Griffin Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine

Happy Global Running Day!

This weekend I ran out at Bear Creek with longtime running buddy -Look at that view of Mt. Diablo! What’s your favorite spot for a scenic run?
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I’ve been working with runners for more than 10 years, first as a coach for the San Francisco Marathon training program (shout out ), and now as an acupuncturist with specialized training in orthopedics and sports medicine. My interest in helping runners and other athletes continue to enjoy their sports for the long haul was one of my motivations for becoming a doctor of acupuncture and integrative medicine.

How can acupuncture (aka dry needling) help runners get to the start line in one piece? Our approach includes:
💫correcting muscle imbalances
🏃‍♀️reducing pain
☀️decreasing inflammation
🎖️activating the glutes and stabilizing the core muscles

Any questions about Chinese medicine for runners, foods that fit in your pocket, or where the best restrooms are on course? Leave them in the comments! And happy running!

Today is California Adopt-A-Pet Day! 🐈‍⬛

I love all of my animal patients, and I appreciate all shapes, sizes, and breeds–but my favorite of all is a rescued animal! Whether they’re from an animal shelter, or a breed rescue organization, or they just showed up at your house one day (not an uncommon Oakland story)—adopting a rescued companion animal saves a life. I have adopted six cats in my adult life, and there are no words for the joy, love, and meaning they have brought to my life.

Here’s a pic of one of my sweetest, silliest patients–Poquito Tito, rescued off of the streets of East Oakland. Tito had back surgery related to Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) about two and a half years ago, and acupuncture helps manage occasional flare ups of pain and keeps his low back and hind legs strong.

While Tito lives with an amazing family who showers him in love and caters to his every need–he is very nervous at the vet in general. Even during his acupuncture treatments, he tends to keep a suspicious eye on me. Tito, I know I am still earning your trust, and I respect that!

This combination of points below his shoulders are called Bladder 43, or Gao Huang Shu, and are some of the most powerful points on the body for addressing anxiety and even emotional trauma. In Chinese medicine, we say they nourish the essence and Lung Yin, Tonify Qi, and balance the Shen (spirit). I often start with these points when treating my most anxious animal patients.

It’s true some rescue animals have rough starts in life–but their resilience never fails to amaze me. Anxiety is something we can support them through, both with holistic care and lots of love. If you have questions about acupuncture for your rescue animal–let us know! And to all adopters–thank you for saving a life! 🐕

Are you a good witch or a bad witch?? 🪄

Chinese medicine isn’t witchcraft, and you don’t have to “believe in it” for it to work! But not gonna lie, some days the power of acupuncture needles and herbal medicine feels pretty darn magical.

While on a trip to New York a couple of weeks ago, I opted to celebrate my birthday in a decidedly nerdy way–by visiting The Cloisters (the Met Museum’s collection of medieval art), in particular checking out their gardens overlooking the Hudson River.

According to the Met, the extensive gardens at The Cloisters, including the herbal medicine garden, “evoke those that provided sustenance and spiritual refreshment within the medieval monastery.” Including herbs that were used for medicine, fertility, and even magic, their medieval herb garden is considered one of the most specialized plant collections in the world.

While the garden is focused on herbs that would have been used in Europe, as an acupuncturist trained in Chinese herbalism, I kept my eyes peeled for herbs that looked familiar to ones we commonly use in classical Chinese formulas. I happened upon several specimens of herbs at where either the identical herb, or an Asian cousin, is used in Chinese medicine. I wrote a blog about some of the healing plants I discovered there. Check it out! https://griffinacu.com/blog/adventures-of-an-oakland-herbalist-visiting-a-medieval-medicinal-herb-garden

And if you’re interested in how herbal medicine can support your health, schedule an appointment at my Oakland office, or book a telehealth session. I look forward to getting medieval with you!

🐾 Help Your Dog Look Like a Puppy Again with Wrinkle-Fighting Cosmetic Acupuncture for Dogs 🐾

Say goodbye to the days of your pooch being mistaken for a dog two- or even three dog-years older! Effective April 1, I’m offering an exclusive new beauty treatment, just for dogs, at my animal practice at Alameda’s Marina Village Veterinary–canine cosmetic acupuncture!

Cosmetic acupuncture is already a well-established way for aging humans to fight wrinkles. Now, your furry pals will be turning heads and wagging tails with their newfound confidence and glamor.

You might be wondering, how does it work? My signature treatment is the Wrinkle Wipeout Technique. Say farewell to those pesky bark lines and crow's feet! Tiny acupuncture needles will delicately target those areas to give your furry friend a youthful glow that'll have them looking like a pup again.

OK, ok….you caught on to the April Fool’s Day’s fun. I know your dogs (and cats!) are obviously already gorgeous, exactly as they are!

But acupuncture CAN safely and effectively address many common health conditions your pet might be dealing with–including arthritis, recovery from injury and surgeries, digestive issues, kidney disease, and overall wellness support.
Curious about how acupuncture might benefit your beautiful beast? Visit griffinacu.com/petacupuncture for more info or to schedule an appointment.

I look forward to supporting your beloved animals–wrinkles and all. No foolin’!

Who's here for the tea?? I had fun chatting about the benefits of herbal medicine for this piece about teas and herbal infusions. Lots of nice info here about kitchen remedies for colds and flus!

All you need to know about the medicinal power of teas and herbal infusions — Mude Discover the power of teas and herbal infusions to support your health during the winter!

ACUPUNCTURE and LAB WORK

When’s the last time you had your cholesterol checked, my friend? How about your thyroid? And are your values in the “reference” (average) range—or the optimal range? Do you know the difference?

While acupuncture and Chinese herbs are powerful healing modalities on their own, there's another tool that can go hand in hand with optimizing your treatment outcomes: laboratory testing (no mad scientist necessary!) Why is lab work so valuable?

*Pinpointing Imbalances: Laboratory tests allow us to identify any imbalances or deficiencies in your body. From hormone levels to nutrient deficiencies, these tests provide us with a detailed picture of your internal health, helping us target our treatments more effectively.

*Personalized Treatment Plans: No two bodies are the same, and neither are their healthcare needs. By analyzing your lab results in the context of Chinese medicine diagnosis, we can create personalized treatment plans tailored to address your specific health concerns.

*Tracking Progress: Lab work isn't just valuable for diagnosis; it also helps us track your progress over time. By monitoring changes in your lab results, we can see how your body is responding to treatment and make adjustments as needed.

*Preventative Care: In addition to diagnosing existing issues, lab work also plays a crucial role in preventative care. By identifying potential problems early on, we can take proactive steps to address them before they develop into more serious conditions—like cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. This proactive approach is fundamental to Chinese medicine, and key to maintaining your long-term health and vitality.

If you have recent lab work from another health care provider, I can review and assess this through a Chinese medicine lens. If not, I will order a customized panel of lab work for you directly.
Curious about what your lab work has to say about your health? Let’s discuss your specific concerns and health goals at your next appointment! Schedule at https://griffinacu.com/bookings

Oh my gosh, such a sweet testimonial from the amazing Rachel Augusta - Animal Practitioner. The kind of energy work she does with animals (she works remotely!) is so powerful and amazing care on its own or, even better, in conjunction with acupuncture!

Wondering if your animal is a good candidate for acupuncture? Free consultations are now available! Can’t wait to meet your furry babes. ❤️

We're thrilled to announce that we are now offering 15-minute complimentary visits with Dr. Lisa Franzetta every Tuesday and Thursday! 🌟 Wondering if acupuncture is the right choice for your furry friend? This is the perfect opportunity to find out!

📅 Schedule your free consultation now and let Dr. Franzetta guide you on the journey to optimal pet wellness. Acupuncture can be a fantastic option for various pet health concerns.

🐶🐱 Discover the potential benefits for your beloved pets! Don't miss out on this chance to explore natural and holistic approaches to their well-being.

Happy New Year! I know that many of us have set health-related resolutions as 2024 kicks off...but what about your healthcare goals for your animal companions?

Acupuncture can help bring spring back to the step of your animals as they age, by relieving aches and pains. And just as with humans, healthy animals can benefit greatly from maintenance acupuncture treatments to keep their bodies in balance. I treat my animal patients Marina Village Veterinary in Alameda on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I’d love to meet your furry best friend in 2024!

New patients are required to have a wellness exam with a veterinarian before beginning acupuncture treatments, and Marina Village Veterinary is offering new client “nose to tail” exams (acupuncture not included) for just $1 (!!!) for the month of January. This is a fabulous special to take advantage of if you think you might want to your animal to receive acupuncture and herbal medicine care at any point in the coming year.

$1 appointment spots are limited, so don’t miss the boat! You can even request a new client exam immediately before an acupuncture appointment with me, if you want to get your animal’s acupuncture care started this month and save a trip!

I cannot wait to help your animals fulfill their self-care resolutions for 2024! Questions about acupuncture for animals? Leave ‘em here!

Today is the winter solstice! In Chinese medicine, it is said this is the most “yin” day of the year, where darkness, cold, and rest predominate. It is the seasonal tipping point after which the days start getting longer and we once again begin the cyclical shift to the “yang” energy of summer.

When your animal is treated with acupuncture and Chinese herbs, we take a holistic approach to assessing their health and wellness, including factoring in the effects of the seasons. If your animal gets an acupuncture treatment this time of year, we’ll often include warming “moxibustion,” a type of heat therapy, as part of their treatment.

It is recommended to slow down, sleep more, and recharge in the depth of winter. How about a nice nap with your animal companion to celebrate the solstice?

And for winter time support for your furry baby, I'm seeing animal patients Marina Village Veterinary on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sleep tight, and I'll see you soon. ❄️

Acupuncture can treat pain in humans--and animals! A little info here on acupuncture for pain-relief for our furry friends.

If your animal is recovering from an injury, or dealing with issues like arthritis or IVDD which can cause chronic pain–your vet might recommend a series of pain-relieving acupuncture treatments.

Acupuncture is very effective at treating pain. When tiny acupuncture needles are inserted, the body’s natural pain-killing chemicals, like endorphins, are released; the area of the brain that governs mood-boosting serotonin is stimulated; the nervous system relaxes; and circulation is invigorated to support healing.

It’s a fantastic complement to your existing veterinary care, and can sometimes help when pharmaceuticals cannot! -Dr. Lisa, Acupuncturist at Marina Village Veterinary

Just call me Dr. Dog!

So fun contributing this piece to this month's issue of Bay Woof, about how Chinese medicine can support senior pups through the winter months.

Ask Dr. Dog – Woof! Wisdom from Chinese Medicine — BAY WOOF By Lisa Franzetta

Is the holiday bustle a little stressful for your animal friends? Check out this acupressure point that works to calm wild beasts (like my orange tabby, Jupiter).

Anxiety is a common issue for many of our animal patients. Treatments including acupuncture, bodywork, and herbal medicine can all help if you have an anxious animal. In addition to regular in-office care, you can do acupressure at home to support your animals, whenever they are feeling anxious.

“Yintang” is a “spirit calming” acu-point located in the depression you’ll feel between your dog or cat’s eyes. Using your fingertip, gently press, stroke, or simply touch this point. You can also try gently tapping this point. Go slowly and never force your animal. Read their signs and watch for indications of relaxation, like eyes closing or head and body posture relaxing. More questions about how Chinese medicine can support your animal? Leave them for our acupuncturist Dr. Lisa in the comments below.

Join us on Nov 29 at 5pm for a ✨ Zoom session ✨ with Dr. Lisa Franzetta! Learn how acupuncture can ease your pet's arthritis and keep those tails wagging! 💜

Link to join Zoom session -> https://bit.ly/3u8eNAx

If you're anything like me--you gracefully move through life without so much as an eyelash out of place, never even bruising your pinky toe.

Jk, jk--if you're like me and most people, particularly athletes, that I know...you could probably name at least three injuries you've dealt with in the past six months. You might have heard me say it before--acupuncture is very effective at helping with injury recovery!

Curious about how acupuncture helps the body recover from injury? I've written a new article about how acupuncture works to help treat both acute and repetitive strain injuries. Dust yourself off and check it out!

https://griffinacu.com/blog/sports-injuries-acupuncture-and-turkey-trot-talk

Spooky season is coming!

As a sun-worshipper, the end of summer is always a bit sad for me, but the onset of Halloween festivities is a great consolation. As we welcome the season of scary movies and pumpkin spice soy lattes, it is also a great time to check in on the guidance traditional Chinese medicine offers for supporting our overall wellness this time of year.

Check out my new blog post for what Chinese medicine has to say about how acupuncture, herbs, kitchen medicine, and meditation and movement practices can support us this time of year—particularly bolstering your respiratory health and smoothing and processing tough emotions you might be experiencing.

Nurturing Your Body with Chinese Medicine during the Autumn Equinox — Griffin Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine Clinic in Oakland, CA The beginning of autumn is a great time to check in on the guidance traditional Chinese medicine offers for supporting our overall wellness this time of year—including acupuncture and herbal medicine support for our respiratory system and for tough emotions.

Acupuncture is for everyone in your family--including your animal family! Chinese medicine is a super safe and effective way to address many conditions your dog or cat might be dealing with, including arthritis, neurological issues, dermatitis, anxiety, IVDD, cancer treatment side effects, kidney disease, pre- and post-surgery support, and much more.

I'm thrilled to be joining the team at Marina Village Veterinary--starting October 24, I'll be seeing animal patients on Tuesdays and Thursdays at our beautiful Alameda office. Questions about how acupuncture can support your animal companions? Let me know!

(And yes, I'm still love my two-legged patients--humans can always find me on Wednesdays and Fridays at my gorgeous space by Lake Merritt)💜

We are excited to announce that Dr. Lisa Franzetta, L.Ac. will be joining our team starting on October 24th, 2023 and will be working at our hospital 2 days a week! She will be providing services to dogs, cats, and rabbits. As a non-DVM, all patients must have seen a DVM within our practice prior to booking with her. Call us today at (510) 939-8340 to schedule an appointment!

Happy Pride, People!

I’ve lived in the Bay Area since 1997—long enough to know that Pride and Halloween are obviously the best holidays. Who doesn’t look forward to fabulous Pride celebrations every year?

But pride is about more than parties. Pride is about q***r liberation. For health care providers, this includes recognizing that inclusive medical care is a public health imperative.

At Griffin Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine, we are always committed to 100% inclusive and gender affirming care. For q***r and trans patients, this might include post-surgical recovery support, minimizing top surgery scarring, hormone balancing, and/or mental and emotional wellness support. Maybe it means just knowing you are in a safe space to fix your neck or back pain and get your customized herbal formula.

Next week, on June 21 and June 23, we’re celebrating pride with sliding scale treatments for all q***r and trans identified folx:

-New patient comprehensive first visit (90 minutes): $70-$90
-Follow up visit for current patients (50 minutes): $40-$60
-Telehealth herbal consultation (50 minutes): $40-$60

Book your appointment at griffinacu.com/bookings. Just let me know you’re here and you’re q***r for special sliding scale rates. See you next week, and have an amazing Pride celebration!

xo,
Dr. Lisa

Happy Global Running Day! As folks are gearing up for the marathon and other summer races and events, I wanted to share a new offering at my Oakland acupuncture clinic that I created with runners and other athletes in mind.

Based on my training with Dr. Jenny Nieters, staff acupuncturist to the San Francisco 49ers (!), I’m now offering a 30-minute sports acupuncture treatment specifically designed to enhance athletic performance by targeting key muscle groups (like your core and your glutes) before your big race or game day. This treatment is also designed to support injury prevention by optimizing your biomechanics throughout training.

More info at https://griffinacu.com/sportsmedicine, and I'm happy to answer questions you might have about how acupuncture can get you to the start line in one piece! Happy running!!

The pulse machine is real!

There are different schools of pulse taking in East Asian medicine, but all involve feeling for three positions on each wrist at different depths, assessing the speed, strength, and qualities in each position. Pulses can be rapid or slow, deficient or forceful, but also “slippery,” “wiry,” or “soggy,” for example. If it sounds complicated—it is!

When I was in acupuncture school learning about pulses, there was much talk about a mythical “pulse machine” that existed in China, where different kinds of pulses were produced by a hand-shaped machine, allowing the novice pulse-taker to feel what different qualities of a Chinese medicine pulse are like. It seemed unlikely, but it was also a convenient excuse for why it was so damn hard to get the hang of clinical pulse reading here in California (“How am I supposed to diagnose a soggy pulse without a creepy animatronic hand that teaches me what it feels like??”).

When I had the opportunity to study at the Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine near Beijing--imagine my delight to discover the legendary pulse machine, just waiting for me to get my grubby American paws on it! It was just one of many high-tech teaching tools I found that Chinese acupuncture students had available to them. And while of course, there is no replacement for the learning that happens with human patients—I loved seeing the way modern technology was being applied in teaching this ancient medicine.

Wonder what your pulse is saying about your health? I’d love to help you learn to listen to your body’s signs, including pulse, for both healing and preventative health care. At least, until the robot acupuncturist arrives from China. Appointments available at griffinacu.com/bookings 🌷

Mother’s Day is around the corner! You’ve got to get this one right, people.

Gift the moms in your life with a healing acupuncture treatment at the lovely Griffin Acupuncture office (where I treat my own beautiful mama when she’s in town visiting). Sessions may also include cupping, facial rejuvenation, and warm bamboo massage.

Mothers are people who care for human children and dog and cat babies; they give birth to art, nurture businesses, and care for communities. The concept of motherhood is fundamental to Chinese medicine, where, in the cycle of the five elements, each element generates the one that follows.

Who are the mothers in your life? How do you mother your loved ones, your ecosystem, yourself?

Gift certificates are available for both 60 and 90 minute sessions. Email me at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to purchase yours in time for Mother’s Day on May 14.

Still waiting for an engraved invitation? Sign-up online now to receive updates, wellness tips, and special offers from Griffin Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine. The April newsletter will be arriving in inboxes soon, and I don’t want you to miss it! Sign up at griffinacu.com/subscribe

I snapped this photo of these gorgeous rhea birds last summer at , one of the magical places I stayed while traveling through the Scottish Highlands. They were elegant and inquisitive, and at the same time I was pretty sure I didn’t want to get on their bad side.

I’m heading out of town for another little vacation next week, and the office will be closed April 19 – 26 as I get some R&R (I’ll report back on the local bird scene). The newsletter will be arriving soon to tide you over with some holistic hacks from Chinese medicine while I’m away. Sign up today at griffinacu.com/subscribe — and leave me your best birdwatching tips in the comments!

My baby Jupiter is 5 years old today!

Some fun facts about Jupiter:

-enjoys TV shows about leopards and other big cats
-loves to be held resting on your shoulder like a baby, but ONLY on your right shoulder
-worshipper of sunlight and space heaters
-If he adorably offers you his yin side (belly) to pet—this is a trick, do not fall for it

Like his mom, Jupiter is an Aries, so he can be a little feisty and, dare I say, impatient. Here, Jupiter is experiencing the calming benefit of acupressure at the point called Yintang. For humans, cats, and other creatures, this point is very beneficial for treating anxiety and stress (for Jupiter, this typically involves the vacuum). Yintang is in a location many traditional cultures ascribe to the “third eye.”

To help relax your own cat, dog, or favorite two- or four-legged being, try acupressure at Yintang. This point is easily located at a depression between the eyes. Using your fingertip, gently press, stroke, or simply touch this point. You can also try gently tapping this point. Go slowly and never force your animal. Read their signs and watch for indications of relaxation, like eyes closing or head and body posture relaxing.

And if you could use a little relaxation yourself, make an appointment for some stress relieving acupuncture at griffinacu.com/bookings - I'd love to see you!

TGIF! Want next week to be even better than this one? Plan an acu-break for yourself! Appointments all day, Wednesdays and Fridays, by lovely Lake Merritt.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Oakland Running Festival roll call–who’s racing this weekend??

The Oakland Running Festival is one of my favorite running events, and last year was no exception. What other race has lion dancers and mariachi??

After waffling for weeks, I just signed up for the 10K, though the Half Marathon has a more appealing start time (9am, as opposed to 7am for the 10K--is the sun even up at 7am right now??). What are y’all running?

One of the things that inspired me to become an acupuncturist was being a part of the local running community and coaching with the San Francisco Marathon training group. You people are always broken! Acupuncture has proven to be incredibly helpful with injury recovery for runners, including:
-sprained ankles
-runner’s knee
-plantar fasciitis

And for the more mental among you who run marathons and endurance races, Chinese medicine can play a crucial role in your ongoing fitness, but helping to re-charge your depleted energetic tanks from running stupidly long races.

Try not to hurt yourself this week–and book your appointment for a pre-race treatment, in spitting distance from the start line! Schedule your appointment at griffinacu.com/bookings 🏃‍♀️

Traditional Chinese calendars are divided into 24 “solar terms”—essentially, mini-seasons that are each about two weeks long. Today is the beginning of the springtime solar term called Jingzhe—the Awakening of Insects, when thunderstorms that come with warming weather begin to wake up hibernating insects and other animals. We have even been having uncharacteristic thunderstorms here in the Bay Area recently!
Lightning or not, spring is a time of rebirth and revival, when we are experiencing a new phase of growth. For this reason, it is a time to nourish our Yang energy.

Spring is also associated with the Wood element, which corresponds to our liver, the organ that governs the flow of Qi energy through the body. It’s a great time to load up on fresh green vegetables, such as bean sprouts, chives, chard, and spinach. Other nourishing spring foods are dates, onions, soybean products, radishes, pickles, and lemons.

The shift to spring is a great time to come in for an acupuncture tune-up—it’s the right time to stoke the fires that will power us through the longer days and the glorious summer that awaits us. (It’s coming, right???).

Shake off the winter funk and bring your gorgeous butterfly self in for a springtime acu-adjustment. Visit griffinacu.com/bookings or email [email protected] to make an appointment.

In like a 🦁!
Expanded hours have come to Griffin Acupuncture for March!
Appointments now available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Come get cozy!

Soooo excited to have started the Sports Acupuncture Apprenticeship program this past weekend with the legendary Whitfield Reaves and his student/co-teacher Jenny Nieters, team acupuncturist for the 49ers(!!!). I've already learned some awesome new techniques to help with athletic performance and injury recovery.

Special topics this weekend included:
-shoulder pain
-tennis elbow
-carpal tunnel syndrome
-back pain and "tech neck"

Bring on your busted shoulders and elbows! Bring me your bad posture! Appointments in Oakland on Tuesdays and Fridays--book at griffinacu.com/bookings