I attended the Pacific Symposium in San Diego, California, three weeks ago. This is the second year in a row that I was able to exhibit Transformational Herbal Pharmacy – our local Chinese herbal pharmacy – at this conference. One of the biggest joys for me with this conference is the ability to visit the state where I grew up.
Interfacing with Colleagues
My visibility within the larger acupuncture community has been growing since we launched Transformational Herbal Pharmacy nearly two years ago. Pacific Symposium is the largest acupuncture conference in the nation, and it allows me the opportunity to interface with acupuncturists from around the country. Not only was I able to reconnect with many of my colleagues and past instructors, but I was able to make new connections and begin building new relationships. This trip to the conference has opened up some new opportunities for me to collaborate on a text book and the possibility of teaching the next generation of acupuncturists. I am excited for these opportunities and look forward to sharing them in the future.
Meeting with our Pharmacy Partners
This conference is always an opportunity to meet with our pharmacy partners. I was able to meet with our current partners to discuss our current product lines, new products and opportunities, and the current state of Chinese herbal medicine in the United States. I also shared our long term plans and possible future expansion with their product lines.
The most exciting part for me was meeting some of our new partners in person for the first time. We will be bringing in three new product lines over the next six months, and I look forward to sharing these new products with our patients. We will be bringing in the following product lines:
- Ying Herbals: A skincare line that offers a personal approach to dermatology. This line offers some wonderful products for acne, eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions. They also have some wonderful basic skin care and anti-aging products. We will have this line in stock beginning in December 2024, and we will be highlighting each product over the next few months.
- Empirical Health: A honey pearl (pill) line specializing in medicinal mushrooms and Chinese herbal formulas. In January, we will be bringing in their medicinal mushrooms which include Chaga, Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Purple Reishi, Shiitake, and a Mushroom Complex. We plan to begin stocking their Chinese herbal formula line in June 2025.
- Su Wen Herbs: A patent line of Chinese herbal formulas. Many of our patients are already being prescribed patent formulas. These are off the shelf tablets, capsules, liquid gels, and granule formulas. These types of herbal formulas work great for a large number of patients, but they lack the flexibility of customized herbal formulas. Patent formulas are a cost effective and easy way to begin taking Chinese herbal medicine. We plan to begin stocking this line in March 2025.
Family Visits, Rest and Relaxation
This is the second year in a row that my husband and I traveled to California before the conference for vacation. We returned to Catalina Island for scuba diving. However, this trip we took an extended tour of the island. As a native Californian, I had never visited the Channel Islands nor experienced their unique ecosystem until 2023.
While scuba diving, we saw the usual fish of the kelp forest, but our night dive was truly amazing. We saw lobsters, sea slugs, eels, and an octopus! The highlight was holding a sea slug the size of my hand. These dives were also part of our advanced open water training to allow us to participate in more complex dives.
When we arrived in San Diego, we coordinated visits with family. I have two aunts that live in San Diego, and my husband’s niece is attending the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad. We coordinated a family dinner, and it was wonderful to visit with all of them. We are already planning our next visit to San Diego.
This trip was so remarkable and relaxing that I lost track of what day it was – within the first 24 hours!
In Closing
The biggest lesson for me on this Pacific Symposium trip was a reminder to build free time into my schedule to completely disengage from my work and professional life. I have not been creating the space for rest and relaxation, and I am beginning to recognize its impact. This vacation and conference allowed me the opportunity to explore professional opportunities in which I have an interest and desire to explore.
I am also really excited to begin sharing the benefits of Ying Herbals, Empirical Health, and Su Wen Herbs with our patients and other practitioners. I have been using Ying Herbal Skin Repair oil since August, and an eczema patch on my forearm is almost completely healed!
About the Author
As a practitioner and healer in Washington, DC for more than a decade, I take a patient-centered approach to care through acupuncture, cupping, herbal medicines, and mind-body coaching, with a specialty in full-spectrum reproductive health care.
