Get to Know Laura Stropes!
Get to know Laura Stropes!
We sat down with Laura to hear all about how she became such an expert in East Asian herbal medicine and became an acupuncturist for fertility and women’s health. She brings 27 years of wisdom as an acupuncturist and herbalist to East Bay Acupuncture and is ABORM-certified!
How did you discover acupuncture as a career path?
I took a semester of Holistic Health in college and was really intrigued by the Chinese medicine module. I took my Mom, who had been suffering from acute headaches every day due to a traumatic injury, to an acupuncturist for an assignment. I was so amazed and impressed that her headaches immediately improved with acupuncture, and the addition of herbs further reduced the frequency and severity of her headaches. I decided that I would love to learn how to help others with Chinese medicine myself, and after college, I enrolled in a Master’s program in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
What led you to specialize in fertility acupuncture care?
It was another personal discovery; my wife and I were trying to get pregnant and were having difficulty conceiving. At the same time, I was taking classes on treating pregnancy with Chinese medicine and studying with a group of acupuncturists to sit for the first ABORM (Acupuncture and TCM Board of Reproductive Medicine) exam on Chinese medicine to optimize fertility. Halfway through these courses, I realized that I really should stop for the moment and focus on treating myself to become pregnant. Luckily, I was able to do so, and we have two beautiful sons. Ever since, I have felt great joy helping others on their journeys to create the families they desire. Once our boys were old enough, I studied for and passed the ABORM exam.
You spent 20 years working for a very well-known, local Chinese medicine company, Mayway Herbs, in Oakland. How did this inform and/or transform your herbal medicine practice?
Mayway Herbs is a fabulous family-run herbal medicine company that has been in business since 1969, and working there helped me deepen my herbal knowledge on so many levels. I was honored to work with so many great people over that time. I learned how to do research on herbs and create new formula variations, listened to other practitioners’ cases to recommend formulas for them, taught practitioner classes on various subjects, researched and then co-authored a book on their Plum Flower brand products. All of these projects helped me hone my knowledge of herbs and formulas, and see how helpful they can be to balance the body and support people on their various paths to wellness. I love herbal medicine and am always happy to see people feel better by taking herbal formulas.
What is your favorite acupuncture point, and why?
My favorite acupuncture point is a combination, Lung 7 and Kidney 6, because they open up the Conception/Ren meridian, which is so helpful to support the reproductive tract, fertility, menstrual and hormonal issues, digestion, breathing, and more!
What is your favorite Chinese herb or formula, and why?
My favorite herbal formula is Xiao Yao San. I love this formula because it is a harmonizing formula, which means that it takes care of many different things in the body at the same time, and because it is so effective. It moves the Liver Qi to open up the flow of Qi/energy in the body, helping the organs to function better and calming stress. It also nourishes Blood to nourish the body and restore a sense of well-being, and strengthens the Spleen to benefit physical energy levels and digestion. Altogether it is useful for a great variety of issues related to the Liver Qi not moving smoothly in the body and low Blood and/or Spleen Qi/energy (resulting such different issues as tight neck and shoulder muscles, headaches, PMS, depression, anxiety, stomachaches and loose stools, insomnia, IBS, menopausal syndrome, etc. - maybe no symptoms here so they don’t self-diagnose and purchase?)
What are your favorite ways to spend your time in the East Bay?
My favorite ways to spend my time in the East Bay are hanging out with friends and family. My family likes to take hikes with our dog, Izzie, watch a movie together, or take the ferry to San Francisco and eat dim sum.
What advice would you give to someone nervous about trying acupuncture for the first time?
I would say that in acupuncture, we use very fine needles that most people barely feel at many points. We also try to make the insertion as gentle as possible so that patients feel relaxed while they are being put in. Usually, once the needles are in, people feel very relaxed and many drift off to sleep. You can ask your acupuncturist any questions you’d like and share your concerns with us; we’re always happy to help!
To book an appointment with Laura, you can book online through our online scheduling system or give us a call at 510-900-9063.