Meet Zia Sadeghian of Salt House Acupuncture!

CLINIC: What is your specialty, within your discipline?

Zia Sadeghian: I’m passionate about creating a supportive healing space where people have the opportunity to release tension, blocks, and stale energy and leave feeling more balanced, resourced, and aligned with their highest self. I particularly love working with highly sensitive people and those with digestive, mental/emotional, and sleep concerns as well as pain issues.

Do you work other approaches into your sessions?

I’m trained in western plant medicine in addition to my degree in traditional Chinese medicine, so I’m happy to suggest easily-accessed kitchen and garden herbs and flower essences for additional support. I often incorporate Tui Na massage or gua sha therapy into my sessions. I’m enthusiastic about food as medicine and offer eastern medicine approaches to nutrition. I also bring my knowledge of Iranian traditional medicine, which is another ancient system of healing through energetic balance.

What else is distinctive about the way you practice?

I believe in the energetic sovereignty of every person I encounter, and I work with this healing modality as an opportunity to create a present space in which the client heals themselves. With this understanding I offer supportive counseling around stress, lifestyle, and energetic boundaries.

Where did you study Chinese medicine?

I received my Masters of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences in Oakland, CA. In California acupuncturists can be primary care providers, which means I was trained extensively in western medicine alongside traditional Chinese medicine. I trained in a busy urban clinic where we supported patients from all walks of life. I also did a first year herbalism program at the California School of Herbal Studies, and a second year herbalism program at Ancestral Apothecary. And before my studies in California, I received a teaching license from Mt. Holyoke and a combination history/nutrition bachelor’s degree at Hampshire College.

What moved you to learn your modality?

Like many acupuncturists I know, I was drawn to this medicine because it worked for me. I come from a family of nurses and attended a high school for students who planned on a pre-med track in college. However I felt let down by western medicine when it wasn’t able to resolve my chronic illnesses. I became further disillusioned while interning as a high school student in a local hospital and witnessing its failure to treat the whole person. I received my first acupuncture session while in college here in the Valley, and was truly blown away by how much better I felt with zero side effects. When I started looking into the philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the long history of effective treatments, it all clicked for me and I knew it was my path.

What do you like best about the work you do?

I love that it works! Hearing clients say things like “I’m actually feeling a lot better this week”,

“I slept so well after our last treatment” and “I had way less pain since our less treatment” is what keeps me going. I also love that this modality is a proven effective way to reduce pain without side effects. With the ongoing opioid crisis more and more people are looking for safe, effective ways to manage pain without addictive pharmaceuticals, and acupuncture really hits the mark. Public health groups like the World Health Organization are recognizing that acupuncture is an effective alternative to opioid pain management, which is why some insurances and the US Department of Veterans Affairs include acupuncture in their medical benefits.

Whom do you most like to work with?

I especially enjoy working with people who are deep feelers, queer people, people fighting oppression, and busy parents who need a moment to focus on themselves. I love providing a healing space for other healers, because we all need a turn in the patient chair! Also, I provide sliding scale options for transfeminine people and sex workers who are looking for facial rejuvenation acupuncture. Email me at ziaacupuncture@gmail.com to discuss.

What is something about your work that might surprise people?

While acupuncture is well-known for treating certain conditions, it's also really helpful as a “tune-up” once a month or so in order to keep you well. In East Asia many people engage with acupuncture as a treatment for prevention rather than strictly for cure. Also, you may come in to treat one issue and find that other problems are also relieved, since this is a whole-being approach to healing.

What is a fun fact about you that might surprise people?

I love to cook, especially Italian and Iranian food, and I think music and sound is one of the most profound healers. Also, I can do a split on command!

What’s on your bucket list?

Traveling pretty much everywhere.