Hi. I'm Amy Jo
Licensed Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist, Restorative Nutrition Expert, and Breathwork Facilitator
I guide those struggling with difficult & chronic health conditions to get out of the matrix of limitation and get back to living a life of empowerment, embodiment, confidence, joy, and living more fully in a life that you love.
Healer
Humanist
Heart Nurturer
Your struggle ends here
When I started my practice, in 2007, it didn't take long to see that the majority of people coming in to my office were living with digestive issues--like 95%!
Recovering from my own health crisis at the time, I was already fully prepared with the tools for recovery: acupuncture, my Chinese herbal apothecary, restorative nutrition, and prioritizing real food cooking at home.
When my patients, who had been living with terrible symptoms & illnesses for years, were suddenly coming back in feeling wildly improved--and even recovered--within a matter of weeks, I knew this was it for me.
It began with managing digestive issues in 2007, and over the 15+ years I've been practicing, I've become a specialist in digestive, autoimmune, and chronic illness recovery--and I'm so down with that!
At Alchemy, I'm going to give you the answers, tools, and support that you haven't been able to get elsewhere. In addition to that, I'm going to wrap it all together into 1 cohesive treatment plan that you can maintain with ease & grace.
I'm excited to help you take some amazing steps forward, and I can confidently say that your struggle ends here.
I always knew there was a better way
Growing up, I watched my parents struggle with difficult health issues that were mis-diagnosed, under-treated, over-treated, mis-treated, and ultimately, lacked real care for them as humans.
When I started Chinese medicine school, and my teachers began speaking of food as medicine, the proven success of acupuncture & herbal medicine for nearly every health condition under the sun, emotions as signs of health or imbalance, and radiance as the ultimate sign of a healthy body, to say I was mindblown is an enormous understatement.
But even more importantly, I finally exhaled for the first time in years.
This medicine contained all the answers I had been looking for, and through my continued & dedicated study, it has given me a pathway for offering real help to people just like you.
But first there was a health crisis...
I was called to Chinese Medicine through a series of undeniable happenings. It was one of those moments where the clouds parted, the light of heaven was shining down, angels were singing, and from that point on, I had no doubt what my calling was in this life.
I made my way out to Seattle, because I knew that Bastyr was the only choice for me. I waited tables at night to pay the bills, while I went to school during the day.
During my third year of school, I went out to eat with a friend, and we both ended up with the norovirus, allegedly from a cruise ship full of tourists that had docked earlier that week in Seattle. After a few months, my friend was recovered, but I was still struggling. Over time I ended up gaining a lot of weight, my eyes got very dark, my digestion went severely down hill, and I was living with foggy brain, chronic fatigue & no energy.
After seeking help from at least 17 medical professionals that proved to be unsuccessful & disappointing, I finally got a nugget of wisdom from a healer in SC, and started addressing the layers of my condition by combining my Chinese medicine wisdom, extensive food knowledge, and restorative nutrition strategy. I also began cleaning up the energy leaks that led to this crash, like cutting out GMO's, junk food, late night eating, processed sugar, draining relationships, overworking, and regularly consuming booze & marijuana.
And you know what? My body began to thrive again. My mind got clear, my energy returned, I lost 30 lbs {!!}, my digestion was working again, and I was still eating food I loved, socializing often, I had all the energy I needed to run my practice, and I even started playing Taiko drums!
And from that time, I have remained healed, with plenty of tools available if I over-do it, or take a hit to my health that creates any of those symptoms again.
When you're living with these symptoms, it can be so hard to find anyone who understands and doesn't gaslight you about your symptoms. But because of my health journey, I have a unique perspective to healing: I know that difficult, shocking, and life-altering health issues CAN be improved, and that your sense of control and confidence around creating improvements can be reinstilled with humanity & grace.
I'm offering all of these good & juicy solutions at Alchemy. I create fully customized healing plans for each client, and I'm going to hold your hand all the way! We're even going to go food shopping together so you feel good being in your kitchen, and you know how to create Qi-building & nourishing food to sustain the healing we are doing together.
I'm excited to get started working with you!
Let's create the real change you've been looking for.
Questions?
My Professional Bio
Acupuncturist & Chinese Medicine Healer
I was called to this medicine when I was 19. Waking up to the underlying magic of the world at that time, I first read about Acupuncture and had one of those moments where the clouds parted, the light of Heaven burst through, and I knew that was what I was meant to do here.
Today, I'm an acupuncturist, customizing Chinese herbalist, and nutrition expert. After graduating from Bastyr University in Seattle, I started a private practice in 2007 specializing in digestive issues, autoimmune conditions, highly sensitive people, and those living with chronic illness.
I started out practicing in Charleston, SC and moved to Boston after meeting the love of my life in 2011. We have recently relocated to Boulder, excited to have a healthier life in the mountains.
Inner Tradition & Spiritual Alchemy School
I've been a close mentee to Lonny Jarrett, Chinese Medicine Scholar, Visionary, and True Revolutionary for over 15 years.
Working and studying with Lonny has supported me to deeply understand the magic behind the mystique of Chinese Medicine, and the beauty that's available when we include the whole person, and their karmic path, into a more refined and inclusive treatment plan.
My ability to hold many vast & powerful perspectives at once, while creating meaningful and relatable transmission in real time with my clients is highly attuned due to his generosity and guidance.
A million thank-you's will never be enough.
China & India 2006
My Eat, Pray, Love moment happened in 2006, and it was filled with luminosity!
Our program at Bastyr arranged a Chinese Medicine internship for us in Chengdu, Szechuan. We worked in the university hospital for a month and got to see 10x the number of cases per shift than we were accustomed to! We learned so much from the masterful teachers there, and had the experience of a lifetime.
After our internship ended, I traveled with a classmate to Yunnan, China, then down to Thailand for some much needed, post-grad R&R. We spent a few weeks there soaking up the sun and feasting on soulful local Thai food, then we headed to southern India for The Yoga Teacher Training Program in Neyyar Dam at the Sivananada Ashram. We came home so rested, clear-headed, yogified, and certified to teach yoga AND practice Chinese Medicine. Pretty epic.
Breathwork Guide
Already a huge fan of Pranayama, I wasn't surprised when a series of synchronicities led me to my breathwork teachers, Erin Telford and David Elliott.
I've continued to work with them since 2018, and am so happy to have added breathwork to my offerings. Looking back, I am kind of amazed at the changes that have come about since accepting this calling. I thought nothing could beat Acupuncture school, but the truth is, Spirit is amazing and will always keep you mystified.
Notable takeaway: Always say yes to the things that ignite your Soul.
Teacher & Mentor
I've been teaching at the college level for many years. I had the good fortune to bring Chinese Medicine Nutrition to the Culinary Institute of Charleston, I spent 5 years teaching Advanced Case Management & Nutrition at New England School of Acupuncture, and I've offered endless Yoga, Breathwork, Cooking, and Nutrition courses over the many years I've been practicing.
I've been mentoring students and peers for over 10 years. I love the bounty that's available when we just get a little support from the right direction.
Personal Life
Originally hailing from Kansas, I felt a calling for something I didn't quite know yet, and I set out for South Carolina shortly after high school. I spent over 20 years in Charleston growing up, making lifelong friendships, living large, finding out who I was, and blooming like a flower! I studied botany there and worked for an event florist for several years.
I left Charleston for Acupuncture school in Seattle in 2003, and returned in 2007 ready to bring the magic back home. I had a wonderful practice there and felt honored to continue working downtown in the Historic Rainbow Row area.
I met my husband through my spiritual community in 2011, and in 2012 we moved to Boston together to live and work closely with our community. We both thrived in Boston, but once the pandemic hit, it gave us the opportunity to take the next step together and make Boulder our home.
Looking back, I know that this whole trajectory for me has been about trusting the things that are bigger than what I know. It's not always smooth, and it's often messy, but if my spirit is growing in presence and more of my true self is being called forward, I know I'm on the right path.
My early life growing up was hard, and I rarely felt seen, heard, or supported. My gifts today are informed by my deep knowledge that the best things come from slowing down and making room for all of you to come to the table, all of the time. I'm excited you're here and I will gladly be your hand-holder for the next big steps in your magical adventure.
