My Mission
The human body reflects the wisdom of nature. Together, we cultivate quiet awareness and awaken your innate capacity to heal.
Practice Philosophy
Classical East Asian Medicine is an Intricate Dialogue
Care is stewardship. My role is to guide your body’s return to balance—
honoring classical tradition and the living earth that sustains us.
Doctor Ariane Wlasak, DAOM, L.Ac.
Founder of Acorn Medicine™
Before entering medicine, I spent ten years directing international cabin operations for a major airline, crossing continents, observing human nature, and developing a deep understanding of what the body requires to remain grounded and resilient amidst constant change.
My path into healing began in Düsseldorf, Germany, in 1991, studying Reiki, foot reflexology at the Uhl Institute in Frankfurt, and color therapy at the Aura-Soma Academy in Tetford, England. Moving to the United States in 1996, I spent two formative years alongside Valerie Heckert, my spiritual mother and primary mentor, at her bookstore, Awareness, in San Mateo, California. There I learned that healing begins deep within, a guiding principle Valerie imparts to me to this day. Following years of teaching Aura-Soma Color therapy in the United States, I deepened my manual training in acupressure, tui na, Chinese massage, and qi gong at the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, where I later joined the faculty.
Return to the Root
While earning my Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco, I completed a year-long clinical rotation in scalp acupuncture at California Pacific Medical Center, focusing on stroke recovery and neurological rehabilitation.
Following graduation, I deepened my clinical foundation through a sixteen-month residency in classical Chinese medicine under Yen-Wei Choong at the Yellow Emperor Natural Healing Center. I later served as an acupuncturist at Newport Academy in Marin County, providing specialized trauma care and somatic regulation for teens and young adults.
To advance my scholarly research and broaden my clinical scope, I earned my Doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Five Branches University in San Jose.
At Acorn Medicine™, I bring three decades of healing experience, classical education, and deep listening to every patient—offering an unhurried space for genuine restoration.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Professional Licensure
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Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) | California Acupuncture Board | Certified 2017
Academic Degrees
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Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) | Five Branches University, San Jose, CA | 2022–2025
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Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine (MSTCM) | American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM), San Francisco, CA | 2012–2016
Specialized Clinical Training & Mentorships
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Neuropuncture Residency (78 Hours) | Under Dr. Tanja A. Brekke, DNA, L.Ac. | Bozeman, MT | 2024
Electro-acupuncture and neuromodulation protocols for chronic pain and trauma.
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Advanced Clinical Residency (16 Months) | The Yellow Emperor Natural Healing Center, San Anselmo, CA | 2018–2019
Classical-lineage acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine under Yen-Wei Choong, L.Ac.
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The Acupressure Institute | Berkeley, CA | 2006–2009
Founded by Michael Reed Gach, PhD, author of Acupressure’s Potent Points. Comprehensive program in Acupressure and Tui Na completed under Brian O'Dea, L.Ac., Jason Frye, L.Ac., and Kathleen Davis.
Postdoctoral & Continuing Education
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Neuropuncture Workshop: Internal Medicine | Dr. Tanja Brekke, DNA, CN, L.Ac. | San Jose, CA | July 2026
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Neuropuncture Workshop: Needle Technique & Electro-Acupuncture | Dr. Tanja Brekke | San Jose, CA | June 2026
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Jing Fang (Classical Formulas) Foundation | Jing Fang Institut Deutschland | 2025–2026
Classical prescribing and constitutional diagnosis under Dr. Andreas Kalg.
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The Cosmic Map: Unlocking Acupuncture Point Names | Net of Knowledge | 2024–2025
Cosmological and clinical study under Heiner Fruehauf, PhD, Bob Quinn, DAOM, and Michael Berletich, DAOM.
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Classical Strategies for Herbal Formulation | Under Heiner Fruehauf, PhD | 2024
Academic Research & Presentations
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55th International TCM Congress | Rothenburg, Germany | May 2024
Doctoral Thesis Presentation: "Chinese Medicine for Treating the Dissociative Subtype of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)."
Faculty & Somatic Certifications
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Faculty Member | The Acupressure Institute, Berkeley, CA | 2009–2013
Instructional faculty in Reflexology and Acu-Yoga under Michael Reed Gach, PhD, and Joseph Carter, L.Ac.
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Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT) | Level 1 | 2014–Present
Teacher Training: Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco (2012–2013). Direct study at RIMYI (Pune, India, 2012 ans 2014).
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Aura-Soma® Color Therapy | Practitioner & Instructor | 1997–2021
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Reiki Master Certification | 1996-1999
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Foot Reflexology & Chakra Energy Massage | Institut Uhl, Frankfurt, Germany | 1995-1996
