Josh Herr
MS, L.Ac.

  • I have been providing acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Services since 2000. I graduated from Bastyr University in Seattle, WA. I have studied internationally in China and South Korea. I am a certified executive level Balance Method Practitioner, certified by the International Dermatology Association, and have studied with Jeffery Yuen who is part of the core curriculum at Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts. I am adept at treating a large variety of illnesses including pain, neurological disorders, infertility, dermatological disease, and chronic inflammatory illnesses. My knowledge of standard care allows for a collaborative development of informed and effective treatment plans.

  • When I started college it was with the intent of studying medicine in graduate school. My father and grandfather are at the core of my inspiration to study medicine. They are osteopathic doctors who practiced family practice medicine in rural communities. They also continued the hands-on practice of osteopathic manipulative therapies, which is a method of adjusting the bones of the sacrum, spine, and cranium to provide optimal flow of cerebral spinal fluid to prevent and treat illnesses.

    These osteopathic treatments that I received from my father and grandfather as I grew up made me realize that there is more to medicine and healing than pharmaceuticals and surgery. My desire was to become a bridge in the gap between modern scientific medicine and traditional medicines. It was while studying chemistry at Warren Wilson College, and exploring different “antique” medical modalities, that I discovered Chinese medicine. I was attracted to it because of its sophistication in the disciplines of herbal medicine, diet, meditation, and martial arts (exercise). I believe these to be important pillars in optimizing health as well as treating disease. I decided to move to Seattle to study Chinese medicine at Bastyr University.

    I received a Master of Science in Acupuncture degree from Bastyr in 2000. My international studies include programs in South Korea and China. I studied infertility at Conmaul Oriental Hospital and completed a clinical internship at KyungHee University in Seoul, South Korea. I studied neurological conditions and learned specific methods for stroke rehabilitation at Tianjin Hospital in China. After receiving my Washington state acupuncture license in 2000, I began working at an integrated clinic in Seattle. During that time I also provided acupuncture in a teenage outreach program. It was in 2004 that my wife and I decided to move with our then three-year-old son to Asheville and extend our family. In 2005, our daughter was born.

    I was invited to join the Chinese Acupuncture and Herbology Clinic in 2006. While there I served both the Asheville and Hendersonville communities until 2024. In 2008 I received privileges to treat patients with acupuncture at Asheville Specialty Hospital and Care Partner’s Rehab Hospital. I continue to maintain my hospital privileges. For a decade I taught acupuncture and herbal medicine classes at Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Art, including microsystems, scalp acupuncture, electroacupuncture, pediatrics, and patent medicines. In 2006, I discovered the therapeutic value of the Balance Method and became a dedicated pupil of the late Dr. Richard Teh-Fu Tan and his successor Eileen Han Ph.D, L.Ac. Since then I have been committed to the application of the Balance Method in both my practice and my continued education. The instant results that are achieved with this method keep me inspired and enthusiastic about the practice of acupuncture. It is especially satisfying and exciting for me and the patient when treating pain. In 2019, I received an Executive Level Balance Method certification for my study and experience with applying the balance method. I am a teaching faculty member of The Academy of Acupuncture; the Academy is dedicated to the importance of the Balance Method as a critical tool for diagnosis and treatment.

    Throughout 2022 - 2023 I was a student of Mazin Al-Khafaji and completed his dermatology course. Upon successfully passing the end of course examination, I was added to the directory of practitioners for the International TCM Dermatology Association. I continue to study with Mazin Al-Khafaji in order to improve my knowledge, stay current with, and gain more experience with the treatment of dermatological and other auto-immune, inflammatory diseases. The rising incidents of these types of diseases and Mazin’s pragmatic, results driven methodology inspired me to further my expertise on using Chinese herbal medicine to address these problems. The standard care for these types of diseases suppress symptoms at best often with consequential side effects. With Chinese herbal medicine the internal imbalances that lead to the inflammatory state can be corrected, stabilized, and ultimately the herbal medicine treatment can be removed while maintaining the renewed healthy state of the body.

    I have experience working with diverse conditions. I especially enjoy working with pain, stroke rehabilitation, fertility, and dermatological conditions. I continue to focus on expanding my knowledge of Chinese Medicine with continued education, mentoring, and acupuncture humanitarian projects. I strive to be an expert at Chinese Herbal medicine and Acupuncture exposing myself to many different clinical specialties as well as methodologies. Patients have described me as a good listener, sensitive, solution oriented, and empowering.

    I have been an active member and player with the ABASA soccer league since 2004. In addition to loving to play soccer I have also enjoyed volunteering to coach recreational soccer leagues. I am particularly enthusiastic about the team dynamics of soccer and find it full of enriching opportunity for the players and coaches. More individualized sports I enjoy include kayaking, snowboarding, and hiking. Gardening has been a passion since I was a teenager and I have never had a growing season since without a garden to tend. In the last 4 years I started making pottery again. The resurgence of this craft that I initially learned as a teenager was desire to share the experience with my daughter. She is rapidly exceeding my pottery skills and is on her way to a master potter skill level if she chooses to continue its pursuit.

Mary Burke-Pitts
MAOM, L.Ac.

  • As a board certified acupuncturist and herbalist, I specialize in Classical Chinese Medicine. My approach centers on empowering patients with the knowledge and care to support their own internal healing. I have been practicing acupuncture and herbal medicine since 2013. My special interests are in both healing and martial arts. I earned a brown belt in kung fu and currently co teach kids kung fu classes. I am also bilingual in Spanish and English, living in Buncombe county, and actively participate as a community member of Poder Emma, an organization dedicated to collaborative housing, cultural, and economic initiatives that I hold near and dear to my heart. In my free time I like exploring remote wilderness areas and stargazing.  

  • tem descriptionMy journey in healthcare was significantly shaped by familial influences. My paternal grandmother served as a Navy nurse, recounting her compelling experiences aboard naval hospital ships during World War II. Additionally, both of my parents have dedicated their careers to the Western medical field, with my mother working as a nurse and my father as a physician. Throughout my childhood, I was deeply affected by discussions my parents held regarding the privatization of service-oriented Catholic hospital systems, which led to substantial changes in public healthcare accessibility. Growing up in a family of healthcare professionals, I frequently found myself in emergency rooms, nursing homes, and medical offices. While I appreciate the insights gained from these Western medical practices, I became aware of the systemic challenges inherent in modern medicine. As I transitioned into adulthood, I encountered Daoism and felt a profound connection to mountain living, which I explored through an apprenticeship in herbal medicine with Joe Hollis at Mountain Gardens in Western North Carolina. His teachings offered me a perspective on living simply. Residing in the Appalachian Mountains, I find a striking resemblance to the natural environment of the Wudang Mountains in China, which are recognized as the birthplace of Daoist medicine. The Blue Ridge Mountains, in particular, share notable similarities in elevation, climate, and geography with the Wudang Mountains. Subsequently, I pursued medical studies under Jeffrey Yuen, who is integral to the curriculum at Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts. I have also served as a faculty member in the Chinese herbal medicine department at Daoist Traditions and also supervised students in clinical training. Other courses that I have instructed include botany and medicinal herb gardening. Over the past five years, my interest in internal martial arts has grown significantly. The practice of gong fu or acquired skill is a passionate pursuit on my career path in healing. I was introduced to the martial arts through my instructor Lindsey Wei of Wu Dang White Horse. Her immersive martial arts training has enhanced my own self-healing practices in meditation and movement. The mind-body-spirit connection stems from the concept that our bodies mirror the natural elements. By realigning our inherent rhythms with those of nature, we can facilitate the restoration of our physical, mental and emotional well-being. Our bodies are remarkable, serving as a microcosm of the larger macrocosm which is Mother Earth. In 2019 I completed an in depth study of Chinese dietary therapy. My approach is closely aligned with life coaching and emphasizes the energetics of food, nutritional supplements and herbal medicine. I develop treatment plants that respect each patient’s cultural food preferences and lifestyle. My methodology promotes an empowering perspective of food as a foundation for healing that supports all body sizes. I am happy to work with any patient who is committed to their well-being. Currently I am accepting new patients and specialize in mental and emotional issues such as insomnia, stress, anxiety or depression and pain management.

Dr. Bailey Chang
DAHM, L.Ac.

  • Dr. Bailey graduated from Daoist Traditions earning her dual degree as a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicines. Her background as a CA certified Neuromuscular Therapist has influenced her approach for treating pain management, headaches and migraines, injury rehabilitation, digestive disorders, and strongly focuses on preventative medicines. It can absolutely be said her journey into Chinese medicine arts is a forever path. One that seeks to combine ancient medicines with more modern medical advancements in order to achieve the best patient care.