift meaningfully. The experience should be rewarding, if not always easy.
Alison looks forward to working with you! Note… unplugged time spent in nature is also an essential part of true healing that can be found for free, without any guide other than your (bare) feet on the ground!
Alison’s Background.
Alison has found healing in nature since she was a little girl in the old granite mountains, deep spring-fed lakes and pine forests of Northern NY state. She seeks to restore our reciprocal tending relationship with the earth however possible in this mad-screaming pace of the modern world… she finds the most healing by sleeping under the branches and stars, and listening.
Alison came around to healing by way of hard science and Hatha Yoga. She earned a degree in Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences from MIT in 2001, and soon discovered the Shadow Yoga school of Hatha Yoga while living in Dublin, Ireland. This practice, and teachers Paula McGrath, Emma Balnaves and Shandor Remete, changed everything - after almost a decade of health issues Alison began to feel truly well and set upon the path of studying and practicing natural medicine.
Alison completed a clinical herbalism program at California School of Herbal Studies in 2009 and received a certificate in Ayurvedic study with Deanna Batdorff in 2010. Alison then became a full-time student of her beloved son, Solomon, born in 2010. As a new mother, Alison launched an herbal medicine making business, began working at Eden’s apothecary, and started assisting Steven Finkbine, DAOM, L.Ac. & learning from mentor and dear friend Anya Tyutunik, L.Ac.
From 2016-2021 Alison earned her Chinese Medicine Masters Degree from ACCHS in Oakland and then opened a clinical practice in Point Reyes Station, CA, transforming the Garden of Eden Apothecary into Abalone Apothecary and Chinese Medical Clinic, serving the community of West Marin.
