Heather E. Vaughan, L. Ac, MSOM, C. Ay, CYT, (she/her) is a licensed Acupuncturist and certified Clinical Ayurvedic Practitioner with a specialty in Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Western herbal medicine, and proud Bay Area Native. She completed her Master’s of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization at the Institute of Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Honolulu’s Chinatown in 2023. There she was lucky enough to study TCM with Dr. ‘Cathy’ Yu Low, Dr. John Weldon, and the wonderful Dr. Shishong Xiao who has practiced and taught acupuncture and Chinese herbs for over 50 years, Dr. Tan's Balance Method and fertility with Dr. Tim Nguyễn, trauma-informed gentle acupuncture with Dr. Deborah Barry, and scalp acupuncture and dry needling at Pacific Rehabilitation Hospital with Dr. Liberata Orallo, and orthopedic acupuncture with Dr. Ray Dela Cruz. At Southwest Acupuncture College, she learned Japanese technique from Hiroki Takeda.

A 2010 graduate of The Ayurvedic Institute under Dr. Lad, and Clinical Herbalism with Sonia Masocco at the University of New Mexico, Heather has practiced Ayurveda and Integrative Herbalism in a variety of settings including Primary Care, an integrative pharmacy, and private practice since 2010. 

Heather specializes in complex cases, and loves working with people of all ages, from babies our elders.

Additional Training

Heather studied CranioSacral Therapy (CST) at Peirsman CranioSacral in the high desert of New Mexico, focusing on courses related to the nervous system and emotions. While helpful for any patient, as an extremely gentle, subtle bodywork technique, CST is an excellent option for those scared of needles, in too much pain or too weak to receive strong pressure, those suffering from sleep or emotional issues, babies, and small children. Craniosacral therapy can stand alone or be woven into an acupuncture treatment. Heather is extremely honored to call Elana Sue St. Pierre, Peds OT, her mentor for working with babies and small children.

Background

Originally a classically trained singer, Heather’s experience with holistic medicine began out of necessity. When she could no longer run cross country in high school due to pain, Heather was taken to her first acupuncture appointment (painless Japanese style, thanks Mom!), and began practicing yoga. In college came the diagnosis - Ankylosing Spondylitis, a severe, progressive autoimmune condition of the spine with no known cure. Through integrating Ayurvedic detoxification (Pancha Karma), lifestyle, and dietary therapeutics, with acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, and Western Medicine at different times for different reasons, she found support and relief over the years. “Disease management” came with a bonus - falling in love with the elegance of acupuncture and Ayurveda. This gave way to intense study of Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda in New Mexico, India, and Hawaii.

She lives with her co-conspirator (aka husband), Shane, and darling dog, Rye.

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