Traditional Chinese medicine practitioner returns to Grand Rapids with healthy hopes

Audrey Czerew prefers to be referred to as a traditional Chinese medical practitioner, but acknowledges that for most westerners, especially midwesterners, an "acupuncturist" will most likely be the familiar term used by people to describe her work.

Czerew, an Aquinas graduate attended Bastyr University for her Master's in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, has zig-zagged across the country over the last decade, setting up successful practices in Pullman,WA. Grand Rapids, MI and Portland, OR,  Now Czerew is back in Grand Rapids since October 2010 and  is steadily building her practice again.

Although national certified, Czerew states that Michigan is one of the very few states that does not have a state certification for acupuncture. "Michigan is not a popular place to practice acupuncture" she states, counting only 7-8 other practitioners in the area. "Out west, insurance agencies cover it. It is very mainstream. People have acupuncturists like they have dentists.  Here, most people haven't had it before".

Czerew cites multiple benefits of traditional Chinese medicine but allows that the western model of health care typically focuses on the problem . "People call me with a problem.  They want to get it fixed. Make the pain go away" which Czerew says can be done but states that if someone was suffering some pain for six months, it might take six months to provide comfort using acupuncture or other techniques.

However, Czerew says the real beauty of the Chinese model of medicine is in preventive health and it should not be used as a last resort,  "the number one benefit is preventive medicine. It is  kind of like a massage.  I can pick up more subtle imbalances through regular visits and help prevent more chronic problems".

Czerew is confident that Michigan will soon have certification which will help her practice grow. "Within five years I hope the state will pull together licensure, which will allow for insurance companies to recognize the treatment.  When insurance companies cover, more people will use it".

To contact Czerew you can find more information here.

Source: Audrey Czerew,  MSAOM, L.Ac.
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs Editor