Dr. Elyse Rohrer Budiash, DTCM, MSOM, Dipl. O.M., L.Ac
Pronouns: she/her/hers
I Love Practicing Acupuncture in Washington DC!
Hi! I’m Elyse, the go-getter who founded Cherry Blossom Healing Arts. I’m an earthy person who loves to mix herbal formulas and grow my garden. I have two young girls and a brilliant partner that I enjoy spending time with. And, I’m 100% a healer who loves to help people feel better!
I absolutely love practicing acupuncture in Washington, DC. We have the most amazing and interesting patients. On a daily basis, I get to help journalists, speechwriters, FBI agents, people who mysteriously can’t tell me where they work, NGO leaders, teachers, consultants…and from each of them, I learn and discover new things about DC. In turn, I get to listen, understand, and help each patient who enters one of my treatment rooms to feel better.
I Believe That All People Deserve To Feel Better
My career as an acupuncturist centers around one belief—all people deserve to feel better. One of my favorite acupuncturists, Shudo Denmei has a sign on the gate to his practice that reads, “Forget Self. Serve Others.”
Traditional Chinese Medicine is one way to do this, especially when combined with an integrative approach that respects the power of biomedicine. When an acupuncturist like myself can be a bridge between these two systems, more people can enjoy the power of both to feel better.
This Is How Acupuncture Saved Me
I became very ill my senior year in undergrad. I had a fever, nausea, and vomiting. I was so exhausted I could barely get out of bed. I saw my Primary Care Physician, an Infectious Disease Specialist, a GI, and a Neurologist. Puzzled, they ordered all the tests: blood work, MRI, CT scan, lumbar puncture, upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, and then more blood work. In between tests were misdiagnoses (including a brain tumor, which I definitely didn’t have). In the end, the only notable result was elevated liver enzymes, and so it was declared that I had a mysterious virus in my liver.
After it was determined that the only thing biomedicine could offer me was medications to alleviate symptoms, I asked my primary care doctor to help me get off the medications I was taking. She suggested I give acupuncture and herbal medicine a try. These treatments helped me to start feeling better right away. In fact, it was the only thing that ended up helping me recover from my mysterious illness, and that experience planted a seed in me.
After undergrad, I worked in social justice for a while and thought I would become a public interest lawyer. But, I just couldn’t put down the books I was reading about Traditional Chinese Medicine. Coupled with how energizing I found it to help people with their health, I thought—maybe I should make this my career!
My Educational Journey
I received my undergraduate degree from the University of San Diego. I went on to receive my Master of Science in Oriental Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College.
I am deeply interested in the integration of acupuncture and biomedicine, as such, I have also completed my Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine degree at Five Branches University that specializes in this integrative approach. I’m also honored to advocate for and support the acupuncture profession as the President of The Acupuncture Society of DC.
Education & Training
- Dipl.O.M. (NCCAOM)
- Five Branches University, DTCM
- Southwest Acupuncture College, MSOM
- University of San Diego, BA Communication Studies and Print Journalism
My Interests & Skills
- Acupuncture
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Herbal Medicine
- Integration of Western Biomedicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Moxibustion
- Cupping
- Gua Sha
- Nutrition
- Women’s Health
- Mental Health
- Migraine Treatment
- Pain Management
- Japanese Meridian Therapy
- Patient Care Coordination
- Holistic Healthcare
- Acupuncture Advocacy
Natural Migraine Relief
Definitely one of the best acupuncturists I have had
I've been seeing Elyse for about a year and I am so happy to have found such a great acupuncturist! Definitely one of the best acupuncturists I have had, I feel really valued as a patient. Not only is she highly skilled, as the medical reasons I went to see her for in the first place have improved, but the atmosphere of the office is welcoming, soothing, and relaxing. I would highly recommend going to see her! She also takes insurance, which is awesome.
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