Meet Shawna
Welcome! I’m Shawna Seth, a California state licensed and nationally certified acupuncturist currently pursuing physician associate (PA) training. I live at the intersection of Western and Eastern medicine and love finding the places where they can each serve patients best.
I ran a private acupuncture practice in San Francisco that focused on my patients’ menstrual health, fertility, and overall emotional and physical health beyond their diagnoses. My mission was to improve my patients’ health, one cycle at a time. I also provided on-site acupuncture care at fertility clinics in San Francisco through a group called Integrative Fertility. Acupuncture has been shown to be beneficial in improving pregnancy rates when provided surrounding and about five days after IVF or IUI procedures.
I am not currently seeing patients as I’m in school full time. I plan to continue sharing my knowledge and perspective on my A Cuppa Qi blog and have also done some presenting and teaching on the topics of self care, anti-racism, and principles of traditional medicine in 2021. I welcome questions and love having interesting conversations by email.
Philosophy and Background
I don't work on you, but with you. As a patient, you have valuable information about what you are experiencing. I see you as a partner and collaborator in the exploration and improvement of your body and mind. I am a guide, bringing my training, tools, and compassion to your care and so providing information, context, and a relief or opening that can unlock what your body has been trying to do for you. The Japanese style of acupuncture that I practice has an emphasis that I appreciate and take as a guiding principle: being gentle and keeping the approach simple and effective.
Pelvic pain initially brought me to acupuncture, first as a patient many years ago, then as a practitioner. Women’s health concerns and the stress surrounding them have always renewed my own commitment to getting acupuncture for myself and providing it for others. And as a dancer for many years, I know how being forced to step away from activity you love, whether temporarily or permanently, can be painful, emotionally and physically.
I received my masters after training at the Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College in Berkeley, California and studying abroad in both Japan and China. Now I spend my free time swinging a lightsaber and you might spot me at a local karaoke night.
You can find my thoughts on acupuncture and medicine on Instagram @acuppaqi and on my A Cuppa Qi blog.
Education & Credentials
California Licensed Acupuncturist, Herbalist, and Primary Care Provider (L.Ac.)
Nationally Certified Diplomate of [O-Word] Medicine (Dipl. OM)
Masters of Science in [O-Word] Medicine (MSOM) from Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley (AIMC) - Magna Cum Laude
Japanese Traditional Acupuncture & Moxibustion Certification from Shikoku Medical College, Utazu, Japan
Japanese Style Facial Acupuncture Certification from Shikoku Medical College, Utazu, Japan
Acupuncture Internship, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, San Francisco
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY - Cum Laude
Continuing Education includes
Western medicine crossover courses in Herb-Drug Interaction, Surgical Recovery and Scar Treatment, and how channels and fascia overlap and can be used accordingly.
Evidence-based Japanese Acupuncture courses in Trigger Point Acupuncture with Kazunori Itoh, Ph.D. and Contact Needling Therapy for Cancer Patients with Keiko Ogawa
Traditional Japanese Medicine (TJM) courses with Japanese master Masakazu Ikeda Sensei
