Yume is pronounced “you-meh” and means “dream” in Japanese (夢)

Growing up in Japan, acupuncture and herbal medicine were as normal and convenient to us as a trip to the grocery store. If I would catch a cold or start to feel unwell, my mother would send me to the local herbalist to receive a formula that was tailored to my symptoms. The herbalist was her childhood friend and his clinic was located walking-distance from our home. If I ever had an injury or pain-related issue, she’d send me in the other direction, to visit the neighborhood acupuncturist to get a treatment and receive some bodywork. Neither was ever seen as an "alternative" option. It was just part of our daily lives.

After graduating high school in Japan, I attended Pitzer College in southern California where I had the unique opportunity to take a class from a visiting professor from China, Master Situ, who taught Qi-gong. Qi-gong is a traditional movement practice from China, similar to Tai-chi, and Master Situ had been trained in it since childhood. I quickly became captivated by the practice, and spent a semester abroad in Shanghai, where I immersed myself further. Each morning, I would join hundreds of locals in the park, who were practicing everything from tree-hugging to laughing Qi-gong as a way of being in community and staying healthy. 

I started my graduate studies in acupuncture at The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) in San Francisco in 2003, where I interned at several affiliated clinics, gaining invaluable hands-on experience. Working with a diverse range of clients at the Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic, St. John’s Infirmary for Sex Workers, and the ACTCM Ear Clinic helped shape the practitioner I am today..

In 2010, I became a birth doula and started my business “Acu-Doula: Acupuncture & Birth Services” where I provided acupuncture treatments for labor preparation, doula service, and placenta encapsulation. This work deepened my belief in the importance of community and the idea that “it takes a village” to nurture and care for one another.

Sometimes I am asked what I would do if I weren’t an acupuncturist. I joke about being a professional karaoke singer, but the truth is, I can’t picture myself doing anything else. Being an acupuncturist is a true privilege. I’m grateful for the chance to help people heal, and I take that responsibility seriously.
I believe in the transformative power of this medicine and the lasting difference it can make in one’s life. I know from experience how helpful it can be to have access to this type of healthcare. My hope is that anyone seeking answers, or questioning the care they’re receiving, will try experiencing the profound impact that Chinese medicine can offer. 

Starting this April (2025), I will be enrolled in a 2-year certification program in Chinese Medicine Psychiatry with Brandt Stickley, L.Ac.. I look forward to furthering my studies in classical Chinese medicine and heightening my skills as a practitioner.

I treat a variety of issues but have extensive experience in treating pain-related conditions (acute & chronic), women’s health (irregular cycles, fertility), emotional disorders and stress-related conditions.