About the Acupuncturist

Beginnings

I first heard about qigong, yoga, and meditation some time from 1999-2000. I instantly became passionate about those things, and had an idea even back then that I could gain a greater understanding of the human body and learn how people can heal themselves through exploring those methods. As a result, I was very dedicated in my learning and practice, and have even continued for the past 20 years to the present day.

In addition to practicing Chinese Medicine, I also teach qigong, and have most of the research done for a book on a rare version of qigong from roughly the 7th century. I think moderate and consistent exercise of any type is essential for good health. Yoga is good, although I don’t recommend “hot yoga” where the room is overheated. Hiking in nature is one of the best things to do!

Pre-Med in University

Entering college, I enrolled as Pre-Med at Northern Michigan University, with the idea (at the time) that I would eventually become a Chiropractor. The concept that the spine distributed vitality to the rest of the body, if only the nerves weren’t blocked in any way, was something that resonated with me due to my yoga practice at the time. I also took a greater interest in neurology and psychology in my classes.

Emergency and Trauma Medicine as a Medic in the military

In my sophomore year of undergrad, I joined the National Guard as a medic, and later on ended up deploying to Iraq to do convoy security. I gained some good experience working with emergency and trauma medicine.

Sports Medicine

I had an interest in physical rehab and enhancing sports performance, so after my time in the military, I finished my undergraduate degree at Northern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training. In my learning, I specialized in Muscle Energy Technique, which is a way of realigning bones in a very gentle way that uses the patient’s muscle contractions. I saw many good results using that method, and still use it today in clinic. Athletic Training was also a good introduction to orthopedic special tests, which can help give a fairly reliable clue regarding what’s causing musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction.

Illness

As I continued in the work of Athletic Training, and continually learning about East Asian healing methods such as qigong, someone close to me became ill with a condition called POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome).

Their heart rate would spike significantly when standing. They were perpetually exhausted and had vertigo. Having been tested at Mayo Clinic, it was found that they would sometimes black out if standing upright for over 16 minutes.

With my background in the healthcare field, I began looking into alternatives, to try and find a cure rather than merely a way to manage such symptoms…

Time to Truly Learn

I was reading textbooks on Ayurveda, on Chinese Medicine, and realized that I had reached a roadblock in my learning. There’s only so much a person can learn from books; beyond a certain point, it’s essential to learn in person with experts.

So, I enrolled at Daoist Traditions College in Asheville, NC. Due to my prior research into Chinese Medicine, I knew that pulse diagnosis was something very important, and this school taught a rare form of it that I wanted to learn. The program was incredibly rigorous in many different ways, and lasted four years.

While I was attending grad school, the person close to me with POTS saw another acupuncturist near them, and experienced significant relief over time. They were able to walk around town and go shopping, which was a big step in the right direction.

After I graduated from Daoist Traditions College, I decided to move back up North so that I could live somewhat closer to family. Taking the national boards while staying at Nestledown Bed & Breakfast in Marquette (which my parents own), I decided that Grand Rapids would be an ideal place to open my own clinic.

The Start of Ginkgo Leaf

In June, 2019, I opened my clinic doors to the people of the West Michigan area.

A few things set Ginkgo Leaf apart from other acupuncture clinics.

1. I practice not only acupuncture, but also herbal medicine, and have the Diplomate of Oriental Medicine through NCCAOM. In my view, herbal medicine is half of what comprises Chinese Medicine. Sometimes it’s even the more important part, with acupuncture being secondary.
2. I practice advanced pulse diagnosis with every patient. My passion in Chinese Medicine is achieving crystal clarity when it comes to diagnosis, in order to best help my patients get better.
3. I have a deep interest in the Classical texts of Chinese Medicine, which in my opinion, greatly enriches the quality of results that a practitioner is able to achieve for their patients. Without a study of the classic texts, much information is lost, and the practice of this form of medicine can be too superficial.
4. On a personal level, I have strong feelings about the integrity of the practice of medicine and healing. Some clinics that I’ve seen treat people like a means of making more money, by only having 15 minutes of contact time or less for each patient. In my opinion, that’s absolutely not enough time for anyone (no matter how skilled a practitioner they are) to formulate a good diagnosis. I’m very dedicated to practicing Chinese Medicine with integrity, putting the well being of my patients above all else.

So, that’s the story of how I became an acupuncturist.

I think I’m doing a form of work that’s in line with my destiny in life, and I love nothing more than getting it right in clinic, and seeing patients experience great improvements with their health and wellness.

– Scott Schauland,
Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM)®, L.Ac.