Rachel Rizzi, M.S., L.Ac.
Meet Rachel
Rachel is a caring and dedicated practitioner with more than 15 years of experience helping people achieve their wellness goals. She is a Diplomate in Acupuncture from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), and currently holds licenses in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
My goal is to help people realize happier, healthier lives with the benefits of acupuncture. My training has included a variety of different acupuncture treatment styles, including myofascial trigger point release, Japanese style acupuncture, and traditional Chinese acupuncture. Drawing from such a wide array of strategies allows me to individualize treatment for each patient to achieve optimal results. Over the years, I have continued to witness the remarkable effects acupuncture can have. I look forward to seeing those same transformations in each new patient. Come see how acupuncture can make a difference in your health, in your life.
Philosophy
From ancient times and across different continents wise sages have spoken of the natural ability of the body, mind and spirit to exist in balance and harmony. Sometimes these elements are thrown out of balance by lifestyle, accident or illness. It is the goal of Chinese Medicine, of which Acupuncture is one part, to bring the individual back into state of balance and wellness. Though you may be facing a health challenge, there is always hope that it can be overcome and harmony of the body mind and spirit can be restored. Working with the therapies of Chinese Medicine can return you to the path of wellness more quickly than trying to navigate the path alone. As a patient of Great Spring Acupuncture, you and I will work together, along with your other healthcare providers, to help you reach your optimal state of wellness as quickly as possible.
Experience
Rachel’s journey as an acupuncturist with more than 12 years of experience began as a young adult, when she was a patient of this ancient healing tradition. Her own positive experience, the resolution of lifelong symptoms, and the way acupuncture integrates body, mind and spirit impressed her. Seeing how Chinese Medicine went beyond treating symptoms to consideration of the entire person led her to choose acupuncture as a career path. The holistic approach of patient care continues to guide her today.
Rachel is a Diplomate in Acupuncture from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), and currently holds licenses in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rutgers University, Rachel pursued advanced studies at the Tri-State College of Acupuncture in New York City, and received a Master’s Degree in 2001.
After graduating from acupuncture school and relocating to Cleveland, OH, she helped establish a successful acupuncture program at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Integrative Medicine (now the Tanya I Edwards MD Center for Integrative Medicine), where she was also the lead acupuncturist. She returned to the Philadelphia region and has established another successful practice in the Fort Washington area. Welcoming adults, teenagers and adolescents into her practice, Rachel uses her experience and expertise to manage her patient’s health issues with special emphasis on acute and chronic pain management, women’s health, immune system support, digestive disorders and the treatment of the individual to re-balance energies for total wellness.
Treatment Style and Strategy
Rachel’s treatment style, based on the principles of Chinese Medicine, looks not only at the symptoms with which a patient presents, but also the root causes of the condition. Taking the time to do a detailed patient intake and connecting symptoms within a pattern are what makes a treatment with Rachel Rizzi truly personalized. Acupuncture points are carefully selected to ensure that there is symptomatic relief but also that the circumstances which brought the condition on are addressed.
Rachel’s studies at Tri-State College of Acupuncture provided a foundation in several different styles of acupuncture, including meridian based acupuncture, myofascial trigger point release, traditional Chinese acupuncture, and Japanese Hara acupuncture, in the style of Kiiko Matsumoto. Rachel completed “Acupuncture for The Cancer Patient” training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in 2007. She currently serves as a referral resource for the Abramson Cancer Center of The University of Pennsylvania. The techniques and tools she incorporates into treatment include auricular (ear) acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, lifestyle counseling and dietary suggestions based on the principles of Chinese Medicine. Drawing from such a wide array of strategies allows her to individualize treatment for each patient to achieve optimal results
