Twig & Needle
Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine
I hold a Master's Degree in Oriental Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College as well as a Bachelor's of Science in Biology from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. I moved to Iowa City from Ward, Colorado in September of 2003 to open my practice.
I chose to practice Eastern medicine over Western medicine because it treats the whole person; mind, body, and spirit. I also believe in the patient being an active participant in achieving and maintaining their own health. I am a general practitioner of TCM though I have a special interest in women's health, digestive health, and Chinese herbal medicine.
Alphabet soup anyone?
In Iowa, Medical doctors, osteopaths, chiropractors, dentists, and podiatrists can legally practice acupuncture with 0-100 hours of training. Comparatively, most TCM school curriculums are 2800 + hours. The above medical practitioners are not required to pass any exams or to alert the state that they are practicing acupuncture.
About Alice Spitzner Claussen, L.Ac., Dipl.O.M