Jessida Putkaew L.Ac.
Why Acupuncture?
Hi, I’m Jessida Putkaew. I didn't grow up a health-nut, junk-food-phobic, nor athletic-since-I-was-5 type of person. Health was always desirable, but for a decade, no matter what I tried, I had lackluster results. Eventually, I pushed health to the side in pursuit of other goals. In that time, I never thought I'd try acupuncture because I have had a fear of needles!
In my mid-twenties, I met an acupuncturist. She always resonated a sense of calm and made me feel at ease. One day, I made the "crazy" decision to try it. At my first treatment, I was in amazement that I barely felt the needles. They were hair thin and nothing like my other experiences with needles in medicine. Still, I did not believe in them. It wasn’t until I started to feel changes in my own body, that I started to believe. I watched expectantly for my health to yo-yo backwards, but my health continued to make progress.
My doubt in the tiny needles washed away, replaced by curiosity that grew more and more. After the hard time I had with my health journey previously, I HAD to learn more about this magic! After picking up a book that only increased my fascination, I enrolled at Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College in Berkeley, CA.
Eastern versus and Western
The study of Chinese and Japanese medicine in a Western integrated school has allowed me to learn multiple methods of diagnosis and treatment. I'm happy to work alongside other styles of medicine, using shared knowledge to reach your health goal. East Asian medicine fulfills my passion for helping people based on their individual struggles rather than solely by their diagnosis. It's great for treating a wide range of problems and is tailored to the patient. I rarely use the exact same combination of points from treatment to treatment, because we are not the exact same day to day. I enjoy helping those around me find joy without compromising a healthy tomorrow.
Education & Clinical Training
Jessida is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist certified by the California Acupuncture Board (CAB). She graduated summa cum laude with a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine (MSOM) from Berkeley’s Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College.
As part of her clinical training, she has interned at West Berkeley Lifelong Medical Clinic where she treated patients to decrease various types of pain and increase joint mobility, energy, and immunity. She also volunteer interned at Oakland’s nonprofit Charlotte Maxwell Clinic for Integrative Cancer Care. There, she provided acupuncture to underserved women during and following chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. For more information about Charlotte Maxwell Clinic click here.